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Kate

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  1. Hi Mark I haven't read all the posts so this suggestion may have been made already - what about house sitting?  It is an eternal problem people have here in Provence to find someone to look after their homes.  You can find property within your budget - even here in the Vaucluse - but it takes time.  The Drome (26) just to the North is beautiful and cheaper as is the Ardeche just across the Rhone.  Just a thought - if you are entitled to any benefits in the UK - these can be transferred to France which should take the pressure off.  As for language learning - the BBC course is good; the French television channel  TV5 web page: http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/accueil_apprendre.php another good website for Francais Langue Etrangere - http://www.lepointdufle.net/cours-de-francais.htm; and from The University of Texas:  http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/ one more: http://frenchecole.libsyn.com/ They are all good. I know that in many towns  there are associations set up to teach foreigners  French  - our town locally charges just the cost of yearly membership - a single payment of 20euros only  - for 2 classes per week. All the very best. Kate       
  2. Hi there Mistral I wonder if you could help.  I too am in Provence with my 13yr old son attending a local college.  He gets absolutely no help whatsoever with French and since September still does not speak French.  The headmistress has stated that there is no help available. Where are you that your college offers 21 hours of FLE a week?  I am so sick with worry for my son and at my wits end. Regards Caroline
  3. Hi there Mistral I wonder if you could help.  I too am in Provence with my 13yr old son attending a local college.  He gets absolutely no help whatsoever with French and since September still does not speak French.  The headmistress has stated that there is no help available. Where are you that your college offers 21 hours of FLE a week?  I am so sick with worry for my son and at my wits end. Regards Caroline
  4. Hi there I am in the Vaucluse, near Orange.  My son has been in the French system since September with no French and absolutely no support. I too would love to find a school nearby but apart from the place you found in Aix, I know of no others for this stage.  The only option is boarding but I am sure that you must feel the same - that you want your child to enjoy his new home and the last thing you wish to do is to send him off.anywhere.  Caroline
  5. Hi Vicki I am new to this forum. I have been in France since September and enrolled my son (13) in a brand new local college (13km away).  It is a state school.  He had a taste earlier in the year of the private sector too.  Coming from a first class private school in Scotland, the whole thing has been an utter shock to the system. Much depends on how much French your child has and how much help the school is able to give her.  The French system is so rigid that it takes a seriously exceptional head teacher to help.  In France,  the Headteacher has no choice at all in the staff - the Inspection Academique is responsible for this.  Teachers are not committed in the same way as at home - they are civil servants - and have very powerful unions.  When their teaching day is over - they go home.  This means that in a full school week if a teacher has only eg 19 hours in the timetable - they go home and what is more they very often then give private tuition in the time which is already beeing paid for by the State!  It is rare that any homework is corrected by the teacher.  Work is gone over in class. Children are failing at school, I believe because of the system.  It is designed to strip out the deadwood as fast as possible thus reducing the numbers as of the age 14.  These 'failing' children are then sent off to specialist schools to learn trades.   Teaching here is about delivering a lesson.  Thankyou and goodbye.  The emphasis is on the pupil to learn (learn by heart that is).  Understanding is not part of the equation.  This is not their remit. At the beginning of each year, each teacher dictates a contract for each pupil to sign - so - relieving them of any responsibility for the child. At home the teacher is 'in loco parentis' - not here. 45% of the French leaving the system are illiterate I was told by the SVT teacher (Science Vie et Terre) after Week One, that my child would learn nothing in her class because 'c'est la subtilite de la langue francaise qui compte'!!!!  Try telling that to the World's scientists.  This I should have seen as a warning as it outlined the very narrow and insular French mentality. .  Private schools which are 'sous contrat' are inexpensive as the teachers' salaries are paid by the State.  As at home, the private schools are keen to be producing good results. They are therefore somewhat selective.  If you listen to other parents, you will eventually realise that many choose these private schools are there are far many less North African pupils.  France is an incredibly racist country which is why there is so much unrest. I have told you all this - believe me- not to put you off - but to explain what you are up against.  I could have done with understanding the system before but have learned the hard way and my child has suffered consequently.  Nice new school but no teacher of Francais Langue Etranger to help him.  Mostly ignored - he is shoved up to the back corner of the class on his own - he is quiet and reserved but now quite dispirited. Vicki, you are in an area, which from looking at the website of Ac-Bordeaux on which your school depends, it could be that there is much more backup as there are far more younger British with families moving into the area.  Here the influx is mainly retirees.  We had a house in the Tarn et Garonne before - beautiful area - well done and enjoy.  I know of some good restaurants.  The other children, I have to tell you, are just lovely and very helpful indeed.  Work with this headmistress.  She already sounds enthusiastic - great. (In our case, this was a new school with 450 pupils no-one knew so having a foreign child just added to their burden)  Having the school in the village is great - truly - as it means that your wee girl will be able to see her friends after school.  (This we miss as we are just that bit far away from everyone. ) Being a girl, I think the transition will be easier in any case.  All the very best. Caroline    
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