9 tips for teaching English in France
Whether it’s just a means to an end or the gateway to a great career, teaching English in France can be a great way to realise your dream of living in France
If you want to supplement your income when living in France but you are not yet fluent enough to work in a French-speaking environment, becoming an English language teacher could be just the answer. Here are nine points to bear in mind for preparing to teach English in France.
1. Think about the course’s reputation
It’s important to check that your course is accredited and that your qualification will be accepted by future employers. As a guideline, most employers require that your course provided at least 6 hours of supervised teaching practise and 100 hours of classroom-based study.
2. Time is money
Courses lasting 4 weeks generally cost upwards of £1,000, on top of accommodation and living costs, so you need to be very committed to ensure you get your money’s worth.
3. Prepare to work hard
The workload is heavy and the hours are long so these courses are best suited to people who work well under pressure and like to learn in a classroom environment.
4. Save your pennies
For cheaper course options, you could consider taking a distance-learning course on the internet which will help you save on commuting and living costs.
5. Where will the course be?
It’s a good idea to take the course in the country, if not in the city in which you intend to work. This will give you an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the local culture and to investigate the job market.
6. Who do you want to teach?
The popular TEFL/TESOL courses prepare you to teach general English to adults but if you want to teach children or business students, you may need further qualifications to do so.
7. Location, location, location
Most employment opportunities for English language teachers in France are concentrated in major cities including Paris, Lyon, Nice and Montpellier.
8. Think ahead
Research your future employer and find out about rates of pay, average hours per week and how much commuting you’ll be doing. Remember that universities offer a higher rate of pay than language schools but they offer fewer hours of work and generally only pay at the end of a semester.
9. Stand out from the crowd
If you want to find a teaching job in France, you have to network! And remember, that while having English as a mother tongue is a huge advantage in securing a job teaching English in France, a recognised qualification will help you to stand out from the crowd!
Read more on working in France:
How to write a great French CV
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