Any teaching assistants in France?

[legohamster]

Have been offered the possibility of being a teaching assistant but don't know if I'm up to the job, so I just wondered if there is anyone out there who has experience of this. I have no teaching experience and although I'm english I didn't have a great education, conjugation and grammar when I was at school was practically nothing compared to what my kids here in France are taught.

[fussychica]

DS will be doing this in the French Basque Country from October as part of his year abroad on a language degree. he is doing it through the British Council. More info here if you haven't already seen it plus lots of links to further info.

www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-france.htm

[clearsommespace]

I did this a long time ago in both college and lycee (as part of my degree) and we weren't expected to teach any grammar. The teachers teach the grammar and the assistants take little groups for mostly oral practice.

I'd be surprised if any primary or secondary school in the UK teaches grammar like they do in France!

[legohamster]

Thank you and thanks for the link

[level3at6months]

Yes, I was an assistant for 3 years in primary schools. I worked approx 12 hours a week but it was quite full on. They knew that I was an experienced UK teacher so that could have influenced the way I was treated but I think my experience was typical of the other assistants locally. While we were not supposed to be left on our own with the class, in reality the teacher left as soon as I arrived and came back at the end, so the entire session was up to me. Discipline wasn't easy as I wasn't supposed to speak French at all but quite often had to do a French rant, which as a non-shouty UK teacher was tough! If that sounds negative, I have to say I loved it, every minute BUT had the tricks I'd already learned as a teacher to help.

Don't be put off, but don't expect it to be easy either. There are loads of good resources available to help you is you google esl for kids, or PM me and I can send you some ideas for really easy to prepare games to help teach vocab etc.

[legohamster]

Thanks level3, I will take a look at esl for kids. Have decided to give it a go as it turns out to be just a private mini-school on wednesdays and saturdays with only 4 to 6 kids so a gentle (hopefully) introduction. Would love to hear your game ideas too if that's ok.

[clearsommespace]

I did something like that as an extra when I was a teaching assistant. How old are the children you'll have?
I had 4-7 year olds which mean some couldn't read or write. We did lots of role play like being at the restaurant ordering food. Simon Says is a good game for action verbs and body parts (Simon says point to your nose) They all wanted to be Simon so they got good at giving orders in English!