Hello Veronica...Also a Realtor for ReMax in So. Florida. Starting a new life myself.! Leaving soon...looking for work (Real Estate.??, TEFL)

Hello Veroncia,

It seems your last post was a year ago, but I wonder if you are still teaching English in France?  

You mentioned in a post last February that you have found many international schools in the south of France (where I am situated).   Great.  In your experience, what are the requirements for a job here?  I have a BA in English and a Masters in Writing and have taught at a college level (quite some years ago) in the US.  I am trying to determine which TEFL certification I should undertake.  Partly just to refresh my grammar (!) but also to improve my candidacy for a good job, since I don't have papers and the Brits are so much easier for the French to hire.

Any pointers at all are welcome.

Thanks and hope you are well,

Amanda 

Hi Veronica.  I'm an American newbie here to this site....AND to this field.  My best friend lives in Provence, actually, and I am really looking forward to getting a TEFL certification to teach in Auvergne, if opportunity exists there.  It would be great to find opportunity in Provence too, actually, but I've heard living costs are much higher there.  Being brand new, I am just looking for anyone who might be able to give any advice for me in starting out in this direction as well as just plain 'ol connections with those in France or experience in France. :o)

Hello Veronica,

    My name is Phela Brooks. I've lived in ireland for 16 years and have not seen france nor have I picked up much of the language though I'm average at german and spanish.  As an American and honors english student in my day, I'd say I have a fair grasp of the english language aswell:)lol I would like to ask you what you think my chances may be of getting a job there before the end of the summer with above average effort put in? I really want this whole experience and would be delighted if it began in Paris.

    I found your comments very helpful already and would be very grateful indeed for any advice that could push me further toward my goal. (Gosh, that sounds like something President  Barack Obama would say)hahaha thanking you in advance,

Phelan Anthony Brooks

Hi Veronica,

I have been reading some of your comments and discussions and they are really helpful! There seem to be very few TEFL teachers in the South of France, (or well very few on the Chalkboard at least). I am moving to Marseille next month to see if I can find work, I'm really excited but am beginning to get a bit nervous about work, i'm afraid I won't get work or students!

I just saw in one of your posts you said "Be prepared to furnish right to work papers", as an Irish citizen I can work in France and have done in the past but i was just wondering would it just be my passport that would be proof of this? I am getting all my paperwork together at the moment to avoid any last minute panic....I have learnt from experience!!!

thanks, 

Caroline 

Hi Yvette, I have found a lot of schools in the South of France.  Many international schools who, if they can't take you as a teacher, sometimes are willing to pass on your name to students who have certain needs.  Angloinfo.com is a site where many international schools post needs in the classifieds of this petit journal on the internet.  They have a separate entity for each department/region all over the world where English speakers can get information for their area.  It's been invalueable here in the South. 

Congratulations on your little puppy.  For the time being, I'm trying to resist the urge to get a dog.  I love them and since I live alone, it might be very nice to have a friend to greet me when I come home.  With that being said, I have a lot of traveling and discovery in France yet to do, and am holding off for now.  An animal complicates thing a bit, as you are evidence of in your note to me.

My French leaves a lot to be desired.  While I speak fairly fluently, I'm not sure that I could take a test given by the government and be able to qualify.  My written French really stinks and it has made it difficult to find other work... so, since I love teaching, and helping people, let's hope this works in the long term.

I have used Skype to do face to face conversations with students who are facing a test of their conversation level and abilities in English.  It seems to lower the level of tension ... less threatening somehow.  Students who stumble in live conversation, seem to relax and it flows much better on a web-cam.  hmmm someone should do a study on that.

Thanks for your great information.  Let's talk again soon. Veronica

Hi Veronica

Thanks for your tips and info - I am here in Poitou-Charentes.  I've been here with my hubby for 7 years, but only thought about trying to take up TEFL teaching in the middle of last year after helping the kids of some of our neighbours with their English.  I don't have le droit du sang, even though my mum spent time in France as a youngster (hence the name).  Fortunately we have the right to work as we are EU citizens.  So, I am registered here to work - phew!  I speak French quite well according to all our French neighbours (and staff at Pole Emploi), but I know it should be better given how long we've been here.

I, perhaps foolishly, decided to follow a profession where I obtained my so called 'degree equivalent' qualifications.  That may be the case in the UK, but as you say, it seems as though a university degree is what they want here.  There is a government body (email: enic-naric@ciep.fr) that will assess a foreign qualification for 'comparabilite'.  It costs 70 euros, but may be worth it if it expands my employment prospects.  The other job opportunities that you mention are of interest too and I need to take a closer look.  Sadly, time is being taken up looking after an 11 week old puppy at the moment.  She's lovely, but oh, it's hard work.  It'll be better when she can go out after her 2nd set of injections .... well, I hope so!

I have some info. on internet based tutorship that I'm planning to put on the working in France board.  You may already be aware, but if you put 'soutien scolaire' and 'cours a domicile' into your search engine, you should see all sorts of companies such as Acodomia (seems to be one of the biggest).

Not sure if I've responded to your comments in the correct way as I'm new to this kind of site.  Bye for now, Yvette.