Teaching Jobs in France

Your Job Search

First: Get these tools!

Money. With the security deposit, two or three months rent, meals on arrival, and more, you’re looking at a lot of bank machine trips. So before you get a first pay check, you’re going to need some start up cash. Most teachers say to plan for going over to Paris with around 4,000 — 5,000 US dollars.
Documents. Birth certificate. School degrees / certificates (originals, and if possible, transcripts of grades). Passport photos. Your resume / CV in both English and French (note that French formatted resumes include a photo in the upper right-hand corner). Handwritten cover letters stating how good a teacher you will be for them.
Teaching qualifications. One of the first questions you’ll likely be asked at an interview is: “what kind of TEFL training do you have (teaching English as a Foreign Language)?” Although it is possible today to find someone to hire you without any teacher training, competition in France is tough and almost every quality school wants qualified teachers. Without training, you’re likely to be waved towards the door and asked to not step on the poodle on the way out. You can take a one-month long teacher training course to get you started. There’s a Cambridge one in Paris for around 1500 euros or the TEFL International one I did in the wine region of Bordeaux for 1300 US dollars. They were really helpful and have a large network of job contacts to help you get work afterwards.
A cell Phone. Today’s day and age, got to be connected. Bring one over and get a new SIM card or buy one in France for around 120 euros. Get the number on your resume and cover letters immediately. Don’t depend on cyberspace for those job offers. Besides, where are you going to put the numbers of those romantic French you meet?

Second: Go here!

The Internet. Hit up the internet for some research (see the Teach-in France Resources Page). You can type in “ecole, anglais” and the French region you want to work in. See if you can pull off a list of school names, addresses and numbers, maybe emails. Make a list. You can write to the schools themselves, but you’re more than likely to receive nothing for replies or maybe short request to see you in person.
The Airport. Buy a ticket to France. Best times are in September or January. Paris may be your best bet at first. As France tends to be very centralized, you can find ads for language schools around the country before heading out to them.
A Relaxing Spot. Check into your hotel, hostel or pension. Hit the “Teach in France” web resources for more addresses and photocopy the French Yellow Pages (if you’re not staying in Paris, get the yellow pages for other locales from the post office). Maybe visit the British Council and ask them for a list of schools and their addresses. Many teachers have recommended this strategy. If you’re going to teach in Paris, get a good map from a bookstore (or photocopy at local library). Get photocopies of your resume, documents, references, etc. Before bed, and maybe over a nice glass of chardonnay, start marking your map with school addresses.

Third: Now do this!

Dress up and go hiking. After a few days of research in Paris, maybe head down to your chosen locale for some door-to-door sales work and continue with the following steps. Put on some smart clothes – business attire (yes, that means a tie if you’re a dude). Grab your dossier of photocopied (and original) documents. If you’re in Paris, figure out the metro over a cafe latte and some breakfast. Start visiting the schools marked on your map, introducing yourself and enquiring about possible teacher openings. Don’t forget to be polite with vous and monsieur, you are after all, in France. Some schools will just say “no thanks” other will say thanks, take your resume and say goodbye. Don’t be discouraged, keep knocking – how do you think Sylvester Stallone ever got Rocky made. If it’s the right time of year (September not July), you may even get an interview and offer on the spot. But not usually.
Keep hiking. As tiring as it may seem, keep at it for a few days. And double-check your new cell phone number is on your resume. Keep it on and you should get a call for an interview soon.
Interview…and be polite. Wear that business attire again. Be on time (although they may not be). Bring more copies of your documents, as they lose them sometimes. Convince them you’re good (you are, aren’t you?)
Go back to the airport. “What? I just got offered a job!” Sure, sure and if you’re legal you can start working – so go look for a place to live and hang out at the Louvre. If you’re not legal, looks like you’re heading home for awhile why they process your paperwork. That’s right, must be done with you NOT in the country, but in your home country. Well, not to worry, you’ll be back soon. Take a French or wine connoisseur course while you wait and fill up on junk food.