University

[bonbon]

Hi,

my daughter has just gone off to spend her year in France (3rd yr of her degree). Is there anyone here with their child off to university? especially if you live there and know the system, I'd love to hear your views.

She is thrilled with her accommodation, far better than they were expecting. Own kitchenette and shower room. And a balcony! She loves it. They were told to expect a couple of hotplates, no fridge, for a landing of 40 rooms. Apparently the French students don't cook, they eat the full 3 course meal in the cafeteria each day at about 2 euros.

They have been told that there is just not the same social side to university in France. Their booklet says, it is rare for a French student to leave their room to socialise in the daytime or evening, they are busy studying. Now that I find hard to believe!

Her main problem at the moment is registering for her modules, it seems there is no central body, it's a question of trailing from department to department, studying the noticeboards, working out nothing clashes, and then being ready with a seemingly endless supply of photos.

Still, it sounds like she is having a wonderful time, what an opportunity.

We were surprised how early the term starts, compared to university in the UK.

I'll end my waffle now, just makes me feel a bit closer to her!

By the way, there has been no mention of internet access in the rooms. Is this common in France?

Bonbon

[Val_2]

My daughter started education superieur yesterday at a specialist Lycée because there are no universities here which specialise in tourism and associated marketing etc.She had to pass her BAC to qualify for a limited class of 16 max,but having english as a natural language helped her to gain credibility with the examiners at her interview. Its much the same thing though although there is no internat for students over 18 as it is a normal Lycée as well,so we have had to rent a private studio which is only 200m from the building and is clean,modern and on the ground level of an ordinary house with the owner living upstairs so she isn't completely on her own. We only had to supply an oven/grill. We were offered a place at the Université of Bretagne Occidentale but it was not her chosen subject and it was a lot futher away in Quimper whilst this one is only 100km. There seems to be a fair bit of social life with different clubs and a large indoor swimming pool to use,but as you say - heads down and studying at all times here as it is very competitive to get jobs in France specially teaching ones with only so many vacancies each year. You are right about the photos,so many different bits of card and paper and the price of books, makes me cry when I see the list. Anyway lets hope they all get on well and become successful in their future careers.

[bonbon]

What happened to my carefully composed reply?? Tis gone ah well.

Thank you Val_2 for your reply. What an interesting area your daughter is going into. I don't think mine has a direction really. She took 2yrs out before uni, worked in a pub, and doing a 4yr course now. She hopes someone will pay her to do a PhD! Well, we saw an opportunity in the Guardian a few weeks ago, so it could happen! Otherwise, she would have to work!!

Is it correct that French students still tend to go to the nearest university? My daughter, while not overjoyed at being in an international residence, thought that if she had been totally amongst French students, would have been totally alone at weekends as they went home?

She is concerned that she won't get enough opportunity to speak French. I am certain that she will return at the end of the year fluent.

Bonbon

[Val_2]

No, there is a choice of where you wish to study here. Several of my daughter's friends have chosen Rennes which is a good 3 hours from here,another is going to Quimper where we were also offered a place and others have chosen Paris and further afield depending on what they are studying. Locals here tend to head for Brest which is our nearest city and there are many university sites there from sport to engineering. Originally my daughter was going to go into the douanes/customs area and the nearest study centre was up Lille way or La Rochelle. I am sure your daughter will settle down and make friends,good ones too for life and as for the language,well she will find that she will have to learn it or get left out.

[bonbon]

Your daughter is bi-lingual I am sure. I feel my daughter will come back so, with more of an accent, yes, but being able to express herself freely, which is my definition of being lingual.

I know French people who have lived and worked here over 20 yrs. They are fluent in the sense they can express themselves, work, teach. But they will always sound French. I don't think you can speak without an accent unless you start very young. I wait to be pronounced wrong??

At what age, can you become totally bi-lingual, and completely for that to be unknown to others of your race?? ie they think that is your first language?

Bonbon

[LesLauriers]

[quote]Your daughter is bi-lingual I am sure. I feel my daughter will come back so, with more of an accent, yes, but being able to express herself freely, which is my definition of being lingual. I know Fre...[/quote]

>>At what age, can you become totally bi-lingual, and completely for that to be unknown to others of your race?? ie they think that is your first language?

We have lived in France for 2 years now. Our children were 4 & 8 when we moved (now 6 & 10) and I was recently told by some local friends that they speak french with no english accent at all, they sound completely 'local', especially our 10 year old.

[bonbon]

Leslauriers,

what an advantage for your children. You must feel that you have really done the right thing for them, to be completely bi-lingual. What an assett. I am sure that will be an advantage, whatever they do in life.

Bonbon

[Val_2]

My two lost their english accents within a year of living here. In fact, a few years later both at collège and at Lycée,some of the teachers didn't even know they were not french nationals. My son also has a very local accent and sometimes I find it hard to understand him as well. The older you are,the more difficult it seems to slip into a true french accent.