Teaching in France ??
November 18, 2013 5:27 PM Subscribe
Hi, my last questions have been about learning French, then skiing in France (thank you for all those answers to those questions)...and now I'm thinking "what about working in France"?
Before you say "you've been reading too many 'quit your job and move to France' books" (which I have), let me clarify and say that I am an experienced teacher, I am qualified to teach Math and Science grades 7-12, and have a UK passport. I would also be looking at September 2014 at the earliest.
I signed up for some international sites such as TIE, and have considered ISS but they seem to be more oriented towards Asia and/or the Middle East, or maybe that's just where the jobs are. I have tried to directly contact a couple of International American schools but they basically indicate that all vacancies will be posted to the aforementioned sites.
I am also interested in teaching in London but am terrified by housing/rental prices and also am looking for a totally new and ideally French-immersive experience.
I am definitely too old, I think, to do the teaching assistantships that many people have mentioned previously and I'm already a teacher, so there's that too! I also have an MA in Psychology if that applies to anything as well....I just thought Math teaching would be the most likely means of employment. (I also can't afford my Le Cordon Bleu fantasies).
Anyway, thanks for any thoughts or suggestions!! (I have also been watching a great deal of Engrenages, so I feel I am also qualified to work for the DPJ or as a Prosecutor, but that is probably much less likely!! Je plaisante...).
Before you say "you've been reading too many 'quit your job and move to France' books" (which I have), let me clarify and say that I am an experienced teacher, I am qualified to teach Math and Science grades 7-12, and have a UK passport. I would also be looking at September 2014 at the earliest.
I signed up for some international sites such as TIE, and have considered ISS but they seem to be more oriented towards Asia and/or the Middle East, or maybe that's just where the jobs are. I have tried to directly contact a couple of International American schools but they basically indicate that all vacancies will be posted to the aforementioned sites.
I am also interested in teaching in London but am terrified by housing/rental prices and also am looking for a totally new and ideally French-immersive experience.
I am definitely too old, I think, to do the teaching assistantships that many people have mentioned previously and I'm already a teacher, so there's that too! I also have an MA in Psychology if that applies to anything as well....I just thought Math teaching would be the most likely means of employment. (I also can't afford my Le Cordon Bleu fantasies).
Anyway, thanks for any thoughts or suggestions!! (I have also been watching a great deal of Engrenages, so I feel I am also qualified to work for the DPJ or as a Prosecutor, but that is probably much less likely!! Je plaisante...).
Response by poster: I would need to teach/work in English so basically I was wondering if anyone had experience getting an International (Eng speaking in Fr school) teaching job, if there were specific websites/agencies to check out and/or particular times of year/areas etc that would be best.
It was a very general idea so I asked in very general terms (largely because I don't know what to ask specifically)...sorry for the vagueness!
posted by bquarters at 4:28 AM on November 19, 2013
It was a very general idea so I asked in very general terms (largely because I don't know what to ask specifically)...sorry for the vagueness!
posted by bquarters at 4:28 AM on November 19, 2013
Best answer: Here's something from the State Department.
If you're a US Citizen, I'd recommend the Department of Defense schools on military bases. That is one of the sweetest gigs known to man!
You get housing (either on base or off), healthcare, PX and Commissary privilages, and more free time than you can shake a stick at! Excellent benefits and pay, and a retirement plan that is AMAZING!
You also circumvent any "work visa/permit" issues.
I went to USAJOBS.Gov, the only thing feasible was Religious Studies Teacher in Weisbaden, Germany.
I'd say apply to anything in Europe for now and get in the system. Once there, you can transfer pretty easily once an opening comes up.
My folks went overseas on the federal government dime. My dad was a therapist, and my mom tagged along. They were in Iwakuni Japan, Wertzburg Germany and Atsugi Japan. They loved every minute of it. Finally at the age of 70, my dad decided to retire. They are living like kings. They each have a Calpers pension, Social Security and Dad has his Federal government pension.
The government paid for housing off base and utilities. Each base has a used car lot, so you can buy a car there. There is also a gas station so you can buy gas at US prices (WAY cheaper than European or Japanese prices.) My Dad drove a BMW 7 series in Germany. (What a waste...) And a Toyota in Japan. Sweet hoopties.
Some folks choose to live on base, but my parents liked living "on the economy" off base. They had fabulous houses. A 5 story townhouse in Germany, fully modern and gorgeous. The little bakery at the end of the driveway (no shit) was no small benefit. The house in Japan was in a weird area, factory across the street, apartments next door, but it was a 3 bedroom, 2 bath traditional Japanese house.
They had amazing travel adventures, made great friends and in general had a total blast.
So check that out.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:50 AM on November 19, 2013 [6 favorites]
If you're a US Citizen, I'd recommend the Department of Defense schools on military bases. That is one of the sweetest gigs known to man!
You get housing (either on base or off), healthcare, PX and Commissary privilages, and more free time than you can shake a stick at! Excellent benefits and pay, and a retirement plan that is AMAZING!
You also circumvent any "work visa/permit" issues.
I went to USAJOBS.Gov, the only thing feasible was Religious Studies Teacher in Weisbaden, Germany.
I'd say apply to anything in Europe for now and get in the system. Once there, you can transfer pretty easily once an opening comes up.
My folks went overseas on the federal government dime. My dad was a therapist, and my mom tagged along. They were in Iwakuni Japan, Wertzburg Germany and Atsugi Japan. They loved every minute of it. Finally at the age of 70, my dad decided to retire. They are living like kings. They each have a Calpers pension, Social Security and Dad has his Federal government pension.
The government paid for housing off base and utilities. Each base has a used car lot, so you can buy a car there. There is also a gas station so you can buy gas at US prices (WAY cheaper than European or Japanese prices.) My Dad drove a BMW 7 series in Germany. (What a waste...) And a Toyota in Japan. Sweet hoopties.
Some folks choose to live on base, but my parents liked living "on the economy" off base. They had fabulous houses. A 5 story townhouse in Germany, fully modern and gorgeous. The little bakery at the end of the driveway (no shit) was no small benefit. The house in Japan was in a weird area, factory across the street, apartments next door, but it was a 3 bedroom, 2 bath traditional Japanese house.
They had amazing travel adventures, made great friends and in general had a total blast.
So check that out.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:50 AM on November 19, 2013 [6 favorites]
I've been looking into something somewhat/tangentially similar (Germany, not France).
Look into getting a TEFL certification of some sort (CELTA is a good one), if teaching English is of interest to you. Then you can work for a bilingual or international school (possibly a state school) or freelance. You could also look into getting Waldorf or Montessori credentials, as those schools tend to attract English-speaking expats.
It is exponentially easier to get a job if you're already living there. It may benefit you to move to the UK for a year first, if you've never lived in the EU. Some of the EU treaty health benefits get bureaucratically complicated if you don't have a health card from your home country. Once you have your NHS card (well, Form S1 from HMRC), signing up for the French system is much easier.
posted by melissasaurus at 8:12 AM on November 19, 2013
Look into getting a TEFL certification of some sort (CELTA is a good one), if teaching English is of interest to you. Then you can work for a bilingual or international school (possibly a state school) or freelance. You could also look into getting Waldorf or Montessori credentials, as those schools tend to attract English-speaking expats.
It is exponentially easier to get a job if you're already living there. It may benefit you to move to the UK for a year first, if you've never lived in the EU. Some of the EU treaty health benefits get bureaucratically complicated if you don't have a health card from your home country. Once you have your NHS card (well, Form S1 from HMRC), signing up for the French system is much easier.
posted by melissasaurus at 8:12 AM on November 19, 2013
If you're a US Citizen
OP is a UK citizen. The good news is that as a EU citizen, she can live and work in France, a fellow EU state.
posted by Tanizaki at 5:47 PM on November 19, 2013
OP is a UK citizen. The good news is that as a EU citizen, she can live and work in France, a fellow EU state.
posted by Tanizaki at 5:47 PM on November 19, 2013
OP is a UK citizen.
OP has a UK Passport. Currently living in New York. You never know, OP may have dual citizenship and only mentioned the UK Passport for the EU reciprocity part of it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:25 AM on November 20, 2013
OP has a UK Passport. Currently living in New York. You never know, OP may have dual citizenship and only mentioned the UK Passport for the EU reciprocity part of it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:25 AM on November 20, 2013
Response by poster: Technically I currently live/work in the US and have UK passport and am originally a citizen of a third country...
Anyway, I wish I qualified for the DoD jobs with paid housing, they sound great!
I will keep looking I guess. I have until the summer to line up something new.
posted by bquarters at 5:26 AM on November 20, 2013
Anyway, I wish I qualified for the DoD jobs with paid housing, they sound great!
I will keep looking I guess. I have until the summer to line up something new.
posted by bquarters at 5:26 AM on November 20, 2013
The UK may have have a similar set up. Are there UK military interests in France?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:35 AM on November 22, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:35 AM on November 22, 2013
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Do you want to teach in French or English? (I presume French). Can you teach science in French and talk about things like cell membranes and nitrogen?
I think we need some more information (and to know what your question is) before we can provide much in the way of useful guidance. All I can tell you know is that as an EU citizen, moving to France to work is possible for you.
posted by Tanizaki at 7:34 PM on November 18, 2013 [1 favorite]