Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore

[tree nymph]

Cheval:

Busymom:

Thanks for your insight too, it has been good to read from your balanced views here.

I have long heard from my french colleagues that education in France is highly subsidized by the state. However, depending on which type of universities you go to, some are not free (the private business schools for instance). What is interesting to learn from you on the other hand, is that for a foreign student, the university education is also free. Must one be on some sort of scholarship? Just wondering, why don't people send their kids to France to study since it is free?

Like I said, the university is free for everyone because it's public. French do not make difference between their own and foreigners, PR or not. No scholarship is required. That is also why whenever possible, I always recommend my Singaporean friends to send their kids to France. They just \"lose\" one year to learn the language. If one does not choose Paris or Aix-en-Provence, living cost is not that high.

Hi cheval,

Is it still like that? Free public university studies for everyone?

i know Germany offers free public university studies for its citizen... only need to pay misc fees and housing fees if you don't live around the uni... But its very expensive if foreign students study there.

[Cheval]

tree nymph:

Is it still like that? Free public university studies for everyone?

Yes it is, and it won't change any time soon. But a few weeks ago, I read that they wish to attract talented students of wealthy families from emerging countries like India, China etc. to their \"grandes ecoles\", at a fee around 10k euros.

In fact, France has 2 parallel system at the university level: engineering school (grande ecole) and university. Grandes ecoles are the place where the elite is trained. While anyone can enter a uni with a Baccalaureat (A level), the competition to enter a grande ecole is hard. The students have to have a good Baccalaureat score and attend the \"Classe preparatoire\" for 2 years. But only 50% will get thru in the end, a small proportion get into a dozen of prestigious grandes ecoles (the best two are: Ecole Normale de Paris and Ecole Polytechnique).

In addition the language problem, I am afraid the A-level credits might not be recognized, contrary to universities in US or UK, which is not favorable to those with good A-level score. The latter can easily save 1 year if they study in UK or US.

[hquek]

tree nymph:

minnie2004:

It'll be quite shameful not being able to speak better Chinese than Ang mohs.

Minnie,

I share the same opinion as you regarding the chinese language! We ARE Chinese after all and its quite a shame to not to know your very own language.

Hear hear. I'm trying to cultivate the love of Chinese language in my kids also by reading, and also through enrichment. DS1 likes to say he hates chinese, I have to remind him that he is a Chinese, it's a shame if he can't speak his own language.

Took me so many years, but my chinese teachers are going to have the last laugh. I used to hate chinese lessons, ting xie etc....but seems like I'm imposing the same in my kids in the hope that they will grow to embrace the language.

[Busymom]

Cheval:

That is also why whenever possible, I always recommend my Singaporean friends to send their kids to France. They just \"lose\" one year to learn the language. If one does not choose Paris or Aix-en-Provence, living cost is not that high.

Is it sufficient to take just 1 year to learn the language? Wouldn't everything that is taught in class be conducted in French? :?

[Busymom]

Cheval:

In fact, France has 2 parallel system at the university level: engineering school (grande ecole) and university. Grandes ecoles are the place where the elite is trained. While anyone can enter a uni with a Baccalaureat (A level), the competition to enter a grande ecole is hard. The students have to have a good Baccalaureat score and attend the \"Classe preparatoire\" for 2 years. But only 50% will get thru in the end, a small proportion get into a dozen of prestigious grandes ecoles (the best two are: Ecole Normale de Paris and Ecole Polytechnique).

French just like to be complicated in everything that they do. :lol:

The \"Classe preparatoire\" is free, is it not? But Grandes ecoles is not free as you said. Public universities are free, but apparently, the good ones are very difficult to get in. There is now a third system, not sure if you have heard. I am not sure what it is called, but seems that you do not need to do the 2 years of \"Classe preparatoire\" to get into this, but the duration of the whole course would be like 4-5 years instead of 3 years in a university. This one is not free either.

[toddles]

Cheval:

In addition the language problem, I am afraid the A-level credits might not be recognized, contrary to universities in US or UK, which is not favorable to those with good A-level score. The latter can easily save 1 year if they study in UK or US.

A-level credits are recognised. PSC scholars are usually sent to Ecole Polytechnique and usually only need one year of language studies before they take exams in French.

[minnie2004]

Busymom:

Cheval:

That is also why whenever possible, I always recommend my Singaporean friends to send their kids to France. They just \"lose\" one year to learn the language. If one does not choose Paris or Aix-en-Provence, living cost is not that high.

Is it sufficient to take just 1 year to learn the language? Wouldn't everything that is taught in class be conducted in French? :?

I think 1 year to study French in France is sufficient as you're forced to use it on a daily basis. However, if you study in a non-French speaking country, it's a different story. I minored in French (i.e. 4 years of study) but have basically forgotten everything by now, tout oublié :oops:

I know someone who went to the business school HEC without much French background and survived although most classes are carried out in French.

[gajidouma]

haha, sure Minie. Needless to say, am very proud of being a Chinese myself. Plus speaking mandarin is truly an asset nowadays and we don't have to deny that either. :lol:


Regarding the hungry-for-success sentiments in China, well my observation is it may be missing among some youngsters, but maybe not so with pushing parents who are \"hungry\" for their only child to succeed.

[tree nymph]

Singapore Top City for Asian Expats

S'pore retains its top spot for the 11th year running as the best city for Asian expats to live in


http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20100324/tap-529-singapore-offers-best-living-env-231650b.html

[Cheval]

Busymom:

Cheval:

That is also why whenever possible, I always recommend my Singaporean friends to send their kids to France. They just \"lose\" one year to learn the language. If one does not choose Paris or Aix-en-Provence, living cost is not that high.

Is it sufficient to take just 1 year to learn the language? Wouldn't everything that is taught in class be conducted in French? :?

Minnie's answer below is right. When you have no way to escape, you can do everything. The same thing for kids from China: they have to learn English as quickly as possible.

Busymom:

French just like to be complicated in everything that they do. :lol:

The \"Classe preparatoire\" is free, is it not? But Grandes ecoles is not free as you said. Public universities are free, but apparently, the good ones are very difficult to get in. There is now a third system, not sure if you have heard. I am not sure what it is called, but seems that you do not need to do the 2 years of \"Classe preparatoire\" to get into this, but the duration of the whole course would be like 4-5 years instead of 3 years in a university. This one is not free either.

Since I've never attended classe prepa myself, I just checked some Internet sites. Here you are: the majority of Grandes ecoles and classes prepa are public, so they are free. Current registration fee is 500 euros/year. By the way, student medical insurance is 200- euros/year.

French universities are 4 years, not 3 years. The Grandes ecoles are 3 years + 2 years of classes prepa, 5 years altogether.

toddles:

Cheval:

In addition the language problem, I am afraid the A-level credits might not be recognized, contrary to universities in US or UK, which is not favorable to those with good A-level score. The latter can easily save 1 year if they study in UK or US.

A-level credits are recognised. PSC scholars are usually sent to Ecole Polytechnique and usually only need one year of language studies before they take exams in French.

Thanks for the info. But directly to Polytechnique without having to attend classes prepa and pass the \"concours\" (exams)? Somewhat surprising to me.