Clé France

Hi Sharon and David,

All done and dusted, well almost anyway. We are delighted to have completed on our new French home and look forward to the next part of our French adventure. Thinking back, its been a interesting and at time testing journey, a journey made infinitely more enjoyable and less stressful by you and your team. So, many thanks for your support, honesty, advice and assistance which has brought us to where we are now, its been great !

Many thanks  

Richard and Lana.

Buying a house in Brittany or indeed any region of France need not be a chore or even a little stressful, buy with Cle France and any of our 150+ Cle France agents and we will always strive to make the journey stress free.

Remember the blog we published on getting 20/20 in the French education system?

Before the shock of not being able to get un vingt (a twenty), there is another big surprise that may be waiting for you dans une université française (in a French university).

If you have school age children and you are thinking of buying a house in France and moving to France full time then tell them that most classes in France tend to be broken down into “CM”s and “TD”s. That is lecture classes and “supervised” classes.

Photo by Steven S. on Flickr

Now, the same idea does exist in UK universities and dans les universités américaines (in American universities), namely in the sciences where there’s the main class and a laboratory attached to it. In France the idea is applied much more generally and the style of teaching is completely different.

CM stands for Cours Magistral, and is often explained as, “c’est comme un seminar chez vous  (It’s like your seminar classes) !”

En général (in general) think of it as a lecture class where le professeur (the professor) goes through une leçon (a lesson) while the students write down notes. This requires intense listening and visual skills and concentration, when we first moved to live in France full time this was the one thing our son found most difficult, until we realise he needed spectacles!

However, there are some big differences. Sitting through your first CM and being barely able to follow what le professeur is saying, you mat be surprised to see nearly all of votre camarades de classe (your classmates) keeping impeccable notes, with outlines clearly built in, even including footnotes and colours.

Don't worry you will get the hang of it very quickly.

Thinking of moving to France full time? - book a viewing trip with Cle France today!

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

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

When learning a new language, finding entertainment that’s similar to what you like in your native language can be a big motivation booster, so when I found Le Petit Journal, I was happy to have found what is more or less une version française d’une des mes émissions préférées (a French version of one of my favourite shows).

Turning the TV on in France the day after you have bought your perfect French Property can be a shock, French TV if you have lived all your life in France is fine BUT if you are used to something wider and more varied in quality, the UK or America for example then living in France and watching just French TV may be a education!

Photo by Daniel Horacio Agostini on Flickr

Les deux émissions partagent souvent des convictions politiques et le sens de l’humour (the two shows often share poltical views and sense of humor), making l’émission française (the French show) a fun way to stay up to date on what’s happening in France.

The host, Yann Barthès, keeps things going with his commentaires drôles (witty commentary) filling the show with jokes and a light hearted playfulness, but also leaving room to get serious for tough issues and interesting interviews.

En général, if you’re a fan of The Daily Show, you’ll enjoy Le Petit Journal. After watching just a few episodes you’ll surprise your French friends with your knowledge of French politics and French pop culture.

The humor of Le Petit Journal is not for everyone. It is often enfantin et immature (childish and immature) and can borderline on antagonistic mocking. Cependant (however), it’s all in good fun and everyone laughs.

Now you know what to watch on TV - book a viewing trip with Cle France today!

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

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

Hi Sharon,

I just wanted to thank you for all of the help you have provided over the past few weeks. We have just returned from France having completed the sale of the little house and are looking forward to developing our holiday home.

I have to say all of the companies that you have recommended have been fantastic.

Maybe you could advise Eurotunnel on customer service!

Many Thanks

Phil (and Family).

Phil and his family have a great renovation project in the Deux-Sevres department in the Poitou-Charentes, it is in a great location and must have been a 'good-un' as we sold it within a few weeks of going on the market. Good luck Phil and we all wish you many happy years at your holiday home in France.

Not sure we can help with Eurotunnel (the views given refering to Eurotunnel customer service levels are not the views of Cle France Ltd etc etc etc. LOL)

Hi Sharon,

Thank you so much for ‘looking after me!’….really appreciated.

Will look forward to hearing from you mid March. (By the way, we’re also looking for a property which isn’t too rural). 

Thanks again, Nicki.

Whether you are ready to buy, just thinking about it, going to France next week or next month you can give us a call / email and discuss your plans, we may be able to suggest the best course of action for you and save you time and expense! Contact us today to discuss your plans.