FEATURES OF OUR COURSES
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COURSES?
THE TRACEY FAMILY
Students staying with us are considered part of the family, and the personal care and attention paid to each student reflects this. Little things are important to us: a birthday cake, or a celebration for exam or sporting success; but also support when things go wrong.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COURSES?
THE TRACEY FAMILY
Students staying with us are considered part of the family, and the personal care and attention paid to each student reflects this. Little things are important to us: a birthday cake, or a celebration for exam or sporting success; but also support when things go wrong.
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“Thank you again for making the fortnight fun, and for spoiling her on her birthday, but above all for revamping her confidence in French.”
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“Thank you for the way you looked after Katie
and made her feel so at home for a week.” |
SMALL CLASSES and INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION
We never have more than 5 students with us at a time. Time is set aside each day for one-to-one sessions and extra help. Special attention is paid to students’ individual needs – oral exam topics are reviewed individually and special visits and interviews can be arranged according to need. We believe that no other course gives the same level of individual attention to each student as we do.
We never have more than 5 students with us at a time. Time is set aside each day for one-to-one sessions and extra help. Special attention is paid to students’ individual needs – oral exam topics are reviewed individually and special visits and interviews can be arranged according to need. We believe that no other course gives the same level of individual attention to each student as we do.
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“When she announced on her return that she really likes French now, we knew that something quite profound must have occurred while she was with you”.
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A WELL-BALANCED PROGRAMME
Our classroom sessions include:
Our classroom sessions include:
- grammar;
- listening and reading comprehension based on up-to-date articles taken from the French press and media;
- vocabulary extension;
- development of good oral and written style;
- pronunciation;
- exam technique.
“The lessons were really helpful; such a variety of exercises which therefore helped many aspects of my French.”
Our daily projects, activities and expeditions are designed to improve our students’ practical ability to use French in a variety of situations and at an appropriately sophisticated level.
Homework is set each day and students’ written work is corrected, returned and discussed without delay.
COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS’ TEACHERS AT SCHOOL
We welcome letters and emails from teachers requesting us to cover specific areas during the course their students will be attending.
At the end of each course, we write a detailed Course Journal and an individual report on each student, which we send not only to the students themselves and their parents, but also to their teachers – in this way, teachers can see how hard their students have worked and assess their progress during the course.
NEW COURSE BOOK
Each year Caroline writes a new course book and assembles fresh source materials to ensure that our course content is up-to-date, relevant, stimulating and topical, and that it fits in with the demands of current exam syllabuses in the UK.
Homework is set each day and students’ written work is corrected, returned and discussed without delay.
COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS’ TEACHERS AT SCHOOL
We welcome letters and emails from teachers requesting us to cover specific areas during the course their students will be attending.
At the end of each course, we write a detailed Course Journal and an individual report on each student, which we send not only to the students themselves and their parents, but also to their teachers – in this way, teachers can see how hard their students have worked and assess their progress during the course.
NEW COURSE BOOK
Each year Caroline writes a new course book and assembles fresh source materials to ensure that our course content is up-to-date, relevant, stimulating and topical, and that it fits in with the demands of current exam syllabuses in the UK.
“I am now revising and slowly making my way through my “Grand Osier” book, which is proving to be very helpful.”
A FRENCH ONLY RULE
All classes are taken in French; all projects require the students to talk French with French people; and we insist that our students converse only in French with us and with each other.
To implement this, we take all our meals en famille (at least two hours each day around the dining table) and we aim to be with our students, or within earshot, virtually all the time they are at Le Grand Osier. Caroline is either with the students or “on call” from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., often later.
The projects are designed for the students to talk to local people in some depth about a range of topics: aspects of the towns they visit, history, various French institutions, French culture, etc.
All classes are taken in French; all projects require the students to talk French with French people; and we insist that our students converse only in French with us and with each other.
To implement this, we take all our meals en famille (at least two hours each day around the dining table) and we aim to be with our students, or within earshot, virtually all the time they are at Le Grand Osier. Caroline is either with the students or “on call” from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., often later.
The projects are designed for the students to talk to local people in some depth about a range of topics: aspects of the towns they visit, history, various French institutions, French culture, etc.
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“I thoroughly enjoyed the varying conversation and I am glad I have been made to argue consistently in French, however conflicting my views appeared to be!”
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“The trips into Dinan and Saint Malo were brilliant and it was fun to interact with the locals.”
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EXCELLENT ACCOMMODATION
Our students receive full board in a delightful, professionally renovated sixteenth century cottage: either in double rooms (with en suite shower) or in single rooms (with washbasins).
We do not farm our students out to host families – students stay with us in our home at Le Grand Osier. Talking to students who have been with French families, it appears that many host families are keen to speak English with students from the UK! Also, the fact that students stay with us on site means that no time is wasted getting to and from classes, and the students have virtually permanent access to their teacher.
Our students receive full board in a delightful, professionally renovated sixteenth century cottage: either in double rooms (with en suite shower) or in single rooms (with washbasins).
We do not farm our students out to host families – students stay with us in our home at Le Grand Osier. Talking to students who have been with French families, it appears that many host families are keen to speak English with students from the UK! Also, the fact that students stay with us on site means that no time is wasted getting to and from classes, and the students have virtually permanent access to their teacher.
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“I have stayed with several French families in the past, but without doubt your course in particular was the best!”
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FRENCH CUISINE
We dine regularly in excellent local restaurants and we pride ourselves on the quality of the meals we provide at Le Grand Osier. We offer a choice of beer, cider or soft drinks with lunch and red or white wine with dinner. In addition, we stock our students’ kitchen with soft drinks, tea, coffee, fresh fruit and biscuits to which they may freely help themselves.
We dine regularly in excellent local restaurants and we pride ourselves on the quality of the meals we provide at Le Grand Osier. We offer a choice of beer, cider or soft drinks with lunch and red or white wine with dinner. In addition, we stock our students’ kitchen with soft drinks, tea, coffee, fresh fruit and biscuits to which they may freely help themselves.
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“All the meals were delicious and thank you for the continuous supply of biscuits – it was all that hard work that made us hungry!”
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NO EXTRAS
The course price includes:
The course price includes:
- all tuition in class,
- all one-to-one sessions,
- the course book,
- all teaching materials,
- all projects and expeditions, including entrance fees to museums, exhibitions, etc.
- accommodation and full board (including dinners in restaurants),
- the alcoholic beverages (beer, cider or wine) and soft drinks which accompany lunch and dinner.
- tea, coffee, soft drinks, fresh fruit and biscuits stocked in the students’ house, to which the students may freely help themselves.
- all transfers to and from Dinard airport, Saint Malo ferry port and Dol-de-Bretagne railway station.
- a full report on work covered in class and all projects and expeditions (the course journal) as well as an individual report on the progress of each student. This is sent to parents, the students and the students’ teachers at the relevant schools.
“Thank you for reminding me why I’m doing French!”
