I am looking for schooling advise. We are considering moving the Geneva-or bordering in France, and are strugging for the best school for our daughter. We live in Frankfurt and our daughter is in the German schools system ( we hate it ) and is bilingual ( something they are interested to recognize or develop ) and is the only 3rd culture kid in her classroom . We would like for her to grow up in a more international european culture, but not secluded in an international school that really only speaks english..we are seeking if possible a tri-lingual experience where she can daily use her german and english and once mastering French also use her French on a daily basis. She will enter the 5th grade next year, but because she does not yet speak French are even wondering what school could let her repeat the 4th year and then catch up in French...any suggestions out there would be most helpful.

You will not have a similar situation in Geneva because the environment is very international. Most private schools offer bilingual (usually French and English) programmes and in addition other possibilities to study foreign languages.

German is the first foreign language children learn in public schools. If you decide on the Swiss public system, most children her age will not speak a lot of German so she will probably be the best in her class. Admittedly, she will have to learn French.

If you would like an easier transition for her, you can check the German school http://www.dsgenf.ch/index.php?id=63&L=0 I have German colleagues whose children go there and they are very happy.

The general reputation of public schools is that they are not very good at foreign language teaching or at least that private schools are much better. It all depends on the school and the teachers and eventually what you want.

My children started school this year -- in a private French school which has 3 periods of English from the start (they are in the nursery school). Even though I was sceptical in the beginning, I have become really impressed with what they have learned so far. I can see that they will soon have very good English skills -- this will be their third language and we do not speak English at home at all.

You can also try the Lycee international de Ferney (France) which offers "national" programmes, within the overall french education system. This includes a German track where kids can get their Baccalaureat and also the Abitur in parallel - the ambiance is pretty international (many parents work at the UN or at CERN), and kids learn french, english and of course german.

www.lyferney.net

and

http://www.lyferney.net/lyf_joo/inde...d=56&Itemid=64 (Deutsche Abteilung)

All public Geneva schools have what they call "classes d'accueil" specifically geared to the need of foreign kids landing in Geneva; they're rapidly brought up to speed in French and then integrated in normal classes, ensuring they don't have to lose years on the way.

My daughter was in this sort of class for a year. It is a four-hour per day immersion course. She was at the same time attending regular classes in French and her teacher gave her some instruction in English. She is now fluent in both languages and the best in her class in German. So it definitely works well.

My only recommendation is to check ahead of time with the public school system in Geneva as not all schools offer the classes d'accueil. Some kids have to go to another school to take the courses (usually the largest school closest to their own). For example, in Chateleine there are no classes d'accueil so all kids go to St.Jean which is 10 mins away (in the bus).

Good luck