Education!
Nov 12th 2008 | 8:16 am
#16
Happy here..
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 219
From: Halifax,NS
Re: Education!
Eve n..you should chill out a bit(do they teach that in Uni?)
I think you should heed your own advice and keep your personal opinions to yourself!, I am entitled to my opinion just as you are!! I dont remember being as rude as you though in my post??!!!???
Still, You have been in Paris a while!!
'''When in Rome'''' (Or Paris for that matter)
Anyway,
With regards to the original post..we have had a great experience with the education here in france as have a lot of other people...ask around and take in all the information then make your own 'Intelligent decision'...
You could always stay in uk?
Al..
I think you should heed your own advice and keep your personal opinions to yourself!, I am entitled to my opinion just as you are!! I dont remember being as rude as you though in my post??!!!???
Still, You have been in Paris a while!!
'''When in Rome'''' (Or Paris for that matter)
Anyway,
With regards to the original post..we have had a great experience with the education here in france as have a lot of other people...ask around and take in all the information then make your own 'Intelligent decision'...
You could always stay in uk?
Al..
Nov 12th 2008 | 8:58 am
#18
Happy here..
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 219
From: Halifax,NS
Re: Education!
When we moved on from France to Canada, our youngest was still at school, and we thought it would be easier for him there. However, we found it was so bad compared to France, that we ended up sending him to a private school, so he could get his international bacclaureate. However, the few times I've tried to share these experiences on the Canadian forum, I've got lynched and I rarely bother to post there now
Yet as pointed out earlier, it's always good to hear from both sides, good and bad experiences, so people can get a more balanced view. I really do think it can make a difference as to where you live in France. There are quite a few English children at school here, all have/are doing well. The schools arranged for free French lessons for ours when we first arrived, without us asking for them, the teachers at the Institut St Lo were great, and I know our 3 all look back on the time they spent at school here with great affection, and are still in touch with the friends they made.
Yet as pointed out earlier, it's always good to hear from both sides, good and bad experiences, so people can get a more balanced view. I really do think it can make a difference as to where you live in France. There are quite a few English children at school here, all have/are doing well. The schools arranged for free French lessons for ours when we first arrived, without us asking for them, the teachers at the Institut St Lo were great, and I know our 3 all look back on the time they spent at school here with great affection, and are still in touch with the friends they made.
I have some friends near Toulouse and they are quite happy with their childs education in a French school.My sister lives in Antibes and says many expats living down there have put their children in the British school.It is true the levels reached here are superior to that of the UK.My concern is that there isnt much balance in regards to a childs studies and his/her confidence which is of no concern here.The national obsession of how many years plus BAC you have is a worry.I have seen so many Lycee students who have been shot down by the system because they have been called 'nul' or their hard work dis regarded as rubbish throughout their schooling its hard not to be negative when I have had endless amounts of students sitting infront of me so disillusioned. These kids coming from all over France to study at my Uni'.
I am curious when I hear such good things coming from people living here.My concerns are echoed by most of my English and French friends living in my area.
Maybe its Paris.Even so after my experiences I am not willing to try elsewhere as you know off to Canada soon.
My advice to Jenny is to get the schools ready first if you decide to make the move.There are obviously some good schools out here you just need to find them.Just one more thing, there is no set structure in regards to children with learning difficulties so its very much up to the individual school,I believe that the eduction National doesnt recognise dyslexia,help is found through your local 'orthophonist'.
Good luck.
Eve
Nov 12th 2008 | 5:29 pm
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 214
From: Herault
Re: Education!
Likewise, Eve. It isn't just the Ile-de-France area, I hear those same concerns from a number of British and French friends too. You make some excellent points, and give the OP very good, well-informed advice - based on both your personal and professional experience. Personal experience alone is all well and good, but it doesn't provide the overview that is needed.
Nov 12th 2008 | 8:24 pm
#20
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,987
Re: Education!
Eve talks alot of sense. She's well worth listening to. Our two youngest entered the French school system at bad ages really, 13 and 16. Daughter progressed quite well with the language, but didn't pass any exams - she'd already passed in the UK, so had qualifications. Son had two years of school here and didn't like it at all, apart from sports. There was little help from the majority of the teachers, and arguments with some were common. The English teacher marked down our son all the time, (even though he has a good command of the English language), to the point that he just gave up trying. There were one or two teachers that had the patience and time to deal with our kids, but they had limited time as they were also in demand by the French kids, naturally. Again, son left with no brevet. He's since been offered two apprenticeships. One as a mechanic, the other as a floor tiler. He's at that age though where he doesn't really know what he wants to do, and I don't really want to push him into a trade he's unhappy with.
The way things are taught here is very structured, to the point of being 'blinkered'. That said, once you're out of the school system, and looking for work here then qualifications seem to count for little in the main. Personality counts for much more. Daughter is now full fluent at 19, has a good apprenticeship, her bosses think the world of her, so much so that she's been chosen from the staff to attend an expo in Paris next week with them and her boyfriend. Son's had seasonal work while waiting for an apprenticeship. He's 17 in Feb, so young enough to get one next year meanwhile he can take the seasonal work he's offered. Both kids speak good French, daughter like a native.
So, in my own experience, school doesn't really matter unless your kids expect to go to uni, because after school (as of now, though it could change) they'll find work if they want to.
The way things are taught here is very structured, to the point of being 'blinkered'. That said, once you're out of the school system, and looking for work here then qualifications seem to count for little in the main. Personality counts for much more. Daughter is now full fluent at 19, has a good apprenticeship, her bosses think the world of her, so much so that she's been chosen from the staff to attend an expo in Paris next week with them and her boyfriend. Son's had seasonal work while waiting for an apprenticeship. He's 17 in Feb, so young enough to get one next year meanwhile he can take the seasonal work he's offered. Both kids speak good French, daughter like a native.
So, in my own experience, school doesn't really matter unless your kids expect to go to uni, because after school (as of now, though it could change) they'll find work if they want to.
Dec 2nd 2008 | 12:20 am
#21
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 17
From: Between Leeds & Harrogate UK
Re: Education!
Wow, thanks for all the info guys its been a huge help, we have been worried about the language barrier for out son with autism and we really dont think he will get on well learning another language and as it stands at the moment he has a full time 1 on 1 learning assistant in school which he realy needs i it would be a huge step back if this did'nt continue!
We are still determine to leave the uk though but have had to turn our sights to an english speaking country - canada - which was our second choice, i wanted to thank everyone before i went on over to the canada boards.
So thankyou, all your comments have been much apreciated.
jenni
We are still determine to leave the uk though but have had to turn our sights to an english speaking country - canada - which was our second choice, i wanted to thank everyone before i went on over to the canada boards.
So thankyou, all your comments have been much apreciated.
jenni
Dec 2nd 2008 | 4:26 am
#22
Happy here..
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 219
From: Halifax,NS
Re: Education!
Eve talks alot of sense. She's well worth listening to. Our two youngest entered the French school system at bad ages really, 13 and 16. Daughter progressed quite well with the language, but didn't pass any exams - she'd already passed in the UK, so had qualifications. Son had two years of school here and didn't like it at all, apart from sports. There was little help from the majority of the teachers, and arguments with some were common. The English teacher marked down our son all the time, (even though he has a good command of the English language), to the point that he just gave up trying. There were one or two teachers that had the patience and time to deal with our kids, but they had limited time as they were also in demand by the French kids, naturally. Again, son left with no brevet. He's since been offered two apprenticeships. One as a mechanic, the other as a floor tiler. He's at that age though where he doesn't really know what he wants to do, and I don't really want to push him into a trade he's unhappy with.
The way things are taught here is very structured, to the point of being 'blinkered'. That said, once you're out of the school system, and looking for work here then qualifications seem to count for little in the main. Personality counts for much more. Daughter is now full fluent at 19, has a good apprenticeship, her bosses think the world of her, so much so that she's been chosen from the staff to attend an expo in Paris next week with them and her boyfriend. Son's had seasonal work while waiting for an apprenticeship. He's 17 in Feb, so young enough to get one next year meanwhile he can take the seasonal work he's offered. Both kids speak good French, daughter like a native.
So, in my own experience, school doesn't really matter unless your kids expect to go to uni, because after school (as of now, though it could change) they'll find work if they want to.
The way things are taught here is very structured, to the point of being 'blinkered'. That said, once you're out of the school system, and looking for work here then qualifications seem to count for little in the main. Personality counts for much more. Daughter is now full fluent at 19, has a good apprenticeship, her bosses think the world of her, so much so that she's been chosen from the staff to attend an expo in Paris next week with them and her boyfriend. Son's had seasonal work while waiting for an apprenticeship. He's 17 in Feb, so young enough to get one next year meanwhile he can take the seasonal work he's offered. Both kids speak good French, daughter like a native.
So, in my own experience, school doesn't really matter unless your kids expect to go to uni, because after school (as of now, though it could change) they'll find work if they want to.
