What should i do when i move to france?

Show all answers

Jerry 71

You didn't say which country you are living in now. Study French hard (by hard, I don't mean be a nervous wreck, I mean put as much time as you can and practice reading, writing, and speaking.) Don't just limit your studying to your school homework. If you can, get a French tutor who is a native speaker of French. If money is tough, take extra classes at Alliance Francaise. Their prices are reasonable and all of the teachers are native speakers. You cannot over prepare in the French language bc most of the students there are native speakers of French. Don't be intimidated if you feel like an outsider at first. Many of the students in France have known each other since early childhood. In fairness to French students, they can be friendly and you should address them in the "tu" form and using first names. The same is not true in the adult world in France.

Sit next to native speakers of French. If you don't understand the teacher, don't be afraid to ask the French student if you can look at the notes during breaktime. If necessary, borrow the notes and xerox them (you can get self service copy cards from print shops which is cheaper than than paying for copies piecemeal). If you xerox the notes, don't make massive # of copies for other Americans/British students. The French student might feel hurt or funny if he/she has become the class notetaker. When borrowing things, return them promptly (not the next day). Nobody is obligated to help you, so I am sure that you can appreciate why one most be considerate. I assume you are female. You might find guys more helpful to you (true in most any country, not just France).

In college, there might be a polycopie service (not sure about French h.s.). These are notes (typed) prepared by the professor. The notes may or may not follow the lectures closely.

Don't fall behind in your studies. You have to put in the time reading textbooks, too. Don't be afraid to mark up the books and if you don't understand a French word, look it up in a dictionary. Cassell's Fr-Eng/engl-fr is imho the best (not the compact one). Harraps isn't bad but sometimes has less info. You have online resources, as well.

You might also need to hire a tutor for some classes (ask other students or the school administration for advice). The key is to not fall behind in your studies. It's much easier to do well early on and just enjoy reviewing the material than to do badly at first and then feel pressured to cover lost ground.

Try to stay away from bad habits like smoking, drinking alcohol and street drugs. They are of no help to you.

Graham I

I don't know exactly what you can expect because I don't know what school your dad has in mind for you: a lot will depend on whether there are other foreign students. If you really don't speak any French I wouldn't have thought you'd be allowed to join in a regular high school class being taught in French at your age, as you would find it too hard (although for younger children this is quite often what they do and works fine).

Try to get as much French practice as you can before you go - try talking to teachers at your school who might help you out. Once you're there, remember to be polite:
Bonjour - hello
Salut - hi (or bye)
Au revoir - bye
A demain - see you tomorrow
Merci - thanks
Pardon - excuse me
Generally you need to address adults you don't know as Monsieur/Madame (eg Bonjour Monsieur) - listen out for what other people do, and always reply if they greet you.
Good luck - feel free to email if you have specific questions either now or when you arrive.

Orla C

First of all, you won't be the only non-French speaker there, for a start.

Second, you're way ahead of the posse with just the basics. With those, you can at least try to communicate, and once people realise you are actually trying to improve your French, they will try to help you. If you are friendly, smile, and make it clear that you don't understand but want to, this will make it much easier on you.

Third, you'll find it much easier after the first few days. What will help, though, is a French for foreigners course, which should be available locally, as there are very many foreigners living in France. Ask your Dad to investigate, and get him to sign you up for a suitable time.

Ali

i do A level french and recently went to a partner school over there and most of them spoke english which was handy, but you need to remember your lessons will be in french if it's a french school, best idea is to learn some french before you go, basic questions and answers, and words so that you can understand some things..
You'll be shocked but by living out there for a whlie will really help your speaking skills and before you know it you'll be really good..
All the best x

Austerlitz

JOHN : why are you so frustrated ? For each question there's your stupid answer... if you did not spend your time on wasting your hatred on yahoo you could learn that the history of France does not begin at WWII. I won't answer you on my own I just give you some quotes. I'm French and our history doesn't stop in the terrible year 1940, in case you don't know. There are things before and things after.Just examples with Bir-Hakeim:

"Friedrich von Mellenthin, one of the staff officers of the Afrika Korps, would later write that he "had not ever been confronted, during the whole desert campaign, to such a relentless and heroic defense".

"On June 12th, General Claude Auchinleck would release a statement: "The United nations must be full of admiration and gratitude towards those French troops and their valiant General [Koenig]". Winston Churchill : "Holding back for fifteen days Rommel's offensive, the free French of Bir Hakeim had contributed to save Egypt and Suez canal's destinies.""

"Even Adolf Hitler would answer to the journalist Lutz Koch, coming back from Bir Hakeim: "You have heard, gentlemen, what Koch recounts. It is a new proof of the thesis I've always supported; namely, that French are still, after us, the best soldiers in Europe.""

-a guy on youtube :
"As a Militray person who has studied both wars, I feel the French were not cowards they fought valiantly and longer in both wars than any other allied nation, and lost almost a generation in WWI in the trenches.

The French are some of the bravest people I know. Look who stands up to the United States Bush administration over Iraq eh? (Granted they have their own intrests there but que cera!)

Thank you for posting the info. Most Americans do not know how much France sacrificed in WWI, and the realities of 1940-45 are poorly understood in the USA - to say the least."

-a reader on amazon
Perhaps the greatest virtue of Jackson's book is that it shows why glib sneers about French "cowardice" are no longer acceptable.

Well, I must have answered the question : the only thing you have to avoid is to call the French cowards because it's hard to swallow this when you've lost an entire generation of young men in the mud of the trenches and under the Germans' cannons...why? for not having surrendered.

EDIT: so what John ? copy and paste isn't long to do . Are you unhappy because your answer's got 5 thumbs down ?

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: