Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

10/07/2007, 13:04 Ac50 Joined on 23/08/2004 Normandy Posts 70 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Hi Deby, Do you have teenagers?  I am curious as to why would you be nervous of introducing 13/14 year olds into France with no language skills?  There are many people who have done so successfully and given their children opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have been exposed to.  Each child reacts differently and we had a back up plan if ours had found it too difficult.  Perhaps one of the problems with British nationals is we are too scared of taking a chance, especially where another language is concerned.  It's one of the things I love about the French in general - they are so confident and proud of their heritage.  When I compare our 3 to teenagers of friends in UK, I am so glad they had the chance to live here.  It was certainly not easy in the beginning but if ours can do it, then so can others.   My husband had been an academic all his working life, until we moved to France. Where ever you go, that system thinks they are better than any other.  Speak to any UK academic and they will say the system there is still  the best in the world.  One of the reasons our eldest didn't want to go to Canada is because many European universities wont accept north american degrees, yet speak to anyone in Canada and they will say their education system is fantastic.  I am not sure where this survey was conducted regarding the french university system, but my husband is still asked to be part of the jury who decide whether to award a Phd when it is defended by the candidate, here in France.  He was recently in Brest and he will tell you that it is certainly much harder for a french candidate to get a Phd from that respect, than it is for one in UK or Canada, where he is also involved in post graduate research.  Our eldest's first year at Caen was exshausting but paid off when she was accepted into second year.  She certainly had more lectures and was expected to work harder than first year students in UK who are helped much more by lecturers and tutors.  One of the reasons I stopped posting on this forum was because of all the negative comments I used to get every time I posted something positive about the education system in France and how children could cope with it.  You only have to read comments from Val2 and Chris to see we are not alone, although I do find it interesting we are all in Normandy/Brittany!  Whatever you may say, I know  that we have given our 3 a good start in life, and the fact they can now speak other languages fluently is a big bonus.  They wont be scared of taking a chance in the future, or hold themselves back by talking themselves into believing they can't do something before they even try, because they know already that they can do what many say can't be done.    Report

10/07/2007, 13:11 trumpet Joined on 21/06/2007 Bretagne 22 Posts 224 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Frankly AC50 I am not surprised that you get a bit of flack. I understand you are proud of your children and husband. But it does all come across as a bit of a Round Robin, circular.      Report

10/07/2007, 14:23 Ac50 Joined on 23/08/2004 Normandy Posts 70 Re: Teenagers in France - again! so people don't want to know that it's possible for English speaking teenagers to make it in the french education system? How stupid of me to forget we don't do positive on this forum! Do you have teenagers in France?    Report

10/07/2007, 14:26 Russethouse Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 10,080 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Frankly I think its refreshing to hear of someone who has had such a positive experience.  Everyones circumstances are different but I think good old PMA counts for a lot !   www.quimperclub.org 99    Report

10/07/2007, 14:33 trumpet Joined on 21/06/2007 Bretagne 22 Posts 224 Re: Teenagers in France - again! Very diplomatic Russet. There is positive and, in your face positive. Now I wonder which one AC50 comes under.    Report

10/07/2007, 15:44 Tourangelle Joined on 31/08/2004 37 Posts 939 Re: Teenagers in France - again! I think you read so much in your face negative about the school system here, that it is nice to read something so positive.  I think there are lots of people on here that have very young children here and wonder whether all the stories of doom and gloom are true.  While I agree that it can be difficult for children who arrive as teenagers, in my personal experience as a teacher I have seen this year two students who came from Bosnia two years ago then aged 13 and 14, who were put down a year, and knuckled down, learnt the French, and now the eldest is off to lycée, and the second passed the tests to go into a classe europeenne despite only having started in 5ème.  Yes, I've probably seen more fail, (tbh, more the boys) but I think with determination and support from the parents, it is do-able, if the child is bright and motivated, and has had a good school career in the country of origin.  One who wants to go home and can't see the point of school, won't do so well.    Report

10/07/2007, 15:57 Pierre ZFP Joined on 12/11/2004 PdC(62)/Luxembourg Posts 1,938 Re: Teenagers in France - again! I don't care if it is 'In yer face positive' (and I don't think it is as it happens)  I think it's good to hear such a thing and the very best of luck to them.  I have 2 teenage boys in the UK so I know what a nice warm feeling it is when they both do very well . Remember, apples and blackberrys do NOT count towards your 5-a-day    Report

10/07/2007, 17:11 trumpet Joined on 21/06/2007 Bretagne 22 Posts 224 Re: Teenagers in France - again! I also have children. In their thirties. (That doesn't make me old by the way) I too know the feeling you are talking about, don't get me wrong.  Its the manner in which the piece was presented that I am not sure of. The first word that came to my mind was Round Robin. Sorry if it offends. Too much self (look at what we have achieved) information can sound very gratuitous and puts people off. The poster remarked of how unsympathetically people have received posts by them in the past. I can see why.      Report

10/07/2007, 17:38 Ac50 Joined on 23/08/2004 Normandy Posts 70 Re: Teenagers in France - again! I never said how unsympathetic people were to my posts in the past - I said I was fed up with only getting negative comments about immigrant teenagers attending school in France. You seem to have missed my point entirely.  I was trying to encourage other parents who are thinking of moving to France with teenagers, not blowing our own trumpet. I'm sorry, but as you say your children are in their thirties, I'm not sure why you are contributing to this forum anyway, as opposed to someone like ourselves who have had children go through the system and are trying to help others in the same boat. In fact, I really am offended by your comments and think they are completely off the mark.       Report

Page 2 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