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Original poster

Au secours! Ideas for entertaining French exchange student?

32 replies

gramercy · 06/03/2012 13:18

A French boy is coming to stay with us for a week shortly. He is 14.

We live in a very boring place - not unpleasant as such, but far from exciting. Not near London or any other decent metropolis. The French party will be doing heavy duty tourist trips all week (the schedule sounds exhausting, frankly) but we have to entertain the boy for a weekend.

Anyone any ideas or any recommendations of things that went down well with an exchange person your dcs had? I am really scratching my head to think what there is to do in a suburb in March.

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 06/03/2012 14:18

I would go for indoor sports - swimming or ice-skating or bowling - over a country walk in the pissing rain!

PastGrace · 06/03/2012 13:52

When I was in France my exchange took me swimming and bowling. It wasn't particularly French (or particularly English), but it was a way to fill the afternoon and you can speak as much or as little as you want.

You could also put a DVD on (with French subtitles if his English isn't brilliant or he is homesick).

Surely rain is all part of the country walk experience?

Original poster
gramercy · 06/03/2012 13:41

Yes, I have already dusted off some board games. I think most of them cross the language barrier!

Afternoon tea... yes, that's a good one, and the cooked breakfast idea.

A country walk would be good BUT it is bound to be pissing it down all weekend.

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 06/03/2012 13:28

Play a board game like Monopoly - my (French) DSSs love Monopoly - it doesn't require too much English.

elephantsteaparty · 06/03/2012 13:27

Never had to entertain an exchange person myself, but thinking about typically British things:

  • a walk in the countryside (obviously in the pouring rain!)
  • afternoon tea in a hotel (sandwiches, cakes etc, all posh like)
  • any morris dancers nearby?

I know these may not be the most exciting of suggestions, but was just trying to think of things he might not do at home. Otherwise things like bowling, ice-skating...?

Bonsoir · 06/03/2012 13:26

Shopping in SuperDry.

LetsEscape · 06/03/2012 13:25

The best thing we did on our French exchanges' visit was to take him for a cooked breakfast. He loved it and took lots of pictures.

You may want to ask your son what his idea of a good day out ....go karting, swimming,

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