If you have arrived here it is because you want to teachFrench abroad ( FLE ) in the United Kingdom or in another non-French speakingcountry.
In this article, we will give you the keys you need to startthis new adventure: teaching French abroad .
We will explain to you what are the steps and conditions tospecialize in teaching French abroad (FLE).
In this article you will find ...
· Teaching French abroad (FLE)
· Some experiences of French teachers (FLE)
· Teaching French abroad (FLE): Conclusion
Teaching French abroad (FLE)
English people interested in learning French are more andmore numerous and, logically, this is a point to take into account whenchoosing your destination to teach because mathematically, when there is more demand, there is more offers .
In addition, we are talking about a country where theremuneration for language classes is relatively high . The average minimum wageis around £ 80 per day, which is approximately £ 1,600 per month. In euros, this gives more or less € 1,800, a more than correct salary.
It is important to take into account that the UK salary isdistributed on a weekly basis and your daily budget will need to be adjusted inrelation to this detail.
Depending on what you decide and your professional plan,giving French lessons can either be because you want to do extras alongsideyour job, or because you want to dedicate yourself entirely to the profession . It is clear that between one and the other, the only difference is not only your preference but also the preparation because of course the requirements are not in any way similar . But we will take it step by step.
Once you have made your decision and want to teach Frenchabroad , there are a number of things you need to clear up.
First, you need to have a good command of the language ofthe country you want to go to, in our case English. Why ? Because you are goingto give French lessons to English speakers and you will therefore have to pass your instructions and resolve the doubts of your students in English and for that you have to have a correct level. If this is not the case, the teacher / student relationship will be very complicated. You can improve your level or learn English on your own before you go.
You should know that becoming a French teacher in England isnot an easy task. The British highly value experience , even more for ateaching position and it is not always enough to have experience in another country. So it's going to take a reputation for yourself and the best way to do this is by volunteering in UK schools.
It is an activity that does not take you too long, you cancouple it with a job to have a salary. You gain experience in the field and youtake your first steps in the British education system, which is very different from ours.
It is very important to remember that it will not be fun andyou should not throw in the towel before you reach your goal. But it is not aninsurmountable ordeal , far from it. And to help you, we show you the procedure to follow.
Specialize as a French teacher abroad (FLE)
Working as a French teacher in public education without anyprior training is impossible. Of course, nothing prevents you from practicingas an unqualified French teacher but the employment possibilities will be reduced as will the salary . In addition, as often, without a diploma, no job security.
If you want to find a job as a French teacher in the UnitedKingdom, you will therefore need to have specific training in FLE. There areseveral ways to train yourself:
Through the Alliance Française which offers training that isdone from France (the DPAFP-FLE ) but the price of training is high.
There is also a distance training course delivered by theAlliance Française in partnership with theTeaching French abroad: FLE CNED ,the DAEFLE
Another solution to train you may be the PCGE ( PostGraduate Certificate in Education ) which includes a paid internship during theyear . The training is longer and its price is higher than that of the Alliance Française.
Finally, you have the classic university solution through aMaster FLE . To access this Master, available in many French universities, youwill need to have a license, preferably in the field of languages.
It all depends on the time you are willing to invest inprior training and your aspirations in terms of salary and working conditions.
The conditions for teaching French abroad (FLE)
To obtain a position as a French as a foreign language (FLE)teacher, you must in 90% of cases be a native French speaker . This is not animmutable rule and a person with level C2 is also eligible. But as in any process involving a language, natives always have more possibilities than those possessing even a very high level of the language.
Besides the linguistic level, the other prerequisitesare:
Have a good teaching ability : You have to know how to communicate with students and pass on yourknowledge.
Specific training in French as a foreign language (FLE).
A good level of the language of the country where you work.
Prior training in education or literature (although this isnot compulsory).
If you can, having references is very important in the UK.
A) IF YOU HAVE HAD PREVIOUS TEACHER TRAINING
To have a teaching diploma means to hold, at least, a MasterMEEF (therefore without obtaining competitions such as CRPE, CAPES, etc.).
But having this diploma in addition to your FLE trainingdoes not mean that you will be catapulted as a full French teacher in theUnited Kingdom , although it does represent a definite advantage on which you can rely.
To be a qualified French teacher, you will be asked for theQTS ( Qualified Teacher Status ) , an essential license for anyone wishing tobe a teacher or teacher in the United Kingdom (of French or of another subject). Your diploma will be used to have the QTS approved.
This accreditation is done via the website of the NationalCollege for Teaching and Leadership , where you will need to fill out a form inorder to be able to work as a teacher with your French diploma.
If you do not have a MEEF Master or equivalent, but you havea literary or translation training , you can work as a Non Qualified TeacherStatus for 5 years.
If during your course you have taken courses consideredteachable subjets (Mathematics, Biology, etc.) then you can possibly claim thetitle of unqualified teacher or highlyskilled instructor .
With all other training, you will only be able to be aTeaching Assistant (assistant professor) or cover supervisor (another type of assistant)
B) IF YOU HAVE NO PREVIOUS TRAINING
What if I want to get the QTS but don't have any of theabove training? There is also a solution and if you want to pursue your dreamwe highly recommend it .
On the other hand, this is a complicated process as youfirst have to go through an initial training period, the Initial TeacherTraining (ITT). You can enter this training through a British university training which gives you automatic access or through a post-graduate diploma (the PGCE we told you about above).
Can't take your studies anymore? You therefore have the lastsolution: do internships as a French teacher in colleges . However, it takestime because it implies that you are on an internship for a full year full time. In addition, internships must be supervised by a licensed teacher with a number of years of experience. The greater his experience, the more valuable your internship will be to then enter the Initial Teacher Training .
There are 3 ways to carry out these internships:
Teach First: an intensive 6 week program set up by the UKGovernment for people with limited resources to access compulsory education.
School Direct Training Program : It allows you to carry out internships inprimary and secondary education. If you got good grades during your schoolingyou may even be eligible for a scholarship.
School-centred Initial Teacher Training : If you have a university degree, this issurely the best solution. You are assigned to a training center and you do yourinternship from that center.
These internship options are also valid for people whoalready have a university education and wish to gain experience. The idealprofile is to have the QTS and the PGCE or the QTS and a FLE training.
It is also possible if you have a FLE training and a coursein letters or translation. With any other course it is possible but moredifficult.
For university internships , the prerequisites are higher.The ideal profile is a course in letters or translation + Master FLE +doctorate. The accepted profile is a course in letters or translation + FLE Master and finally the profiles for which this can be envisaged is a course in letters or in translation + FLE training.
In the private sector (academy, language centers, languageschools for adults, agencies, reinforcement classes, etc.) the generallyaccepted profile is that of a university graduate with a FLE training
First steps to teach French abroad (FLE)
Once you're done with getting credentials, experience, andQTS through training or internships, one of the best options to get started isfinding a Teaching Assistant (TA) position . You therefore occupy the position of assistant professor for a French course in college or high school. This is quite common in the UK since it happens to see up to three teachers in the same classroom.
Note that to work as an assistant professor, the QTS is notnecessary because in the end you are attending a full professor (who is inpossession of the QTS). It's a great way to earn some money, save money and at the same time gain experience and get to know the UK education system from the inside out.
Opportunities and advantages of teaching French abroad(FLE)
· Opportunities
· Colleges and high schools
· Universities
· French alliance
· Language schools and private academies
· Bilingual teacher and conversation assistant
We have already mentioned to you that there are many opportunitiesin the UK. With universities spread across England, Wales, Scotland andNorthern Ireland, there are over 100 institutions to choose from . There are also almost 150 academic institutions across the country .
There are also many primary schools, colleges and highschools that offer to learn French as a second language or as a foreignlanguage .
Benefits
Work opportunities : The work opportunities for a French as a foreignlanguage (FLE) teacher are enormous because you can respond to offers all overthe world. In addition, there is often less competition because not everyone is ready to abandon their native country.
Better CV: Working abroad always adds a few extra things toyour CV . Many companies consider that having experience abroad is a good thingand that the person concerned has been able to improve their skills.
Higher salary and recognition: This is notnecessarily true in all countries, but in general FLE teachers are accepted andrecognized. In the UK, an FFL teacher earns between £ 15 and £ 20 per hour.
Freedom and Travel: As you teach your language toother people, you can do it anywhere. This gives you the opportunity to changecountries whenever you want (although all new departures are difficult) and to travel around the world.
Culture: You get to know other cultures and see your ownfrom a different perspective.
How and where to find French teacher (FLE) positions
First, you need a clear and concise CV that gets straight tothe point and shows what is most important (and, of course, impeccably written). It seems obvious but your experience and your references are going to be the first things analyzed so make sure you have an impressive CV.
Teaching French abroad: CVThe British system is differentfrom ours in the sense that there is no competitive examination to take andpass and then be assigned to an establishment. On the other hand, there are public and private establishments.
Public institutions operate on the model of supply anddemand . According to its needs, each establishment establishes its own joboffers by searching for a particular profile. This means that in times of very high demand, some establishments may eventually recruit people who do not have the QTS and simply have initial training. Each case is specific, but in the vast majority, you need the diplomas we have specified above.
Institutions use various platforms to post job vacancies.For example :
· Career Teachers
· Trust Education
· Impact Teachers
· Randstad Education
Your best bet is to register on all of these platforms tomaximize your options.
You can also go directly to private establishments , withyour CV and see if you are lucky and they will contact you for a position as aFrench teacher.
One very important thing that you must do before emigratingto the UK, if you wish to work as a teacher, is to obtain your criminal recordcertificate . All work involving interaction with children requires a clean criminal record. In the UK it is known as DBS ( Disclosure and Burring Service ). You will be asked for it at one time or another.
Looking for work , in the UK or elsewhere, is more than justa full CV and good experience to back it up. Your general attitude plays animportant role in getting a job.
The British system has the particularity - and we see itpersonally as an advantage - to greatly value the desire and attitude of thecandidate. It is not uncommon for employers to value them as much as diplomas.
Knowing how to sell yourself is a quality that matters . Sosell yourself well. You will have an interview of about 5 minutes where theemployer simply wants to know why you choose you. All the preparation you have done is of no use if you are not able to answer this question.
Here are some other examples of questions you may beasked if you arrive at an interview:
Why did you choose this establishment?
What do you know about the establishment?
What can you bring?
What are your qualities for the job?
You also need to stay positive and realize that this is atime consuming process. In the end, if what you are looking for is to be ableto live on your salary as a French teacher or if it represents an important contribution, you will have to create experience for yourself in order to acquire a consistent work base.
You can also search for a job on online portals such asGumtree by writing french teacher . The other possible portals are:
1. Alliance Française - As its objective is topromote and teach the language Teaching French abroad: FLEFrench, in additionto offering training, the site regularly publishes job offers.
2. Learn4good - There are offers of all types including French teachers.
3. Jobsineducation - Specializes in the UK education sector.
4. Todoele yHigheredjobs - Here you will find job offers to teach French.
5. Chronicle - Specialized in the education sector. Use the words “french teacher”.
French as FLE teacher: A profession of the future
The most common when a person travels to another country andtells other people why they did it, is the argument of learning the languagethat always comes up. Languages are the engine that drives us to export ourselves to different countries, to climb the professional ladder and to give our CV in institutions that are always more prestigious than those of our direct competitors. teaching French (or any other language) abroad is something we see more and more often.
Read Here for ESL JobStation
However, people traveling abroad with their mother tongue asa presentation card: "I want to teach my language, I can be yourteacher" should be aware that not all languages have the same impact in all parts of the world. world. However, French is increasingly a winning ticket .
Knowing a language or knowing how to speak it perfectly doesnot always give you the tools to be able to teach it. There are things thatsome people don't need to learn, as long as they can remember they take them for granted. But that is not enough with languages , there are methods to learn to transmit knowledge.
This is why to give classes abroad, it will be necessary toarm yourself with much more than the simple dream of doing so . Then, dependingon the country, the requirements vary. In our case - and as it could not be otherwise - we have given you the keys to teaching French in the United Kingdom.
Some experiences of French teachers (FLE)
Louise Naudeillo, from Perpignan, has been a professor ofFrench (and Spanish) at a college in London for 15 years . She left for a month“to see” in 2003, and what she found when she arrived decided her to stay.
“I studied interpretation and translation , which gave methe assets to be able to go to the United Kingdom,” she explains. “My parentslived abroad and my older brother was thinking about leaving too, so I said to myself: What am I doing, I stay in Perpignan and I make my life here or I go on an adventure to see what the future holds for me? Finally, I started. "
She chose London out of pure pragmatism: she knew thelanguage and had done her Erasmus there. Being a teacher was an idea that hadalready crossed her mind . “After a year here I went for an interview to be a conversation assistant. I had no experience, nothing. And they took me. "
“I stayed for a year and my co-workers told me that I wasdoing well as a teacher and that I could try my luck to get a place in atraining course. I listened to them and got a place, which is easier than in France where you need a Master now. »She says
In addition, the UK Government is making it easier now.According to Louise, he offers up to the equivalent of a scholarship to be ableto take the training, it's like getting paid to study. In addition, the training is eminently practicaland there is only the necessary minimum of theory.
And what is better, studying in France or in the UK? "Ithink that if we take the general level, it's a little better here (in theUnited Kingdom editor's note)" considers Louise. “The system prepares you much better to be independent and to be part of society as quickly as possible. ".
“In France, it's a lot of theory, at least from what Iremember, and when I was done, I felt like I didn't know anything, that Icouldn't work. In England even when you are a student you are part of a community, the students have a voice and a vote, there is a very direct contact with the teacher ... from the start you feel like part of something bigger , and that you transpose later in your daily life. ".
Louise is currently working at a school on the outskirts ofLondon. When she started there were only two French classes. It encouragedlanguage learning in the school and in 2012, 5 times more students registered for French lessons.
She wouldn't trade her job for the world. “Today it's mylife insurance,” she says. “Even though the Government has changed things, asalways, the broad outlines remain the same. ".
“One thing is certain, it is complicated to teach Frenchgrammar” she comments, “Because the English give more value to their cultureand their literature than to the language itself, and there is no t is not uncommon to meet young Brits who cannot tell the difference between an adjective and a noun . ".
And with the controversy at the moment in the UK we have toask him: is there much difference between public and private education ? “The majority of schools here are public.Private schools are very elitist and reserved for those with a lot of money.".
"Public education here is quite good, there is a lot ofdiversity and we even have tests to judge the level of each student," shecomments. “And then you have the schools affiliated with a religious belief like the one where I teach which is Anglican. These schools have a very good reputation in terms of discipline and behavior. "
Louise has no intention of returning to France, her life isin the UK where she has a stable job and a circle of friends. She specifiesthat she often returns to her region to see her family and friends, but these are only for short stays.
It's not that hard to adjust to British life, it's just amatter of spicing up your own life and looking to continuously improve yourself. And being a teacher is one of the most rewarding professions there is. So why not grab your suitcase and give it a try?
Teaching French abroad (FLE): Conclusion
After all this, we are going to summarize the most importantpoints to keep in mind when embarking on such an adventure:
Being a native is not enough and you need to be trained inteaching foreign languages (FLE)
You need to be fluent in English to be able to expressyourself and explain your language in class.
You can train in France as well as in the United Kingdomalthough the second option is preferable. You can take a university course or amaster's degree .
If you already have a teaching qualification (Master MEEF),you can have the QTS approved.
You can get the QTS on your own: by preparing it throughtraining or internships (or both).
The references and experiences on your CV are veryimportant.
Volunteering in a middle or high school is a good way toenter the UK education system.
We enter public education by responding to offers and not bymaking competitions.
Always carry a clean criminal record with you.
Know yourself how to sell. Sell you well.
We hope to have helped you and answered the question how toteach French abroad. There are many who want to be a French teacher outside ofFrance and the competition is tough, but if you persevere you will get there.
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