We would like to come to Germany next summer

@Blitrenko Hi Julie!

Moving abroad certainly involves challenges - especially with kids and limited language skills.

Bilingual schools here are NOT geared towards teaching foreign kids German, but German kids the foreign language. This might not be what your kids need.

Alternatively, many local public schools have preparation classes to prepare foreign pupils (not only in language) to join normal classes. This would, of course, mean some time lost academically - at the age of your kids typically a year.

And for you, finding a good job without language skills would be very difficulr - most  such jobs are menial and lowly paid (and French is next to useless here). So I suggest you concentrate on language classes for the first year or two (plus volunteer work if you like) and start a job search when you reach B2 or better C1 level.

@beppi

Thank you very much for your answer. It’s very clear.

And what about working in english in a big company ? Is It possible ?

And what about working in english in a big company ? Is It possible ? - @Blitrenko

In a few cases, multinational companies (mostly in technology) made English the official office language. But they are rare and there may not be one near the place you'll live.

My wife is working in one (medical equipment supplier). Even there, socializing, office politics and the art of building and utilizing connections remain German. So non-speakers are at a disadvantage, career-wise.

However you twist and turn it: Successfull social interaction, employment, cultural integration and, ultimately, happiness depend on knowing the language around you. If you are serious about the move, start learning it today!

I read somewhere that as a French person you can request an exemption to be in a French bilingual Gymnasium that prepares for both the German exams and the French baccalaureate

I googled it an found that Nürnberg (20min by car or train from Erlangen) has one of only three schools in Bavaria offering this:

https://www.ngn-online.de/index.php/home/abibac

It is interesting to note that the school website is available only in German. In short, it says:

1. Target group are kids who learn French as foreign language
2. Students can get both the German Abitur and Frech Bacchalaureat
3. This is achieved by additional French classes (incl. preparation for DELF exams), exchanges with French schools/organisations and the teaching of two subjects (history and humanities) in French - this is called bilingual here!

Also, Erlangen has a bilingual French-German primary school - but your kids are no longer in that age group (up to 10 years).

Hello everyone and welcome Julie !

Please note that this new thread has been created on the Germany forum from your posts for better interaction.

All the best

Bhavna