Teaching in France

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Hi all,

We're in the early stages of thinking about moving to France, so I was wondering whether anyone could help with careers advice...

DH and I are both teachers, him English and me French & History. DH isn't too big a deal as there's other jobs he's qualified for, but I'm not so sure about me.

I clearly can't teach French to French people for a living so I would like to know about the possibility of teaching History. I worked as an English assistante for my year abroad so understand how the public school system works in France and I know I'd never get qualified there (or at the very least it would be a long term project and I'd have to do something else in the meantime). I was wondering about Catholic schools in France - do the teachers there have to qualify in the same way as for the state sector or is there some other route in? I am reluctant to work in an international school as it kind of defeats the purpose of our moving to France (to meet and integrate with French people etc) but I would consider other options. Teaching's the only thing I'm qualified for, any ideas? All help gratefully received!

What about teaching English to French people? Maybe you could teach English to adults etc. if you're not allowed / can't teach history in schools?

Haven't a clue about the qualifications needed to teach in french schools, sorry!

Teachers in Catholic schools need the same qualifications as state schools. Also the history taught is not the same, ie it is french history not british history so I think it would be very difficult to get a job.

I would suggest you look at teaching english instead. As you already teach a foreign language you know which methods to use. You may be able to get a TEFL qualification, but depending on where you go in France you may not need one.

Note: jobs in rural France are scarce especially for this type of teaching, you would need to be based near a city to get a good chance of work.

Thanks to both of you for the replies! I had thought about teaching English but also thought it would be a bit insecure and hard to come by, as you suggest frenchfancy. Even though many of the English teachers (non-native speakers) I met while over there were dire so I do feel I could make a difference there, but I know it would be hard to get into.

I was thinking that the Catholic schools probably would be the same as they're not really private schools in the sense of English private schools, but it's a shame to hear it! I did my degree in French history so the subject knowledge wouldn't be too bad,although I appreciate there's culturally specific knowledge that all French people would pick up just naturally that I would have to learn, but I wouldn't get qualified anyway and they take forever to recognise a PGCE as valid so it was really a long shot anyway.

I'll have to look into other things. It's only a pipe dream at the moment anyway. Thanks again.

DP had a neighbour who ran a company that hired people teaching English to companies etc- I think being a native speaker wouldn't be that hard to get a job.

I don't know about France but I taught English as a foreign language in Germany without any formal teaching qualification. It is not uncommon.

You could certainly get work in a language school, as a native speaker with a teaching qualification they would likely snap you up.

Or you could freelance, as I did.

I taught both children and adults - the adults classes were conversation classes as I was not quite confident enough to teach grammar.

Or you could teach French as a foreign language to immigrants. Depending on where you are looking to settle, that would be sought after.

I am in Geneva now and there are hundreds of French teachers here.

There are loads of companies that offer 'soutien scolaire' on either wednesdays, evenings and saturday mornings. It is probably worth having a look on www.pagesjaunes.fr in the area you are thinking of moving to.

Also, there are often loads of brits looking for French lessons, pays about é15 an hour.

Also, pole emploi, the equivalent of the jobcentre, offer French lessons to foreignors so that could be a possibility. It's through the equivalent of what used to be called the Greta, but now near me is called Portail du Limousin. If you look them up on pages jaunes it will give you an idea of the heading to look under to find the same organisation in other areas.

Also, what about an international school? A friend's sil has just got a job at é80k, lots more than he got in Scotland.