Teaching English in Grasse, France
Report submitted on 27 September, 2023 by Tea.
Teaching English in Grasse, France:
How can teachers find teaching jobs in Grasse, France?
Every school age student starting in 6eme, which is the beginning of middle school in France, is required to learn English at school but the majority of families do not speak any English at home. Therefore, there is a very good demand for private English teachers in most every city. I started working with 2 families with students in 6eme and within 1 month, my client base grew to over 15 students from toddler to adult, just by word of mouth from the parents/friends of clients. At this stage, 3 years in, I now have more client requests than I can accomodate.
If you have a proper university teaching degree from another country, it is possible to find a job at a private school here in France. But if your degree is not concentrated in teaching, it is not often accepted, as I have experienced with a Marketing and Business degree from a US University. The only possibility to teach at a public/state school or university is if you have completed your university studies here in France.
As there are many International companies set up along the Cote d’Azur, It is possible to find companies that would like English Lessons for their employees. Often it helps to know someone in a certain field that can offer introductions but if you are willing to network and reach out privately to companies, I think you will have some success as well.
Living on the Cote d’Azur, I have not yet encountered any English language schools, in comparison to the number of French language schools set up along the region to invite young students/adults/foreign visitors to the country to learn French while you are here on holiday, extended vacation or sabbatical, etc.
The main English teaching jobs available are:
Teaching at private international schools, teaching at companies, teaching at community centers, etc., private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)
What are the minimum teaching requirements?
A good understanding and use of the English language and a TEFL certification.
What teaching requirements would you recommend?
In my opinion, teaching English, at least in France, requires a very clear understanding and usage of the grammar rules, proper conjugation, contractions, etc. associated with our language because French students are not necessarily taught by speaking, they are taught using the ‘rules’ of grammar. And although private lessons are not always centred on teaching grammar rules, you must at least know how to apply the grammar rules should questions arise, as they almost certainly will.
A well qualified TEFL school is an excellent way to start.
What are the levels of payment?
Private lessons can vary from 15 – 30 euros per hour depending on the type of students you have.
How many teaching days a week is normal?
Between 1-6 days. Generally the French keep Sunday free for their families but Saturdays are often expected.
How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
5 – 45 hours depending how much or little you want to work hours per week.
What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
As I am a private teacher, I arrange with each family/client how they want to proceed with the holidays. Some students prefer to continue throughout so as not to forget and others, depending on their availability and level of English will resume after the holidays.
What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Grasse, France?
As French is not my maternal language, working with families/clients also helps me to grow my French vocabulary and perfect my use of their maternal language.
It is also a great way to earn a living if you have a small family with children in school, etc as you can work around your schedule for availability.
What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Grasse, France?
In France, the government will question your bank accounts if they see constant deposits but you are not registered with the tax authority to pay taxes on your earnings. It is necessary to have at least an ‘auto entrepreneur’ status and to pay taxes.
What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
The biggest challenge is not speaking the local language to properly interact with people who don’t speak any English. As I mentioned, most families do not speak any English at all at home so it is necessary to be able to communicate effectively in their maternal language.
Living in Grasse, France:
Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in France?
I started on a student visa which allowed me to work 20 hours per week while also attending a French language school.
If you plan to apply to an International school, you will need to seek another type of Visa which I imagine they can help guide you with.
When starting your search, it is best to visit the French consulate in your home country to find out all the requirements and possible Visa options.
What is the cost of living like in Grasse, France?
Cost of living is not very cheap on the Cote d’Azur as it is a tourist area. I recommend having some money aside to keep you afloat in the first few months or year before making the move here.
What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Accommodation is not difficult to find, when I moved here I started by booking AirBNB and talking with the owners of the apartments to prolong my stay paying them directly.
Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Grasse, France?
There is a lot of culture and history here in France and sooo many beautiful places to visit including other countries just next door!
Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Grasse, France?
The cost of living is not cheap. And not every city will have English speakers willing to help you get what you need. The French can be somewhat standoffish with foreigners, unfortunately.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Grasse, France?
Unless you already speak French, I do not recommend moving to Grasse as there are not many English speaking people here. I recommend Nice, Antibes/Golfe Juan areas to get settled as you will find many native English speakers there.
What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
The French think that their food is the best in the world but there is a lot less variety here! And the pizza is horrendous unless you happen upon an Italian restaurant run by Italians and not French.
Coming from NYC where I was able to appreciate every type of cuisine imaginable, there is no comparison!
What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave France?
As of now, I have no plans to leave because I now have a growing family of my own here.
What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Most everything is readily available here or easily order-able via Amazon.
About Me and My Work:
My Name: Tea
Nationality: American – New Yorker more specifically
Students I’ve taught in France: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults.
Where I teach: I am a private English teacher with clients in Grasse, Nice, Antibes and the surrounding areas. I’ve been teaching for 3 years.
Do you teach English in France?
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