THE FRENCH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
The French educational system has the reputation of being one of the most thorough in the world. If you are a resident paying French taxes, you can take advantage of the French educational system. Public education is free at the primary and secondary levels. Instruction is compulsory from age six to sixteen. Universities are public and tuition is nominal. The majority of schools (85%) are écoles publiques (public schools). Ecoles privées (private schools), many of them run by the Catholic Church, are partially subsidized.
French education is highly centralized with a nationwide curriculum, imposed by the Ministry of Education, that ensures national uniformity. Even the private schools follow a similar curriculum to ensure that those students wishing to take the Bac at the higher levels are prepared for this test.
In recent years, more autonomy has been given to the local/regional levels with respect to curriculum. The outlook on education is aimed towards the examination process at both the secondary and university levels.
LEVELS OF EDUCATION
La maternelle (Nursery School)
Although not compulsory, la maternelle, for 2 1/2 to 6 years olds, is free and widely used. At this early age, it is undoubtedly easier for English-speaking children to adapt to the French educational system. In maternelle, the children are generally grouped by age:
1st year | 2 – 3 year olds | Petite Section |
2nd year | 4 – 5 year olds | Moyenne Section |
3rd year | 5 – 6 year olds | Grande Section |
The children acquire social and manual skills through games, drawing, story- telling, acting, music, and other related activities. An introduction to the letters of the alphabet and the French style of handwriting begins in the final year of maternelle. This well prepares the children for the rigorous work to come in primary school.
L’école primaire (Primary School)
L’école primaire is for children ages 6 to 12 years and is approximately equivalent to grades 1 to 5 in the USA, or to grades 2 to 6 in the UK. English-speaking children starting in the French system while in primary school should adjust quite well. The main objective of primary school is for the children to achieve a standard whereby they will be accepted into the first year of Middle School (collège). The grade levels are:
1st grade | Cours Preparatoire | CP |
2nd grade | Cours Elementaire 1 | CE1 |
3rd grade | Cours Elementaire 2 | CE2 |
4th grade | Cours Moyenne 1 | CM1 |
5th grade | Cours Moyenne 2 | CM2 |
During an average working week, children are taught the following subjects: French (reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling and expression), Mathematics, Science and Technology, History and Geography, Civic Education, Artistic Expression, and Physical Education.
Cours Préparatoire (CP) – Children learn to read, write, count, and put things into chronological order. A child will learn to express himself, to listen and to observe. Poems are used for memorization and language skills. Dictionaries are introduced. Physical education involves games and dancing. The acquisition of cursive handwriting capability is of primary importance in this year. With the current emphasis in the United States on developmental learning, an American child may be behind in the handwriting aspect of this level if they enter in the middle of the year. Printing is not used in class.
Cours Elémentaire (CE1 AND CE2) – Children learn to perfect the skills learnt in CP. The first year (CE1) is an introduction to the following skills and the second year (CE2) is mainly for acquisition through drills and practical application. They read faster, take dictation, and start to learn French grammar. Multiple digit addition and subtraction problems are attacked at this level, along with multiplication and an introduction to division. Please note that differences exist between the French and English and/or American method of performing these mathematical operations.
They start basic history and geography, science and technology and continue with Physical Education. Weekly trips to the local swimming pool or skating rink may be proposed. Poems are continued as a vital way to learn grammar and the oral flow of the language. Art and music may, or may not, be part of the regular school curriculum. If you wish your child to be exposed to the “creative arts”, be sure to ask about these subjects before you enroll.
Most public schools provide a support team for children who encounter difficulties in learning, similar to remedial reading in the States. If your child has a need for such help, be sure to ask. It is called the ‘RASED’ (Réseau d’aide à la scolarisation des enfants en difficulté).
Cours Moyen (CM1 AND CM2) – These two years prepare a child for collège. Again, the first year (CM1) is an introduction to the following skills while the second year (CM2) is mainly for acquisition through drills and practical application. Students learn to question, respond, and justify their work. Their writing takes on a higher level of complexity and precision. During these years, the child will become more adept at Mathematics, French, History and Geography, Science and Technology, and may have started computer studies. During CM1, most schools will begin learning a first foreign language (often English!). Oral expression and grammar are emphasized greatly in these levels, utilizing sentence diagrams, writing and poems to aid in the acquisition of the French language.
Near the end of CM2, children will be asked for their pre-inscription form for collège. The choice is usually made depending on geographical location, foreign language offered, and academic level attained. Most collèges arrange a Parent Evening and a pre-entry visit to the collège for the students.
Collège (Middle School)
Collège is for children 11 to 15 years of age. Older foreign students, without a French Language background, will often be required to attend part of this level before entering lycée. Grade levels are:
6th grade | Observation | Sixieme |
7th grade | Observation | Cinquieme |
8th grade | Observation | Quatrieme |
9th grade | Observation | Troisieme |
At the beginning of each school year, students receive their schedule and meet all their subject teachers. Usually there is a different teacher for each subject, one of which will be their professeur principal (teacher advisor). If you sign a release form, your child need not be at school when she/he does not have a class at the beginning or end of the day. However, such time at school could be useful for extra help if it is needed.
Sixième (6ème) – Your child discovers college. This year brings deep changes for the children used to the system in primary school: instead of having one teacher, they have different teachers for each subject. They need to move from one classroom to the next one during their school day. The children learn how to be responsible, of their lunch card, for example. Daily serious homework is now introduced. Children learn how to manage their time, as homework is cheduled for the following weeks.
During the year, the children consolidate the learning of the primary school and are given the basis of subjects they will be studying for the next four years. They begin to write essays in French. Foreign languages begin to be offered.
In this year, it is particularly important for parents to assist their child as much as possible. Even a child who had no difficulties in primary, may at first be unsettled in his new environment and his work may suffer as a result. If you compare experience to those of children entering Middle School in the USA, you will note the similarities. As an adolescent, there are many physical changes that these students must deal with during the collège years. It is often difficult for them to organize themselves to meet the new challenges of multiple teachers, different class schedules, more long-term assignments and possibly new classmates.
Cinquième (5ème) – This year is very similar to the previous, with the possible addition of an initiation course of Latin. Physics and chemistry are introduced.
Quatrième (4ème) – In 4ème, the same subjects as in 5ème are studied in greater depth, with the addition of an extra hour of Math, 3 extra hours of a second foreign language, and the option of 3 hours of Latin. This is thought by many to be the hardest year of collège.
Troisième (3ème) The fourth and final year of collège is a consolidation of 4ème and also a year of orientation. The student can either stay in a “traditional” curriculum based on French, Math and languages, and continue their studies at a lycée, or pass into technical classes and begin to learn a trade. A national examination, called the Brevet, is taken at the end of 3ème, which is not necessary to pass into Seconde.
Lycée (High School) Lycée teaches an academic three-year course in higher education leading to a specialized (by subject area) baccalauréat or ‘bac’ examination, which is the prerequisite for university entrance. Students are guided into 3 basic specific subject areas based first upon academic strength and then upon personal choice:
• Math and Sciences working towards a BAC “S”
• Economics working towards a BAC “économie” (ES) and
• Languages and Literature working towards a BAC “L”
The Bac received will dictate to which Universities or grandes écoles the student may apply. Some Lycées also teach two-year vocational training and apprenticeship programs for those students not wishing to continue their education at the university level. Students wanting qualifications equivalent to the American SAT as well as the French ‘bac’ can take an ‘international bac’. The Lycée course comprises: Seconde (2nd), Première (1ère), and Terminale:
10th grade | Students guided into specific subject areas | Seconde |
11th grade | French language/literature portion of the bac | Premiere |
12th grade | Testing in remaining subjects of the bac | Terminale |
Seconde (10th grade) – Students are grouped into a seconde de détermination according to their first and second languages, unless they wish to take a technical bac, in which case they follow optional technical courses. A student who is considering taking the language bac must start studying a third foreign language in seconde.
Première (11th grade) – At the end of this year, students take the French language and literature portion of the baccalauréat exam, both written and oral. The decision as to whether a student may pass into Terminale is not contingent on the result of the French part of the Baccalauréat; it is based on the students’ grades throughout the school year.
Terminale – (12th grade) – At the end of Terminale, students are tested in the remaining subjects of their chosen bac. This year requires intensive study, reviews, and memorization and is very stressful for most students. This is the first year where students will have philosophy as a course. Optional subjects such as Latin, music, drawing, may yield extra points towards the bac. The marks achieved in the French part of the bac (taken in 1ère) are combined with the results of the Terminale year’s exam to obtain the student’s final bac result. Applications for entry into further education establishments often need to be made during this final year.
THE SCHOOL CALENDAR YEAR
The school year runs from the first week of September through the end of June. University courses do not begin until October.
Although some schools are in session Monday through Friday, the traditional French system of having all or part of Wednesday free is still widely present. Some schools meet on Saturday mornings, depending on grade level. Extra-curricular activities and other non-scholastic lessons can be scheduled during this free time. Religious education is not offered in the syllabus of most schools unless they are private Catholic schools. You will need to check with your Mairie (town hall) or the school office (if private) for specific details relative to your school’s schedule. School schedules, starting times, days of the week school is in session, cantine (cafeteria) details, etc., all vary by town. However, primary grades generally get one Wednesday off each month (if there is no Saturday school) for concertation (teacher in-service). Some regions, like the Gers, have a four-day school week. In such cases, there is no school on Wednesdays or Saturdays, but the school breaks are shorter.
The holiday/vacation schedules are determined by the Ministry of Education, by Département, so that all of France is not on holiday at the same time. In general, there is a holiday after six weeks of school, either one or two weeks. There are four of these breaks per school year.
France is divided into 3 school-vacation zones:
ZONE A: Caen, Clermont Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy- Metz, Nantes, Rennes, TOULOUSE
ZONE B: Aix en Provence, Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans, Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg
ZONE C: Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris, Versailles
The four major school breaks are:
• The week of November 1st (“Toussaint”)
• 2 weeks at Christmas
• 2 weeks for winter break
• 2 weeks for spring break
Up until and including Christmas break, all three zones have school breaks at the same time. For the winter and spring breaks, the three zones rotate their vacation order on a yearly basis.
Carnets scolaires (report cards) are sent home during the last week before each vacation period, and need to be signed by both parents and the student and returned.
SCHOOL SCHEDULES, LUNCHES, AND MISCELLANEOUS
A school day in France is longer than in the USA. Generally, children attend school three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, with a two-hour lunch break. The school lunch program, cantine scolaire, is designed to accommodate working mothers, but other children may eat there if space is available. This needs to be arranged and paid for at your Mairie or school. Prices vary from school to school, but it is a full course meal. Sack lunches are not allowed in the schools. Many children, especially those in maternelle, return home for lunch. Parents may be asked to provide morning and afternoon snacks.
The day usually ends at 16:30, 17:00, or sometimes 18:00 in Lycée, but this may vary. Most schools offer a garderie before and after school for a minimal charge. This is similar to what American schools are now offering as school day care, to meet the needs of working parents. Check with the town hall or the school office if you are in need of such a service. You may need to provide a “proof of work” paper, though many schools are very obliging to foreign parents.
It is important to note that when a classroom teacher is ill, there is often no substitute. Thus you may be asked to take your child home when the teacher is absent. Dual career families may find this difficult, though often the school will allow children of such families to remain at school. In this case, your child will be sent to another classroom, usually not the same level, and stay for the day.
Transportation to and from school varies. Primary schools are usually located in neighborhoods within easy walking distance and therefore no bus service is provided. City buses and school buses are also frequently used. Schools in the suburbs usually have some bus service. Some schools have their own bus route (either paid or free). Information on transportation to and from school is available from your town hall or school office.
The playgrounds in most French schools do not offer a lot of equipment for kids to play on. Often there will be a large hard surface and an open shelter in case of rain. Children may be allowed to bring balls, dolls, marbles, and other such equipment to play with. Before vacations and after the examinations (contrôles) are completed, children are usually allowed to bring board games to play in class. Check the school rules before you allow your child to bring any such items to school.
Carnaval, or Mardi Gras, is a big party (fête) for many primary schools. It usually takes place in February or in March and often children will be asked to come in costume (or to bring one). Parents may be asked to provide treats for a fund-raiser, or as a donation. It is often fun to add a bit of your culture to the school, by providing a family favorite!
GRADING
Many parents have experienced that an English-speaking student needs 5 trimesters to fully adapt to the language/rhythm/system. There are 3 trimesters (3-month grading periods) per school year. At the end of each trimester, a “conseil de classe” is held. This meeting includes the teacher(s), two student delegates (not in primary school), parent delegates, and an administrative representative (principal or vice-principal). The teacher briefly gives a profile of the class. In some Public schools, this description includes a general level grouping. Most of the meeting is spent discussing the pupils/students having difficulty. Remarks made at this meeting may show up on the report card. The report card is sent out approximately one week after the “conseil de classe.”
This meeting is also a forum where delegate students and delegate parents (voted in at the beginning of the year) may express concerns. If a conseil expresses ‘concern’ over a student’s progress, the parents should take immediate action by seeing the teacher and taking steps to turn the situation around. A warning not heeded in December and confirmed at the 2nd conseil (before Easter) may slot that child for being left back in June. Private schools may have more frequent report cards.
Repeating a grade (redoubler) in France is not considered the extreme measure that it is in the USA. Generally, schools consider it more worthwhile for a weak student to consolidate his foundation by repeating the year, than to move on to a higher grade on a shaky substructure. Also, French course curriculum is dense, and Math and Science are more heavily-emphasized. This is generally a decision made between parents and teachers, but it is difficult for parents to reject a school’s request for redoublement of a child at the end of CM2, prior to entry into collège. Children arriving part way through the school year have a particularly greater chance of “redoubling” the last year of primary school. On average, 30% of French students repeat one year during their scholastic years.
YOUR CHILD AND CULTURE SHOCK
Your child will take his cues from you. If you remain positive, finding solutions to your problems one by one, he will do the same. If you accept different attitudes, methods of doing, types of relationships, so will he. Remember: his experiences, challenges, and accomplishments are greater than his classmates, but not necessarily recognized or rewarded as such. Encourage your child to develop a friendship with a classmate. He most likely will need to take the first step and invite the classmate home. A friend in the class becomes a resource person if information is not understood. Speaking on the phone with the child’s parents will give you greater access to information concerning the class, class-work, teacher, expectations, and other concerns.
HELPING YOUR CHILD ADAPT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
One way to help your child adapt to the school system is to get him a tutor. This holds particularly true if your child attends a regular French school (i.e. one with no “French as a foreign language” program). This may be less relevant if your child is enrolled in a school with an international program.
Three areas can be considered:
• First, French as a foreign language. No matter what grade your child is in when he arrives in France, the French taught in class is beyond his level. Spelling and verb conjugation are complex to a foreigner. The tutor should start at the beginning, and cover every aspect of language learning. Some schools like Paul Bert in Colomiers will give lessons in French – as a foreign language – to the non French-speaking children, on average six hours per week. This programme is called the C.L.I.N. and enables pupils to learn the necessary basics in French, in order for them to follow the French lessons taught within their normal class. During the course of the programme it may be decided that some pupils no longer attend the C.L.I.N. or to attend less frequently, this is a decision made by the teachers and parents alike.
• Secondly, the tutor must be guided by the teacher’s curriculum, pace and advice. Math is a good place to start, as it is a privileged subject in France. If a student is strong in math, all sorts of allowances may be made in other subjects. The content of the lesson can be taught in English (if possible). Science and history may also be worked on with the tutor because there is usually a textbook to work with. French literature comes last (although you can always get the book translated into English through bookshops or on-line book buying).
• Lastly, but by no means of less importance, the tutor should play an important role in building self-confidence in your child. The foreign student has lost most of his reference points in the new system. He may have been a good or very good student back home and now he is ranked at the bottom of the class. This can be hard to adjust to. The severe grading policy enforces this feeling of failure. When the grade is out of ten, five passes and eight is an excellent grade. When the grade is out of 20 where 10 is passing, 12 a good grade, 13 to 16 excellent, and above 16, you are on Mount Olympus! 20 is nonexistent, except in Math.
The tutor might do evaluations on his own, with positive reinforcement of the child in mind. “Stroke” the student! Point out the thousand-and-one improvements that have NOT been recognized in class. Build his self-esteem. It’s quite important for the student to feel he has progressed if he is to keep up the sustained effort.
American parents need to realize that if the French system does encourage rigor and discipline, it fosters little spontaneity and creativity. Methodology and memory are heavily emphasized. A student with a critical mind might be disadvantaged.
Generally, by the 5th or 6th trimester, he’ll be fully integrated into the class, have friends and his accomplishments will be plain for everyone to see. One thing is certain: no matter what type of student your child was back home, he will now have become hardworking and industrious with excellent study habits that will serve him not only for the remainder of your stay in France, but for the rest of his scholastic career. Upon return to the USA, he will be placed in advanced Math, Science, and French classes (high school) or at the very least, be placed in honor classes. One school year before returning to the USA, we recommend working on his English language skills, perhaps by getting the grade-level English curriculum from his high school back home.
CLASS SELECTION
French schools claim that they don’t stream students. This is only partly true. They do make a sincere effort to compose most classes with strong, average and weak students within the same class. However, if your child is proficient in French and a good student, he may wish to start middle school in the most challenging class.
The following information cannot be found in a brochure or even presented in any Teacher/Parent meeting. Some administrators may even deny it, but it doesn’t make it any less true. The key to a good class in grade 6 (Sixième) is the foreign language your child chooses. If you have just arrived in France you may want to wait until your child has acquired excellent language skills before seeking to put him into a genuinely challenging class.
Most of the French pupils in any grade take English as a foreign language, and thus there may be some classes that are stronger than others—this may be undetectable to anyone outside the school administration. However, there is a way to ensure that your child is in a strong class, and that is choosing German as a foreign language. German is a venue whereby 5th grade teachers and counselors advise excellent French students (and their parents) to forgo the English for a few years to insure the ‘high’ track of the German class. The final decision is up to the parents, with the possible result of some students not being up to the higher workload.
In Grade 7, cinquième, Latin or less frequently Ancient Greek is introduced as an option open only to students who are doing well. The combination of German and Latin/Greek sets apart the strongest class in the grade. This class often is accorded the best teachers (in the opinion of the local administrators). Math is given special attention, as it is considered the path for the brightest students later in high school. In grade 8, quatrième, a second foreign (spoken) language is required. Latin or Ancient Greek may be dropped at any time the student chooses. The 2nd foreign language must be taken until grade 11, première, where a non-language subject may be substituted. The first foreign language must be taken until the baccalauréat (end of grade 12). In the Literary track, language requirements are more demanding.
An English/Latin/German class in grade 8 ensures a solid level. In many cases, this class may be as strong as the German/Latin/English class, which is assumed to be the strongest of the grade. Once again, this assessment is rarely admitted-to openly, as the Ministry of National Education has decreed that classes shall not be composed by level.
Because of a conscious effort to mix levels in most classes, you may find your child in a class that has disciplinary problems. Seeing the Principal for a class change is always possible but the result is rarely satisfying. They usually stand their ground because every parent of every child that is a positive element in a problem class would follow suit. Stalling and postponing a decision until the school year is so far-advanced as to defy the wisdom of switching classes mid-year, is common practice. The manner in which many French parents deal with this problem is to either change schools or plan alternative language strategies for the following years.
SCHOOL TRIPS
You should also be aware of extended class trips (classe de découverte). Classes (of all age groups) might go on a one week outing to the Pyrénées or other surrounding areas for recreation and study. Students stay in youth hostels and it is generally expected that they attend, as it is part of a curricular study. There is one school that takes their CM2 classes on a week-long bike trek to the Pyrénées along the Canal du Midi. This can be a great experience for both you (take a break!) and your child. Let your child take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to really be a part of the culture!
HOMEWORK AND CORRESPONDENCE
Homework is serious business, even at the primary level! Plan to set aside one-half to two hours a night for study. Children bring home a cahier de texte each night in which their homework assignments are written. In the later grades, assignments will often be long-term. Be sure to note upcoming assignments and help your child plan for a specific routine so as not to leave things to the last moment. (this is especially helpful if you or your child is still learning French; the work can be very time-consuming at first!).
When you need to communicate with the school or the teacher, you can do so in the child’s carnet de correspondance. You can arrange meetings with the teachers, ask specific questions, or explain about a child’s absence in these notebooks. Often a teacher will have the class write important dates or notifications of impending trips in this book. You should try to check this information frequently and be sure to sign and date them when you have read them.
SCHOOL REGISTRATION AND MATERIALS
If you are fortunate enough to visit schools while looking for a home, there are several things you may want to ask before deciding in which school to enroll your child. The standard method of delivering instruction is lecture, and may be new for your child. Ask about teaching methods, discipline, and curriculum. As stated before, most “extra-curricular” subjects, such as art, music, and dance are not standard in the French curriculum. Ask if there are other foreign students attending the school, or if any have previously. (Too many English-speakers could be a detriment to learning the French language, but may help ease the fears of some children!) If possible, meet the teacher and visit the classroom. It is always a good idea to ask others as to where their children attend, or what they know of a particular school and its reputation. Schools can vary from place to place, much like in your home country.
As soon as you have decided your choice of school and where you will be living in the Toulouse area, it is a good idea to visit your local city hall or Mairie to learn the procedure for registering your child in school. If you have decided on private schooling, contact those schools directly for information and registration procedures. Enrolling your child in mid-year may be difficult, especially at a private school. Various forms will be required and in some cases, small ID photos. You will also be required to provide proof of vaccinations. It is important to note that the BCG (for TB) is required for entry into school here. BCG vaccination will result in a positive result for the TB test for the rest of the child’s life. Check with your pediatrician to decide whether your child needs this vaccination. The school may accept a waiver form if it is signed by a doctor.
Insurance coverage for your child is obligatory and can be obtained through the school. Insurance application forms are normally distributed to the children at the beginning of each school year. You may want to check with your employer to determine if your child is already covered through their insurance policy while at school. In such case, you should request a statement (attestation) from your employer that you must provide to the school.
Deciding on what class your child should be enrolled in can be difficult. Most cut-off dates for classes are in December (calendar year), quite different from the September (school year) dates used in most American schools. Look at what the class will be working on, or better yet, bring work samples if your child has attended school elsewhere. This will help you to best decide on a placement with the teachers (if possible). Remember that if your child has had little exposure to French, that alone may be enough of a challenge the first year! “Redoubling” (repeating a grade) is very common here, so you will notice a very wide age range in each class level. It is hard to pin an actual American grade level equivalent for the French cycles because of the age cut-off differences and the accelerated writing and mathematics at the lower levels of primary schools. It will often depend upon which country you are coming from when you ask about a particular grade level.
At registration or during the first week of the school year, each child is issued a comprehensive list of school materials that you are required to provide. Parents must ensure that their child has these items throughout the year. Buying these can be quite an experience to a newly-arrived foreigner! Leclerc and Carrefour (as well as most all grocery stores) carry quite large school supply sections (especially in August/September) and you may also find the local papeterie (often located within a tabac) a great source for the hard-to-find items. Just ask the person behind the counter and they will gladly help you out with your needs. Often, they will be able to order your entire list for you if you give them plenty of time. Textbooks, if needed, can be purchased at any bookstore, or librairie. Hard-to-find texts for religious studies (if your child has been enrolled in a private Catholic school) are available at religious bookstores that can be found through the yellow pages or on Minitel). You will not usually be required to purchase books unless you have enrolled in a private school. However, there may be a small book fee to be paid, depending on the school.
Vocabulary – Education – School Supply List (Liste de Fournitures Scolaires)
Ardoise blanche+ feutres Velleda ………………………………. A white board with VELLEDA erasable markers
Ardoise ………………………………………………………………….. A slate or plastic black board
BCG ………………………………………………………………………. TB vaccine – Mandatory
Blanco …………………………………………………………………… White liquid paper
Bâton de colle ………………………………………………………… Glue stick
Bleu, rouge, vert, noir ……………………………………………… Blue, red, green, black
Blouse …………………………………………………………………… Lab coat
Boite de feutres ……………………………………………………….. Felt tips (generally thin ones)
Cahier de brouillon ……………………………………………………. A scratchpaper notebook or rough book
Cahier de textes ………………………………………………………. A six-day agenda for homework assignments
(in primary school , do not buy a big kid’s agenda with dates, only the days of the week)
Cartable …………………………………………………………………. Schoolbag (satchel)
Cartouches …………………………………………………………….. Ink cartridges
Chemise à élastiques ……………………………………………….. A folder with elastics
Chemise à rabat ………………………………………………………. A folder
Chemise d’adultes pour la peinture ………………………………. An adult shirt (for painting)
Chiffon ……………………………………………………………………. Wiping cloth
Compas …………………………………………………………………… Compass to draw circles
Compas avec mine …………………………………………………….. Compass with lead
Compas avec crayon ………………………………………………… Compass with pencil
Craies …………………………………………………………………….. Chalks
Crayons gris = crayons à papier ………………………………… Lead pencils (“gris” means grey)
Crayons …………………………………………………………………… Colored pencils
Une boîte de crayons de couleur …………………………………. A box or case of colored pencils (generally a box of 12)
Dictionnaire ……………………………………………………………… A dictionary
Double décimetre ……………………………………………………… A ruler that is 20 centimeters long
Effaceur d’encre ……………………………………………………….. Fountain-pen ink eraser
Eponge ……………………………………………………………………. Sponge
Equerre ……………………………………………………………………. A triangle
Etiquettes …………………………………………………………………. Labels
Feutres fluorescents …………………………………………………. Highlighters
Fiche de renseignements ………………………………………….. Information form
Gomme blanche ………………………………………………………… A white (rubber) eraser
Goûter …………………………………………………………………….. Snack
Grand classeur ………………………………………………………… A large ring-binder (generally a 4 ring one: quatre anneaux)
Grand format …………………………………………………………… = A4: 21x 29,7cm
Intercalaires …………………………………………………………….. Dividers
Marqué au nom de l’enfant …………………………………………. Labeled with child’s name
Maillot de bain …………………………………………………………… Swimsuit (Speedo style for boys. Shorts are forbidden in French public pools)
Œillets …………………………………………………………………….. Stickers to protect sheets perforations in ring binders
Paire de ciseaux à bouts ronds ………………………………….. Safety scissors with rounded tips
Paquet de feuilles simples perforées à grands carreaux …. A pack of large single sheets of paper with large squares, for ring binders
Petit format ……………………………………………………………….. Small size 17x22cm
Petits carreaux …………………………………………………………. Small squares (like graph paper)
Pochettes plastiques transparentes ……………………………. Transparent sheet protectors
Protège-cahier ………………………………………………………….. A plastic notebook cover
Rapporteur ………………………………………………………………… Instrument to measure angles (protractor)
Ruban adhésif transparent = du scotch ………………………… Scotch tape
Serviette de table ………………………………………………………. Cloth napkin used by maternelle children who stay for lunch
Stylos ………………………………………………………………………. Pens (ink pens)
Stylo-plume ……………………………………………………………….. Fountain-pen
Surligneur (fluo) rose, jaune, vert, orange, bleu …………….. Highlighter (fluorescent) pink, yellow, green, orange or blue
Tablier ………………………………………………………………………. Painting smock
Taille-crayon = un aiguise -crayon ……………………………….. A pencil sharpener
Tenue de rechange …………………………………………………… Change of clothes
Tenue de sport …………………………………………………………… Gym outfit
TIPEX ……………………………………………………………………… White liquid paper
Très grand format …………………………………………………….. 24x32cm
Triple décimetre ………………………………………………………… A ruler that is 30 centimeters
Trousse …………………………………………………………………… Pencil case (you will often need more than one)
Vocabulary – Education – Common Phrases (Expressions courantes)
Cahier de correspondance/liaison ………………………………… Correspondence notebook (used by teachers and parents to exchange messages)
Eveil …………………………………………………………………………. Schoolwork other than core subjects
Expression écrite ………………………………………………………. Creative writing
Graphisme …………………………………………………………………. Development of fine motor skills for writing and drawing
Lecture ……………………………………………………………………… Reading
Poésie ……………………………………………………………………… Poetry
C’est l’heure des mamans ……………………………………………… It is pick up time
Comment? Pardon? ……………………………………………………… What did you say?
Comment tu t’appelles? (colloquial) …………………………………. What’s your name?
Dodo …………………………………………………………………………. Nap (sleep in child’s talk)
Doudou ……………………………………………………………………… Blankie, teddy bear…anything to comfort
Je ne comprends pas …………………………………………………… I don’t understand
Je peux jouer avec toi? ………………………………………………… Can I play with you?
Le casier ………………………………………………………………….. The shelf under the student’s desk
Mettez-le dans le casier ……………………………………………… Put it in your desk
My name is …….: ……………………………………………………….. Je m’appelle ……..
Pouvez-vous l’écrire? …………………………………………………. Can you write it down?
Répétez s’il vous plaît ………………………………………………….. Repeat please
Sieste ………………………………………………………………………. Nap
Sucette ……………………………………………………………………… Pacifier/dummy
Sortez vos livres ……………………………………………………….. Take out your books
Va au tableau ……………………………………………………………. Go to the board
Vocabulary – Education – Lunchtime Activities (Activités avant et après la cantine)
Coin bibliothèque ……………………………………………………….. Library corner
Jeux de société ………………………………………………………… Board games
Activités manuelles (peinture, dessin) ………………………….. Arts and crafts (painting, drawing)
Informatique ……………………………………………………………… Computer
Danse ………………………………………………………………………. Dance
Jeux sportifs ……………………………………………………………… Sports
Jeux libres ………………………………………………………………… Free play
PUBLIC SCHOOL
If you decide to send your children to public school in France, you will first need to go to your town hall or Mairie. Here you will be provided with all the information specific to your town, or city, relative to all the public schools available. Your town or city must accommodate schooling for any child from 6 to 16 years of age. They will often offer maternelle (pre-school) for ages 2-6 years as well, as long as your child is three years old by December 31. Class sizes vary. Some village schools may have as few as 15 pupils per class. In bigger towns, the Mairie will assign your child to a school that has available space. This may not be your first choice or the one nearest to your home. You may apply to the Mairie for a specific school. If you live in a town and you want your child to attend school in another town, then you will have to ask for a waiver first from your Mairie, and then from the “host” Mairie.
You may wish to contact l’Inspection d’Académie for information about Secondary (Middle or High) schools at 05 61 36 44 00.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
If you choose to send your child to a private school, your best complete resource is probably the yellow pages of the telephone directory, under the listing “enseignement”. The private school curriculum is the same as in public schools. One advantage of a private school might be the smaller class size, which may be a less-intimidating environment for children not confident in their command of the French language.
Some parents have found that private schools have been helpful in assisting the English-speaking pupils/students to integrate into the French school system. There is more flexibility in releasing the student from required French courses to allow more time for “French as a foreign language” tutoring. Some of these schools might allow the tutor (paid for by the parents) onto their premises (something unheard-of in the public school system). There also seems to be a general consensus that these schools look more at the “individual needs” of the student. This is perhaps why some French parents send their children to private schools when the public school experience has not had good results.
These private/Catholic schools are open to the general public and count among their population a good number of non-Catholics and /or secular students.
Another aspect of private schools is that they, for the most part, have Saturday morning off, whereas many public schools have class on Saturday morning. Also, most public schools have up to a two-hour lunch break, with school ending at 17:00 to 18:00. Most private schools tend to insist on everyone lunching at school, thus having a shorter break, which ends the day at 16:00 to 16:30. Another surprising factor is that these private schools are not over-priced, though you may have to purchase text books. Lunch is usually the greatest expense.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLING
English 31
The town of Colomiers hosts the ‘English 31’ program which is designed to complement the French system for English-speaking children. The program was initiated by a group of British parents in 1980 to provide part-time lessons in the English language so that the child’s mother tongue would not deteriorate and children would begin to learn English grammar.
‘English 31’ is a registered program within the French educational system and leads to an international Baccalauréat. It offers additional English instruction and some help in the French language (regular classes are taught in French only). Children from the UK can then take the English exams within these given schools. At primary level, children can attend the program full time with integrated daily English classes, or once a week with classes on Wednesday.
Three schools in Colomiers participate in the ‘English 31’ program:
Primary or Elementary (Ecole elementaire) | Grades 1 – 5 | Paul Bert |
Middle School (college) | Grades 6 – 9 | Victor Hugo |
High School (Lycee) | Grades 10 – 12 | Victor Hugo (Lycee International) |
This program does have booklets available to assist you in understanding the French educational system. Attendance is restricted and you may need to live in Colomiers, depending on your employer. The ‘English 31’ program does have a minimal tuition.
The feedback from parents whose children participate in the program is excellent. Its main advantage is that children retain their English while becoming fluent in French and get fully integrated into the French system. It also allows their parents to meet with French parents. So don’t take the look of the school buildings into consideration!
For more information about the program, contact:
Direction of the British Section
Lycée International Victor Hugo, 31770 Colomiers
Tel. 05 61 78 71 28. Fax 05 61 78 55 80
Website: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/British-Section
The International School of Toulouse (Colomiers)
The International School of Toulouse is a private school opened in 1999 in Colomiers. The population ranges from 4 years old (pre-school/reception) to 18 years old. The curriculum is based on the U.K. National Curriculum but with an international perspective, ultimately leading to the IGCSE (the International General Certificate of Secondary Education), a diploma delivered in Year 11 (grade 10). The final two years include intensive studies leading to examinations for the International Baccalauréat Diploma (IB. This diploma is recognized by universities worldwide.
All students receive four, 50 minute lessons in French per week (grouped by beginner/intermediate and advanced levels). Physical education classes are also taught in French. As all other classes are taught in English and few French children attend the school, the pupils have little opportunity to use the French they are learning. If you intend to stay for more than two – three years, you may consider integrating your child into an international program within the French system.
Annual tuition fees vary from approximately 7.000€ to 11.000€, and discounts are offered if more than one child attends.
For further information on the school, contact: www.intst.net
The International School of Toulouse
2 allée de l’Herbaudière – Route de Pibrac
31770 Colomiers
Tel: 05 62 74 26 74
Fax: 05 62 74 26 75
Other International Programs
There are two bilingual Montessori Schools, for ages 2 to 6 years old :
• La Tour Rose, 164, route de Revel, 31400 Toulouse, Contact: Marian Evans (Tel: 05 61 54 66 56)
• Domaine de Montagne, Chemin de Montagne, 31300 Grenade, (Tel: 05 61 82 25 50, Fax: 05 62 79 37 69)
• Collège Lamartine has a special program offered for teenagers (12 to 18 years old) called “classe d’accueil” to help students learn French. Information may be obtained at Collège Lamartine, 11 rue Mairie Magne, Toulouse, Tel: 05 61 42 90 45. Unfortunately, some American parents have not recommended this establishment. It is a program that looks great on paper, but it is problematic because there is often a wide variety of ages and language skills in this class.
In general, people who come from the former French colonies have some French language background and people speaking other Latin-based languages (i.e. Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian) often have a shorter assimilation period for learning French than native English speakers.
Other schools (private) iAIT members use:
Annonciation (Seilh) La Salle (Pibrac)
Ste. Thérèse (Colomiers) St. Joseph (Côte Pavée)
Pierre de Fermat (Toulouse) Caouzou (Toulouse)
Remember, if enrollment at these schools is full, your children will always be accepted into a regular French school. For Secondary School (Middle or High School) contact: Inspection d’Académie, Tel: 05 61 36 44 00, or register directly at the school next to your home. Be warned all school administrations are closed during vacation periods (especially during August!)
EXTRA HELP FOR CHILDREN
• Workbooks for fun and study. Some parents may find their children have a need for additional tutoring during their stay, either in French (to begin with), or in English (if the stay here is permanent or prolonged). There are wonderful work books available for children during the summer vacation at Leclerc, Carrefour, or the librairies (bookstores) that give short daily lessons on selected topics or more focused topics (Math only, French, Science, and History, etc.) (Passeport and Vacances Scolaires are names of two of these.) They can be fun for practice and are available in different levels from maternelle through collège.
• Private tutors are also available, either through the school, postings, or by word-of-mouth as to who will tutor in special subjects in the French curriculum, or with English and writing skills.
• Les Cours Legendre offer custom-tailored individual studies for both foreign and French children who encounter difficulties in one or more subjects, or have a hard time assimilating French culture. Tutors will come to your home according to a timetable adapted to the child’s rythm. Summer courses and learning by correspondance are also available. For more information, contact Christine Kuhn on 05 61 23 66 09, or ‘ cpltoulouse@club-internet.fr’.
• Summer camps. There are also a wide variety of school vacation camps available in the area. These range from “day camp” type offerings to “overnight” camps. Check your local Mairie for information regarding those offered in your area. Le Centre Aéré de la Forêt de Bouconne, located near Pibrac, offers daily activities for children on Wednesdays and during all school breaks. Themed day activities (stages) are offered for children for all kinds of activities: sports, arts, music, dance, circus skills, … These are accessible and usually very cheap.
CHILD CARE
There are different types of childcare available depending on your town, your situation and your needs. As with much of life here, start with your local Mairie for information. The Guide des Jeunes Toulousains de 0-18 ans is available free for reference and information. Each town or city has some of full and/or part-time childcare available (partly subsidized) from infancy through school age.
• For working parents, a crèche provides childcare for infants through three years of age. There may be a crèche in your area that permits children of non-working mothers to attend. Prices and the necessary paperwork for registration will all vary with each crèche.
• For occasional daycare, the local halte garderie is an option, with children being accepted until school age. Garderies are limited as to the number of children they can accept for care. Attendance must be pre-scheduled in some garderies, whereas others will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The services available (usually 2 or 3 half days a week), hours of operation, ages accepted, price, registration information required and service of meals will all vary from town to town. The price is approximately 3€ per hour.
• Les assistantes maternelles, (or “nourrices” as they are informally called), provide in-home childcare. These professional child-minders are governed by the Protection Maternelle Infantile.
• Baby-sitting services are available and can be generally be found through word-of-mouth, small announcements in local shops and stores, or through a service such as Bébé et Compagnie, listed in les Pages Jaunes (the yellow pages), under Garde d’Enfants (Tel: 05 61 14 00 88). The AIT Newsletter lists babysitters available from the local membership.
• Three-, four- and five-year-olds go to maternelle (pre-school) free of charge. Maternelles are run by the Primary schools. Registration is often done at the Mairie. Children who will be at least two and a half years of age in September can register in May for the next school year. Space is limited in petite section classes (first year) and your local maternelle is not required to enroll every child who lives in the neighborhood. Enrollment is on a first-come first served basis.