You're going to do WHAT?

A lot of people are pretty confused when I tell them that I’m going to France to be a language assistant, and I suppose that I can’t really blame them. As far as I know, the program isn’t really promoted that much, and the only people who seem to know about it are French majors who find out about it through their university’s language department.

The program is basically an initiative by the French government to expose primary and high school students to foreign languages. The main language that they are trying to promote is English, but I know that the program is also open to native Spanish and German speakers. (You can check this link for a list of eligible countries) The requirements are that you speak your native language well, have some knowledge of French, have a strong desire to promote your own native culture and language, and have a Bachelor’s degree, with preferences given to French majors and minors. You are expected to work for approximately 12 hours a week (Can’t wait to kiss this 9-5 office life goodbye! Adios cubicle!!) as an English conversation teacher, and are paid roughly $780 Euro a month after taxes. Judging from the past assistants that I’ve spoken to, and the many, many, many blogs that I’ve read (yeah I’ve kind of been a little obsessed with the program recently) it seems that nobody has quite the same experience. I guess it all depends on where you are placed in France and the schools that you are assigned to work with.

I am sure that if you are a language nerd who loves to travel like I am that you would understand how incredible this opportunity seems (seven months in Paris, what more can you ask for?) Yes, I know that it will not be easy, and yes, I’m pretty sure that there will be days when I will have the urge to throw some obnoxious French brat out of a window while screaming foul insults in broken Trini English (Yuh know it does come out when we geh vex). And, yes, I have already had a taste of the nightmare that is French administration. But I’m hoping that the fact that I too come from a country where things don’t always run so smoothly, and where everyone has a serious laissez-faire-I-will-help-you-when-I-ready-to-help-you attitude would have prepared me to deal with the very non user friendly French system. So wish me luck on my journey and feel free to take a look at the CIEP’s website for more information on the program.