1.Preface

2.Foreigners In A French Land
French Red Tape; Proof Of Identity; The French Approach; The Language Gap; The Good Life; Bringing Up The Children;

3.Coping With A New Language For An Adult
Memory Loss; Saying It Correctly; Perseverance; Lessons;

4.Making Friends With The Locals
Bleak Winter Days; The Importance Of Family; Contact; Do Not Be Too Pushy; Forget The Cuppa; Spot The Occasion; Follow Their Lead;

5.Avoiding The Faux-Pas
You Can Tell From The Face; Your Children Will Tell You;

6.Polite Behaviour
Mutual Respect; Please And Thank You; Hello; Vous Or Tu; La Carte De Visite;

7.Give And Take
Recommendation For A Job; Exceptions To The Rule; Impatience; Red Tape;

8.Maintaining Your Child’s Mother Tongue And Culture
Contact The Headteacher; Redoublement; English Parents And French Homework; Speak English At Home; Find Some English Playmates; Encourage Them To Read And Write In English; Find Some English Time With Your Teenage Children; Maintaining English At Home And

9.Contact Between Fellow Expatriates
Fellow Classmates; English Playgroups; Small Doses; Reading Group; Swapping Stories;

10.State School Or Private School?
Enrolment; Les Étabussements Privés Sous Contrat; Les Établissements Privés Hors Contract; Changing Schools; Values; Results; Size;

11.The Early Years
Child Care For Children Under Six Years Old; Primary Education: Education Primaire;

12.Secondary Education
Collège Enseignement Secondaire; Who’s Who At Collège And Lycée; What’s What At Collège And Lycée;

13.La Rentrée and Shopping For The French School Year
Buying A School Bag; Les Fournitures; Writing Slates; Writing Paper; Textbooks; School Insurance; The Cost;

14.The Local School: Tradition And Rigour
The Language; Le Redoublement; A Long School Day; Learning To Write; Mental Arithmetic; Learning By Heart; A National Programme; Recitation; Dictation; Foreign Languages; Tests – And Often; Quality Rather Than Just Effort; All Subjects Are Important; Out O

15.How A Parent Can Help Their Child To Succeed At School
A Place To Study; New School Year, New Things; Get them Into A Routine; Be Available; Catch Weak Spots Early; A Constructive Attitude; Playtime;

16.Extra Help At School, Private Lessons And Distance Learning
Help For All At School; Available Help At School; The Parent’s Role; Work Books; Private Lessons; Popular Private Agencies; Distance Learning;

17.Options And Career Guidance
The Choice Of Languages; Strategy; Disappointment After All Those Years; Classics; Decisions At The End Of Collège – Where To Next?; Decisions At Lycée – Which Bac; How A Parent Can Help; Who Families Can Approach For Help; Where Families Can Find Help;

18.Le Baccalauréat
Not Just One Exam; The Right Profile For The Right Bac; Core Subjects; Coefficients; Specialisation; Tough; Sitting The Written Exam; Pass Mark;

19.Working Towards Citizenship In French Schools
The School Rules; Good Behaviour; Collective Respect; Class Representatives; Le Conseil De Classe; Le Conseil D’administration; The Importance Of Voting; Citizenship Lessons At Collège; Citizenship Lessons At Lycée;

20.Parents’ Associations
Encouraged By The School; Parents’ Associations Provide Information To Parents:; Parents’ Associations Transmit Information To The School; Textbooks; Parent Representatives; Class Delegate; The Role Of Parent Delegates;

21.Food For Thought In French Schools
A Cultural Experience; A Point Of Discussion; Queries; Well-Balanced; Choice; No To Packed Lunches; Safety; The Cost; Comfortable;

22.Les Grandes Écoles
Educating The Elite; Specialisation; Highly Selective; Preparing For Entrance; Hard Work; Grande École May Be Small; Long Studies; Teachers And Visiting Lecturers; More Aware; Qualifications; Better Prospects;

23.Learning To Drive: A Rite Of Passage
It Feels Like My Teenage Son Has Been Driving Me Around In My Car For Years Now – And He Has! Since He Turned Sixteen To Be Prec; The Benefits; The Run-Up; The Supervising Adult; Compulsory Sessions For Parent And Teenager; Restrictions; Stressful; Safer D

24.The French Art Of Foraging
Mushroom Collecting; Snails; Frogs; At the Sea Shore; Traditions; It Is The Taste; It Is Free;

25.Le Vide-Grenier
A Good Reason For A Clearout; Earning A Modest Sum; Fun; Parlez-Vous?;

26.Observing And Learning From Les Femmes Françaises
Stress-Free Dining; Finding Quality Time For Themselves; No Rushing; A Home From Home; Looking Good; Just What The Doctor Ordered;

27.The Strip-Cartoon
Huge Interest; Not Just Kids’ Stuff; Serious Reading Matter; Homage To The Grand Masters; The Manga Mania;

28.Sport And The Younger Generation
Wednesday Afternoon; Timetabled Sport At School; The Importance Of Sport; An Active Nation;

29.The Local Festival
A Veritable Transformation; Everyone Is Welcome; The Setting; A Friendly Atmosphere; The Cost; It Is Good For The Economy Of The Town;

30.La Vendange with A Difference
Pampered In Vine Extracts; A Natural Spa; A Discarded Treasure; Vinotheraphy; Purification Or Pleasure; Award-Winning Wines;

31.Festivities That Focus On Food And Drink
Forget The Christmas Cards; Compliments Of The Season; When Un Arbre Is Not A Tree; Food Glorious Food; No Gâteaux De Noël;

32.The Galette Des Rois
Different Recipes; The Charm; The Fun Is In The Serving;