The Ultimate TAPIF Guide

Is TAPIF worth it? What are the pros of the TAPIF program?

Paid work

This is not a volunteer position; you are paid to teach English. Before arriving in France you will need to obtain a work visa and sign a work contract. As a language teaching assistant in continental France, you are paid approximately €976.49 per month, or  €770 - €785 net per month after deductions are made for social security. You’ll receive the same gross salary even during months with vacation days.

Little experience required

The main criteria (see above)  to apply for the program is not very competitive. You don’t even need to have teaching experience or speak fluent French to participate in the program. I was accepted as a Computer Science major with an intermediate level of French. My future career plans don’t involve teaching English abroad, but it was an opportunity for me to live in France and improve my French language skills. Some schools don’t even expect their teaching assistants to speak French. I’ve met several other assistants in the program with poor French skills even if they could prove a higher level on paper. Other assistants have studied a variety of subjects too.

Future opportunities 

TAPIF is an amazing opportunity to begin your career in France. Many assistants work and teach before applying to graduate school or pursuing other work opportunities in France or abroad at the end of the program. You’ll also be able to make international connections that can benefit you in your future professional pursuits. Beyond your career, you’ll also meet new friends and possibly a significant other. I met several new friends and my boyfriend while teaching in France.

Health insurance provided

With your work visa, you will be covered by the French "Sécurité sociale". This covers 70% of medical costs, 35–65% of prescriptions filled, and 80% of hospitalization fees in France. You are only covered in France, so teaching assistants are encouraged to purchase travel health insurance to cover medical emergencies that occur outside of France.

12-hour work week

As an assistant you are only allowed to work 12 hours per week. Although you’ll use some additional time for lesson planning, you will not have a busy schedule. This gives you the opportunity to travel, improve your French, socialize and work on other projects or hobbies. Some assistants use their free time to complete freelance work, teach English online or find part-time gigs to make extra money. 

Discover France

By living and working in France, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the French culture, language and people. You’ll interact with native French speakers on a daily basis and have the opportunity to practice your French conversations. With long breaks during fall, Christmas, February and April, you’ll have plenty of time to travel around France and Europe. During my time in France, I visited smaller cities and regions that the average tourist might not get to experience!

There are many pros to participating in the program, but there are also some cons that I’ll discuss in the full guide. Plus you’ll receive advice on how to decide if the TAPIF program is right for you.

How do I choose a French region?

When choosing your preferred academies, I’d recommend researching the different regions of France. Don’t select a region just because you’ve heard the name before. Here are some things to consider when choosing a region:

• Lifestyle and interests. Do you want to easily travel to other European countries? Choose a region in eastern France such as Strasbourg or Besançon. Do you like rainy weather? Try Rennes or Nantes. Do you like hiking and being outdoors? Then Grenoble is a great option for you.

• Language goals. If you want complete French immersion, avoid large cities like Paris. If you’re interested in learning German, Alsace is the perfect region for you. If you want to improve your Spanish, go southwest. Some regions like Alsace and Brittany also offer unique regional dialects if you’re interested.

• Budget. Housing and living costs vary across France. Although you won’t be able to choose these expenses, you can avoid cities with higher living costs like Paris. The French overseas territories are also more expensive even though the pay is slightly higher.

You can find a lot of practical information about the academies on the France Education International website. Do some research with their interactive map and discover information about each region including the climate, geography, cultural attractions, transportation, etc. 

The full guide will include more information on choosing a region as well as how to select your age group and city size.

How do I write my statement of purpose?

There is no perfect way to craft your statement of purpose, but you can include certain details that will help set you apart. Focus on your international experiences including study abroad, vacations, involvement in international or cultural organizations, language clubs, and language exchanges, especially if they involve the French language and culture. Discuss your future career prospects and how working as an assistant in France would help you develop the skills needed for it. Your letter does not have to be perfect. The program is expecting you to make mistakes in your letter, since you are likely not a fluent French speaker.

If you’re not sure where to begin, take inspiration from my TAPIF application letter included in the full guide. I’ll also help you write about your experiences.

What visa do I need to teach in France?

There are several types of visas, however, you will need to obtain a long-stay work visa for your position as a teaching assistant in France. The visa for teaching assistants is a visa type D – “visa de long séjour, mention travailleur temporaire (VLS-TS)”. Remember that you must get the visa before leaving for France. If you will be a full-time student, you should still apply for the long-stay work visa as it has a higher status than a student visa.

We’ll also discuss applying for the visa, scheduling and attending your appointment, and waiting for your visa in the full guide. Later chapters will include how to validate your visa in France.

How do I find housing in France?

Finding a place to live is one of the most important, yet difficult parts of moving to France. Unfortunately, the program does not provide you with housing. If you searched for housing before arriving in France, then you might already have a place to live. However, it isn’t always easy to arrange housing before you get to the country. Even if you want to secure a place to stay ahead of time, I wouldn’t recommend it. If you try to search for a place without visiting in person, you might not get the best idea of the apartment and neighborhood you’ll actually be living in. You can also run into scams and other complications by trying to rent an apartment from your home country. Sometimes your school will have housing provided for you (even if they don’t communicate this to by email). 

So how do you find housing then? 

Be patient, and don’t give up your search. If most assistants couldn’t find housing, it would be impossible for the TAPIF program to exist. There are viable living options everywhere, you just need to persevere and use the resources available to you. Before you begin your search, you should consider your needs and wants for housing. 

• Do I need to live in the city center? Can I live outside the city and commute to my school?

• Am I comfortable living with roommates? 

• Can I manage living in a tiny space?

• What is my budget for living expenses including amenities, utilities, etc.? 

• Do I need a furnished space? Do I have the budget to furnish an apartment?

Reach out to your school and contact person to inquire about housing options in your city. They might know of some affordable housing options in the area or someone who will let you stay at their house while you get settled.

The full guide will include tons of details about how to find housing in France and resources that will help you with the process.

What does a typical  day as a TAPIF teaching assistant look like?

Your experience as a teaching assistant will depend on many factors including your region, number of schools, age of students and your commute time. A “typical” school day will look different for every participant in the TAPIF program. It’s likely you’ll have a day or two off during the week if your schedule is well-organized. 12 hours isn’t easy to divide evenly throughout the week, and most teachers won’t want to make you come to school for only an hour of work.

Check out the full guide where I’ll share my teaching schedule as well as a typical day in my life as a teaching assistant. Plus lots of other teaching tips, how to plan ESL lessons, and TAPIF lesson plan ideas.

How do I make friends in France?

Whenever you move to a new city (or country, or continent), you’ll likely want to meet new friends. When I first arrived in France, I was nervous about spending my days alone and never meeting new people. However, I was able to overcome my introverted habits and made several new friends in my city. Some assistants choose the region where they studied abroad or already have connections. If you want to have instant friends, then consider picking a region where you know people. However, you might not get lucky or even know anyone in France. If you are a little worried about forming friendships, follow my tips and tricks below.  

An easy way to make friends in France (or any foreign country) is to emphasize your nationality. When you tell people that you are American, many people will be interested in you as a foreigner and ask you lots of questions. It’s also an easy conversation starter to discuss your life in the U.S. and how it compares to life in France. Your nationality can also be impactful while dating. I had a lot of success dating in France partly because I was from a foreign place. It’s especially useful if you want to meet French people. 

The full guide includes several more tips on how to make friends, where to meet new people, and more. Plus I’ll share how I made friends in my small city as an introvert.