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Nov 11

The Various Stage of French Schools

Je viens de revenir en France (I just came back to France), which means I’ve been dealing with le décalage horaire (the time difference). All the confusion of living in abroad in another language has come rushing back, and brought up one very funny interaction. 

French Schooling

Talking with un ami (a friend), I wanted to tell them about something that happened during my time as an undergraduate student.

I started the sentence with,

“Quand j’étais au collège….” 

When I was in middle school….

And proceeded to talk about university level classes. The confusion on la visage de mon ami (my friend’s face) made me realize I’d made an all too common mistake. Le collège (middle school) and college are very different things in French and in English.

It lead to an even more confusing conversation about le système d’education français (the French education system). After a long conversation and many explanations I still wasn’t quite sure whether fifth grade was the same as en cinquième.

Une fois à la maison (once I was home), I looked up just how each classe (grade) is said in French and found an article here on Transparent Language explaining the differences. I then understood why I had trouble understanding mon ami.

The naming convention is very different and the differences can look scary when they’re written out.

French school years

“EducationFr” by Thomas Steiner. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Commons.

The important things to remember are that the general ideas of elementary, middle, and high school exist, they’re just said very differently. 

L’école primaire (elementary school) lasts for 5 years, with kindergarten being a part of nursery school in France, le collège (middle school) lasts for 4 years and starts en sixième (sixth grade), and le lycée (high school) is 3 years long.

Remembering these basic steps will make understanding your French friend’s enfance (childhood) much easier!

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Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.

Add CommentViews: 364
Nov 11

House for Sale in Brittany

A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE this is a delightful detached house, a French Countryside Longere style property in a quiet rural hamlet situated between La Trinite-Porhoet and Meneac but actually in the commune of Mohon.

Here is a nice bit of background to this beautiful property in the words of the owner...

" Having arrived in Morbihan, Brittany for a friends anniversary party, we decided to check out the local property market. It was love at first sight when we first came upon our house, it was nestling within its own private enclosed garden, in a tranquil hamlet surrounded by beautiful countryside; what more could anyone want !

It was also a perfectly safe environment for our animals "Birman Cats" that we used to breed and exhibit in the UK, a hobby we wanted to continue, not to mention 2 Standard poodles. 

We have the close proximity of all local amienities, with easy access to airports, Ferries, motorways, to explore "La Belle France"  

Through our friends and neighbours we were introduced to the French way of life, it is rather laid back, always making new friends especially when joining French Classes, a good way to intergrate, we also made many French friends at Cat exhibitions, although we no longer exhibit now, but keep in touch.

There is always help on hand with the Local Marie with all local activities.

Our home was completely renovated, taking 18 months with the help of a French architect and artisans, it now has a charm all of its own, and will not disappoint anyone who walks through its doors, or enters the beautiful, tranquil garden, with its various fruit trees and veg garden, it is a delight and privilege to be living here, you need never be alone."

Now the house is for sale and we would be delighted to show you it anytime. 

CLS00391 for sale for 189,300 euros FAI.

Property for sale in brittany

GROUND FLOOR: Your first impressions of this house are fabulous, on entering the tiled entrance and hallway you quickly get a sense of character and quality, which continues as it leads to an open plan dining kitchen area with beamed ceiling and a Godin wood-burner which can be backed up with oil fuelled central heating in the winter if needed. The kitchen is fully fitted with integrated units ie. dishwasher, cooking hob, oven and cupboards. 

kitchen of house for sale in france

From Kitchen there is a a dry larder for storage of foodstuffs and a doorway to a cellar, wine cellar, and out to a conservatory which you can see from kitchen window. 

Along the lower hallway there are 2 double bedrooms, both with parquet flooring. There is also a shower room, wash hand basin and a separate WC. 

FIRST FLOOR: bespoke oak staircase which leads to a magnificent master-suite of lounge, bedroom and en-suite bathroom. This area has been beautifully renovated by local artisans but retaining original beams and features, double glazed windows and wooden flooring throughout. The en-suite bathroom is tiled and has bath with a shower head tap, wash hand basin, WC and velux window. The master bedroom also has a dressing room which is extremely practical.

At the rear of the house is a summer kitchen with utility area for washing machine etc. 

OUTSIDE: Garage, hangar with workshop, and large vegetable plot and land of 2879m². The plot also has an irrigation system and is nicely enclosed making it a safe garden for children and dogs. 

garden of house for sale in france

There are also kennel/cattery in the garden if needed and can also be used for keeping chickens. The kennel/cattery has heating and lighting installed - I may move in there myself! 

There are also apples, cherries, plum, figs and kiwi fruits in the garden. 

IN SHORT: A delightful property which has an up-to-date septic tank and in a quiet rural hamlet with open farmland at the rear. 

Just 20 mins away is the main town of Ploermel with its excellent array of supermarkets and shops. The medieval town of of Josselin has the Nantes Brest canal running through it and is ideal for fishing, cycling, boating, canoeing, and walking. The airports of Dinard and Rennes are about an hours drive away. St Malo is about an hour and half drive away.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France. 

Add CommentViews: 238
Nov 9

Countryside Longere In A Quiet Hamlet

A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE this is a delightful detached house, a French Countryside Longere style property in a quiet rural hamlet situated between La Trinite-Porhoet and Meneac but actually in the commune of Mohon.

CLS00391 for sale for 195,000 euros FAI.

Property for sale in brittany

GROUND FLOOR: Your first impressions of this house are fabulous, on entering the tiled entrance and hallway you quickly get a sense of character and quality, which continues as it leads to an open plan dining kitchen area with beamed ceiling and a Godin wood-burner which can be backed up with oil fuelled central heating in the winter if needed. The kitchen is fully fitted with integrated units ie. dishwasher, cooking hob, oven and cupboards. 

kitchen of house for sale in france

From Kitchen there is a a dry larder for storage of foodstuffs and a doorway to a cellar, wine cellar, and out to a conservatory which you can see from kitchen window. 

Along the lower hallway there are 2 double bedrooms, both with parquet flooring. There is also a shower room, wash hand basin and a separate WC. 

FIRST FLOOR: bespoke oak staircase which leads to a magnificent master-suite of lounge, bedroom and en-suite bathroom. This area has been beautifully renovated by local artisans but retaining original beams and features, double glazed windows and wooden flooring throughout. The en-suite bathroom is tiled and has bath with a shower head tap, wash hand basin, WC and velux window. The master bedroom also has a dressing room which is extremely practical.

At the rear of the house is a summer kitchen with utility area for washing machine etc. 

OUTSIDE: Garage, hangar with workshop, and large vegetable plot and land of 2879m². The plot also has an irrigation system and is nicely enclosed making it a safe garden for children and dogs. 

garden of house for sale in france

There are also kennel/cattery in the garden if needed and can also be used for keeping chickens. The kennel/cattery has heating and lighting installed - I may move in there myself! 

There are also apples, cherries, plum, figs and kiwi fruits in the garden. 

IN SHORT: A delightful property which has an up-to-date septic tank and in a quiet rural hamlet with open farmland at the rear. 

Just 20 mins away is the main town of Ploermel with its excellent array of supermarkets and shops. The medieval town of of Josselin has the Nantes Brest canal running through it and is ideal for fishing, cycling, boating, canoeing, and walking. The airports of Dinard and Rennes are about an hours drive away. St Malo is about an hour and half drive away.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France. 

Add CommentViews: 257
Nov 5

I would never have found my perfect French home without you

Dear Sharon,

Thank you for all your help. I would never have found my perfect French home without you! will definitely be recommending your services to others 100%.

Thanks, Helen.

That's nice, thanks Helen. Matching our clients to their perfect home in France is our aim, sometimes it is quick and other times the perfect house is more difficult to track down! but track them down we do and we are so happy for Helen and wish her many happy years to come in her House in rural Normandy.

And as several of our clients say "Follow your heart and make the move"!

Thank You Cle France

Add CommentViews: 265
Nov 5

Very impressed with the professionalism of your agents

Hi Sharon, 

We had a very busy time! It worked very well and we saw lovely properties. 

We've just got home so will probably do a "reckie" on them tomorrow and let you know.

We saw 10 in 2 days, so you can imagine we're still abit confused to what house was which but we know what we don't want so I'll let you know the short list

I have to say everything went to plan and we were very impressed with the professionalism of your agents.

I'll be in touch Asap and thank you for your help

Thanks, C.

Wow 10 viewings in 2 days, that is a busy viewing schedule and no wonder one merges into the other but that is the only way to find the right property - go viewing to France and see for yourself as many as you can fit in, the right French property for sale is out there for you...

And as several of our clients say "Follow your heart and make the move"!

Thank You Cle France

Add CommentViews: 315

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