For all those coming to France

[minesthechevy]

I get plenty of wisecracks about 'les anglais' coming and buying up the housing stock.

According to my mood at the time, I

A) Tell them that the house I had bought had lain abandoned for 8 years before I had even heard of it without any frenchies showing interest.

B) Point out that Ive put nearly 400,000 euros into the local economy since I arrived (not counting the initial purchase price, and rising...) and how much have THEY spent with local firms in that time?

C) Point out that the conversation we are having is in French, and ask them when the last time that an englishman made them talk in english.

D) Say something very direct and Gallic that a french friend taught me 30 years ago. However, I reserve this for anyone I'm not likely to ever meet again......

E) Shrug

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by coloma gold

Bev,,
Regarding the language skills requirement.. are there independant, accedited schools, that are available so that it will be more better instruction and a better teacher/student ratio? I have had several years of french but it is not my strength and I anticipate that I will not be able to pass the test.. Additionally, is the test primarily a reading/writing skills or does it include hearing and speaking? Do you know the length of the test? Thanks.

Honestly, I have heard absolutely nothing about the test for language ability. Most folks I know have been "assessed" informally, either at the consulate when they have their interview, or (in my case) by the local prefecture, again during one of the "interviews." It seems like you "pass" if you manage the interview in French.

If they determine that you don't speak enough French to meet the requirement, then taking the free state-run class appears to be mandatory. Though, if you showed them you were enrolled in a private class, I suspect they'd exempt you. There isn't an "accreditation" for French programs as far as I know, other than the general registration of businesses offering "formation."
Cheers,
Bev

[coloma gold]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Honestly, I have heard absolutely nothing about the test for language ability. Most folks I know have been "assessed" informally, either at the consulate when they have their interview, or (in my case) by the local prefecture, again during one of the "interviews." It seems like you "pass" if you manage the interview in French.

If they determine that you don't speak enough French to meet the requirement, then taking the free state-run class appears to be mandatory. Though, if you showed them you were enrolled in a private class, I suspect they'd exempt you. There isn't an "accreditation" for French programs as far as I know, other than the general registration of businesses offering "formation."
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks Bev.. Have a nice weekend

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by minesthechevy

I get plenty of wisecracks about 'les anglais' coming and buying up the housing stock.

According to my mood at the time, I

A) Tell them that the house I had bought had lain abandoned for 8 years before I had even heard of it without any frenchies showing interest.

B) Point out that Ive put nearly 400,000 euros into the local economy since I arrived (not counting the initial purchase price, and rising...) and how much have THEY spent with local firms in that time?

C) Point out that the conversation we are having is in French, and ask them when the last time that an englishman made them talk in english.

D) Say something very direct and Gallic that a french friend taught me 30 years ago. However, I reserve this for anyone I'm not likely to ever meet again......

E) Shrug

I also add, when I hear this at the top end of a remote cul de sac valley in the Savoie Alps that not so long ago was home to Beaufort cows and some weathered old farmers and nothing else, that without the British and later, other foreign tourists (incl. Parisians) in the likes of Val d'Isère and Meribel, there wouldn't be any jobs to encourage the French to want to live there in the first place.

Thanks to us the likes of Bourg Saint Maurice is one of the richest communes in the whole of France, in terms of local taxation income per capita.