Would like my son to go to France for a term - any advice?

[RedSuedeShoes]

Preferably at a French private boarding school but I don't know where to start looking.

How old is he?

Year7 - so 12 - and his school finishes at the end of Year 8 so ideally I'd like him to go in Spring or Summer term 2011.

Does he speak French?

Ok, I've so many questions :
1)why?
2) does he speak French?
3) has he ever been to France before?
4) does he know anyone in France or would you just be dumping him them by himself?
5) has he been to boarding school before or does he live at home?

I could go on. Having moved out to France by myself when I was early 20s, it is HARD. It is hard making friends, even when you speak the language fluently, it is hard having no-body nearby who has known you more than a few days...

Just school French and is very weak so I was hoping an immersion in a school for around 3 months may help although I do acknowledge that it is a difficult age!

Why not send him on a summer activity course in France over the summer break?

I'd definately second the summer activity course in France during the holidays, otherwise you risk putting him off French for life thanks to a (potentially) bad experience. French schools are fairly different to English schools (stricter, way longer hours), and one term, all alone in a foreign country, would most likely be very lonely and isolating.

At least with summer activities he'll be outside in the sun having fun and French will be seen more positively.

Does he want to go?

At his current school he is working with the older Year group so if he goes for a term he won't miss out academically. As for long hours, they don't get much longer than at his school and it is very strict.

The holiday courses I've found cost about the same as sending him to school for a whole term but they are only 2-4 weeks long. We also believe that holidays are for family and not to be sent off to do more work. We would prefer the spring term as it is much shorter anyway and I would go and visit frequently.

Have you tried speaking to his school about it?
They might have links with a school in France, perhaps there could be the possibility of an exchange of pupil(s) for a term or something like that?

Does he want to go?
If he doesn't speak very good French how on earth do you expect him to integrate into a school year, 2/3 of the way through the year and understand what is going on?
He will have no friends, no family, no support.

I may be sounding harsh, but I'm not sure how much you've thought this through. I have moved to France and I know how exhausting it is at first. How isolating it can be.

How will he get on studying science in French? Philosophy? History? Maths? Especially as he will be coming in at the end of the year. They (obviously) don't follow the same syllabus as in England so they will be studying concepts which will be completely new to your DS.

why?
hell just forget it again

12 seems pretty young to send him away to a foreign country where he doesn't speak the language.

I live in France and schools are much more academic than in the UK (at that level, at least). Frankly, I don't see how he would manage with only his weak school French. How is going to write essays in French ?Even if he would, it would be an isolating and possibly frightening experience.

boarding school in France? Mid-way through a year? Why?

There are organisations which arrange long-term exchanges with families - you'd have to have a French child with you for an equivalent period.

(I was thinking of \link{http://www.allef.org.uk/exchange-experiences/the-white-family/\allef} but they only do it with KS2 apparently)

Also I thought that boarding schools here are mostly for troubled children, it's not like in the UK. I might be wrong, though.

To send him on his own is mean. Why not do an exchange with a French student during term time if summer holidays are not suitable.

I appreciate advice but I actually just want what I asked for on my original post. I know the pros and cons and the reasons why I have decided to look for a school rather than a family stay. So I would appreciate advice on specific schools, not to be told I am being the worst parent in the world!

It is a completely mad idea! The French school system is very different from the English one. Does he ACTUALLY want to go and live in France on his own?

this might help

They seem to be bilingual,though...Anyway, he'll forget whatever little French he'll learn very quickly. I really can't see a benefit to this, but whatever

Poor child - he will need at least a term to settle in and make friends (which will be made even more difficult by sending him at a time when the majority will already be settled and friendship groups established). By the time he may be starting to feel settled you will be uprooting him again..
There is little respected research to show that a short peiod of immersion benefits language development when it is not sustained, nor is language learning best undertaken when under considerable amounts of stress.

Have you really thought this through and why on earth do you want to put him through this? Find a language club for him if you want him to have more than he gets at school, and let him enjoy his school days and language learning!

Golly...people are judging this womans son and hi ability to get on...when they don't even know him! He could be perfectly fine...it sounds like mad adventure and a challenge.

Some of us have experience of the country, the education system and the language and are providing advice as originally requested based on this. The OP seems miguided in thinking this experience will help her son's language.

What about switzerland. Somewhere like le rosey

Chavagnes International College