ARe French Exchanges worth doing

[wobbleBob]

my very bright, but dyslexic 13 yr old boy is struggling with his French. The school offer a french exchange trip, but he is not keen. Is it worth trying to persuade him to go? Is it really likely to help improve his French?

It will offer much more than just language skills. It's an opportunity I wouldn't turn down and would encourage him to go.

He may enjoy the conversational French aspect of it, but will gain so much from living with another family, seeing another country without his parents, being in a very different school environment.

I would say that they are very useful but don't send him if he doesn't want to go. If he's miserable he won't learn anything. It's tough to live with a different family, even tougher to do it through a language you can't speak well.

My dd said her spoken French hugely improved after her exchange - but she's 17, and I guess the whole experience is a bit different at that age.

Depends how he feels about food (ie is he, in the nicest possible way, a fussy eater ); about socialising/homesickness and so on.

If he doesn't want to go then don't persuade him. My ds2 did a German exchange this year. I can't say his German improved, but he had a great time. The family he stayed with had such perfect English that they wanted to speak, that ds2 hardly got a German word in edgeways! The school had told them that usually the German hosts are desperate to practise their English.

If he is struggling but keen on the language then encourage (but not force) him to go. Living with a family will improve his conversational language both spoken and listening quite a bit and give him a confidence boost. My dd has been on an exchange to Germany and loved it, but she was keen to go from the beginning.

Is it not a chance to see somewhere else and do different things? It is always good to explore new horizons even if his language skills are not up to much.

hi my dd had a terrible time on her french exch. She got matched with a family with 5 kids living close to the breadline. They didnt even have a tv. She didnt get enough even to eat and what food there was was terrible.

In addition, her french exch was non communicative.

I would say it depends on the exch partner and how well they hit it off but I would say if they get on badly dont go ahead with sending your son there.

I know the german exchange from our school get to go on good trips hence is very popular but the french one is rather dull sadly in comparison because of the location they choose means that they cant do much.