Mistral

I've had a chip and pin here in france for years, so when the UK started using them last year, I thought life was going to be just a little bit esier. but, no. Every time the machine refused the card. I got quite a few strange looks from UK shop assistants who were proud to be using their new technology and were being thwarted by my foreign card. So this summer's trip to the UK, I warned everyone that my (new since last january) card would need swiping. But the machines wouldn't allow an override. It turns out that my new card is accepted in both countries without problem. But my husband's card which is up fror renewal in november isn't.    

First I deal with homework, tea, judo, dance classes..... Once the offspring are in bed, I feed M. Mistral and myself. Then I do my correcting, lesson plans etc or collapse in front of the telly. I generally go to bed early anyway because I get up at 6 and I'm not good functioning on less than 8 hours a night.    

 From the responses so far, it appears that these dates vary from region to region, is that correct? Yes, you're right; continental france is divided into 3 zones (A, B and C) they all go on holiday at the same time in oct/nov (toussaint) and usually at christmas. But the zones are staggered in february and again in April/may. If your zone goes on holiday first in february then it will go first in april too. The next year you will be second and so on... The main reasons for this seem to be a) to prevent everybody from leaving on the same saturday and blocking the roads and b) to provide a longer full period for the ski ressorts. It's not a straight split (i.e. everybody on the east is in zone A) The zones are dotted around france to avoid road congestion; so I'm in zone B in Provence and my friend in Belfort is in the same zone. If you are in an area where the primary schools have a 4 day week, then the official dates are changed (not available on the ministry website, you have to ask at the school or the rectorat) the holidays are shorter to make up for the half day less each week.

Language isn't supposed to be taught 100% in the target language in france. Teachers are supposed to do the majority of the work in the language but grammar is taught in french because the concepts are already complicated enough without presenting them in a foreign language. Vocabulary should be taught in the language but depending  on the inspecteur you have certain leeway to give translations from time to time. As a teacher I can understand these teachers' reactions (if not their way of putting things) Last week I found myself faced with a bosniac girl who spoke no french at all in a 3eme class. Luckily she spoke german so I could at least get her to write her name and tell me if she had ever studied English (not very much) but I know that she hasn't got the english level to follow a 3eme class or the French level to understand when I explain the grammar (and this year it's  pluperfect, conditional and passive )The next class had another new girl (this one yugoslavian she said) who spoke no French either, had never studied English and didn't even have the French basics of oui/non/bonjour. Communicating in german (yet again) I asked her to write her name and that's when she explained that she can't read or write either. Both these pupils have been removed from class for a 3 week intensive french class (13 hours a week) and then they'll be back with the others and on 2 or 3 hours of FLE a week. There has been a lot of muttering in the staffroom about this (turns out there are 6 totally new pupils like them this year) the school is lucky, we have 13 hours of FLE, but they have to be split between the totally new pupils and those who can get by but can't really follow.  All the teachers are aware that a few hours a week aren't enough and we know that the way the system works, we aren't going to be able to give these pupils the attention they need. It's important to note that teachers generally aren't angry with either the pupils or the parents, but with a system that expects us to finish our programme come whatever and doesn't give us the training or support we need to deal with children with "special needs" (and I count not speaking the language as one) OK, this doesn't mean that a teacher has the right to refuse to teach a pupil just because he/she doesn't speak french. The law says that all children have the right to an education. It might be that no-one warned the hist-geo teacher that this girl didn't speak French. I had no warning- not even their names on the class list and I would have liked to know in advance. It might also be that if the school has several foreign pupils but no FLE, the teachers are getting a bit fed up with the rectorat. For info: french, maths and hist-géo teachers are generally the most neurotic in collèges because they have the brevet at the end of 3eme so they have to finish their programme every year. Other teachers can be a bit more flexible

The laws on children born in france to foreign parents keep changing (there was a period when you automatically became French on your 18th birthday unless you had indicated otherwise in writing at the mairie- leading one politician to say that you could become "french by accident") At the moment, parents can ask for french nationality for their child from the age of 13 or children can for it themselves from the age of 16. In all the cases you still have to have lived in france for at least 5 years and be resident when you apply. This is for children, I don't know about adults. As far as I can tell the main difference between someone born in France and any other foreigner is the fact that french nationality is a right for those born there if they ask for it. (a declaration not a demande)  look here http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F295.xhtml?&n=Etrangers%20en%20France&l=N8&n=Etrangers%20:%20nationalit%C3%A9%20fran%C3%A7aise&l=N111  

There is a state lycée with an Internation section in Aix en provence. It sounds very like the school in Lyon that Sikhim has described. the children follow most of the lessons in french with History, geography and english being taught in English. There is also the possibility of FLE lessons for those who need it. There is a collège in the town that does the same sort of thing too, but there aren't any state primaries (I think that's the age you're asking about?) in Aix with internation sections. Since you are planning on moving back to an English speaking country at some point, I would say that an International section would be the best thing your daughter. As Sikhim says, international schools/sections usually have a strong parents association. Your best bet would be to get in touch with them.  

As France seems to be years behind in everything else , do they still stop children writing left handed here? No, lefties are allowed now. Not even teachers comment on it anymore. I have to agree about loopy handwriting seeming like a lot of time and effort for not much result. I'm horrified when my daughter wastes time going through her book looking for how to write a capital 'H' (or whatever) because she can't remember how and it has to be written the correct way. And I can't help because I never learnt it  (and refuse to) Even my husband can't remember how to do all the capitals correctly. I find the extra loops make writing harder to read. Especially if it's written with an ink pen instead of a biro. I used to think that all French writing looked the same but I can actually recognise about half of my pupils' work, just on their handwriting, you get quite a range of size, roundness, "loopiness"... My husband once told me that as far as he's concerned, all British people have the same handwriting. It all looks very round (and easy to read) to him  

It looks close. If anything it looks a bit less "loopy" than what I usually see (especially the capitals- sometimes you feel like you are going to get illuminated script) In answer to your questions, yes it does seem that the same thing is taught in schools all over france. And yes, all primary schools do seem to be strict about it. Maybe strict isn't the word. This is just what is expected. The strictness is more at the lower levels, less at the end of primaire and in collège/lycée. having learnt to write in the UK (and I admit that I have very bad handwriting) I can't (won't) do all the loops etc. This means that my pupils sometimes have difficulty understanding what I write on the board. The main problems are "n" "m" and "r". Two bars touching the line is 'r' three bars is 'n' and four bars is 'm' for French people and i don't do it that way    

It looks close. If anything it looks a bit less "loopy" than what I usually see (especially the capitals- sometimes you feel like you are going to get illuminated script) In answer to your questions, yes it does seem that the same thing is taught in schools all over france. And yes, all primary schools do seem to be strict about it. Maybe strict isn't the word. This is just what is expected. The strictness is more at the lower levels, less at the end of primaire and in collège/lycée.  

My main complaint with french crumble is that it's generally served cold. The other problem is that the layer of fruit is often quite thin. An embarrassing moment at the end of year meal in July. One of the English staff had made crumble and it was proudly presented to me. Apart from being cold (which was understandable, she'd made it before coming to school) she had pushed the "crumble" down flat. it was more like a non returned tarte tatin than a crumble. I'm pleased to read that in other parts of France, they've at least worked out it doesn't have to be apples. (not that you'll get much rhubarb crumble I expect)

But I do think the real problem is the hidden salt, there was a discussion last summer in Britain, I think, about how much extra salt there was in cornflakes, and I noticed when I went back this year that the boxes now say "with 25% less salt". For info; the only breakfast cereal without added salt seems to be Kellogs Smaks. (I was the strange woman in Géant reading all the labels and muttering to herself )

There was a report on the news a while back about a group of bakers who have decided to reduce the amout of salt in their bread. they have had to put warning notes in the windows of the shops and cut it back gramme by gramme so that their regulars get gradually used to it. I can't remember how much salt goes into a baguette, but it's a frightening percentage (something like 500g to every 2kg, but don't quote me on it.) Child #1 had to have a complete salt free diet for around 6 months last year. I learnt to cut out all salt in my cooking. I really began to notice how salty other people's food was. I've gone back to using it now, but not as much as before

I was treated to the 'foreigner syndrome' that is, we do things differently in France. I do not think so, as there are schools with better facilities, but sometimes when you are different, you are treated like an imbecile and I have found that the rural french like to play this card a little too often at times It's not just the rural french, urban French do it too. If you don't agree with the way something is done, it's not really your fault; you are just ignorant and in need on training, then you'll understand. I have commented on the revolting state of the toilets in the schools I've worked in (I agree that the ones in my school in the UK were revolting but they were made so by the pupils, not designed that way to start with) but I seem to be the only person bothered. Even parents who complain about the fact the school dishwashing system leaves the cutlery greyish seem to think the toilet situation is normal. Probably because most children learn early on to hold on all day and go when they're at home. Mrs O, your daughter will probably find that the toilet paper is at the loge or the vie scolaire and she is expected to go and ask for it. That's what happens in my school. It has to be provided, but not necessarily in the toilets. My eldest started college yesterday too and I made sure he had a pack of tissues in his pocket.

I've never thought of this but now I think back, I can't remember seeing any toilet paper in my daughter's maternelle. I've just asked child#1 if there was any in his primary; apparently there was but on the other side of the room so you had to think to get it before you went in the cubicle. I have to say that in all the colleges I have worked the pupils' toilets have been unpleasant. They are usually semi-outdoors since pupils can't go iside the building during breaks or lunch. The loo paper is often at the concierge's office or the vie scolaire so they have to go and ask for a few sheets and then trail across the main entrance hall with them. Most of my pupils just make sure they have tissues in their bags. but this isn't possible for maternelle age kids.

I suppose I had better add a word of warning. If there isn't a school with a specialist unit near by, then it's probably going to be a fight to get a disabled child into mainstream schools. I know that parents have to be ready to fight their case at every stage. I also know of schools where the teachers have managed to refuse access for a child needing oxygen  because it would disrupt their lessons. I don't know what reasons they used. The headteacher is the most imprtant person to convince. TU, I thought it might please you to hear about one of my pupils from last year. He is very dislexic and primary school was absolute hell for him. So the parents wanted to meet us, the headmistress set up a meeting with the parents and all the members of staff. Each teacher then took into account his dislexia. He was tested orally, any spelling mistakes were ignored, any written work was graded on content only, things he should copy from the board were pre-prepared on photocopies.... By the end of the year he had kept up with the class and felt more positive about school than he ever had before. OK, someone used to the British system may be sitting there saying "so what?" but it was the first time I've been involved in anything like that in France.

I didn't think you could be a civil servant in France unless you WERE a French citizen.  Were you able to do so because you were married to a Frenchman? The law changed (through a lot of forcing from the EU)  the year I registered for the concours. This meant that I had to take a copy of the law to the orals with me to prove that I was allowed to take them because the administrative staff hadn't caught up on it yet. Non French people still can't work in either defence or tresorie. Being married to a french person doesn't give you any advantages (excêpt doing a citizenship application as "declaration" and not "demande")  

The simple answer is yes, that sort of system exists in france. I'm afraid I don't know how it works, all i can tell you is what I've seen in various schools. I worked in one school where they had grouped together pupils with hearing difficulies from all the surrounding area. There was a teacher who worked with them a few times a week to help with any lessons they didn't understand and one pupil who was practically deaf had a full time support worker with him in all lessons. (it was called a UPI unité pedagogique d'inegration) In the school I'm in at the moment, there is a child in a wheelchair who has some problems writing as well. He has a full time support worker too. Since he's alone, he's not in a UPI but a PAI (Projet d'accueil individualisé) This is the positive side. On the negative side, all this is quite recent. most french people generally believ that disabled pupils should go to specialised schools. In the past, this has lead to parents hiding disablities from schools. When the disabled child started last year, a lot of teachers were very unhappy about it. They didn't wanted another adult in the room (french teachers are very defensive about the idea of being criticized) And most didn't want to adapt their lessons to any of his needs. In the other school, they reacted the same way when the deaf children started. In both cases, it only took a few months for teachers to realise that the world wasn't going to come to an end. This is the ministerial blurb http://www.education.gouv.fr/thema/special/default.htm

It would involve photos, forms, and no doubt endless hours sitting in a moulded plastic chair in the soulless Prefecture Do you know what? No photos, no forms as such (but loads of photocopies) Just 3 trips to the Tribunal d'Instance (once to drop of the paperwork- no wait. Once to see the judge -a couple of hours, but we did have a RV. Once to pick up the certificates- no wait) as a veteran of 5 cartes de sejours in 4 different depts, I was expecting much worse but it was a relative doddle. And even more, the fonctionnaires smiled and were friendly

Thanks for that, I enjoyed it too. It was obviously written for future language assistants. I may pass it on to the assistants website. I agree with Margaret that the "what to wear" part was tough, especially as you weren't too sure if it was what a french girl would wear or suggestions on what a British girl should wear in that situation. I particulary liked the pedestrian crossing question... Oh, and the je suis pleine.... I've done that

I have french citizenship. I could have applied back in 1993 but it took me until last year to feel that it was the right time to do it. It may only be an extra piece of paper and not actually change much in your life since you don't lose British citizenship in doing it, but I wanted to wait until I really wanted to do it. I am married to a frenchman so I fall into SB's catagory but he never asked me to do it. With a CdS I could do everything except vote in national elections. I just got to a point when it felt right: I wanted to be able to vote, I'm a civil servant and I couldn't have a say on the governement I work for. And I knew that france was my home and if that was the case then I may as well become a full citizen. (I'm not talking about a physical home, it's a more intellectual thing) Of course after 14 years with a CdS that I have never mislaid, I've just realised that I've already lost my french ID

We went to Paris in December, and I was kind of dreading the much-famed Parisian rudeness, but I didn't see a lot of difference between it and Montpellier in that regard. Our summer holiday trip generally takes us from Provence to the german border, on to paris and then normandy and last brittany before leaving for the UK. My husband reckons that people will smile at him as soon as we've left provence and we can always tell when we're getting close to paris as they stop smiling, then as soon as we get to normany out come the smiles again. (and this is travelling in a car with 13 on it- not popular)

So if for some reason there is a decision that under no circumstances should/can the baby be British.  Then he/she is stateless until their 13th birthday. From what I've read, france will give french nationality to a child born in france to foreign parents if, for some reason, it can't have another nationality http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F3084.xhtml?&n=Etrangers%20en%20France&l=N8&n=Etrangers%20:%20nationalit%C3%A9%20fran%C3%A7aise&l=N111 Also re; consular birth certs. I was told (by the consulate in marseilles) that they were unnecessary, you still need the french birth cert. The woman I spoke to had never even got one for her own son. She said only to bother if I was planning to go back to the UK which was a relief seeing the price. of course this may have been advice for children with both nationalities from birth.  

You can't have everything, ie live in a part of the country that half the world hankers after, enjoy the best weather in France and pay rock bottom prices.  I agree with the point you're making, but what I've never understood, is why half the world would hanker after living here (of course I don't live in montpellier, I'm a couple of hours away) and maybe I'm strange but one of the reasons I'm looking to move is to get away from the weather. It's far too hot for me in the summer and too windy the rest of the time.  

Your baby will be british but with the right to french nationality at the age of 18 (or from 13 if you ask in advance) as long as she has lived in france for the 5 years before the application. The law keeps changing, here's the most recent version (in french) http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F295.xhtml?&n=Etrangers%20en%20France&l=N8&n=Etrangers%20:%20nationalit%C3%A9%20fran%C3%A7aise&l=N111 As to "legal nationality" My children have both. (French father) They are fully french here, fully british in the UK and both elsewhere.

Coco, you're in Normandy aren't you? Please don't say you're near Avranches My cousin has just told me that he's booked a chambre d'hote there for next week with an English couple  and he's got THREE young children.