Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

09/07/2007, 14:02 Ac50 Joined on 23/08/2004 Normandy Posts 68 Teenagers in France - again! For all of those who are hesitating taking their teenagers to France, I thought you might be interested in a quick update of how ours are doing.  No doubt the moaning myrtles will all crawl out of the wood work to shout me down but here goes We moved to Normandy in 2001, from South Africa, although originally from UK.  Children had never lived in Europe before and none of us spoke French. Children were 16, 14 and 13 years old at the time.  All went back a year and eldest became weekly boarder at school in St Lo, as the school felt it would help her improve her french.  She passed her Bac (a mention assez bien ) and went on to university in Caen.  She has just graduated and is working for the AA (UK) in Lyon for the summer as a translator (she is now trilingual, English, French and Spanish) before starting her masters in September.   Our middle daughter is in second year at university and doing well, and our youngest has just passed his Bac (we can stop holding our breath now!) and starts university in September.  He turned 19 in March but has no hang ups about his age, opposed to friends in UK who seem obsessed if their kids don't have their A levels before they turn 18!  All of them look upon their time at school in France as a positive experience and see it as opening up all sorts of opportunities for them now. They have made incredible friends here, who they are still close to, and as you can probably tell, we are very proud of them. Even though they are all now looking at moving away, they still think of our house in Normandy as home - my OH is based in Canada at the moment but he also feels the same way! They are not exceptional kids but we did all want to live in France, which I think makes a big difference. So, for all of you hesitating about making your move because you have teenagers, take the plunge, it can be done and you might find you all come out of the experience closer and happier than you ever thought possible.    Report

09/07/2007, 15:40 Val_2 Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 3,160 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Don't worry about your 19 year old being too old for Uni, my son signed on at UBO Brest today and he is over 20 having done two qualifications at Lycée first which took two years and now he has 8 years of study if he goes all the way to a Doctorate. Those who want to do well here, will do so regardless of when they arrived, but those who refuse to learn french or go to school when they reach 16 will unfortunately find themselves left behind in the job stakes.    Report

09/07/2007, 15:41 Val_2 Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 3,160 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Sorry error there, should have read he has done FOUR years at Lycée first.    Report

09/07/2007, 15:49 Renaud Joined on 23/08/2004 Barnes / Mirambeau Posts 620 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Ac50. Congratulations and thanks for your posting, it is great to hear posative news. I hope that your children continue to thrive. Gus www.relax-in-france.com    Report

09/07/2007, 18:24 Ac50 Joined on 23/08/2004 Normandy Posts 68 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Hi Val, what subjects is your son going to study at Brest?  My husband was there recently as once of the judges for a doctoral thesis (he's a marine biologist) He's done lots of work at the university of Brest and we've visited often, it seems a great place to study. None of ours are doing science, think they had enough of it growing up!  The main thing though is they are happy and I agree with you entirely when you say that those who want to do well here will do so. I thought I'd be sad when our "baby" finally left school, but to be honest I feel quite liberated and am really looking forward to this new phase in our lives.      Report

09/07/2007, 20:02 Chrisb Joined on 23/08/2004 Manche (50) Posts 283 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Congratulations to all your children, AC50 - no wonder you are proud of them!! I agree, a motivatated teenager, who wanted to come to France, can do well - a lad started in 3eme at my son's school last year (in Carentan) and just passed his brevet with an assez bien as well. He is going to do a Bac ES - the school advised him to do this rather than the BacPro that his friend is doing, because they say he has the ability. I have 2 teenagers - going into 5eme and 3eme, who have good moyens, the eldest of whom wants to do medicine, they love it here. Chris PS I was talking about you with Syvain Bourdet on Saturday - it was funny that he mentioned you and I immediately knew who he was talking about from your previous postings on here, even though we have never met!!!            Report

10/07/2007, 0:36 Sprogster Joined on 23/08/2004 Var & C.I. Posts 332 Re: Teenagers in France - again! I think one needs to be very cautious about encouraging parents to move teenagers to France especially over the age of fourteen, unless the teenager has an absolute desire to do so and a history of strong academic ability. The risks are very real and I certainly would not want the responsibility of encouraging a potentially disruptive move at such a critical time in an average teenagers education, if it did not work out as hoped. You may not think your children are exceptional, but your elder daughter who is trilingual and going to start a masters degree and of whom you are rightly proud, is certainly well above average.  Incidentally, the French University system is not currently well regarded internationally, with the highest rated French University placed at number 45 by world ranking. Something that the new President NS has pledged is his first priority to rectify.     Report

10/07/2007, 11:45 Deby Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 641 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Incidentally, the French University system is not currently well regarded internationally, with the highest rated French University placed at number 45 by world ranking. Something that the new President NS has pledged is his first priority to rectify.  And the French have a cheek to say our UK based qualifications are not worthy of theirs. A friend with a french au pair was astounded recently when the au pair believed her Licence was better than a UK masters degree 'as all french qualifications are obviously higher.'  I wonder what it is about the french that makes them believe in these things, it seems a national trait. :-) I would be nervous of introducing 13/14 years into France with no language skills. Deby http://www.chateau-de-clerac.com    Report

10/07/2007, 12:31 Ac50 Joined on 23/08/2004 Normandy Posts 68 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Hi Chris Sylvian is a great guy - as is his dad.  We have bought all our vehicles from him, including Rebecca's first car, a 15 year old Renault 5.  I got a nice Laguna from him last year, first car I'd ever bought without my OH checking it over!  He's certainly nothing like your stereotype car salesman.  Do you live in Carentan or further out?  We are in town now, close to the train station.  Where does your son go to school?  Our youngest 2 were at Notre Dame,in Carentan, before going to Institut St Lo.  They were really helpful, arranging extra french lessons etc.  The English teacher there (sadly he was transferred to Caen) even arranged for our middle child to meet up with his daughter who was the same age, as he was worried she was lonely.  Glad to hear your 2 are happy.  It makes such a difference - to you all!      Report

Page 1 of 9 (74 items) 1 2 3 4 5 > ... Last »

France Forum » Living » French Educatio... » Re: Teenagers in France - again!

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password About This Forum (READ ONLY) |- About This Forum Moving |- Finding/Owning French Property |- Making the Move From Outside the EU |- Long-Term Letting |- Employment Vacancies in France Legal and Finance |- French Legal Issues |- French Finance Building and Renovation |- House Renovations |-- Working with Wood Living |- Earning a Living |- Driving |- French Education |- Pets |- Animal Welfare, Rescue & Protection |- French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone |- Health |-- Changes to Healthcare Entitlement, CPAM, CMU and Cartes Vitales |- Swimming Pools in France Owning/Running a Business |- French Artisans |- Gite Owners |- Hotel and Restaurant Owners |- B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners Leisure and Pastimes |- Gardening |- Sport, Leisure and Pastimes |- Shopping |- French Antiques, Arts & Crafts |- Photography |- Motorcycling in France |- Books and Literature |- Getting Married in France |- Pregnancy and Birth French Culture |- French Food and Wine |- French Culture |- French Language |-- French Language FAQs and Useful Links |- Wildlife/Nature/Environment |- French History Travelling to/from France |- Travelling to/from France |- Latest Good Value Deals to/from France Holidays |- Holidays General Discussion |- The Complete France Post Bag |- The Lighter Side |- Other Topics |- Forum Technical Support |- Useful Links About France/French Living Regions |- HOTEL SEARCH |- Central |- North East |- North West |- Paris Ile de France |- South East |- South West |- East |- West |- Corsica and DOM-TOMs