It is certainly the objective for my children and I to learn something - as much as possible - from the exercise; otherwise why bother with lessons.
I have experienced "lessons" of the type described by Cookie on ski trips and I must say, it makes my blood boil to pay for tuition that is in effect baby-sitting on snow.
As you suggest, I was hoping to go somewhere warm - but not as hot as Nabq - in the summer where advancing our so far rather limited skills might be fun, but if that is not true of France, I may have to think again. How sad.