I’m Curious as to why not. why does them being rich and being able to give their kids that type of education make them not normal. i’ve read that comment alot about celebrities just curious as to why people feel that way.

that’s great for their kids, but i wouldn’t say that the very few people that can afford that education for a 6 year old, are “normal”.

Kids pick up languages really quickly. I live in Wales, where it’s now very popular to send your kids to a Welsh language school even if you don’t speak Welsh yourself. Over 3 quarters of the parents usually can’t speak a word. I went to one myself – my parents didn’t speak Welsh. I was fluent in Welsh after 2-3 months.
I think it’s extremely beneficial – I’m very good at languages which I think I wouldn’t be had I not been bilingual at such a young age. A lot of parents are scared of putting their kids into an education system in a language they don’t understand…but they don’t take long to change their minds.
I’ve done it with my kids too.

I love the idea of a school that is the same worldwide for children of traveling families! Too bad it’s not more affordable, just like neither are most of the American Embassy schools abroad. But what a great idea for those who can afford it.

Angie’s mother wasn’t French, she was French-Canadian (actually, she was Quebec and Native American, which is one reason Angelina has such an exotic look). I think she moved to France later in life because she used to be a model when she was younger and liked it. Just wanted to clarify!

Nadège »» Indeed. French school abroad are very rigourous and very rigourous (compared to schools in France) because they are private and headmasters want 100% of success for the BAC (12th grade final exams). Back in South Africa, we had a 100%

Judy »» Exactly, the classes are all the same.
I failed my 10th grade (whoops! Shame on me!) in Portugal and re-done it in South Africa. Only the commas weren’t the same, the lessons are directly from the French Éducation Nationale (Ministry of Education). The funny part on having final exams is that no matter where you are in the world (at least, depending on the jetlag), you start your exams at the EXACT same time the academy you’re attached in France.
Example: South Africa is related to Southern France. A pupil in France and a pupil in SA will take their pencils at the exact same time (7 AM for one, 8 AM for the other) about the same subjects.
I think it’s neat

(Boy, I talked too much already, but was glad to share my little knowledge around. Thank yall! Off I go! )

The Lycée Française has branches in several large cities in the US (there’s one in NYC and one in New Orleans) as well as overseas, so that children in families that move around a lot can continue to attend a branch in another city and continue their education.

It’s an excellent school and academically it’s very, very rigorous. All the first graders are expected to be fluent in French and the kids have to speak French all day long in school. I used to work a block away from the Lycée in NYC and I used to see the kids in the pizzeria on their lunch hour jabbering away in French.

Madd will get a very solid education if he remains there.

Jo Ann v. – Thank you for all your helpful and descriptive comments.
I didn’t realise that there were times that French natives/citizens could have cheaper tuition. I know that the Ministry of Education does accord grants (bourses) but it is never enough to cover the entirety of the tuition. I do think that the price is rather justified when you look at the quality of the education, however.

I was thinking that perhaps Angelina was influenced by Marianne Pearl and her son, Adam, while filming the movie about her life. They were all apparently very close, with Maddox and Adam becoming friends. Maybe that is were his first real exposure to French came from. Just a thought.

This is what I want to know (it’s kind of on-topic, because we’ve been talking about how they travel around): what do they do with all their stuff? Like, remember when they were in France (I think) and they bought Mad that turtle? What became of the turtle? We often see them taking the children to toy stores and book stores, and I wonder what happens to all those things.

I’m sure there are special things that they take with them from place to place, but what about the other flotsam and jetsam?

I was so surprised to see Shiloh wearing a dress that had been Zahara’s. Not because I don’t think hand-me-downs are a bad thing, but just think: the last time we saw that dress, it was in Africa. Where has that dress been? Where do you store things like dresses you want to hand down when you move every month or so? I mean, I have a box in the nursery closet for favorite outfits that will be worn by my younger sons. But when was the last time their family returned to a house they’ve lived in recently to dig through a box of Zee’s old clothes to see what would fit Shiloh?

And, seriously, I want to know what became of the turtle.

Actually, “lycée” means “high school” when in France (or French speaking countries) and when it’s abroad, it’s kinda “big school”, from kindergartenn to 12th grade. So you can say either “lycée” or French school.