Hello,
We have two children aged 12 and 14 and are considering moving to Lausanne for one year.
We have explored various options for state schooling and appreciate the advice received so far. We have visited the Centre de ressources pour élèves allophones (CREAL), which conducts the welcome classes for non-francophones.
There are two options. Both are focused on teaching French, which is what we want.
1. Full-time CREAL -- only with non-Francophones
2. Part-time CREAL (otherwise known as CIF) -- 4-6h per week of supplementary French with non-Francophones and the rest of the time integrated into regular class.
We have searched this forum and the Internet but haven't found any information from parents.
Specifically, we're wondering about the social and academic environment of these classes. We previously lived in Italy and found that classes for allophone students were often drawn from troubled communities -- bullying/violence were a problem and many students didn't seem particularly interested in learning. This isn't a big concern if we go with option 2, but our children may need option 1 as their French isn't great.
Does anyone have any experience with these classes?
Any advice appreciated.
Our daughter did option 2 for one year, when we moved here when she was 13. The class at CREAL was fine, all foreigners from various countries, the teacher she did not like, as she was overly critical. After a year her Collège decided she would not need more of the CREAL class, as it was a pain to travel back and forth between CREAL and the school every day but Wednesday 20 minutes each direction. Instead she has extra French in school now, which is great. Her French was not much when we moved here, but now after less than 2 years it is quite fluent. The extra French class is necessary as in school she is now doing the normal French class about French literature and high level grammar (she was skipping this the first year when still going to CREAL); thus she will need to become proficient to take the same exam as all students at the end of this last year of Collège. I think option 2 worked out well for us, even if the first year had been difficult.
Thanks so much Melone.
Could you elaborate on the extent of your daughter's French before starting in the CREAL class?
Best wishes.
She had had French classes for two years in school. CREAL here was very intensive 4 times 2 hours a week, plus everything French all day long in school. Also good was that several kids and teachers could speak English, and it was tolerated that our daughter was speaking in English in class. Good luck.
my son was 8 when we moved here. no french at all, but he was bilingual in spanish and english. he was placed in the bien venue class, all language learners for the first year of his arrival. it worked very well for him as he is now (after 4 years) completely bilingual and speak french as good as his english. but this is an 8 year old vs a 12/13 year old and there is a big difference in the curriculum and work at the two ages. he is now 13 and i think if he did go in the full placement french class it would be difficult to assimilate to the other kids and the schooling. it would also depend on their motivation.
for a highly self motivated kid i would certainly recommend option 2 and think about putting the children in some activities where they are using french for social purposes. again, i have a 13 year old, so if you want to contact me upon arrival and the kids themselves could discuss it, just send a message
Thanks very much for this Melone and Amaraya. Option 2 sounded a bit intimidating so it's good to hear your advice.
Of course, our situation is a bit different since we'll return to Canada after 1y. The CREAL organizers recommend option 1 if learning French is the only goal -- but feel that option 2 could work, and would be better for assimilation as Amaraya says.
You've both made me feel better about the social/academic environment of CREAL (options 1 and 2).
Thanks.