France is one of the most popular destinations for our TESOL graduates. So it's always good to hear stories from our teachers who are successfully living and working there. We're delighted that retired HR-professional-turned-English-teacher Maggie Asquith has been willing to answer all our Teaching English in France questions.
Key facts
- Who: Maggie Asquith, retired NHS senior HR practitioner, retrained at 56
- Where: France (now Toulouse)
- Course: a Global English TESOL certificate, studied online
- Outcome: a portfolio freelance career – hosting students at home, college tutoring at around €70 a day, private lessons at €10–15 an hour
Why retrain as an English teacher in France?
What is your background and what made you choose a GE TESOL course?
After retiring from the NHS as a Senior HR practitioner, I decided to retrain. I knew there had been a teacher lurking in me all my life and my husband and I were planning to test the water with a move to France; I was 56 and not quite ready to hang up my work boots, so what could be better than a TESOL certificate?
I chose Global English TESOL from the internet as it seemed to offer exactly what I wanted and good value.
“I knew there had been a teacher lurking in me all my life and my husband and I were planning to test the water with a move to France; I was 56 and not quite ready to hang up my work boots, so what could be better than a TESOL certificate?”
- Maggie Asquith, freelance English teacher in France
How do you get your first English teaching work in France?
How did you get your first teaching job?
I set lots of hares running as soon as we were settled. I enrolled us as a host family with several companies who match French people, usually age 8 to 18, with tutors/teachers willing to host students wanting to have formal lessons and be immersed in the British life, Brit TV, eat typical food, talk about culture and so on.
I also offered my services to the local AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises). This is a government supported network with offices in most major towns in France. They operate largely through volunteers to support anyone who is new and moving to their area. They are lovely friendly folk and delighted to offer advice on the local town, surrounding area, walking groups, shopping advice, utilities, cooking, language conversation and so on. I go to AVF for both French conversation and to work as a volunteer English tutor.
After about 18 months here, I initiated a ‘Franglais’ group in our local bar and was very fortunate to enjoy good attendance from both French and English speakers. Through Franglais I have made lots of French friends and enjoy being able to greet people by name in the village. My French language is gradually improving. Although Franglais activity does not pay, it is excellent for developing TESOL skills and building your local profile.
Is there much demand for English teachers in France?
Tell us about your work experience there – who did you teach, is there plenty of work etc?
There is a lot of work here particularly with young people wanting to improve and even advanced students have learning needs around pronunciation and use of vocabulary. Hosting French students at home is also a busy little industry. My hosting activity has so far been teenagers, but my next client in November is 69 and wants to brush up before she goes to America.
I also work part time at the Space and Aeronautical Engineering College, providing English tuition for about 5 days a month. It is great fun as the students are bright and highly motivated.
How much can you earn as a freelance English teacher in France?
What about pay and any tips on gaining work?
Networking and flexibility are key. As well as hosting and the local AVF as mentioned above, there is a good Facebook group based in Toulouse (where I am now) EFL Teachers in Toulouse. Typical rates of pay average €600 (gross) per week per hosted student (would include 10 hours teaching) and around €70 a day (net) for tutoring in college. I have charged between €10 – 15 an hour for occasional private clients depending on their needs and if 1:1.
If you work privately you must register as an auto-entrepreneur (self-employed) and pay taxes (flat 20%) quarterly subject to earnings threshold. It was introduced to simplify the administration for small businesses and it works.
A final note; the rental market is huge here so I'd advise renting. We have moved and rented a few times and always managed to pick up work which is plentiful.
Thanks Maggie; it's great to hear how you have been using your TESOL certificate to great effect!
What do you need to teach English freelance in France?
- An accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate of at least 120 hours – our 150-hour Advanced TESOL is the course we recommend for France.
- Auto-entrepreneur registration. The scheme Maggie describes is now called the micro-entrepreneur regime – register through the French government’s official micro-entrepreneur guidance.
- The right to live in France. UK and other non-EU citizens need a long-stay visa or residency – check the gov.uk foreign travel advice for France.
- A local network. Hosting agencies, the AVF, conversation groups and Facebook communities all led to paid work for Maggie.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to teach English in France?
In practice: an accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate of at least 120 hours, registration as a micro-entrepreneur if you freelance, and – for non-EU citizens – the right to live in France. There is plenty of work with young people, exam students and professionals. Our teaching English in France guide covers routes, visas and rates.
How much do freelance English teachers earn in France?
Maggie reports around €600 (gross) a week per hosted immersion student including 10 hours of teaching, roughly €70 a day (net) for college tutoring, and €10–15 an hour for private one-to-one clients. Most freelancers combine hosting, institutional tutoring and private lessons to build a reliable income.
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Need more advice on teaching English in France? Try the following:
- David Allan on teaching English in France
- Vicky Sweeting on building a business English career in France
- Our Teaching English in France guide
- Any questions on teaching English in France? Email Louisa or William, phone + 44 1392 411 999 or join the conversation on our Facebook group
- Our recommended course for teaching English in France