My son is beginning his 2nd year of French class in high school (he is a sophomore) and was told that his teacher is planning a trip to France next summer before his Junior year in high school and again after his Senior year. I'm trying to decide whether to send him next summer (July, 2001) or have him wait until after his senior year (July, 2003). Any suggestions as to advantages/disadvantages to either? I'd love for him to see France and he is excited; however, he is not fluent in the language at all (not yet anyway). He will be 16 next summer (probably during the trip). Thanks for your suggestions. <BR>Kathy

All four of our sons and daughters participated in such a trip in their junior year and enjoyed and benefitted greatly from the trip. <BR> <BR>One experience in particular stands out. Our younger son certainly wasn't fluent in French, at least by the start of his junior year. Nonetheless, the first day they arrived in Paris, too excited to nap, he went outside the hotel to a nearby courtyard and struck up a conversation with a group of French teenagers. <BR> <BR>I'd suggest he do it now. Hard to tell what his interests will be following HS graduation. <BR> <BR>Ed

Thanks so much for your input. Your last comment about where his interests may lie at the end of high school definitely have been in my thoughts. <BR>Kathy

My daughter and I went to Paris with her French class when she was 16. It was a great experience for both of us. I think 16 is a good age and like you said, he may have other interests after graduation. She is now 20 and we are hoping to go back together when she graduates college.

I agree with "other interest after graduation." My daughter took such a trip after 8th grade. By the end of Sophomore year, all she wanted to do was to hang around with her friends going shopping malls and movies. After Junior year, she did all that plus a nearly full time work at a fast food restaurant in summer, no time for cultural trips in her "busy" social schedule. Take advantage of the opportunity while he is still excited.

Kathy, The excitement of travel which a trip now would create is likely to carry over into any college plans and college interviews that he has in the future. A trip after his senior year would eliminate this exciting topic from these interviews. It is very appealing to have a potential student excited about embracing the world.<BR><BR>linda

Kathy, My daughter went as an exchange student her entire Junior year. It was a fabulous experience. She became a much more global invidual, became fluent, had wonderful experiences and went back again for a semester in college. If your son is eager I say go for it!

Kathy, Do it now! Strike while the iron is hot! OK, those are cliches, but if he is interested now, then let him go now. It is a trip he will never forget & will make him want to travel more in the future. And as others have said, who knows how he will feel in 2 yrs.

I absolutely would encourage a trip, however speaking as one who went as a teenager herself consider a few things. <BR>1) his maturity, 2) the level of supervision and 3) does he love travel anyway? <BR>You know how mature he is. On point 2 I just want to say that on my trip there was a lot of freedom and for teenagers away from home and able to pass for drinking age, etc. well you get the point. I wasn't into it but others of course were. Again, you know your son. And point 3...If he loves travel would waiting until Senior year be a good graduation present? Especially if money is tight. My parents allowed me to travel both upon graduating high school and for a year in college and they were both remarkable experiences that started a life of travel.

If you wait till he graduates, chances are that the other kids will all be lowly (in his mind) Juniors and he won't want to hang with them. 2 years of High school french is plenty to get around, and it most likely will inspire him to take a third year. Colleges are very impressed with 3 years of foreign language, and like said above, this may inspire him to bigger things when making college and life choices. After graduation, the choices will have been done. He can always go back again as an adult, but now is the time he can have fun in the group.