[Jane&Dom]

Just wondering if anyone has experience of getting French qualifications (particularly trade ones) assessed? For some reason France isn't on the list of countries in the NZQA acceptable qualifications list.

[JandM]

Haven't got an answer for you, but just want to wish you luck from a couple of other French-speakers.

Googling, I found an old thread from this site which isn't exactly relevant, but is sort of on the same subject. http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-5369.html

[Jane&Dom]

Hi JandM, thanks for this - I can see we need to get the ball rolling now as it seems it may take 6 months for OH's French qualis to be assessed, and possibly even longer as they are not standard ones:uhoh Hope your own research into the emigrating process is going well...
Jane

[JandM]

Thanks, and good luck!:) We've got it easy on the entry front, as we'll be sponsored parents, but we aren't getting things moving yet due to other family obligations here.

[stephenandjulie]

and hello from another French speaker...

Julie

[stephenandjulie]

You're not coming to Christchurch by any chance are you? I live in hope of meeting some French people here

Julie

[Jane&Dom]

Hi Julie
Christchurch would be my first choice, but it will probably depend on where the jobs are. Also my French OH wants sun, warmth and sailing, while I want sun, skiing and the odd frosty morning, so there's still some negotiating to be done ;)

[stephenandjulie]

Fingers crossed for Christchurch. Totally selfish of course... I just want to speak some French!! We'll be the first to invite you around for dinner.

Joking apart, best of luck with the process and I am sure you'll be happy wherever you choose to go.

Julie

[Jane&Dom]

Thanks Julie - will be seeing you one of these days if all goes according to plan!
Jane

[JandM]

Julie, are you French, or only (no 'only' about it really) a speaker?

[urban78]

Just wondering if anyone has experience of getting French qualifications (particularly trade ones) assessed? For some reason France isn't on the list of countries in the NZQA acceptable qualifications list.

Hiya Jane&Dom,

Welcome to the forum, from a french person :)

You should check out the www.frogs-in-nz.com forum, for French people/speakers who are already in NZ or are about to make the move. Although a lot of the people there are working holiday makers, there are a few who have moved as skilled migrants and have had to go through NZQA to have their qualifications assessed, so this might give you a bit of an insight :nice1

I'm French, lived near Paris most of my life (French dad and American mom) but moved to London in 2003 where I met my OH who's a Kiwi from Auckland. We've been here for just over 2 years and I haven't looked back :D

All the best,

Jen

[stephenandjulie]

Hi Jane
I am an English francophile. I used to speak French very well indeed but I haven't spoken it regularly since 2001. I was employed by American Express as a french speaker for seven years and I loved every minute of it. If I do get to meet you, I probably will be very nervous about speaking French but I would probably be ok after a few glasses of wine.
Julie

[Red Devil]

All this talk of French speakers and French nationals is giving me flashbacks :D ... we're still trying to sell our farmhouse in the Vosges region (Dept. 88), 8km from the tourist hotspot of Gerardmer. Reckon we'll be renting it out at this rate due to the 'global housing market slowdown' and trying NZ for 2 years or more :)

Must admit, the French we'd learnt is rapidly fading... you certainly need to keep speaking it regularly :roll

[Jane&Dom]

Salut Jen! That's a brilliant link - thank you!
Red Devil, 'Must admit, the French we'd learnt is rapidly fading... you certainly need to keep speaking it regularly' you are so right! OH and I only ever speak French with other French people, otherwise we've always spoken English together - its an exhausting nightmare when we go to visit his family who speak no English, and even OH struggles now, after 22 years in the UK :o !
Jane

[urban78]

OH and I only ever speak French with other French people, otherwise we've always spoken English together

That sounds like my parents...they speak english to each other (although my mom's been in France for over 30 yrs) and only end up speaking French when socialising with other people :laugh

[starkhorn]

The thread that JandM posted the link for was us. It was a standard Matrise but it still took quite a long time. My suggestion would be to supply as much information as possible about your qualification. Getting the course contents from official hand-books etc would certainly help them and hopefully avoid delays in NZQA asking for more information.

Good luck!