French educational and teaching methods, what do you think?

General Discussion
41

I had a completely rose-tinted view of French education when we bought out 11 year old here and threw him into the deep end. I thought the fact that there were 24 to a class, meant that he'd get a good helping of individual attention.

He went to a rural collège where the headmaster once declared to me that, yes, he was indeed, discriminating against the foreign students because in his experience, they needed to be 'pushed harder'. He himself is Spanish.

If I had known how antiquated and authoritarian their system would be, I would have moved mountains, (definitely including our home), in order to send him to an international school if it meant ANY hope of him not giving up completely on getting any higher education at all. He is 18 now and HATES school. He left at 17. By that time it was too late, he'd given up on learning long before. He tried lycée and afterwards tried day release apprentiship but he hates the way he's spoken to. At home he gets respect and gets to express an opinion. At school and even at the training institute he gets treated like a dog. I blame us for being so naive and I blame the French educational set up, and the total lack of provision for foreign students in a rural setting. One or two of the french tutors did their best to give our son extra french tuition (one in particular was great) but generally, the attitude was "sit, copy from the board and listen. This is how we learn in France, not by doing, but by listening and shutting up."

When I suggested that my son was little more than a free educational assistant in every English lesson he attended, and that he really should be being challenged more by giving him separate assignments, I was ignored. If he hadn't been an obsessive reader and we had had an English TV for him to zombie out in front of instead of reading novels, he'd never have learned to read and write in English to an adult level either and I worry about his level there too. I doubt he'd pass an English GCSE.

My son would absoloutely say that he wished he went to school in the UK. He had 5 months in the UK not long after we moved here when we got stuck there due to a mix up over health cover. He regretted coming back and although a certain amount of his comparison between the two systems is definitely due to avoidance and teenage irresponsibility, I have to say I wish I'd stayed there too.

On the plus side, university is free.

My advice is go hard for an international school even if it means moving. But very good luck with whatever you decide.

42

I dont have children ...So all I can say is that all the children I have met in france so far and thats quiet a few of all ages is that they have all been bright articulate and inquiring ... If thats an indication of the schools here I would not worry if I was you ...I have had 6 years olds saying words to me in english and older kids having full conversations even through for some Im the first english person they have spoken to. I have been helping a 15 year old with english home work and she can talk on so many topics and she has only been learning for one year. The work she is set is interesting and up todate.

I cant imagine any child I know talking to a stranger in another language or in some cases thier own as well in the UK.

It may be different to what you know but they will grow up in this kind of schooling so it will be fine for them....

43

Hi Laura,

I can understand your concerns as we had experience of an English primary school before we moved here and it is very very different to a French school!

We have been here 4 years with 3 boys age 4, 6 and 9 years..... therefore my experience/viewpoint is only from maternelle and primaire here but I know lots of other SFN members kids have gone through the entire school system so will be able to add much more.

Basically I think you are worrying far too much at this stage - your little girl will be going into petite section and that really is like all day playtime.... it is all learning through play and is very similar to a UK pre-school. Mine have attended both privee and public schools here and there was no difference.

If I were you I would let her start your local school next year and that will give you a couple of years spending the time to make the decision over schools, new jobs and moving house. I really dont see the need to rush such big decisions as buying a house in a whole new area!

I was horrified when I first looked at the schools here as it all seemed so old fashioned compared to the UK primaries I was used to but I am so glad I have them a chance and have quickly learned to love the fact they concentrate on the basics first which gives the children such a good foundation. When the children first started school here I never thought I would say this but I wouldnt swop our little classrooms (9 kids per class), with victorian style single desks and little chalk boards!

As for her education after nursery.... she will not start in the formal system until age 6/7. We have had very positive experiences with the school system in France however I have heard horror stories but to be fair I have heard just as many about the UK schools! For us the formal, structured, strict French system suits our boys very well. They are all incredibly bright (honest not just saying that!) but have a lot of energy and need to be constantly pushed/challenged within a firm structure. The French schools we have been involved with so far are great for this and they are all excelling here. In the UK they would have been bored and the flexibility would not keep them on the straight line they need - I have seen it repeatedly with the boys of many friends.

We are also bringing up the boys bilingual and they read, write and speak fluently in both English and French. When they speak French noone knows they are English and visa versa.... this is of course until I open my mouth with my Del Boy French! My hubby and I do not speak fluent French and at home it is English only unless they have friends to play.... so English books, tv, games and talk! We work with all three of them to keep them up to their peer level in English and if they had to start in an English school we know they would fit right in at a good level. As well as being at an all French school we also encourage them to do a variety of activities which helps to balance out the 'traditional' school focus and helps them speak French in a wider context (sport, music, drama). We like bits from both cultures and love the fact that we can provide the best of both to the boys... it is such an amazing opportunity!

We have always actively avoided schools with other English children as we want the kids to consider themselves to be French when they are at school.... I have heard so many stories of schools with lots of English kids where the kids stick in English groups and this seems to always end up in lots of problems. Not that we have a problem with English kids and we have expat friends with kids who all play quite happily together in both English and French!

I know there will be SFN members who may disagree with the above but for us the school system has (so far!) been a very positive experience and we have had no problems developing the boys bilingualism.

Hope this helps

Natasha