France is one of the most popular destinations for our TESOL course graduates and so we have lots of advice to give on teaching English in France. Here retired solicitor and Global English TESOL graduate David Allan shares his experiences. As a freelance EFL teacher in Brittany, he talks about teaching English, finding students and the peculiar politeness of French society...
Key facts
- Who: David Allan, a retired solicitor from the UK
- Where: southern Brittany, western France (near Lorient)
- Course: Global English 150-hour Advanced TESOL, studied online
- Outcome: a freelance English teaching practice with local children, adult learners and retired pilots as students
How did a retired solicitor become an English teacher in France?
I retired from legal practice rather unexpectedly and joined my wife in France where she had been living for some time. I am not sure what motivated me to take a TEFL course. My wife gave some English lessons on a casual basis and perhaps this sowed the seed.
I moved to Southern Brittany in the west of France. The nearest large town is Lorient which incidentally was destroyed by British bombers during the war.
How do you find English students in France as a freelancer?
The way I acquired students was mainly using existing contacts. My wife had been living in France for some time so we knew lots of people. I printed some flyers off the computer and trudged the streets putting them in letter boxes (without much success) and putting them in shops (more success). But the best thing I did was to contact the local newspaper, who did an article about me. Here the newspapers are part national and part local and the local journalists are always looking for copy.
“But the best thing I did was to contact the local newspaper, who did an article about me.”
- David Allan, freelance EFL teacher in Brittany
David’s experience matches what we hear from graduates all over France: personal networks and local visibility count for more than online advertising, especially in smaller towns. Maggie Asquith, another Global English graduate, built her student base the same way – through hosting learners at home, volunteering with her local AVF and running a ‘Franglais’ evening in the village bar. You can read her story in how I teach English in France as a freelancer.
Did the TESOL course help?
The (Global English) TESOL course was certainly a help in teaching and I still refer to it today. I put the qualification on my fliers although nobody asked to see a certificate.
Who wants to learn English in France?
I have taught children after school, some mature ladies who were learning English as a hobby and because we lived near a military airport, some pilots who were about to or had retired. Otherwise I have taught ordinary people. There is great interest in learning English here.
Some graduates go further and specialise. Vicky Sweeting, for example, turned a business English focus into a full-time coaching career in Normandy, working with major French and international companies – see Vicky’s business English journey in France.
What is it like teaching English in French culture?
Generally I find students eager to learn and very cooperative but one of the most striking differences between France and the UK is the importance of formality and politeness in French society, which used to exist in the UK but no longer does. You do not rush into first names here; Monsieur and Madame are more usual. When you meet someone or start a lesson you shake hands and of course it is difficult to know when to use "tu" or "vous". With adults it is always "vous" (unless you know them well) - with children always "tu" - but when does a child become an adult?
Do you need to register as self-employed to teach English in France?
One piece of advice? Well I think it is important to know the employment rules which are very complicated. Otherwise: courage, mon ami!
Since David wrote this, the scheme he mentions has been streamlined into the micro-entrepreneur regime, which keeps accounting and social-security paperwork simple for freelance teachers. You can register online through the French government’s official micro-entrepreneur guidance. UK citizens should also check residency and long-stay visa requirements before setting up – the gov.uk foreign travel advice for France is the place to start.
What do you need to teach English freelance in France?
- An accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate. David took the 150-hour Advanced TESOL, the online course we recommend for France.
- Self-employed registration. Freelancers register as a micro-entrepreneur and declare earnings quarterly.
- The right to live in France. EU citizens can settle freely; UK and other non-EU citizens need to arrange a visa or residency first.
- Local visibility. Flyers in shops, a mention in the local paper and word of mouth will do more than any online advert.
How much can you earn teaching English freelance in France?
Rates vary by region and setting. As a guide, Global English graduate Maggie Asquith reports charging €10–15 an hour for private one-to-one students, around €70 a day (net) for college tutoring and about €600 (gross) a week per hosted immersion student – her full breakdown is in her freelancing-in-France interview. Most freelancers combine several income strands, just as David combines after-school children’s classes, hobby learners and professional clients.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to teach English in France?
There is no single licence for private English tuition in France. In practice you need an accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate of at least 120 hours (150 hours is our recommendation for freelance work), registration as a micro-entrepreneur if you work for yourself, and – for non-EU citizens – the right to live in France. Our teaching English in France guide covers jobs, visas and typical rates.
Can I teach English in France with no previous teaching experience?
Yes. David had never taught before retiring from legal practice; an online TESOL course gave him the methodology and the confidence to start. He found students within months through personal contacts, flyers in shops and an article in the local newspaper. Remember French formality: use vous with adult students and expect to shake hands at the start of a lesson.
For a free short guide on teaching English in France, click on the France TESOL Guide document (PDF) at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, read more comments from our successful TESOL course graduates already teaching English in France, browse our full teaching English in France guide and if you are considering taking up EFL teaching there, find out which online TESOL course we recommend.