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French Exchange 2010

                                                                                                    18th June 2010

                                    FRENCH EXCHANGE 2010-11

Dear Parents and Pupils

Once again next year we are planning a French Exchange with our partner school, the Institution Saint Louis in Pont l’Abbé d’Arnoult, near Saintes in the Charente Maritime département. This is a well-established exchange from which hundreds of Ripon Grammar pupils have benefited over a period of over twenty years. The exchange is open to pupils doing French in the Fourth Year and Sixth Form.

The exchange works as follows: the French group visit us from Tuesday 19th October to Saturday 30th October (three days of school with visits plus half term). We shall go to France from Monday 11th April to Friday 22nd April 2011 (during the Easter holiday). No lessons will be missed. The dates may be subject to slight change depending on the availability of flights. We may consider coach travel if there is any doubt about flight reliability. The cost will be in the general region of £270, depending on air fares or numbers on a coach. We would not wish cost to stop any pupils taking part, so if this is an issue please contact the headmaster in confidence.

During the exchange pupils will stay with host families. We shall match pupils up by age, interests and family background. Pupils will attend some lessons in the French school, take part in organised outings but spend the bulk of the time with the host family. Previous group visits have included Futuroscope theme park, Cognac, Saintes, the Ile d’Aix and Rochefort. The main aim is to give pupils the opportunity to improve their listening and speaking skills, but clearly there are lots of other personal benefits involved. Pupils who do the exchange nearly always see their motivation and their marks raised! We recommend the exchange strongly to you as an educational experience.

It is important to note, however, that the exchange may not suit every individual and every family. There are challenges involved in being away and the exchange is certainly a significant whole family commitment. Families will need to organise activities and outings for their guest and be prepared to help them a good deal with their English.

Please note also that we cannot accommodate French students in the boarding houses, so boarders would have to make alternative arrangements for the French visit. In addition, I cannot guarantee a place for every applicant since I cannot know in advance how many French students will apply. We have rarely had to turn anyone down.

If you would like to take part please complete the attached slip to your French teacher and forward a deposit of £50 (only returnable if a partner cannot be found). The deadline is the first day of next term.

Yours sincerely

Mr S.P. Smith

Head of Modern Languages

For a more detailed account of our exchange see www.frenchteacher.net/exchange.doc

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

I give permission for my son/daughter ……………………………. Form …… to take part in next year’s French Exchange. I have forwarded a deposit of £50.

Signed ………………………………….. (Parent/Guardian)