Whether teaching English as a foreign language is a dream career, you’re considering it just to get some money together whilst looking for another job, or you’d like to do it to gain some experience whilst studying for your master of education in adult and continuing education, France is the perfect choice of destination. English teaching is a huge industry in France, with a high demand for great English teachers and thousands of foreign nationals working in language schools across the country. Whether you are currently a student or a graduate, here are our top tips for landing an English teaching job in France.
Tip #1. TEFL Isn’t Always Necessary
If you are considering moving to France to teach English, then you might be led to believe that beforehand, you will need to gain the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification. However, bear in mind that this isn’t always necessary. For example, if you already have an English degree or are currently studying for your online MEAD degree as a fluent native English speaker, then you’ve probably got just as much chance of being accepted for an English teaching position in France as those who’ve completed TEFL. So long as you have great social skills and a good grasp of the English language and grammar, you’ll be in with a fighting chance.
Tip #2. Choose the Right School
There’s a huge range of academies and private language schools available in France. However, with hundreds to choose from in the capital city of Paris alone, the reality is that you can find some which are much better than others. Others are going to be worth avoiding as much as possible, so it’s always a good idea to conduct your own research beforehand to determine where you’re going to apply and where you’re going to steer clear of. Thankfully, there are several bloggers and online reviewers who’ve made all the information readily available to the public online, so all it takes is a quick Google search to come up with a shortlist of schools that sound good to you.
Tip #3. Decide If You Want to Be Self-Employed
Some schools in France will ask you if you have ‘auto-entrepreneur’ status, which basically means that you are self-employed rather than being an employee of the school or academy at which you will teach. Whilst it may mean that you’ve got less guaranteed work, it can also have a number of benefits, including the ability to demand a higher rate of pay or more flexibility in your working hours. If you are planning to teach English to adult learners in France whilst studying for your online college degree, then this could be an ideal option since it will give you more flexibility and freedom in your schedule. However, the catch is that if you are self-employed, then you’ll need to sort out your own social charges, which might not be worth it for just a short stay.
Did you find these tips helpful? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
