Teach English with TAPIF in France

I completed the French Teaching Assistant Program from 2008-2010 after graduating from college. I spent the first year in Bergerac (24) and the second year in Bordeaux (33) teaching in primary schools. This program definitely has its merits. It allows one to spend 10 months in France and gain English language teaching experience without having a specific certification (a BA is required for Americans). However, one only works part time so, compared with other English language teaching programs, the stipend/salary isn't very much (no money for travel or restaurants). One is supposed to request subsidies for housing but these often take time to kick in making initial outlays a bit expensive. If you come with savings or another source of income, it's a great way to spend a fair amount of time in Europe and get to travel (2 wks off every 6 weeks).

It should be noted that starting as a teaching assistant doesn't mean you can actually become a real English teacher in a junior or high school. This is a much more complicated process, requiring ever more knowledge of the English canon, degrees and passing competitive national exams. It may even require having French nationality. Therefore, one should definitely not assume that working in the Education nationale is a logical next step.

After graduating college, the options for living in European countries for more than a couple of months at a time are slim to none. That's just one of the advantages of TAPIF - you can live abroad after oportunities to study abroad have run out. Plus, with 12 hours of teaching per week, you'll still have ample time to explore your new ville, travel Europe and go out with the new people you're bound to meet.

Aside from all that, TAPIF is a great experience because you can actually support yourself financially while chasing that dream of living abroad and perfecting your French. (Admittedly, in the Paris region you'll need roommates and a good budget to get by on the teaching assistant salary, but I've worked in Ile-de-France both years I've done the program and managed to make it work!)

In my opinion, the only downside of the program is that you can only participate twice. If you're interested in travel and speak a little French -- especially if you're also thinking about teaching and want to have a year of student teaching before deciding on it as a career -- this program is the best thing to do.

There are not enough words in the english dictionary to describe what a fantastic experience this was.

I was very nervous moving to a foreign country where I wasn't completely fluent in the language and where I didn't have any friends or family. After the initial nerves and making friends with another assistant on my flight, France was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

The very first night there, I managed to lock myself out of my temporary apartment building - in my pajamas! I was looking for my landlord's postbox so I could knock on his door and tell him the internet was down. Thankfully I remembered the passcode after a few tries and managed to get back to my room before anyone saw me and my blue bombers t-shirt.

Teaching was a completely new experience to me and while it's not something I see as a career for myself, it definitely scratched off one of the things on my 'things to try' list.

Plus the travel opportunities are extensive! You can take the OUIbus from Paris to Cologne one-way for less than 20 euros. I had a fantastic Christmas holiday in Germany and the Czech Republic for under 300 euros.

While I miss the travel opportunities and the baguettes, what I miss most of all is the friends I made while there. The assistant that I roomed with initially and met at the airport prior to leaving for France, has become a life-long friend. I couldn't have gotten through the first month without her.

When one thinks of France, the first thing that comes to mind isn't usually palm trees, beaches, the Amazon rainforest or volcanoes. And yet, through the program TAPIF, I have been able to encounter all of these things, while living in France. How can that be? Thanks to France's DOM-TOMs (départements et territoires d'autres mer), I have been able to explore different aspects of the French culture which are often overlooked and, in my opinion, highly underappreciated - not to mention the absolutely breathtaking scenery and nature.

Currently in my second round of the program, I am living in the city of Maripasoula in French Guiana, where my school is located one street over from the entrance to the Parc Amazonien de Guyane. I also live along the Maroni River, which serves as the border with Suriname. My first TAPIF experience was in 2013-2014 on the island of Réunion, in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. Unique in their own ways, each experience has allowed me to view a different permutation of French culture that is so often viewed as the ubiquitious image of a caricatured Paris (baguettes, cafés, cobblestone streets, la Tour Eiffel, etc.) . It has been fascinating to see how certain elements of French culture mix and morph to form identities that are so drastically different from metropolitan France, and yet, still 100% authentically French.

Whether in mainland France or elsewhere, I would highly recommend this program. Not only for those looking to improve their French-speaking abilities, but also for those seeking personal growth and professional development. Above all, I would recommend this program for the people and the meaningful relationships I have been able to cultivate.

I was first introduced to the Teaching Assistant Program in Lyon, France when I was studying at the Political Science Institute in Lyon and wanted to make some money and gain a bit of teaching experience. I applied through the French Ministry of Education and was sent to a High School in rough banlieu (suburb) community. There was no training whatsoever, however, I quickly formed relationships with French teachers and designed lesson plans based on observing students interests and educative levels. The classrooms could be loud and unruly but I loved the challenge and gained great leadership skills.

The year after, I was sent to teach in two welfare Elementary schools in Ales, France. Again, the assistants received little training and were thrown into classrooms of all different shapes and sizes, but I quickly adapted and connected with the kids. I preferred working in Elementary schools because the younger generation had more enthusiasm and seemed to pick up English really quickly. I came back to the States with my bags full of kids drawings and letters and am still in contact with many of the French teachers. It's definitely not for everyone because of the little structure and low pay, but I found it to be a truly enriching experience.

I had studied abroad in Grenoble during college and when I left, I knew I had to go back after graduation no matter what. I fortunately found out about being an English Teaching Assistant just weeks before graduation, applied and was accepted about a month later to teach elementary school students in a small town outside of Lyon called Vienne. It was AMAZING!! I had no idea what I was doing at first as I had no teaching experience but I love kids. I was amazed how much I learned about myself and what I could do when I put my mind to it. I even created small quizzes for my students so they could see how much they'd learned as well. In addition to the challenges and benefits of teaching, I made life-long friends. The woman who was assigned to be my contact person in town is now my "French Mom" who I keep in touch with still, 10 years later, and who I know will be in my life forever. There were other assistants in the same town who I still talk to as well. One other American and I made a pact while there to only speak French together so that we could immerse ourselves as best as possible. We still only speak French together! While we didn't get paid all that much to teach there, the experience I had and the relationships I made are things I would never take back. It truly shaped me and made me into the person I am today!