For all those coming to France

[Bevdeforges]

We've had a number of people through the forum recently who are looking to relocate to France. France is a beautiful country, but from personal experience I can assure you that living here and getting yourself installed and integrated as a resident is very different from just spending a few weeks here on holiday. Here are a few tips on making the most out of a move to France:

1. LEARN THE LANGUAGE - preferably before you go!

The French are immensely proud of their language, and outside the tourist areas, it can be difficult to nearly impossible to find someone who will admit to speaking English. Part of this is because the French educational system doesn't teach languages very well, so although most French people have studied English at school, few feel confident enough to use the language in public (especially in front of a native speaker). If you're thinking of living in France, take a French class or get yourself some tapes or CDs so that you'll have at least a few basic phrases before you go. (Even if all you can say is "I'm sorry, but I don't speak French very well" it's always better to start in French.)

The French resent the swarms of Brits who (as they put it) "refuse to learn the language" and who "expect us to speak English." Even if your French is bad, you'll do much, much better if you start out with "Excusez-moi de vous déranger..." (excuse me for bothering you) than if you have to go around asking "Do you speak English?"

2. Take a French class on arrival.

OK, I know I said the French don't teach languages very well - and they don't. But take a language class once you get to France - no matter what your level. (If you require a carte de séjour, you are now required to take 400 hours of French classes offered free by the State unless you can demonstrate a basic level of fluency on arrival. Completion of the classes is a requirement for renewing your carte after the first year.) It's a super way to meet other foreigners, and if your classmates don't speak English, so much the better. It's far easier to practice your French with someone who is also just learning the language. If you want to chat with your classmates and they don't speak English, you'll have to use your French to make yourself understood. And after all, communication is the whole reason you're trying to learn the language in the first place.

The big advantage of practicing with other foreigners is that they won't correct every grammatical mistake you make or be too fussy about your pronunciation. If they understand you, you've done good. If they don't then you have to find a clearer way of saying what you're trying to say. Very often you'll find that the French correct you as you speak, and that can be very inhibiting. Learn French with other foreigners in France, and you'll have lots of chance to practice your French, even if it's only to complain among yourself about what a dork your teacher is!

3. Use the resources of your local mairie (town hall).

We anglo-saxons (what the French call Brits, Americans and other anglophones) tend to avoid interactions with local governmental agencies like the plague. In France, this is a big mistake. The French go to the mairie for just about any problem they encounter. And, it's a good idea to go into the mairie in person the first few times, to get yourself known and to try and cultivate a clerk or two who is willing to help you when you have questions. (Maybe even someone who will help with your halting French!)

The mairie is the center of any town, and in the mairie you will find all sorts of useful information, including brochures about the various clubs and associations in town, information about the schools, building regulations and how to register for most of the stuff you have to register for in France. (If you don't actually register for it at the mairie, the clerks will be happy to tell you how and where to register. They will often look up addresses and phone numbers for you and write down the requirements.) Many mairies sponsor free or low-cost French classes, or they can find you French classes within the district or departement. (See #2) And the mairies run cultural and sporting events in town. But you have to ask for information (in French, preferably). The French aren't ones to make big publicity campaigns, and they don't usually volunteer information if you haven't asked for it.

4. Find a club or association to join.

Ask at the mairie about AVF, an association called Accueil des Villes Françaises, which is a sort of welcoming group for newcomers to town. If there isn't an AVF, ask if there is any sort of "association d'accueil" or one for "les nouveaux arrivants." Sometimes the mairie runs a reception for newcomers (usually shortly after school starts in September) or a "Forum des associations" where the various clubs and associations present themselves and trawl for new members. If there is no newcomers group, then find a group that matches an interest of yours - photography, yoga, a hiking group or flower arranging. It's much more fun practising your French when you're really interested in the subject. If your town doesn't have any clubs or activities that interest you, try the next town over, or the closest larger town.

Expat groups are another source of friends, especially those who speak your language, but it's also important to reach out and make friends within the French community around you. A little effort often goes a long, long way.

Cheers,
Bev

[minesthechevy]

Hi

You mentioned 400 hours of language tuition - please could you point me at the correct channel to apply for this?

Thanks in advance

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by minesthechevy

You mentioned 400 hours of language tuition - please could you point me at the correct channel to apply for this?

It's not something you can apply for. It's part of signing the "contrat d'accueil et d'intégration" which you can only do when you receive your first carte de séjour. For more details, here is the website for the agency charged with the contract for foreigners (the English pages ): ANAEM - Agence Nationale d'Accueil des Etrangers et des Migrations

I have a friend here who is taking the 400 hours of language training. It's not the best way to learn French (IMHO) - all students who could not pass the language test are lumped together in one class, regardless of level. My friend does seem to be making progress, but there are much better language classes available for quite reasonable prices.
Cheers,
Bev

[Hovian]

Hi Bev, Yes I fully agree with you. I am moving to France fairly soon but am having difficulty finding the right location. I intended to move to Herault on the outskirts of Beziers but have decided to look elsewhere also. Can anyone help me? The weather must be fairly warm in winter and the summers hot. My friend has a place near Bergerac and he says it is a lovely place. I want to be near transport as I shall not be driving and will need to get to my daughter in Cannes. I would like to be near English people but my main wish is to be able to establish myself into the french community. I shall be going on my own so you can imagine how daunting it is for me but this is not something that I have taken lightly even though my french is very basic so now I am teaching myself and will also take lessons when I move. I have heard that Saint Foy La Grande is lovely, can you or anyone help, I am going to Bergerac and Chalais.

[minesthechevy]

Thanks for the link Bev

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Hovian

...I intended to move to Herault on the outskirts of Beziers but have decided to look elsewhere also. Can anyone help me? The weather must be fairly warm in winter and the summers hot. My friend has a place near Bergerac and he says it is a lovely place. I want to be near transport as I shall not be driving and will need to get to my daughter in Cannes. I would like to be near English people but my main wish is to be able to establish myself into the french community. ...I have heard that Saint Foy La Grande is lovely, can you or anyone help, I am going to Bergerac and Chalais.

All the towns you mention are nice (and with something like 37,000 towns in France, it's hard to keep track of them all!). Winters in the south of France are certainly warmer than in the north, but I remember during the "tempetes" of 1999/2000 the cold wave hit southern France just as hard as it did those of us near Paris.

If you don't drive, be sure to check out the public transit situation carefully before you move. The smaller towns (which are nicer to live in in many ways) often only have service at rush hours to connect to the closer larger town. Much of France's transport system is still in the old "star pattern" radiating out from the major cities and towns. While Bergerac is a lovely town (and they have great wine there!), do check the train connections to Cannes. It may be a bit more convoluted than you might think, as traveling west to east or vice versa is often something of a "challenge" in France.
Cheers,
Bev

[The Moose]

New to the site, and would just like to say Hi.

I have read lots of threads and they are most useful. Its amazing what comes up and how people throw help cards out.

[reallylight]

Hi Moose,

I'm new too. Liking what I have read so far very informative thanks everyone.

[dcat]

Hi Bev,
Thanks for the good introductory information. I am an American and have been living in Catalunya (Spain) for seven years. I am married to a Catalan and I speak Catalan. We are now thinking of moving to Provence -- somewhere near Avignon or Arles. I have visited both and like them a lot. The reason for this move, if it happens, is because I find France more aesthetically pleasing than Spain (landscape, houses, restaurants and bars, less garbage everywhere, everything), I want to live in a town where I will have more cultural opportunities and will not have to rely on a car for my everyday routine (we live outside any town in an urbanization and have to drive to buy groceries, see friends, or catch the train) and also because we are looking for a less expensive property and life than what we have now. I am 60 and my husband is 77.

One of my concerns is making new friends. When we lived in Barcelona, all my friends were Catalans (I did not meet them through my husband, it was actually the reverse). Now they are mostly British. Because of the small-town, family orientation, it is harder in the area where we live now to make friends with Catalans than it was in the city.

My husband warns me that Catalans are far friendlier than the French and that I may be friendless in France (what a sentence -- I should become a poet!). I figure that I will take classes or join a group and I will meet new people. But the French do have a reputation for not being very friendly. If I speak passable (it will never be perfect) French, how are people likely to react? Because I learned Catalan rather than Castilian (Spanish), the Catalans were very warm and receptive to me, although they still keep a social distance.

Thanks,
Dvora

[Bevdeforges]

Hi Dvora, and welcome to the forum.

OK, the French don't have a big reputation for being warm and open with newcomers. France is very family oriented and it can be hard to get to know folks if you don't have family in the area. However, depending on where you wind up, there are ways of integrating yourself into the local community. (See especially #4 in my list of "must dos.")

Associations are a big deal in France and if you can find a local group that strikes your fancy, it can be a great way to get to know folks. There are a number of expat groups in the south of France, both American and British, which is a good start while you start to learn the language.

I'm not sure what your visa status is as the wife of an EU national. Some folks on the forum here have said that you should be accorded the same rights as your husband, but in practice I have not found that to be the case. (I had considerable difficulty getting legal even as the spouse of a French national in France.) But at least ask at the French Consulate about getting a visa. If you wind up needing one, you'll have to get a carte du séjour, and if you get one of those you'll be eligible for those 400 hours of French lessons your first year in France. Another way to get to know some people in the area!

The French also have a tendency to surpass their reputation when it comes to one on one experience. In some ways, they are a very reserved and almost shy people (gross generalization, but if it fits...) and if you remember that and don't overwhelm people when you first meet them, you could find yourself plenty of French friends.
Cheers,
Bev