TAPIF Program

For a great many people, France is the ultimate destination. Whether it’s for travel, work, a year abroad in college, cities like Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux and the sprawling, beautiful countryside filled with fresh produce and vineyards all make France desirable as a place to visit, or make a home.

It’s no wonder. A world-famous epicenter of art (classic and modern), language, history, music, food, wine and so much more, France is alluring for so many reasons. It’s also a great place to teach English as a foreign language. With the French economy proving its worth as one of the strongest in Europe, and the lingua franca of business being English, it certainly doesn’t harm French business relations to have some English in their arsenal.

That said, France only ranks 34th out of 111 countries ranked for English proficiency. The French language, of course, has a unique and distinct flavour all of its own, and French students are rightly proud to speak it. Still, there’s substantial evidence that having a second or even third language is massively beneficial. It’s proven to improve memory, general communication skills and cultural awareness.

So, French students need English teachers and teaching assistants. Budding TEFL teachers need opportunities to work abroad, build up excellent career experience, and ignite their passion for teaching. Teaching English in France is, after all, very rewarding.

Luckily, these two ideas connect, through TAPIF. The most-recognized Teaching assistant program in France, wannabe TEFL teachers have been partaking in the scheme for years now, and it’s helping to carve many an excellent career, as well as a passion for learning languages amongst French school students.

What is the TAPIF assistant program then? How can you get involved, and what do you need to know? All these answers and more await!

What are the requirements for the TAPIF program? 

• TAPIF applicants must be native English speakers
• Applicants must be US citizens. US nationals with a green card can apply.
• Applicants must be ages 20-35
• Applicants must have French Language proficiency (B1 level or above, as we’ll explain)
• Applicants must have completed at least 3 years of college education

To get into the TAPIF teaching assistant program, you don’t necessarily need a TEFL/TESOL qualification. In fact, many study for their certificate over the course of their TAPIF experience in France. So, you don’t need a TEFL certificate, nor do you need a “relevant” degree to get involved. We would, however, advise having a solid bedrock of TEFL knowledge; the industry standard for TEFL teachers is 120 hours of quality coaching, and having a high-caliber TEFL certificate will only boost your chances when applying.

You will, though, need strong language skills, including proficiency in French. A B1 grade or above in the CEFR Test is a must. As the program puts it: “Assistants are required to do a number of tasks all in French, including completing immigration paperwork, opening a bank account, going to a medical visit, and working with French teaching colleagues on a daily basis.” For your application, you’ll need a French evaluation from an Alliance Française employee, or a French professor from a University. 

So, knowing your “bien sûr” from your “bonjour” is vital. What else do you need?

Teaching experience is a major boost. From a French school’s perspective, it’d be useful if a teaching assistant has had some experience in schools, working for a language business, or even volunteering - say, with refugees on a local level, or with other schools in the past. Experience living abroad is also considered useful for an English language assistant, as that demonstrates you won’t be overawed by moving to a new country. 

Experience working with children or young adults, even in a non-schooling environment, is also helpful for the TAPIF application. You’ll also need official documentation demonstrating the level of your university studies - only a transcript from the institution will do. 

Other requirements are less about your work history, and more about official documentation. Of course, you’ll need to have a scan of your Passport, and Green Card if you’re a permanent US resident. Should you be accepted, a federal ID History Summary (a background check) will need to submitted, but that’s not to be added to your initial application.

TAPIF application process and training

So, now you know what’s required for TAPIF, what a teaching assistant does and where you might be going, let’s talk about the application.

Let’s get into what your TAPIF application requires.

Application 

It’s important to get this out of the way first - your application needs to be in French, and reach approximately 500 words. 

So, how do you utilize 500 words effectively? You’ve got to provide basic information about yourself, your experience teaching young people, or working with young people, any experienced you’ve had working or living abroad, your French language skills and your academic background.

Finally, you’ll need to explain why you want to be a teaching assistant in the TAPIF program. Motivation, work ethic - all of your positive personal traits need to be on show here to impress the panel. 

Again; all in French. However, high proficiency in French is a must for the TAPIF program, either way. So, if you’re right for the task, writing an application in the French language shouldn’t be overly daunting.

You’ll also need to provide documentation: a scan of your university transcript, your passport, your green card (if applicable), and a language evaluation, as detailed in the entry requirements.

There is a $90 fee to apply for the TAPIF program.

Deadlines

The teaching contract for successful applicants begins on the 1st of October and lasts until the 30th of April each year. Applications become available every October, through TAPIF’s website, while applications close in the first two weeks of January. 

TAPIF program: Pros and cons

It’s also expensive, and you need to have a decent financial situation to live comfortably. $2,000 is a lot of savings, but that’s what’s recommended. While €785 might be enough to live on, it doesn’t guarantee a comfortable experience in France, especially if you’re based in a sprawling metropolis like Marseille or Paris.

Equally, TAPIF requires three years of university experience and a solid grounding in the French language. A lot of people don’t have either of these - for those who seek a career change, it probably isn’t prudent to go back to university with the sole intention of doing the TAPIF program. That’s expensive for one thing, and it might be wiser to use your time in a different way if a TEFL teaching career is the ultimate goal.

If you have solid French, it’s financially viable, you’re US-based, have teaching experience and three years of college behind you, TAPIF is a great idea. However, it’s not for everyone.

If you want to be teaching English in France, then a teaching assistant program like TAPIF is ideal. You’ll help to strengthen English language instruction in mainland France or one of its overseas territories, gaining vital experience in classrooms, typically leading conversations about the English language and English-speaking culture, and earning a living at the same time.

Yes, the requirements are comparably strict. You need prior experience teaching English classes, only native speakers with skill in both English and French get in, experience using teaching materials, and preferably some expertise in French culture, amongst other notable requirements. However, if you want to experience French culture first-hand and get set up for your TEFL career, it’s hard to top TAPIF as a learning experience.

That said, there are drawbacks. As a teaching assistant, you will definitely gain useful experience, but it might be as prudent to apply for a teaching program where you’re actually leading the teaching, and gain valuable teaching experience through dictating classes, working with groups of students and, depending on the job or program, deciding on the curriculum or, at least, the materials being used in class.

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