Teaching English in France - Page 2

Dark_un · Mar 08, 2010, 02:05 AM

Oh that's a long time to keep you waiting.

I hate waiting for that kind of thing, not knowing either way. It just leaves you in limbo. I've just sent off my marriage visa for the UK and now just have to hope for the best and wait for a decision. I really want to book my flights and accommodation for the bucks party and honeymoon but I don't really want to commit myself until I know for sure that I will actually be getting married. I should know by the end of the month...

So you have a preferred area of placement but that isn't guaranteed right? What area are you hoping for? And you have to work out all of your own living arrangements as well? Will you be paid for this or is more of an internship and experience kinda thing??

El

Kayling05 · Mar 08, 2010, 07:53 PM

Yes, it's quite frustrating!!! That's French bureaucracy though, I guess.
The areas of preference are called académies which are basically like school districts, I guess. They pretty much line up with all the French régions, except they use the name of the largest city in the région as the name of the académie. Some larger régions are split into 2 académies.
Strasbourg (Alsace) is my first choice. I've been to the city of Strasbourg once before and LOVED it. Did not get to spend near enough time there but enjoyed it all the same. Next, Nancy-Metz (Lorraine) as it is right next to Strasbourg. (I love the German influence of that whole area in particular)
Third, Nice (Provence-Alpes-Cote D'Azur). I figured if I couldn't be in the north-east, I'd like being on the French Riviera!

Sometimes you have to work out your own living arrangements, but sometimes the school where you are placed might have an apartment available for assistants for free. (usually on the school grounds) It really depends on the school and académie.

It is definitely a paid position, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it. You get around 780€ a month net pay (after healthcare/taxes are taken out), which is actually quite good considering you only work about 12 hours per week.
Australians and Brits (and pretty much any country where English is a primary language) can do the program as well, but I think Americans send the most people over... around 1500 per year.

I will be sure to let everyone here know when I hear back! Anyone here is welcome to couchsurf with me over there if I make the program.

Dark_un · Mar 18, 2010, 02:40 AM

Oh Alsace is so beautiful! I lived in Nancy for 3 months when I was 15 and I just couldn't comprehend how lovely the place is. I also didn't get to spend much time in Strasbourg, merely a few hours and I have always wanted to get back and take another look at the pink Cathedral. I also almost got hit by a bus in Strasbourg - an electric one, deadly silent, I walked hit in front of it without realising it was coming.

€800 a month for 12 hours a week? Sounds like my kind of job!

Fantastic if you can get free accommodation on top wow! I really would love to partake in a program like this. I hope to spend a few months working in a chalet in the Alps at the end of the year. I think it will be the closest I will ever get.

Kayling05 · Mar 19, 2010, 06:42 PM

Hi, I tried to reply last night and the board had a minor freak-out and deleted my post. GRR.

Anyway, I have to say, I think the Cathedral in Strasbourg is SCARY. The architecture just reminds me of like, demons and bad things, I dunno why. I mean, I know it's gothic-style but geez, it just gives me the creeps. I love the architecture in the city itself though; all those little German-ish houses are adorable.

The hours are 12 in-class hours supposedly (some people report doing more or less than that) but then also, you have to do prep-time and stuff out of class on your lesson plans and such. But still not bad at all, particularly for 780€ a month! And I mean, they're paying you to live in France....

PS I'm not sure the specifics of the Australian program like this, but if you are under 30 and know some French it wouldn't hurt to check it out! Here's the article about it on the French Embassy in Australia's website.

Dark_un · Mar 24, 2010, 05:00 AM

Thanks for the link. It says that there only 80 positions available for Australians - quite a difference indeed to the 1500 that America send, I wonder why that is...

It would be lovely to do a program like that but I won't have that much time available to me. I am thinking about working a season in the French Alps at the end of this year - I would love to learn how to ski - and at the opportunity to speak some French. I guess only time will tell how it all works out.

Kayling05 · Mar 24, 2010, 06:00 AM

Well, I imagine the population of the two countries has something to do with it. 305,000,000 approx. in the US versus around 21,000,000 in Oz (according to google)... the proportion of the population sent is actually not that different (1/200,000 in the US vs 1/260,000 in Oz). The UK sends way more proportionally than the US does, actually (around 1/61,000) but that's because anyone who does a language degree in the UK has to go abroad for a year, which I think is great.

If you are in the Alps this fall, let me know and if I am France I may try to get down that way

Always love meeting up with people.

Kaaryn · Mar 24, 2010, 12:42 PM

Heh, I think people sometimes forget how large the US population is. The population of Australia is about equal to the population of Texas (where I live) and Texas is approximately the same size as France.

Kayling05 · Mar 24, 2010, 04:57 PM

Yes, there is a forum where people who are current teaching assistants post, and some of them were talking about their classes and how their French students just couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that their entire country was only the size of the state of Texas lol.

France is more crowded per capita than Texas though, as they have about 3x as many people in a similar amount of space (however, vast majority of those people are in Paris and other large cities, as Paris metro region alone has ~10,000,000).

Australia is about the same size as mainland US but obviously a big pop. difference.

Dark_un · Mar 25, 2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayling05

305,000,000 approx. in the US versus around 21,000,000 in Oz (according to google)

Hey hey now, we just hit 22mil this week actually

I didn't think about the population having an effect but it makes complete sense - More people = more people studying French = more people studying French and wanting to live and teach in France.

I love the size of my country and the lack of people in it. I love the thought of being able to drive for 4 days without running out of road. I do like crowds though and being around lots of people. Like being on Fleet Street during NYE - I have honestly never seen so many people in one place.

Kayling05 · Apr 07, 2010, 11:34 PM

Hi guys. So just writing to let you know I heard back from the program yesterday, and I was waitlisted.

It's not a flat-out rejection or acceptance, which might've been better beacuse this pretty much means I'm still waiting. And I might not hear if I'm in or not til JULY. It's really hard to plan your life when you don't know what country you'll be in 5 months in the future... I've sent an email to the head of the program (the one who sent out all the emails yesterday) to see if she could tell me possibly where I am on the waiting list, but haven't hear back. I'd like to be able to make alternate plans right away (because right now, I've basically got zilch zip nada) if I'm pretty far down the list.

Mar 08, 2010, 02:05 AM	#11
Dark_un Nifty Navigator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Warwick, UK Posts: 117	Oh that's a long time to keep you waiting. I hate waiting for that kind of thing, not knowing either way. It just leaves you in limbo. I've just sent off my marriage visa for the UK and now just have to hope for the best and wait for a decision. I really want to book my flights and accommodation for the bucks party and honeymoon but I don't really want to commit myself until I know for sure that I will actually be getting married. I should know by the end of the month... So you have a preferred area of placement but that isn't guaranteed right? What area are you hoping for? And you have to work out all of your own living arrangements as well? Will you be paid for this or is more of an internship and experience kinda thing?? El __________________ Information and advice guide to live-in pub jobs in the UK www.pubwork-uk.com

Mar 18, 2010, 02:40 AM	#13
Dark_un Nifty Navigator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Warwick, UK Posts: 117	Oh Alsace is so beautiful! I lived in Nancy for 3 months when I was 15 and I just couldn't comprehend how lovely the place is. I also didn't get to spend much time in Strasbourg, merely a few hours and I have always wanted to get back and take another look at the pink Cathedral. I also almost got hit by a bus in Strasbourg - an electric one, deadly silent, I walked hit in front of it without realising it was coming. €800 a month for 12 hours a week? Sounds like my kind of job! Fantastic if you can get free accommodation on top wow! I really would love to partake in a program like this. I hope to spend a few months working in a chalet in the Alps at the end of the year. I think it will be the closest I will ever get. __________________ Information and advice guide to live-in pub jobs in the UK www.pubwork-uk.com

Mar 24, 2010, 05:00 AM	#15
Dark_un Nifty Navigator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Warwick, UK Posts: 117	Thanks for the link. It says that there only 80 positions available for Australians - quite a difference indeed to the 1500 that America send, I wonder why that is... It would be lovely to do a program like that but I won't have that much time available to me. I am thinking about working a season in the French Alps at the end of this year - I would love to learn how to ski - and at the opportunity to speak some French. I guess only time will tell how it all works out. __________________ Information and advice guide to live-in pub jobs in the UK www.pubwork-uk.com

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Mar 08, 2010, 07:53 PM	#12
Kayling05 Experienced Explorer Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 444	Yes, it's quite frustrating!!! That's French bureaucracy though, I guess. The areas of preference are called académies which are basically like school districts, I guess. They pretty much line up with all the French régions, except they use the name of the largest city in the région as the name of the académie. Some larger régions are split into 2 académies. Strasbourg (Alsace) is my first choice. I've been to the city of Strasbourg once before and LOVED it. Did not get to spend near enough time there but enjoyed it all the same. Next, Nancy-Metz (Lorraine) as it is right next to Strasbourg. (I love the German influence of that whole area in particular) Third, Nice (Provence-Alpes-Cote D'Azur). I figured if I couldn't be in the north-east, I'd like being on the French Riviera! Sometimes you have to work out your own living arrangements, but sometimes the school where you are placed might have an apartment available for assistants for free. (usually on the school grounds) It really depends on the school and académie. It is definitely a paid position, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it. You get around 780€ a month net pay (after healthcare/taxes are taken out), which is actually quite good considering you only work about 12 hours per week. Australians and Brits (and pretty much any country where English is a primary language) can do the program as well, but I think Americans send the most people over... around 1500 per year. I will be sure to let everyone here know when I hear back! Anyone here is welcome to couchsurf with me over there if I make the program.

Mar 19, 2010, 06:42 PM	#14
Kayling05 Experienced Explorer Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 444	Hi, I tried to reply last night and the board had a minor freak-out and deleted my post. GRR. Anyway, I have to say, I think the Cathedral in Strasbourg is SCARY. The architecture just reminds me of like, demons and bad things, I dunno why. I mean, I know it's gothic-style but geez, it just gives me the creeps. I love the architecture in the city itself though; all those little German-ish houses are adorable. The hours are 12 in-class hours supposedly (some people report doing more or less than that) but then also, you have to do prep-time and stuff out of class on your lesson plans and such. But still not bad at all, particularly for 780€ a month! And I mean, they're paying you to live in France.... PS I'm not sure the specifics of the Australian program like this, but if you are under 30 and know some French it wouldn't hurt to check it out! Here's the article about it on the French Embassy in Australia's website.

Mar 24, 2010, 06:00 AM	#16
Kayling05 Experienced Explorer Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 444	Well, I imagine the population of the two countries has something to do with it. 305,000,000 approx. in the US versus around 21,000,000 in Oz (according to google)... the proportion of the population sent is actually not that different (1/200,000 in the US vs 1/260,000 in Oz). The UK sends way more proportionally than the US does, actually (around 1/61,000) but that's because anyone who does a language degree in the UK has to go abroad for a year, which I think is great. If you are in the Alps this fall, let me know and if I am France I may try to get down that way Always love meeting up with people.

Mar 24, 2010, 12:42 PM	#17
Kaaryn Travel Goddess Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 3,435	Heh, I think people sometimes forget how large the US population is. The population of Australia is about equal to the population of Texas (where I live) and Texas is approximately the same size as France.

Mar 24, 2010, 04:57 PM	#18
Kayling05 Experienced Explorer Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 444	Yes, there is a forum where people who are current teaching assistants post, and some of them were talking about their classes and how their French students just couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that their entire country was only the size of the state of Texas lol. France is more crowded per capita than Texas though, as they have about 3x as many people in a similar amount of space (however, vast majority of those people are in Paris and other large cities, as Paris metro region alone has ~10,000,000). Australia is about the same size as mainland US but obviously a big pop. difference.

Apr 07, 2010, 11:34 PM	#20
Kayling05 Experienced Explorer Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 444	Hi guys. So just writing to let you know I heard back from the program yesterday, and I was waitlisted. It's not a flat-out rejection or acceptance, which might've been better beacuse this pretty much means I'm still waiting. And I might not hear if I'm in or not til JULY. It's really hard to plan your life when you don't know what country you'll be in 5 months in the future... I've sent an email to the head of the program (the one who sent out all the emails yesterday) to see if she could tell me possibly where I am on the waiting list, but haven't hear back. I'd like to be able to make alternate plans right away (because right now, I've basically got zilch zip nada) if I'm pretty far down the list.