Sigognac

[quote user="Cathy"] What is happening here in France?  How on earth can teenage pupils go on strike?  They are only going to damage their own education.  They are copying the example of the adults, including large numbers of teachers. who were on strike recently. I am not sure what to think. [/quote] Welcome to France, it used to be only Universities that were "politicised", but there seems to have been some radicalisation and contagion to the lycées lately. We used to be if not sympathetic, at least indulgent to the strikers, but that is changing mostly due to thugish behavior and over the top radicalism. Having said that, we like our politics hot and spicy, must be the Latin roots that stir from time to time.

We could offer an exchange Thibault + Sarkozy against Betancourt?

Hello, yes, assuming you are married or pacsés and living at the same address.

Hello, the conditions and what exactly you will loose should all be stated in the "Compromis de vente" (normally in the Acte authentique section). You are unlikely to incurr "notaire" fees, but there is a good chance the estate agent will have covered himself and included a clause for his own fees. The compromis includes "conditions suspensives", and there might be dispositions for mutual agreement, which might leave you a bit of wiggle room. However, at this stage I think it is essential you seek qualified legal advice and phone the agent who should be able to state clearly what it is exactly you risk loosing. As for the decision whether to buy or not, the main question is more about your income once in France, than the property price. The house market changes all the time, but the income should be more predictable.  

[quote user="Joshua"]My understanding is that, except in special circumstances, a French National must retire at 60. My E106 expires a few weeks before my 60th birthday. I look a lot older, but I've had a hard life and a big paper round ! If I go looking for work and find a job would I be allowed to take the job at 60. Its just that today I heard of someone ( an Expat ) that was refused a Security Sociale number at 61 and so had to turn the job down Joshua[:D]   [/quote] I believe the age limit is the minimum age at which you can withdraw a pension and beyond which an employer can no longer force you to work, not necessarily the age at which you must retire. If I understand your situation correctly, you are more or less self-employed, and belong to the construction industry, where there is a big shortage of labour. Therefore, I don't think age is a problem.

[quote user="Panda "] But there's still no work, true this may improve the mix of kids but does nothing for their prospects and therefore theirs and their teachers expectations of life outside school. [/quote] We must agree to disagree, there are more and more people, therefore more and more diversity. Teleworking/sohos are also revolutionising the way people work. I know quite a few relatively remote villages around here where once upon a time nobody who have even thought about settling in, which are now turned into building sites. But then, as Clinton said "What is your definition of remote?". [quote user="Panda "] But there's still no work, true this may improve the mix of kids but does nothing for their prospects and therefore theirs and their teachers expectations of life outside school. EDIt : prices are supposed to be on a general decline also across the board [/quote] At this time of year prices always come down, but there is still an acute shortage of affordable homes, the only homes that are affordable are away from the major centres, therefore...

True, but with the price of real estates going through the roof in major cities, there seems to be a large influx of people from the cities to the more rural areas (in fact I was having this discussion with a local official - a notable  - a few weeks ago, who confirmed "l'exode rural à l'envers". Therefore this is changing the population mix quite a lot.

And if... changing school was in fact a good thing, that stings the kids into action? Food for thoughts, no? As for small rural schools, there seems to be a lot people actually moving to the country to put their kids there.

[quote user="Just Katie"] I know many boarders[/quote] One of many cultural differences, in the UK a boarder refers more often than not to a posh school. In France the "pensionnat" (boarding school) tends to refer to a very ordinary school, as it is not uncommon in rural areas to have the children stay at the lycée during the week. The same goes for "seminariste", which refers to someone going to a school run by priests and which i think, but i could be completely wrong, would be the closest equivalent to the British private school (did they not use to be called public schools?), as discipline and teaching are strict, but fees a lot lower though.

[quote user="Just Katie"]Sigognac, are you talking about putting their children into a private school in UK which could be viewed as a social climbing exercise or, putting their children into  a private school in France which would be viewed as a necessity?[/quote] Quite true in the UK, equally true in France, although as usual it is more complicated on our side of the Channel, where you have private and private. Most of the "private" schools in France are in fact confessional schools, mostly catholic, which are state funded; must follow the national curriculum, but cannot select on the grounds of religion. There would be an entry fee, but very low, in the range of 300 euros a year. This system works all the way to University. Then there are the really private school (you even find some that replicate the "olde England" system with ties, blazers, etc.), where you pay through the nose, and a number of murky institutions which (mostly at Lycé level) can prepare you for the "concours" (the infamous "boîtes à concours").

There are clearly situations when private is the only solution, and one should not have to jusytify himself. However, I was refering to people equating private = better, which is not always true, especially if you balance the time and sacrifices one will have to make to pay the fees, and the actual results. Especially in terms of having to work so much that you no longer have time to spend with your kids, which is after all also key to a successful education.  

One of the things that amazed me in England was the number of people who remortgaged their houses to put their kids in a private school (many of whom could not be called "rich") as if it was some kind of Holy Grail.  It is not just the fees, you get sollicited at every occasion in a private school...    

I have two free (you read correctly) tickets for the English film festival on Friday 30/11 at 20.30. This is a sponsored event, courtesy of Crédit Agricole, the movie will be followed by a cocktail (free as well).    

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="Clair"]Sadly, I have to agree with Samdebretagne [:(] I have been approached by several parents whose children are in dire need of help with their English studies. They are due to sit their Bac next year. The level of fluency is very poor and they really struggle to string sentences together. Very very sad situation... [:(] [/quote]I was asked to spend a few hours with the nephew of my neighbour opposite when he was sitting his bac' last year.  It was scary how utterly appalling his English was, given that at that stage he only had a couple of weeks to go before taking the exam'.  I had been under the impression that the bac' was A level standard but he certainly spoke English far worse than I spoke French at that age.  I do think rural areas have the most problems as there are so few people to converse with properly in other languages.  It's great for French learners here because it's sink or swim - but must be pretty tough the other way around.[/quote]   There is quite a lot in this: - English is compulsory for all, whereas I understand A levels are on a voluntary basis. I also think there are far too many subjects taught for the Bac, but that's another story. - The French system does not encourage you to speak (bit of a hurdle for a foreign language...), and class numbers can reach 40 or more. In an ideal world, there should be language labs, and a native speaker somewhere, but in practice, there's rarely enough money. Therefore many will come out of the Lycée or even University with only a shaky grasp of spoken English, but might be able to discuss Shakespeare or some obscure grammatical point. All in all a problem of mass production rather than location. If it is any consolation, the teaching of German is even worse. - I worked as a French language assistant for a couple of years in the UK, and the A Levels do vary greatly from one school to the other. Some were very good, others... I then taught adults and had the same problem.

Don't take this as a put down, but learning a language is a long journey. I have lived in the UK for 20 years, I work as a translator,... and I am still learning. Moreover, learning a language is not a smooth curve, there are times when you feel you have achieved a lot and others when you feel it is all going downhill... The main thing is to set oneself achievable goals.