Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
Apr 9th 2018, 6:53 pm
#1
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4
Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
Hello,
We are a french family living in the US. We are moving near Aix this summer. My oldest will be going to IBS to study for the IB.
I cannot afford to put all my kids in IBS and so I am looking for a bilingual school for my middle schoolers. They speak french but lack a lot in writing skills. They have been going to a public american school for the last 5 years.
College Mignet doesn't have space for them so I am looking at College Jacques Monod with the international section or Ecole Privee Val Saint Andre.
Can anybody give me info on those two schools.?
I am afraid that College Monod might be a big school with small groups for international section but then big classes for the rest of the day... What is the atmosphere there? How are the teachers? We like the way american teachers are always patient and positive.
Val Saint Andre? Cannot find much info on the school. I like its small size but it does have a cost for 3 children. I want to make sure that the level of the school and of the english courses justify the price.
If you know of the other schools, I am all ears.
Thank you,
Laetitia :-)
We are a french family living in the US. We are moving near Aix this summer. My oldest will be going to IBS to study for the IB.
I cannot afford to put all my kids in IBS and so I am looking for a bilingual school for my middle schoolers. They speak french but lack a lot in writing skills. They have been going to a public american school for the last 5 years.
College Mignet doesn't have space for them so I am looking at College Jacques Monod with the international section or Ecole Privee Val Saint Andre.
Can anybody give me info on those two schools.?
I am afraid that College Monod might be a big school with small groups for international section but then big classes for the rest of the day... What is the atmosphere there? How are the teachers? We like the way american teachers are always patient and positive.
Val Saint Andre? Cannot find much info on the school. I like its small size but it does have a cost for 3 children. I want to make sure that the level of the school and of the english courses justify the price.
If you know of the other schools, I am all ears.
Thank you,
Laetitia :-)
Apr 10th 2018, 9:56 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,888
Re: Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
Hello,
We are a french family living in the US. We are moving near Aix this summer. My oldest will be going to IBS to study for the IB.
I cannot afford to put all my kids in IBS and so I am looking for a bilingual school for my middle schoolers. They speak french but lack a lot in writing skills. They have been going to a public american school for the last 5 years.
College Mignet doesn't have space for them so I am looking at College Jacques Monod with the international section or Ecole Privee Val Saint Andre.
Can anybody give me info on those two schools.?
I am afraid that College Monod might be a big school with small groups for international section but then big classes for the rest of the day... What is the atmosphere there? How are the teachers? We like the way american teachers are always patient and positive.
Val Saint Andre? Cannot find much info on the school. I like its small size but it does have a cost for 3 children. I want to make sure that the level of the school and of the english courses justify the price.
If you know of the other schools, I am all ears.
Thank you,
Laetitia :-)
We are a french family living in the US. We are moving near Aix this summer. My oldest will be going to IBS to study for the IB.
I cannot afford to put all my kids in IBS and so I am looking for a bilingual school for my middle schoolers. They speak french but lack a lot in writing skills. They have been going to a public american school for the last 5 years.
College Mignet doesn't have space for them so I am looking at College Jacques Monod with the international section or Ecole Privee Val Saint Andre.
Can anybody give me info on those two schools.?
I am afraid that College Monod might be a big school with small groups for international section but then big classes for the rest of the day... What is the atmosphere there? How are the teachers? We like the way american teachers are always patient and positive.
Val Saint Andre? Cannot find much info on the school. I like its small size but it does have a cost for 3 children. I want to make sure that the level of the school and of the english courses justify the price.
If you know of the other schools, I am all ears.
Thank you,
Laetitia :-)
Can't help personally, but how old are your "middle-schoolers" (US expression!)? Any younger than about 10 could go to State Primaire and pick up writing skills quickly, but pre-teens and teens do pose problems, as you've realised, since they must write essays in French in all the subjects in Collège/Lycée.
You could help the transition, whichever schools they go to, by studying French history, literature, even French-biassed geography, with them before you leave for France.
Good luck, and if we can help with other issues, don't hesitate to ask! Obviously you'll have fewer questions than your average "expat" arriving in France, but some aspects have changed since you were living here.
Apr 10th 2018, 10:49 am
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4
Re: Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
Hi.
Thanks for your reply.
My kids will enter 6eme, 4eme and 3eme (ages 11, 12 and 14)
So you're right, difficult age.
I don't want to put them in public schools until they have the right level in french. I know that going fron the American to the french system is really tough on kids, which is why I am trying to find them a smooth and gentler transition 🙂
Thanks for your reply.
My kids will enter 6eme, 4eme and 3eme (ages 11, 12 and 14)
So you're right, difficult age.
I don't want to put them in public schools until they have the right level in french. I know that going fron the American to the french system is really tough on kids, which is why I am trying to find them a smooth and gentler transition 🙂
Apr 10th 2018, 3:07 pm
#4
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
Hi,
I did this the other way round... and I totally agree that the transition into french school will be difficult.
Have you asked on 'francais du monde" forum about handling this?
also what about CNED? (Académie en ligne : tous les cours de l'année en accès gratuit)
I did this the other way round... and I totally agree that the transition into french school will be difficult.
Have you asked on 'francais du monde" forum about handling this?
also what about CNED? (Académie en ligne : tous les cours de l'année en accès gratuit)
Apr 12th 2018, 6:34 am
#5
Banned
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 12
Re: Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
An international school that is quite famous in Aix en provence is IBS of PROVENCE - International Private Bilingual School or Private School Val Saint André
Apr 12th 2018, 6:54 am
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,888
Re: Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
I suspect that no one on BE has had personal experience of sending their children to any of the schools...
Apr 12th 2018, 10:50 am
#7
Just Joined
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4
Re: Aix en Provence - Bilingual Schools
Hi,
Thanks for all the replies.
I have the CNED but it is hard getting 3 kids to work on it properly... and it will never be enough for entry in a french school.
The private school Saint André seems like a good fit, I guess I was hoping someone had heard about it to confirm 🙂 or warn me before I send my checks 😅... I really can't find much about it online.
Thank you and I can't wait to go back to beautiful Provence!
Laetitia
Thanks for all the replies.
I have the CNED but it is hard getting 3 kids to work on it properly... and it will never be enough for entry in a french school.
The private school Saint André seems like a good fit, I guess I was hoping someone had heard about it to confirm 🙂 or warn me before I send my checks 😅... I really can't find much about it online.
Thank you and I can't wait to go back to beautiful Provence!
Laetitia
