Teaching Assistant Program in France

*I am a current participant in my first year of the program and this review reflects my views as of this first month and a half.*

I'm greatly enjoying my experience with TAPIF! I think it can be a great option for those who want to live abroad, meet new people, practice French, and who feel prepared to be independent. I'm writing this review with the intention of sharing my own experience while also acknowledging where to manage expectations as experiences are very variable, and I've happened to be fortunate in many aspects.

It's important to note that this while TAPIF is a program, it is mainly a job allowing you to live and work in France--it does not have the same infrastructure as a study abroad program might. You will receive guiding information from the program, and depending on your professeur référent, you'll have some help when you get there, but you should be prepared to navigate the difficulties of opening a bank account, finding housing, and other logistics on your own. It's also important to have a decent level of French to navigate these situations!

I'm enjoying my city, Toulon, a lot, as well as the chance to explore other areas nearby. My teachers and advisor have all been kind and helpful, and I've enjoyed teaching at my schools and have just the right amount of responsibility and importance in the classroom. My city and school situation are two aspects that greatly contribute to my overall positive experience, however prospective applicants should be prepared for how variable these things can be. You can be assigned anywhere from a big city to a small, rural village, so keep that in mind if you feel you really want to be in a specific location. In terms of the school, you may find that teachers are not giving you enough work, giving you too much, etc, so it's important to communicate with them from the beginning and speak with your prof ref if you have any issues.

Making friends with the other assistants in my city has been one of the best parts of the program! There are many assistants in my area and everyone has been very friendly and enthusiastic to get together. I'd highly recommend finding/making a group chat for your region/city so you can start communicating with your fellow assistants early on.

SAVE UP BEFORE DOING TAPIF! Possibly your biggest challenge in this program will be living off the salary. You will see the number when you are completing your application, but take the time to really think about living on it month to month (keeping in mind that it will not be enough in big cities), and how feasible it will be depending on how much money you've saved up. You will not be able to work another contractual job (many assistants earn some cash on the side by tutoring or babysitting). Though I've truly enjoyed my time, this is an aspect of the program I think is worth taking into serious consideration before deciding to accept a position.

I did TAPIF after graduating and it was worth it. I was able to get a letter from the French Embassy to postpone my student loan repayment. I lived in a foyer and received the CAF and a transportation reimbursement. It does take time to get these things but they are retroactive.

Many TAPIF-ers except this to be an extension of their study abroad programs. While it is a way to get back to France, you are responsible for your own housing and setting up your social security and carte vitale. It is a great way to take time to figure out what comes next in life while exposing yourself to new things and taking initiative.

Make sure to be clear on your expectations with your prof ref before you come. If you do not communicate with them, then they do not know what you expect. I lucked out and only worked Mondays and Tuesdays, but some people work 2-hour shifts in the mornings all week or random hours like that. You will have to press your prof ref for things like your Pass Éducation (discount card for teachers) and things like that but that's just basic adulting. You'll have the resources you need but you have to take the initiative.

And you can work under the table jobs, tutoring/babysitting in English pays pretty well and once you find one family interested, it's easy to spread the word out. There's so many facebook groups like "Americans in France" or "English speakers in France" or more specific to the region/city you end up in. The pay is not as high as in the states so that can be a culture shock to some but take what you can get. Some have worked as bar tenders at restaurants for cash only but make sure you don't get money to deposited to your French bank account unless it is from your Academie. Some people have also done remote work/internships in the U.S. while doing TAPIF but be careful with the hours and working laws.

Also lots of opportunities to volunteer from feeding refugees to helping with clothing drives. I know one person who volunteered at a prison. Find meaningful ways to fill the time!

The experience is what you make out of it so do your research and save up some money before coming. Expect the unexpected and be opened to anything! Also the French are not as efficient as what we are used to in the U.S. Be patient and prepared to wait ages to get your carte vitale/social security, but it will all be worth it in the end. Especially, if you want to stay in france after doing TAPIF, it's a great way to take a year to set up your life here.

Having finished my program this past spring (April 2022), I can say I loved my experience in Paris! While it was a big city, it was easy to find a work/life balance that allowed me to travel throughout France while building relationships with my work colleagues. The teachers at my school were warm, welcoming, and patient when helping me transition to my new life abroad. I came into the job with a good knowledge of French and pedagogic basics, so TAPIF was a wonderful place to put that to practice

This is by far the worst job I have ever had. I understand it’s the luck of the draw with schools, teachers and placement, but why does that have to be the case. Living in Paris should 100% mean more compensation than 790€ a month to pay monthly expenses of over 1000€ a month. Living in Paris is not cheap and they should know that.

The only perks comes outside of the classroom which I don’t consider perks at all. You have time to travel yes, but no money to do so. You get a visa, but are not allowed to exceed 30% of your income with a second job.

If you’re as unlucky as I was, you are placed in a school that never requested an assistant to begin with, so not only do they not WANT to deal with you and your paperwork, they don’t know how. I was informed at orientation that our secretaries would handle our social security, come to find out when it’s too late, that my friends and I have not received it and thus no health insurance. So we ended up paying for health insurance we could never use. On top of that, the schools are unforgiving when calling out, even months in advance. So in consequence, you have to go to work with debilitating fevers because you have no health insurance and no money to pay the 20€ out of pocket to see a doctor every week. It is important to know that you will most likely get sick considering working with kids and working in a new country.

Overall, this company places you in France but does nothing to help you process in assimilating nor compensates for the costs. The only benefits come from when you are not working, which should not be considered benefits if the job didn’t provide it. There are many legit companies that will send you abroad, pay for your ticket to get there and accommodations long enough for you to get assimilated. All of that, which a reasonable, livable salary.

There were times that I didn’t have money for food. I will be writing to me school to stop endorsing this program.

For those looking to teach for TAPIF, I would advise you to look elsewhere. The reasons for this are as follows:
1. The monthly stipend is not sufficient. Given the low amount of pay, it is nearly impossible to enjoy living in France. I had many financial difficulties, and I think that it is irresponsible for TAPIF to suggest at every step of the process that the stipend is sufficient for living. To suggest that students tutor on the side to make ends meet is also irresponsible, given that such activity is illegal.
2. The organization is extremely disorganized. Not only are assistants given very little training, but they are given very little advice in terms of how to deal with the day-to-day hassles of living in France. I was given contradictory information, told that I had free housing (when in fact the opposite was true) and not supported in the least by the program in terms of my desire to develop as a teacher.
3. The suggestion that assistants apply for CAF is misleading. In truth, the CAF system is extremely disorganized and unreliable. Assistants should not be told that they will get the money allotted to them. Furthermore, assistants should not be told to leave open their bank accounts after the program is over. I am currently dealing with a huge headache given the fact that my bank account is overdrawn and the CAF money TAPIF told me would be transferred is never going to come.

There are many other minor complaints that I have about this program, but these are the glaring issues. I think, overall, that the program presents a false reality at every step of the process. Be wary.