French Teacher Career Guide and Counseling

Question: How can I find a French teacher's job in San Francisco or in Sacramento area? I'm a graduate and 5 years experimented French teacher for foreign people (FLE) currently in Paris and I'm planning to go to Sacramento very soon for visiting my boyfriend. I really would like to find a French teaching job there. Can you help me?

Answer: Check for agencies specialized in teaching. talk to them and register. 2. search on net the schools teaching French 3. Commodity colleges have courses such as foreign languages so contact all these 4. if you have any friends, talk to them they may have contact direct or indirect to such openings

Question: How do I become a French teacher/teacher assistant? I am 29, french and been living in the U.K for 7 years. I would like to have some infos about becoming a French teacher or a French teacher's assistant.. I am puzzled: -would I have to qualify in English to teach my native language? -would I have to qualify in French also? -what diploma will I need? -how long are the studies? -how expensive? Anyone on the same situation, please let me know what shall be done. Merci beaucoup.

Answer: Ask the french teacher at your local university or write the French embassy. Advertise in the want ads to tutur French [though you may need a license].

Question: How do I explain to my french teacher developing oral skills in a language is more important than written ? ok..the french program at my school needs serious change. all we do is work in a 600 page workbook..no one learns anything! i dont know how to say one word because thats all we do. What kind of ideas would make the curriculum concentrate on oral skills...how do i explain to my teacher developing oral skills in a language and strengthening them is just as if not more important?

Answer: You are absolutely right! I don't know if you're going to get anywhere with your teacher because she/he has it really easy -- just grading the workbooks! I think talking to someone who has more influence would start things rolling. Do your parents support you? (They should, because you're right!) Would they call your teacher and set up a conference? What about the principal? Does he/she know what's going on? Maybe not! What about the other teachers of languages? Do those kids use more oral language in their classes? Probably. Then, you need to find out why your class is different. Do you know anyone on the school board? If you go to France or Eastern Canada, you want to be able to SPEAK! You should be immersed in French from the time you walk in the door until the bell rings. You shouldn't be allowed to ask to go to the bathroom or anything unless you use French. That's how I learned Spanish, many, many years ago, and my teacher was the best I ever had. We had to make up little skits and sang Christmas Carols in Spanish. By the time the bell rang, it was hard to think again in English for my next class. You gotta do somehing about this class -- or is it the teacher? Maybe your teacher doesn't have a good command of French ??? Or it's a first year teacher who doesn't know better? Or it's someone old & ready to retire who's just looking for the easy way out? Whatever .... your class is suffering & NOT LEARNING!!! That's the point you need to make. good luck -- someone as dedicated as you are to learning should get all the education you deserve!

Question: I'm a teacher. Do you know any French language schools in San Francisco or Sacramento area? I'm a graduate and 5 years experimented French teacher for foreign people (FLE) and I'm planning to go to Sacramento very soon for visiting my boyfriend. I really would like to find a French teaching job there. Can you help me?

Answer: You could try the Alliance Francaise in 'Frisco. It's the best French teaching organization in the world. I'm an alumnus. Their contact details: Alliance Française de San Francisco 1345 Bush Street (between Polk and Larkin) San Francisco, CA 94109 Tel: (415) 775-7755 Fax: (415) 775-2539 Email: afsf@afsf.com www.afsf.com They have a branch at Sacramento as well: Alliance Française de Sacramento 1721 25th Street Sacramento, CA 95816 Phone: (916) 453-1723 Fax: (916) 453-8762 E-mail: af@afdesacramento.org Office Hours: Monday 12pm to 5pm Tuesday 1pm to 5pm Wednesday 11am to 5pm Thursday 1pm to 5pm Friday 12pm to 5pm www.afdesacramento.org Je vous souhaite bonne chance! Transmettez mes bonjours à votre petit ami.

Question: How can i convince my french teacher to let me present? In my french class i wasn't there when my teacher called on me to present and i wasn't there so she said she was going to give me zero but then i went back and talked to her and she said if i could prove to her that i really wanted to present that i could so i decided that i will write and essay in french about why i would like to present. What are some points that i could make in it about why she should let me present?

Answer: The reason as to why you were absent! Maybe shes understanding if shes willing to give you a second chance...Or You can tell her about how important it is and show how much you care about your grades! which you obviously do if you went to talk to her..

Question: What is a good retirement present for a French teacher? I've been with my French teacher for 4 years, and she is retiring this year. She was going to retire last year, but she decided to stay and see my class graduate. What would be a good retirement present to get her? Any ideas are appreciated! Thanks!

Answer: french fries! lol jk! but how about some french perfume or something that has the Eiffel tower on it--yah that would be so cool!

Question: What is a good gift for my French teacher? I want to buy/make my French teacher a gift for Christmas, what do you think would be good? And if it would have something to do with French, it would be nice, but it's not necessary. Thanks!

Answer: When i was in High School (in France) me and my class got our favorite English teacher to cry of happiness over a REALLY sweet present.... I was class rep and we all liked that teacher so i went around the class asking everyone to take a sheet of paper, colouring pencils... pictures etc and put it all in English on their sheet... the aim was to say thank you and to recall our best memory etc.. Everyone did it and people from other classes joined as well so i ended up putting about 30 sheets in a folder :) He was SO happy!

Question: What present should i get my french teacher? im in year 11 and am leaving school soon, but i really want to get my french teacher a present. i am really close with her and can tell her so much. She recently helped me out when i was in a very dangerous and sticky position, i want to get her something as a thankyou for everything she has done for me over the past 5 years. should i get her something related to france, or make something? i really don't know what to get!

Answer: Ohh, Lynchy...You still stressing over that present. I know of 2 really good sites were you can purchase French wares and goodies for any occasion. There are some great French teacher supplies and thank you cards. Good luck!

Question: What degree do I need to become a high school or college french teacher? An English teacher in France? What kind of a degree would i need to become a high school French teacher? i wanna teach advanced french, not like 1-2 or basic stuff. What degree would i need if i wanted to teach english at a lycee/high school in France.

Answer: To teach English in France, you need to have a degree, any degree. It's not a requirement to have a TEFL (teaching english as a foreign language) qualification if English is your first language. Some of my friends taught English in France last year, one had a degree in Criminology, another had a degree in commerce. Check out this site for more info/application form. www.ciep.fr You can only teach on this programme for 2 years, you work 12 hours a week for approx. €950. Hope this helps.

Question: How much can a French teacher gain per month in Australia ? Can anybody tell my how much a French teacher get paid per month in Australia ? Is French being taught in many Australian public and private schools ? etc..

Answer: It will depend on the state that you teach in, how much experience you have, if you are full time or casual and if you are in a private or state school. Each of the states in Australia pays different wages. (Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the territories Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory) The pay rate does not change depending on what you teach. You can go to each states government web site and look for the Department of Education to find pay scales. In Queensland I get about A$1,700 per fortnight after tax as a full time teacher with 9 years experience. French is not as popular in state schools as it once was, we mainly focus on Asian languages now - such as Mandarin, Indonesian, Japanese. It is still taught however and there is a shortage of good language teachers. When you have a look at the state government web sites, have a look at the registration process, if you are coming from overseas it is important to be registered before you arrive or it could take months before you can work. Good Luck!

Question: What do I have to do to become a french teacher in the US? Oh Hi! I'm French and I am an english teacher in France. Now I would like to know how I could teach French in the US. I mean not as a trainee but as a professionnal. No matter how old are the students. This would be a nice experience. Thanks for your help.

Answer: I all depends where you want to teach in the US and if you want to work in the public or private sector. Unlike in France where everywhere is the same, in the US, States have different rules, laws and requirements. I know it's mind boggling when you're French and you realize that in this state you can do this but not in that one! You can contact the French Embassy where you want to go (their websites will have all the infos you need). Also, private language schools, like Berlitz (I work for them), hire people without even looking for any credentials (but you still need a green card or some sort of working visa...). All you need is be a native speaker in the language you will teach and do a three days course with them to learn their method and be evaluated (and they will even pay you during that time).

Question: how can a french native with an american college degree become a french teacher in the us? i have a bs in economics and a mba in marketing. I am born and raised in France. how can I become a french teacher in New York?

Answer: If you want to work in the New York Public School system you will first need to obtain a New York State teaching certificate. This web site details the steps in the process: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certprocess.htm Since you hold business degrees you will most likely need to complete several additional courses in order to receive a teaching degree. After you have become certified as a teacher, you can apply for a job. If you have already become a U.S. citizen you will have a much easier time finding a job in this country. If you are still a French citizen, you will have to convince a school to hire you. Then your employers will need to apply for a work visa on your behalf. This is not very likely to happen since French teachers are relatively easy to find in the U.S. If your goal is to work in the United States, you are better off trying to pursue a job that utilizes your business degrees. Schools really do not prefer to deal with the work visa issue and there are plenty of candidates with U.S. citizenship. If you have your heart set on being a teacher, find work as a teacher in France first. Then transfer to the U.S. If you are able to get a position at a university in France, they may even have an exchange program with an American university.

Question: How to become a French Teacher in Australia? I'm French, living in Sydney and young Graduate in Business. I just realised it wasn't for me and I'd like to become a French Teacher. Could anyone give me some information on diploma, work experience to become a teacher in Australia? I have to say I am not prepare to spend my next 3 years at Uni. I am interested in short program (6 months to a year) Thank you in advance

Answer: Try to get a bit of experience first for two reasons, #1 to see if you like it and #2 to make finding full-time work easier. A French colleague of mine spent time as a French language tutor to students at the Uni. of Melbourne. He wasn't working for the uni, but instead found a group of students that wanted private classes, so he was free-lance I guess. There would almost certainly be relatively short certificate courses for you to become a French teacher as long as you already hold a bachelor's degree and you have a solid foundation in you own native language and English. Best of luck.

Question: Can someone help me write a thank you letter in french to my french teacher? Tomorrow is my last day of french with that teacher and I want to write her a nice thank you card in french. Any ideas?

Answer: A handy line would be something like; Merci beacoup - Thanks a lot!/Thanks very much. Tu est un tres bien professeur - You are a great teacher.

Question: i am french and i would like to become a teacher in LA california. what do i need to do so? i have a dregree from a french university but no teaching diploma. i would like to move to your country in june. do u know how i can apply to be a french teacher? can i start working next september? i can pass an exam but i would like to earn money as soon as i go there. thanks for your answers.

Answer: Depends on the academic institution you're applying to teach at, and if that institution if public or private. Grades K-12: Single Subject Teaching Credentials authorize the holder to teach the specific subject(s) named on the credential in departmentalized classes such as those in most middle schools and high schools. However, a teacher authorized for single subject instruction may also be assigned to teach any subject in his or her authorized field at any grade level-- preschool, grades K-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults. Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials authorize the holder to teach in self-contained classrooms such as classroom settings in most elementary schools. However, a teacher authorized for multiple subject instruction may be assigned to teach in any self-contained classroom (preschool, K-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults). In addition, the holder of a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential may serve in a core or team teaching setting. 2- and 4-year colleges: Four-year colleges and universities usually consider doctoral degree holders for full-time, tenure-track positions, but may hire master’s degree holders or doctoral candidates for certain disciplines, such as the arts, or for part-time and temporary jobs. Most college and university faculty are in four academic ranks—professor, associate professor, assistant professor, and instructor. These positions usually are considered to be tenure-track positions. Most faculty members are hired as instructors or assistant professors. A smaller number of additional faculty members, called lecturers, are usually employed on contracts for a single academic term and are not on the tenure track. In 2-year colleges, master’s degree holders fill most full-time positions. However, in certain fields where there may be more applicants than available jobs, institutions can be more selective in their hiring practices. In these fields, Master’s degree holders may be passed over in favor of candidates holding Ph.Ds. Many 2-year institutions increasingly prefer job applicants to have some teaching experience or experience with distance learning. Preference also may be given to those holding dual master’s degrees, especially at smaller institutions, because they can teach more subjects.

Question: What do you think of this route to becoming a secondary school french teacher? I'm thinking of going to Wolverhampton University and at Undergraduate to study French alongside Education and then to go onto Postgraduate and doing PGCE Secondary School Teaching which will lead me to becoming a qualified secondary teacher do you think this is the good route to take? Thanks NOTE: french can only be studied alongside something else not on its own a Wolverhampton

Answer: sounds fine to me