Now that I’ve officially made it through my first school year at French International School of Beijing (LFIP), as a foreigner with no real French connections, I realize that in all actuality, I do actually have connections! It’s a journey I look back at with a nostalgic smile, remembering how terrified I was walking through the gates on that first day. Then feeling proud of myself when I walked out ten months later, with a much stronger understanding of the French language and culture. Nevertheless, these ten months were filled with struggles and triumphs, late-night laughs with friends, and rant sessions that have been sworn to secrecy. This past year has been amazing, but there are five things that I wish I had known before I stepped onto LFIP’s campus.

1. The French value their time away from work

This is somewhat of a double-edged sword. On one hand, the world needs to learn from the French, that “it’s time to take some time off work!” and talk about something else. But on the other hand, for workaholics like me who have grown up hustling, when you want to reach anyone on weekends or on vacation, it’s a ghost town. It was very frustrating, but as I immersed myself more in the French environment, I began to appreciate this sort of “slow down and have a glass of wine” way of life, even if it’s something I don’t think I could adopt in the long term.

2. The French speak French…Until they don’t

I walked into the French school having finished Third Year French at my previous school, which should have equipped me with the necessary tools to understand what was going on at LFIP, right? Nope! Because French kids may speak French, but it’s not entirely French. What I mean by that is, technically they’re speaking the French language, but much like any other culture, every other word is slang. How am I supposed to understand anything if the majority of it wasn’t covered in my Third Year French class? For the first few weeks, my classmates spoke French to me at what seemed like 60 miles per hour, and I just stood there, already too lost to catch up. I did somehow get the grade to speak English to me though, but that’s a story for another time…

3. Doing things the “French Way”

Remember all those problems in math class that call for three different types of solutions, and you scratched your head in confusion? Or when you just couldn’t nail down a thesis for your history paper because there were simply too many things to write about? Well, here, at LFIP, that’s not a problem – there’s only one way. It’s the “French Way.” For math, I clung to my American and Chinese methods like they were my lifeline, and in history, I often broke free from the structures that were given. I struggled to let that go, but at this school, adapting to its methods proved to be useful – it did get me the grades.

4. School ends at 5.30pm for high schoolers

I had walked into LFIP expecting to take the bus home at 3.30pm, as I’d done during my time at International School of Beijing (ISB). Turns out, classes for high schoolers end at 5.30pm. Thus, no extracurriculars. I remember struggling to stay attentive during afternoon classes for a good portion of the year, knowing that from the minute the clock strikes 2.30pm, there would be four more hours to go. However, there was one redeeming quality: because school ends so late, there’s significantly less homework each night. Now that I’m looking back, those extra two hours a day gave me so much more time with the people I know I’ll miss terribly.

5. Some teachers will go the extra mile for their students

This saved me at LFIP, quite literally, especially during the first half of the year, when I was struggling to adjust and some teachers went out of their way to make me feel supported. I just wish I had known it all before the first day. At any rate, around mid-November, I was experimenting with scriptwriting and my English literature teacher took time out of his lunch hour, plus hours over the weekends, to help me refine my work. When I had mock trial competitions, my history teachers supported me with any resources that they had, sometimes sacrificing parts of their lunch hours and breaks to discuss with me. This level of dedication and passion really made a difference in my experience at the French school, one I’ll always be grateful for.

So, for anyone who’s planning to start at LFIP (especially those who don’t really speak French), it can be particularly daunting, however, at the end of the day the students and teachers are incredibly supportive. There will be struggles and there will be times when you just feel like staying home and skipping school, but hopefully, these five tips will help you survive and get a sneak peek into the school life of LFIP students.

KEEP READING: I Hate to Admit It, But My Mom Was Right About the French School

Images: Emily Hellqvist

In anticipation of the Beijing International School Expo on January 16-17, we’re highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from the upcoming 2016-2017 beijingkids School Choice Guide, which comes out on January 4

The French International School of Beijing (LFIP) is a large international school offering primary through secondary education in one campus, from spring 2016. The teaching conforms to the curriculum set out by the French Ministry of Education. The school focuses on offering excellence for all students through a well-rounded education including sports, culture and the arts, innovative methods for learning languages and high-quality teaching. The primary school features French-English and French-Chinese bilingual tracks with additional language classes in English or Chinese. The secondary school has a British and Chinese International Section offering a specialized curriculum with classes delivered in English (British Literature, History, and Geography) and Chinese (Chinese Literature and Mathematics). Graduates obtain the French Baccalaureate Diploma and enter prestigious preparatory programs for admission to Grandes Écoles or universities, in France, but also in Canada, in the UK or the USA (20 percent of our graduates choose an Anglo-Saxon school or university). The new spacious and eco-friendly campus located north of Chaoyang District will enable LFIP to further develop athletic, artistic, and cultural activities, allowing students to acquire competencies like autonomy, initiative and open-mindedness. LFIP has been in Beijing since 1965 and is part of a network of 494 French schools established in 135 countries.

Founding date: 1965
Age range: 3-18
Grades offered: Preschool to high school
School type: International school accredited by the French Ministry of Education
Total area: 37,000sqm
Curriculum description: French
Curriculum boarding program: No
Number of students: 870
Is the school accredited by the Ministry of Education? Yes
Accreditations: French Ministry of Education
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? No
Tuition fees (2015-2016 academic year):
• Application fee: EUR 850
• Preschool and primary school: EUR 7,740- 9,670
• Middle School: EUR 8,760-11,060
• High School: EUR 13,360-16,330
• Transportation fee: EUR 708-1,538 per year
• Lunch: EUR 980 per year
• After-school activities: EUR 292 (for each activity of 2 hours per week)
Lunch offered: Seasonal and nutritionally-balanced western meals
Nationality of students: 40 nationalities (63 percent French, 4 percent Canadian, 3 percent Belgian)
Primary teaching language: French, but also English or Chinese (optional)
Other languages taught: English, Chinese, for all levels. Spanish, German, Latin in middle and high school
Average class size: 23
Average teacher/student ratio: 1:10
School hours: 8.30am-3.30pm (Preschool and Primary), 8am-6pm (Secondary School)
After-school activities: Dance, football, taekwondo, circus arts, scrapbooking, judo, badminton, tennis, chess, choir, music, drama, art, and more
Special needs programs offered? Personalized support available for students in
need
Extra help offered? French for non-native speakers
Scholarships offered? Scholarships from the French government available for French students only
School facilities: Teaching building (20,000 sqm), gymnasium (dojo, gym, multi-sport field), outdoor multi-sport field, speed and cross tracks, full regulation size football pitch, outdoor and covered playgrounds, multi-function theater (200 seats), school restaurant (400 seats), six well-equipped science laboratories, technology workshop with 3D printers and robot, three library centers, classrooms equipped with SmartBoards, and air ventilation and filtration system throughout the campus
School nurse or doctor available? Yes, one French and one Chinese nurse available, full-time
Contact: 1 Jingshundong Jie Chaoyang District (6532 3498, secretariata@lfip.net.cn)
www.lfip.net.cn 朝阳区京顺东街 1号

Photo: Courtesy of The French International School Beijing