Comments on: French school life http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/ Living in France and daily life for a UK expat in the French blog! Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:50:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Melanie http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/comment-page-1/#comment-14900 Melanie Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:50:11 +0000 http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/#comment-14900 I'm sorry but I totally disagree with the writer of this piece. When my son started college here, his prof principal was an English Teacher. On the first day she asked the children to introduce themselves in French. Of the 24 children, most couldn't even do something that basic. Our experience of school here in the SW is that they are formulaic, dull, uninspiring and do nothing to motivate the brightest children. British children outstrip their French counterparts in every global survey. Illiteracy in France is also much higher. After nearly 4 years we are heading back to the UK as I see no future for my children if they continue their education in France. Following a recent thread on another forum it seems that most British children educated in France end up going back to the UK to find work and for university. JW, French teachers are civil servants and jobs are allocated by the various Academies which are responsible for schooling. The schools have no say in who is appointed and teachers have little say in where they are posted. I have come across one or two English (nationality) teachers working in France but it's very rare. Try the Education Forum on www.TotalFrance.com. I’m sorry but I totally disagree with the writer of this piece. When my son started college here, his prof principal was an English Teacher. On the first day she asked the children to introduce themselves in French. Of the 24 children, most couldn’t even do something that basic. Our experience of school here in the SW is that they are formulaic, dull, uninspiring and do nothing to motivate the brightest children. British children outstrip their French counterparts in every global survey. Illiteracy in France is also much higher.

After nearly 4 years we are heading back to the UK as I see no future for my children if they continue their education in France. Following a recent thread on another forum it seems that most British children educated in France end up going back to the UK to find work and for university.

JW, French teachers are civil servants and jobs are allocated by the various Academies which are responsible for schooling. The schools have no say in who is appointed and teachers have little say in where they are posted. I have come across one or two English (nationality) teachers working in France but it’s very rare. Try the Education Forum on http://www.TotalFrance.com.

]]> By: Boris http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/comment-page-1/#comment-14873 Boris Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:38:17 +0000 http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/#comment-14873 Do you know I'm not even sure if it's possible. I'm not sure how it works but teachers are, I think, all allocated and controlled centrally. They are also quite a unionised (protected) profession. I imagine that if your French is very good you could apply somehow to have your qualification recognised in France, but to be honest I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a suitable posting. Don't let that deter you trying though, I'm only guessing and might be wrong. My instinct tells me your best chance would be to apply either to private schools or to international schools in France, both of which (I think) would have more freedom over who they employ than state schools. Do you know I’m not even sure if it’s possible. I’m not sure how it works but teachers are, I think, all allocated and controlled centrally. They are also quite a unionised (protected) profession.
I imagine that if your French is very good you could apply somehow to have your qualification recognised in France, but to be honest I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a suitable posting. Don’t let that deter you trying though, I’m only guessing and might be wrong.
My instinct tells me your best chance would be to apply either to private schools or to international schools in France, both of which (I think) would have more freedom over who they employ than state schools.

]]> By: JW http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/comment-page-1/#comment-14860 JW Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:26:58 +0000 http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/#comment-14860 I am thinking of leaving the UK to live in France with my 12 year old son. I have never lived outside the UK before and currently work as a teacher but would like to try to broaden my horizons. I would like to teach in a french school, and would like to know how I can effectively begin my search for vacancies. In addition, I am slightly concerned about the difference in the French education system compared to that in the UK. There has been an attempt to encourage individualism and creativity in the UK system by increasing the curriculum. However, this has resulted in lower levels of achievements across the core subjects. The introduction of SATs (which was originally created to ensure schools were meeting their targets) is now been used as a tool to judge the success of students. Teachers are being expected to produce students with high levels of attainment in maths and english, and at the same time deliver a varied, interesting and differentiated curriculum. Something has to give! Is there not a middle ground? Thanks I am thinking of leaving the UK to live in France with my 12 year old son. I have never lived outside the UK before and currently work as a teacher but would like to try to broaden my horizons. I would like to teach in a french school, and would like to know how I can effectively begin my search for vacancies.

In addition, I am slightly concerned about the difference in the French education system compared to that in the UK. There has been an attempt to encourage individualism and creativity in the UK system by increasing the curriculum. However, this has resulted in lower levels of achievements across the core subjects. The introduction of SATs (which was originally created to ensure schools were meeting their targets) is now been used as a tool to judge the success of students. Teachers are being expected to produce students with high levels of attainment in maths and english, and at the same time deliver a varied, interesting and differentiated curriculum. Something has to give! Is there not a middle ground?
Thanks

]]> By: Boris http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/comment-page-1/#comment-14277 Boris Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:21:17 +0000 http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/#comment-14277 Thanks for that JB, it's very useful to hear someone else's experiences. I do happen to believe in the effectiveness of the 'back to basics' approach of French schools, but certainly I agree with the suggestion that the French system discourages creativity. Perhaps the differences between the two systems depend more on the actual schools and teachers involved than the country. I am aware that there are many very good schools in the UK, certainly better than our local schools here in SW France, and many that are less good. Likewise our experience of teachers has been much more positive than your own but I can well believe that varies a great deal from school to school. Potential expats be warned perhaps, because there is often little choice of school that your child will attend. Thanks again Thanks for that JB, it’s very useful to hear someone else’s experiences.
I do happen to believe in the effectiveness of the ‘back to basics’ approach of French schools, but certainly I agree with the suggestion that the French system discourages creativity.
Perhaps the differences between the two systems depend more on the actual schools and teachers involved than the country. I am aware that there are many very good schools in the UK, certainly better than our local schools here in SW France, and many that are less good.
Likewise our experience of teachers has been much more positive than your own but I can well believe that varies a great deal from school to school.
Potential expats be warned perhaps, because there is often little choice of school that your child will attend.
Thanks again

]]> By: JB http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/comment-page-1/#comment-14274 JB Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:45:46 +0000 http://www.francethisway.com/wp/french-school-life/2007/04/#comment-14274 Rubbish - could not disagree more. Your comparison test re foreign languages is not a fair one. French children are inundated with English (or American) culture everywhere they go. How often do you see magazine adverts written in French in the UK? Similarly the French (as all other anglophone nations) have to learn English if they want to get on. This is not arrogance or laziness it is just a fact of European life, the english speakers of this world have won the democratic lottery in this particular instance. Ask yourself what is the obvious second language for an English child to learn and you will see what I mean. For the other countries there is no question. Pose the same question in Maths, History, Science and you will find, certainly for primary age children. There is no question. I have lived in France for 2 years with primary aged children. I have found the French system. Strict, unimaginative, boring and totally focussed on the teachers needs and wants and not the childrens. Without exeption my children's teachers have been uncaring, lazy, civil servants of the worst kind. My posting in France is coming to end and we have had a wonderful time here and will miss many aspects of the country and its people. It's education system however we will be pleased to see the back of. Rubbish – could not disagree more.
Your comparison test re foreign languages is not a fair one. French children are inundated with English (or American) culture everywhere they go. How often do you see magazine adverts written in French in the UK? Similarly the French (as all other anglophone nations) have to learn English if they want to get on. This is not arrogance or laziness it is just a fact of European life, the english speakers of this world have won the democratic lottery in this particular instance. Ask yourself what is the obvious second language for an English child to learn and you will see what I mean. For the other countries there is no question.
Pose the same question in Maths, History, Science and you will find, certainly for primary age children. There is no question.
I have lived in France for 2 years with primary aged children. I have found the French system. Strict, unimaginative, boring and totally focussed on the teachers needs and wants and not the childrens. Without exeption my children’s teachers have been uncaring, lazy, civil servants of the worst kind.
My posting in France is coming to end and we have had a wonderful time here and will miss many aspects of the country and its people. It’s education system however we will be pleased to see the back of.

]]>