Intensive French conversation

[ProudNeathGirl]

My DD is 17, and just done French AS level. She wants to do a French degree, but really needs to increase her confidence in talking French. She did well at AS, but her oral brought her overall grade down to a B - she got an A for the written work.
She's shy, so would have found the oral difficult in English, let alone French.

We're looking for a not too expensive intensive French course/holiday, either in France or in UK. We don't really know what we want until we see what's on offer and what the cost is. Could be a week in Oct half term, could be a weekend somewhere, and either France or in UK would be OK.

Can any one suggest anything suitable?

[Hedgehoginhotpants]

Not a course but have you thought of Skype?

Obviously not as fun or as demanding... but there's likely to be a French family in a similar position - you just need to locate them...

[ProudNeathGirl]

Not a bad idea - will suggest that to her. We have French friends who may be able to suggest a suitable contact. Though I'd be concerned that they would just end up talking English. DD went to stay with friends near Paris last October, and they arranged to for her to help in the local primary school. We thought that would be great, but everyone spoke English to her, and she's not confident enough to insist on talking French.

What she really needs is to be totally immersed in French for several days, so that she has no option other than to speak French. She agrees.

I did French A Level, but it wasn't until I went to work as an aupair in France between school and uni that I really learned to speak French, so I know where she's coming from.

[Hedgehoginhotpants]

Immersion is best I agree.

My brain has been trained to consider the budget option first, sadly.

[BikeRunSki]

Have you looked around locally - college, library - to see if their is a French conversation group?

[Primrose123]

Hi OP, many years ago (!) I did a three week French course in Boulogne, and lodged with a nice French family. By the time I came home, I struggled to speak English! I will have a look on the Internet to see if it is still available.

Are you in Neath by any chance? :)

[Primrose123]

I think this is what I did.

French course

[ProudNeathGirl]

Hi Primrose, not in Neath now, but Neath born and bred. You?

Had a quick look at the link - it looks like the kind of thing we might be after - so will do a full investigation this evening (logging on from work now )

Thankyou

[Donki]

Where do you live? Do Alliance Francaise offer any conversation courses near you? (Just a thought)

[ProudNeathGirl]

Small town near Swindon. Nearest Alliance Francaise is Reading, Bath or Oxford - so a bit far really. Swindon not known for it's culture!
Thought I might ask the new French Assistante (assuming they have one this year) if she'd like to earn some extra money.

[Primrose123]

I'm from Neath, and live just outside Neath now.

How about asking in your local FE college if there are any French speaking esol students who want to earn some money or do a swap? I teach esol, and have a Spanish student. She is going to give my DD a Spanish lesson in return for an English lesson from me!

[Primrose123]

I hope you don't mind OP, but can I suggest that if your DD does a French degree that she does another subject with it? Maybe, law, accountancy, or business or something else? I did a degree in French and German, but have had to study further to get a decent job.

[ProudNeathGirl]

Thanks Primrose. She wants to be a primary school teacher, but doesn't want to do a BEd. She is actually thinking of doing French with TEFL at Swansea.
Or French with ?? at Cardiff.

[Primrose123]

Just after I graduated, I wanted to do a primary PGCE, but because welsh was taught here and not foreign languages, I couldn't get on the course. It may well be different for her in England if French is needed for primary school teaching. If French is not accepted as a core subject, perhaps she could do a joint degree with English, or any 'traditional' primary subject. Of course, I could be talking rubbish, and it could be all different now, but it might be worth checking with the pgce colleges, if she knows that's what she wants to do. :)