teaching English in France / assistant de langue anglaise (TAPIF) - what to expect!

[@olivierg4162]

Thank you Lyndi for sharing your experience and thoughts. It reminds me of my own experience as a French assistant in England quite a few years ago. I know how challenging it can be to find yourself in a foreign country as a young adult. Keep posting videos.

merci olivier ! hoping some of my experience can help others considering to work/live in france:) i'm glad this video allowed you to reminisce on your experience in england and agree - there are definitely challenges but soooo worth it when you feel like where you live is where you're supposed to be:) bisous

[@eshankotian5303]

Loved the video! Can't wait for my upcoming TAPIF year in Lyon. Thank you for the amazing content.

i'm glad it was helpful !! feel free to reach out with any questions :) i've been an assistant in both small and big cities:) enjoy Lyon^^

[@lilacsky9178]

Such a useful video! you're so positive but also realistic 😊 I'm excited to start in Le Havre soon

Aw thanks, glad I could help:) Have you been to France before ?? Let me know if you have any questions ! bisous

[@lilacsky9178]

@ I've been a few times! it's a bit nerve wracking thinking of teaching lycée students, but I'm excited for the challenge! do you have any specific activities that went down well or any advice for the first few weeks of your placement? thanks for responding!

@@lilacsky9178 Don't be worried !! There are sooo many online resources for ESL activities plus a FB group where past assistants (including myself!) have posted lesson plans/PPT slides for you to use! Your profs will rather have ideas for you or might just give you a topic and then you create some activities - just depends on your prof! From my experience, games are always the way to go. It's something different from their "normal" class so they're more involved and really get into them. As for your first few weeks, it's mainly about learning what each prof expects from you and a great time to show what you can offer that they might not have thought of. Also you'll be setting up your housing, bank stuff, all the start up tasks.. the French administration is known for taking its sweet time lol so don't get too frustrated, know it's a part of the process and things will work out:) Always happy to help - feel free to friend me on FB:)

[@magamujica3155]

Hi Lyndi! Thank you so much for this video, it has a lot of helpful tips! I was wondering, where were you placed? I will (if the pandemic allows 🤞) be leaving this year as a Spanish language assistant. I was assigned to two lycées in Nîmes at the Académie de Montpellier and I'm (very excitedly) trying to gather all the information I can get 😁

Hola ! I'm so glad it was helpful ^^ I was in académie de Grenoble et Nancy-Metz (and have lived in some other places in France) but unfortunately haven't been to Nîmes yet ! If you have other questions, happy to help:)

[@maggiekasberger2412]

Omg! I am going to Nîmes this summer!!

[@Anais-se5fg]

Hey girl! This video was so helpful. I’m 20, but I took a gap year, so I’m just now about to begin my college classes. I am very much interested in becoming a teaching assistant in France in the future. What type of degree/ qualifications do you need to apply to become an assistant if you don’t mind me asking? I will be going into teaching anyway, but just recently decided that I’m very much interested in moving abroad to France. I still have lots to figure out and obviously I will not be moving for a bit, but I just thought I’d ask ahead of time!

Hi ! I'm glad this was helpful^^ As for qualifications, you do NOT need a teaching degree for the program (but helps) ! You do need at least 2 years of higher education + B1 (intermediate) level of French. I recommend practicing your French beforehand especially for administrative / daily life in France :) Let me know if you have other questions and hope you get to soon experience la vie française ;)

[@mbalenhlemoloi9090]

Hi, what agency did you use to apply for the teaching job?

hello! it depends on your country for the initial sign-up but once you're in France you are an assistant de langue. Here's the link to see who to initially contact: www.france-education-international.fr/en/foreign-language-assistants-in-france/countries-involved Let me know if you have any other questions:) bisous

[@mbalenhlemoloi9090]

Is TAPIF only for American citizens?

Hi ! TAPIF is the program that Americans apply to but the program itself is to be an "assistant de langue." There are many English assistants from different anglophone countries all over the world:) Here are the countries eligible: www.france-education-international.fr/en/foreign-language-assistants-in-france/countries-involved Hope this helped - let me know if you have other questions ! bisous

[@mbalenhlemoloi9090]

@ thank you so much