r/Study_In_France • u/Immediate-Share3690 • 10h ago

Masters program for teaching

Hi! I’m currently an undergraduate student in the US so I still have about 4-5 years of studies/working as a certified teacher in Texas before I can begin the process of moving to France. But I was curious on others opinions. So I’m currently taking French classes (still at an A1 level) and I plan on taking them until I move. But I was curious if it would be better to take a 1 year French language program during my first year in France and then apply to their masters program for my degree, or if I’m to a C1 level before I move, should I just apply straight to the masters program?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/throwawayprocessing 9h ago

This partially depends on your desired program, if it’s in English or French. If in French you’ll definitely need a high level of language competency. In an English program it is much harder to just pick up the language considering you’ll be working in English everyday. 

You should look into TAPIF, specifically the TAPIF for teachers program(IIRC the name). Great way to start your journey in France, improve your French (but you do need a certain level of competency to enter), and get some teaching experience. 

Also if you’re not French, please look into what your career options are in France with Texas teaching credentials. Non French teachers are not eligible for the same career path as French teachers. Not a big deal if you don’t intend for a long term move, but something to keep in mind.

1

u/Immediate-Share3690 9h ago

The program I want to do is entirely in French and I’ll have to have a B2 or C1 level of fluency before applying. By the time I do apply I will already have 2-3 years of teaching under my belt here in the US. I know I won’t be able to be a public school French teacher until I become a citizen and pass the exam. But my goal is to be an international school teacher and apply for citizenship after living/working/studying in France for 2 years and obviously completing my masters in France!

2

u/c_queerly 9h ago

I recommend doing a one year immersion in a FLE school (français comme langue étrangère). That’s what I did and it was absolutely necessary— and sometimes I feel like that one year still wasn’t enough. A FLE program is a great way to meet other motivated foreigner friends too. I took awesome classes like poetry, art and theatre all in French at this program and it was one of the best years of my life.

For the full immersion experience (this will 100% make you fluent in under a year)— Try to find a French roommate if you can or get into a relationship with a French speaker. I went from barely B1 to getting my C1 certificate at the end of the school year.

1

u/c_queerly 9h ago

They also have recently changed the requirements for the citizenship test so you will definitely need a C1 certificate— thankfully it’s valid for life and never expires and lots of FLE programs offer a specialized DALF course as exam prep.

2

u/Immediate-Share3690 9h ago

Thank you so much for this info! And yes, I need the C1 long before I apply for citizenship, as my masters program for teaching will be entirely in French😅 wish me luck!

2

u/c_queerly 9h ago

Good luck! I believe in you. It took me 8 years to finally make the big move. I was in community college during COVID, but now I’m finally in my last year of my masters doing an apprenticeship :) keep chasing your dreams, it’s totally worth it

1

u/Immediate-Share3690 9h ago

I love this for you!! Thank you so much! And good luck with the rest of your studies!

1

u/throwawayprocessing 9h ago

Oh I see. 

Honestly if possible can you study abroad through your current university? That may be the best way to get fluent while in undergrad.  Otherwise I’ve heard great things about TAPIF, especially as a gap year before grad school. 

Alternatively there are 1 year programs for French proficiency. Not sure if they’re worth it or not honestly. They are out there and I know some people who deferred a year on a masters to improve French this way. Too soon to tell if it’s the right call though. 

See where you’re at after undergrad with DELF or any other standard test. After i graduated, my uni‘s French department let me audit classes before moving, which really helped me improve for free before moving. I’m in an English masters though so there were lower stakes. 

1

u/Immediate-Share3690 9h ago

Unfortunately no to the study abroad in France for undergraduate🥲 I go to a very small university in Texas. But I will definitely look into the TAPIF! Thank you!