A year consulting
in Lyon has not got quite the same ring to it as a year in Provence, but I
still had a great time teaching in a great country.
Having worked in the Loire and Brittany during university holidays, I
was more than keen to be heading back to France with a year's TEFL
teaching experience under my belt.
I had very romantic ideas of what it would be like living in France.
Long hot summers, good wine and good food. I wasn't disappointed, although
bureaucratic paperwork and driving made a dreamy year a bit of a
challenge.
I was glad I'd had some teaching experience before I arrived in Lyon.
While the consultancy I had chosen to work for was seeking qualified
teachers with or without experience, the work turned out to be demanding.
My knowledge of grammar and ideas of how to plan a lesson were put to the
test with a full 30-hour timetable a week.
Classes ranged in level from complete beginner to well advanced. The
students, or trainees as they were called, all worked in businesses in and
around Lyon.
The clientele - well-educated, experienced professionals - wanted
professional, dynamic classes suited to their specific needs. Sales and
marketing staff, secretaries and lawyers didn't have time for poorly
focused sessions or chat classes. It was time to tighten activities, learn
to assess the needs and motivations of trainees, and the problem areas for
French language learners, and produce suitable material.
The start of my days varied depending on how far I needed to drive. A
one-hour drive was the maximum expected by the company and for long trips,
a company car, petrol and motorway fees were all provided. Teaching
started at 8am and it was rare to have more than three two-hour sessions a
day. I was teaching in a different company each day, which, once in the
swing of things, made a pleasant change.
There were no more than six trainees per class, who were at the same
level and often in similar jobs. This made course planning and classroom
dynamics ideal.
A contract with a company generally lasts a year and is fixed, which
means a regular salary and paid holidays, including bank holidays, of
which there are many.
Salaries range from £6 to £15 (10 to 25 euros) per hour. The minimum
wage in France is £500 (840 euros) per month. You can get by on this, but
it won't go far if you want to travel, sample the local cuisine or learn
the language.
To support the work, I had monthly team meetings, continual in-house
training, teacher observation and client feedback.
It was a little testing to begin with - alone in a company, needing to
PR the consultancy while being kept an eye on by the company training
manager - but, overall, it was a great place to learn and develop in TEFL
teaching.
I found the trainees enthusiastic to learn English. Learning English is
thought not only useful for business, but also helpful for traveling.
Trainees also appreciated the break for lessons during the working day.
A disadvantage of working for a consultancy is the need to have your
own car, and braving the French roads. I have actually seen people
reversing on motorways because they have missed their exit. Double parking
is also common if there are no free parking spaces outside a café or shop.
As a teacher, I found it important to dress smartly. Looking the part
is as important as actually doing the job. Mistakes, blunders and mishaps
can all be forgiven if wearing the correct suit.
Failing to learn French is acceptable as long as you complement the
French on their country and take a keen interest to learn all about their
cuisine. Incorrect pronunciation or even the smallest error when using the
French language can lead to complete misunderstanding. I was told that
French is a very difficult language to perfect and nothing less than
perfection is understood.
Paperwork can also be a drama, and it's worth asking for a list of
documents you'll be expected to produce before leaving home. Originals of
birth and marriage certificates, qualifications, driving licences are a
few of the many items you'll be expected to produce just to rent an
apartment.
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