French GCSE - summer exchange or courses

[BankHolidayFun]

Hi all,

My DC is taking her French GCSE next summer and it's currently her worst subject!

Can anyone recommend organisations that arrange French exchanges (preferably one way!) so my DC can spend time
in France learning the language this summer?

Alternatively, a French language study course / tutoring during the holidays in France?

Thank you.

My DS will also be doing his French GCSE next year and we've been looking at Lingoo. No experience of it yet as we're at the earliest stages but hopefully somebody who has used them will be along soon...

Do you know if she is likely to be taking foundation r higher? What I mean is, you say it's her worst subject but these things are relative. Is she looking at (predicted) a grade 4 or below? if so the foundation tier is more likely (I am assuming AQA here btw). If she is taking foundation, wonderful as a French exchange would be, she can achieve a grade 4 or 5 with some targeted and focused work on vocab, tenses, and how to pass the exam (there are some very specific things she can do to help here). A tutor or some help from you if possible might be a better use of resources in that case.

Of course, if by "worst" you mean she is looking at a mere 7 in a host of 8s and 9s, then she will take higher and a wider range of language and fluency encouraged by an exchange would have more value IYSWIM.

I would love to know this. My DS is in the same position. Made to take a MFL. Spends all their time trying to learn it to the detriment of other subjects. Not allowed to drop it. I really think lockdown was a nightmare for MFL, because it was so hard to learn remotely. Hoping some one will have suggestions.

I’ll look at Lingoo and, as you say, hopefully someone will be along soon who has used them.

clary I have no idea whether she is taking foundation, aqa etc, but we think her vocab needs work. Hoping she will get a 7 at least…Thanks

Look up a website called RFI (major broadcaster) they do a short ten minute news bulletin called ‘les journaux en français faciles’ (News in easy French). Available on podcast too. Listen to a couple of those a week.

try and find an easy French newspaper and read it a lot!

watch call my agent and lupin in French with the English then the French subtitles on

play Duolingo

Oh, the rfi website has the TRANSCRIPT of the easy news too - invaluable for putting the words to the sounds.

My daughter did 2 week residential course through CESA. Had an ok time but most of the students were fluent in English (kids came from all over Europe) and I'm pretty sure she didn't speak much French - certainly her GCSE result didn't improve as a result!

That said she had a great trip and spent 2 weeks sunning herself in south of France

Harry Potter in French also good! If they already know the story in English that is.

Ah ok a 7 means he will take higher. Grade 5 is the highest possible for the f paper.

Sorry to say this and wouldn’t it be great if watching French films or going to France or playing duolingo improved your grade, but there is no substitute, even for higher grade, for learning a range of vocabulary and tenses. If he aims for a 7 he will need to be very confident in past, present and future verbs and know a good deal of basic and topic-specific vocabulary.

Actually duolingo is good for vocabulary but learning is still needed. What sort of grade is he working at now op? Sorry, I know none of this is what you asked.

Sorry, she not he!