Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF)

Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF)

The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) is a joint initiative of the French Ministry of Education, the France Éducation international and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. The program's goal is to strengthen English-language instruction in French schools by establishing a native speaker presence, while also providing American Francophiles with excellent teaching experience and first-hand knowledge of French language and culture.

Deadline Information

Early Bird Deadline: Wednesday, November 15, 2023

National Deadline: Monday, January 15, 2024

Responsibilities

The French government sponsors 1,500 Teaching Assistantships for Americans, with 10 reserved for a Fulbright, which has an earlier deadline and comes with a more robust compensation package.

TAs teach 12 hours of English conversation classes per week in up to 3 schools. Teaching assistants conduct all or part of a class, typically leading conversations in English. Duties include serving as a resource person in conversation groups, providing small group tutorials, and giving talks related to American studies. Assignments vary depending on the school’s needs and the assistant’s abilities.

The contract period is 7 months, with assignments beginning October 1 and ending on April 30.

Contracts are available at the elementary or secondary school level.

• Elementary School – Children aged 8-11 years old. Assistant leads oral activities with small groups, or works alongside the teacher with the entire class present. Good level of French required.
• Secondary School – Students aged 11-18 years old. Assistant serves as a resource person in conversation groups, provides small group tutorials, facilitates English-language clubs, or works alongside the teacher with the entire class present. Proficient level of French required.

Eligibility Requirements

Prospective applications must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Citizenship: Candidates must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Foreign nationals with a U.S. Green Card may only apply if they are citizens of one of these countries.
    • French nationals and French-American dual citizens are not eligible to apply.
  • Age: Candidates must be between 20 and 35 years old on the start date of the program
    • The grant's age limit is strict and we cannot make exceptions. Similar programs for people not meeting the age requirements are not available
  • Education: Candidates must have completed at least 3 years of higher (post-secondary) education by the start date of the program. Years of community college studies can count towards this requirement.
  • English language/background: Candidates must be native speakers of Englishand must have completed the majority of their elementary, secondary, and university studies in the United States.
  • French language skillsProficiency in French is required (minimum B1 level on Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). French majors and minors are encouraged to apply. Candidates without a French major or minor may apply if they have developed at least a basic proficiency in French (equivalent to 3 semesters of college French) and/or lived abroad in a Francophone country.
    • Language skills are essential to facilitating work in the classroom and integrating into a new community. A personal statement in French and letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s French skills, attitude, and work ethic are required.
    • If the applicant does not have proof of French courses or does not have access to a French professor for the application's language evaluation, he or she can submit scores from a standardized French language test (TCFTEFDELF/DALF) available through the Alliance Française. Applicants must have their test results before the application deadline, so it is important to research testing dates well in advance. For more information, please contact your local branch of the Alliance Française.
  • Other: The selection process favors applicants who have prior experience teaching or working with children, adolescents, and/or adults. This is not required, but all applicants should demonstrate at least an interest in education.
  • Candidates must possess the skills to promote cultural understanding between France and the United States. Prior experience living, working, and/or traveling abroad is helpful in demonstrating this ability and an appreciation of other cultures.

Application Process

Applications to TAPIF can be made directly through the website: https://www.tapif.org/

University of Chicago advisor for TAPIF: Assistant Instructional Professor of French Isabelle Faton (isabellefaton@uchicago.edu). Office: Gates-Blake 227.

Faculty Contact

Facutly Name: 
Assistant Instructional Professor of French Isabelle Faton - (isabellefaton@uchicago.edu)