Nerdfighters with knowledge of France/French speaking countries would be of great help

[Maryam Ali]

Hi! For my French class we have to do a speaking exam based on a topic of our choice (within the limits of these general ideas - new media, culture, music, tourism, education system) and I am completely stuck. I'm meant to have tonnes of research done for when I go back to school next week, so if anyone knows any current and interesting things about festivals, the use of technology in French schools, the internet's role in France etc. or about anything to do with the subjects mentioned above, ce sera fantastique :D

(By the way, I do know more French than just that one sentence.....)

[Nick]

France is an odd country. Though their education system is much like US (from my limited knowledge of the US education system) they have elementary, middle and high school- though the year system is different. They take a baccalaureate when they're like 16 or something. 

In my opinion, the music is pretty dire from what our french teacher shows us- there's plenty of examples on youtube.

they have a lot of strikes over stuff. also no-one thinks that President Sarkozy is going to win the next election.

tourism is huge- Paris, Eurodisney, the Alps, Marseille and the French Riviera, are all big money-makers.

Hope this helps but I'm sure there are actual french nerdfighters on here that can help you a lot more!

[Maryam Ali]

Thanks for your help, anything is appreciated!!! I could do something about French music being so unpopular - we have a french assistant at school and he hates french music :P - so that has given me some ideas! Cheers :D

[Kirsty Lyon]

Hey! :) I live and have lived in Marseille for 10 years. French music is quite unpopular (a few exceptions though) because a lot of the artists are old. I personnally quite enjoy it although it is rather gloomy. Technology is quite under-used in schools. In one area in the south of France (around Marseille where I live) they give you a laptop when you're 13 but never get you to use it for anything. We have computers in technology classes but they're still telling us how to use OpenOffice (which we have been doing since we were 7...).

There aren't many festivals going on now but the main one that France is known for is the "Festival de Cannes".

And the role of internet in France... well. You know, they like go on facebook and stuff. I don't know any french nerdfighters. Hope it helps! :)

Oh yes! And they do, indeed, have A LOT of strikes. They strike for just about everything. About half my teachers aren't there for a day every two weeks because there's some sort of strike (and this is just in the schools, you have no idea how many train strikes there are!).

[Maryam Ali]

Hi! Thank you so much for your help, that's been really useful for my presentation :D