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30/01/2008, 8:56 Mackyfrance Joined on 24/05/2007 Posts 33 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now?  Tresco wrote: It's a very interesting question Macky and I'm glad you've replicated it here. If people could say the ages their children were when they started school in French, I think that'd be helpful. We toyed with the idea of moving here when my son was aged 11/12 but for me, at that time, it already felt 'too late' for him. So, I have no personal experiences to add to the thread, but I'm really hoping for a better response than the question got on TF.   Mine started here at 6 and 8 and are now in 5eme and CM2.    Report

30/01/2008, 9:31 Catalpa Joined on 23/08/2004 Southern Manche - 50 Posts 1,531 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now? Maybe the lack of response is because (at least in part) the moving of families with young children to France as a lifestyle choice rather than a work-driven move (to work for a multinational company for eg) is a relatively recent thing. In which case perhaps not that many children have gone through the French education system and come out at the other end. Sure, lots of British people have been moving to France over the years, but perhaps earlier arrivals were early retired / retired so children were already out of the nest and fledged in the UK. There's also the possibility that people who've been here long enough for, say, an 11-year old on arrival to go completely through the French system are no longer frequenting these forums because they no longer need them. I can offer the experience of a British friend who has two children who by now are about 17-ish and 15. The elder is training as a chef - college + placement at a very good restaurant; the younger is intending to train as a midwife.    Report

30/01/2008, 10:01 raindog Joined on 26/09/2007 HERAULT Posts 796 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now?  Mackyfrance wrote: Where are you hearing these stories Twinkle?  Of the people I know who've educated their children here not one of the children has found work in France and all have voluntarily opted to return to the UK. That's what I tried to say in my response. Niether of our sons has managed to find work in France. (except temporary jobs of course) sociability is just a big smile and a big smile is nothing but teeth    Report

30/01/2008, 10:11 Gemonimo Joined on 25/09/2007 lost in the vines in the 33 Posts 202 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now? Mine started at 14, 12 and 4. My little four year old is now a strapping 22yr old who has applied to become a french citizen. Growing up they only had french television and the only english they ever spoke was to me. The result is that their french is better than their english. Does that bother me? No. They are strong, independent, multicultural, multilingual and the tough times we went through in france helped to make them that way Everyone is different and everyones circumstances are different but I made a point of never looking back, never allowing the 'what ifs' to surface and interfere with playing with the hand we'd been dealt. But as many posters have mentioned, noone knows our children better than us, so if you think its going to work doe you, then go for it! If there's no wind, row    Report

30/01/2008, 18:06 Lucinda Joined on 23/10/2007 Dordogne Posts 70 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now? We moved here 13 years ago when the kids were 10 and 5 - now at 23 and 18, I have one training to be a Vet (he's in his second year at Ecole Veterinaire) and one about to do her Bac and planning on studying Pharmacy. Neither have plans to go back to the UK - in fact they're more French than English. BUT they are both following career paths where employment should be relatively easy for them. They were both very concious that their education has to lead to a long term career where they will be in demand. We live in a very rural part where most kids go into the tourist industry in one way or another. It IS hard here to get employment but, I have to say, much of that is down to the employment laws.............which maybe changing (fingers crossed!!!)        Report

30/01/2008, 18:46 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,954 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now?  Mackyfrance wrote: If they all end up having to move back to the UK to find work then I'm not sure what the point is. Macky - they can go back bi-lingual or even tr-lingual as most children study Spanish here as well.  Also does it matter if they go back?  Two of my teenagers are planning to go back.  One is studying to be a chef and already has tentative job offers in the UK where a French cookery qualification is a passport to a job.  The other is studying to be a nanny and expects to easily find a London (or possibly a Paris) position because of her language skills.   Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

30/01/2008, 19:09 Scooby Joined on 25/09/2007 Peak District Posts 298 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now? For a section of the population that would be considered relatively affluent or, at least, motivated it's not a particularly good success rate....    Report

30/01/2008, 19:53 Gemonimo Joined on 25/09/2007 lost in the vines in the 33 Posts 202 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now?  Scooby wrote: For a section of the population that would be considered relatively affluent or, at least, motivated it's not a particularly good success rate.... I suppose it depends what you consider success. If there's no wind, row    Report

30/01/2008, 20:15 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,954 Re: Did you educate your children in France? What jobs are they doing now? I don't think that there are huge numbers of people on this Forum with children.  Most seem to have grandchildren.  Am I right?   Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

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