This is a great video! Thanks for bringing a realistic and honest approach because a lot of videos that I've seen on RUclips about TAPIF have been so negative, hating on the program. Thanks for being honest because this helps me as a fellow Francophile interested in teaching English in France! Both of your advice was so helpful. This doesn't at all discourage me to apply, but it gives me a better perspective on things I need to consider more in detail to prepare for the big move to France.
We are glad that the video was helpful to you! We loved our time with TAPIF but there are some things that have to be said and known that aren’t so glamorous. Thanks for watching and good luck 😊
Omg YES. I did TAPIF 2019-2020 and I totally agree with everything you're saying. Thank you for speaking some truth and not just inflammatory statements. I think I'm going to post a video about my positive experience and I will link to your video as well.
You guys seem like such a down-to-earth couple. So awesome! I completed the TAPIF program in 2013-2014, but I still lurk on some of the Facebook pages from time to time. You hit SO MANY nails on the head. I thought I was becoming one of those old people telling youngins to stop complaining (I hardly ever commented, but rolled my eyes a lot), but I agree with every single point you make. Thanks so much for making this video!
Oh my goodness! It’s As Told By Dana! I recognize your avi from your blog. Your blog is how I initially found out about TAPIF, way back in high school! Thank you! I love you and the Francophile!
Finally!! I really appreciate this video after read all bad comments in FB. I think the people need to read before accepted the program, and be mature is important. I'm assistant from Peru this experience was really awesome for me because it is important have a good attitude. My English isn't good but I need you say you congrats 👍🏽
Thank you! We understand everything you said, no worries. 😉 We are glad that you had a good time during the program. Thank you for watching and sharing your experience! Merci ! Nous comprenons tout ce que t’as dit, t’en fais pas. 😉 Nous sommes contents d’entendre que tu t’es bien amusée pendant le programme. Merci d’avoir regardé et d’avoir partagé ton expérience !
Thanks for this video! I did TAPIF in 2015 and totally agree with the points that you made here. I had a generally successful experience because I was both a French and education major, am pretty independent and a self-starter, and wanted to live with a French family or roommates, and had money saved up from summer jobs.
Thank you for such a thoughtful and valuable video!! I did a similar program in Spain in 2018 and have applied for TAPIF 2022 and I cannot wait!! However it always baffles me that the people on these facebooks don’t seem to think about reality before doing these programs. I definitely would recommend figuring out a phone situation and pre established/paid housing for the first month (Airbnb type thing is what I did) before arrival though flat out. And yeah I’d agree with some of the others you need to be financially stable with savings of 4000+++ to do the program and have a good time.
I've been living and teaching English in Japan this last year, partially as a way to pay down my college debt. I was just re-accepted into TAPIF, and when I applied I was planning to go. Then the pandemic happened, and finances took a hit. I have enough saved to pay my loans, but I worry about start up costs. It's frustrating because I know I'm a good candidate, with the experience of immigrating and living alone and all, but I needed this honest discussion about finances at the beginning. It's a hard conversation to have with myself, but I know that it needs to happen. It sucks to probably decline based on one factor, but I applaud you for laying out all of these topics in a brutally honest way. Merci beaucoup !
What a tough situation to be in, IllyanaD. We hope you’re able to come to the right decision for you, and, whatever you decide, we wish you luck! Thanks for watching.
THANK YOU for this! wow i've been searching for an honest, fair view of TAPIF, and you both answered all of my questions and more. Crossing my fingers that i'll be able to do TAPIF next year. I appreciate you both!
Thank you for your wonderful comment! And thank you for watching! We are glad that we were able to help you and don’t hesitate to ask more questions as they arise. We wish you the best of luck and are crossing our fingers for you!
@@the_francofile Hey guys, I actually applied to Reims as my third choice, after Lyon and Toulouse. Despite believing that I had a strong application due to multiple english tutoring exeriences, I was accepted (and I confirmed Reims). With it being my third choice, naturally I was a little bit disappointed. Any advice or even any specific videos I should watch to boost my confidence and get me excited about my placement 😬
Congrats on being accepted and thanks for watching! We loved l’Académie de Reims. You should be excited. Check out our “TAPIF” playlist ( ruclips.net/p/PLgP2ppLLA4qc3uVzDmMJKBYcKkkwn60Bi ) and check out the TAPIF section of our blog ( www.thefrancofile.net/category/TAPIF ). You’ll be able to see things about our experiences in l’Académie de Reims there. Do you have a placement city yet?
@@the_francofile thanks for the quick response, ill definitely check them out. Yeah so uhhh covid has been an ABSOLUTE shit show and we still havent received our placements (at least not for Reims) let alone hardly any information for the work visa... We might not even receive any meaningful information until September, so I think its fair to say that's causing a bit of anxiety. Nevertheless I'm super excited to start this program and advance to a new stage of life, hashtag classof2020. Thanks for this video in particular, it addressed and reassured me about particularly important money questions.
just got accepted and been binging you guys, you rock for making all this tapif content. So sad how the people who complain are always the loudest, its such an entitled american vibe, glad to see you guys find success with the program.
Congratulations on your acceptance! We hope you’ll fall into the category of assistants who enjoy their experience. Check out our blog for more TAPIF-related content and thanks for watching!
Thank you for your insightful and neutral point of view! I admire your open-mindedness and optimistic outlook throughout your experience as Teacher Assistants. I hope to meet many wonderful TAPIFers with similar mindsets(:
Really appreciate the candid thoughts on your experience in France and with TAPIF--really insightful. I applied for TAPIF 2020-21 and am currently waiting for the selection announcement. Fingers crossed!
I did TAPIF 1999-2000 and it AMAZING. My apartment was in Paris and my school was on the outskirts of Paris.That experience launched my career in Paris and led me to also teach in Asia and other countries in Europe. I worked 11 hours a week, made connections during my time off, traveled on TAPIF SALARY.
I’m a rising senior at my university, and I am definitely considering applying for TAPIF for 2022-23.This video is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you for your sober commentary and reflections on this program! I plan to stay long-term in France, and I am still trying to decide on pursuing a Master’s in France immediately after graduation, or if I should take a year and do TAPIF in order to better acquaint myself with French bureaucracy, culture, language, etc. My major concern is that I would very much prefer to be located in or near the southeast, somewhere in Auvergne-Rhône Alpes, or Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur. I’d also be open towards the southwest. I know that these regions can be very pricey, and are probably in high demand. It also seems that I can rank these regions/academies the highest, but I am still a bit hesitant to apply given that my desired locations are fairly specific. Nonetheless, thank you for all the food for thought!
Thank you for this honest insight! I was just offered a position in l’académie de bordeaux for the 2020-2021 school year, and since everything is very uncertain due to COVID, it’s helpful to hear your takes!
I was just accepted into the TAPIF program in Amiens and I'm almost ready to accept ! This video really really helped me with my research pre-decision. You make a lot of good points, especially reiterating that people will get out of it what they expect, and that we have to remember we're on our own for a lot of it it's not a formal study abroad program!
@@masonchase4599 yes ! I ended up doing a second year. You definitely have to figure out some stuff yourself (housing, bank, etc), but you have a whole community of other assistants doing the same to help you ! It was a really great experience :) I hope you’re accepted !
So much of what you get out of TAPIF is what you put into it. Anyone complaining about the wage is TRIPPING when we only work 12hr/week! Can't find kids to tutor or babysit? Don't understand why you haven't gotten CAF money yet? Make relationships with your colleagues! They will help you! Couldn't stand that FB group full of complaints ffs, be an adult. I do wish Americans could have a real second job, though.
I did not know that as non europeens citizens you couldn't find legit side jobs. I can see why people are upset , when you live in small towns in France finding a job is hard period . Let alone a 2nd one , even for the locals. So if as a foreigner trying to live in France, with low incomes, you technically don't even have the right to get an additionnal job on the side it can become very difficult. My sister as a qualified french woman in her field went to live in the countryside to escape Paris's stress and had to come back a year and a half later for lack of job opportunities. It can be very frustrating. Now , with all that being said Tapif is clearly not responsable for all of the above , so discouraging people to apply to this kind of program is sadening because we desperately need more of you to come here and teach our little brothers and sisters. France is miles behind when it comes to English . That is why I also don't understand why France is not making it easier for you to get multiples jobs . We need you to want to come or stay .
Hi! Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching! Yes, TAPIF assistants needing a visa are on a temporary work visa that is specifically tied to, reliant upon, and issued because of their work contract. Working in any other capacity would be considered working in the country without permission, which is illegal. It would be awesome to be able to move to any country and work with no restrictions, but this is not the case for assistants needing visas. However, the good thing for assistants, especially those living in the countryside, is that they don't have to do any job searching, the TAPIF salary is enough to live on for the vast majority, and assistants can qualify and benefit from housing aid provided by CAF. The program is also helpful in the fact that they disclose all of this information and more to potential applicants to the program. We agree that people who are good fits for the program should apply with enthusiasm and confidence! Maria and I had a really great time! If you'd like to see how we budgeted during our TAPIF year, check out this article: thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting/ If you'd like to see how we budget as students in France, check out this article: thefrancofile.net/how-to-budget-as-an-international-student-in-france/
Love the energy between you too💛 Your application sounds strong, I want to apply but kind of only want to be in the Paris region. Was Paris your first choice? And when did you guys apply?
Hi Olanna M, thank you for watching! We hope the video was helpful. We encourage you to apply to the program and if you want to be in the Paris region we think that’s great. We personally did not choose to be placed in the Paris region at all since we were applying as a couple and choosing “less competitive regions” gave us a higher chance of being placed together. We chose the académie de Reims, de Grenoble, and de Lille in that order and we got our first choice. We applied during our senior year in college in the fall of 2018. Here’s our article on applying to TAPIF (thefrancofile.net/applying-to-tapif/) as well as our article on our placements (thefrancofile.net/tapif-roadblock-placement/) Let us know if you’ve got more questions!
Thanks for the video! I had a question about placement. My friend and I want to go together, but I realize that placement together may be random and not guaranteed. Do you have any tips on how to be placed together or close to each other?
Merci bien pour la vidéo! C’est très informative et intéressante. Je suis australien et je pense que je vais poser ma canditature au programme soit cette année, soit l’année prochaine. Merci encore. P.S. vous êtes trop beaux!
I applied to TAPIF last month and I'm really hoping I make it into the program! This video actually made me feel a lot better, since none of the problems you discussed were things I didn't anticipate or think I can't handle. Question for you guys... If you haven't already, would it be possible to make a video or blog post about some essential French phrases and terms for working in a school in France? I'm at level B2, so I'm pretty confident about being able to communicate outside of work, but I was wondering if there's jargon or useful terminology I should master.
Hi, Gabby! Congratulations on your TAPIF application, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for you. It’s great that after watching our video, you feel prepared. Thanks for the video/blog post suggestion. To give you a quick answer, the reality is that while you are teaching in the classroom, you’ll be expected to use English. That means that you’ll only be using French at school with your colleagues, which doesn’t really require a specialized vocabulary, but rather a good grasp on the French language as a whole. Hope this helps a bit!
New subscriber from insta!! Absolutely love this video. Always knew about TAPIF but now was the perfect time for me to see this and to think about when/if it's the best choice for me! Merci!!
Please make more video about language assistant! There aren’t many videos about this topic and it’s so interesting even though I am French hahaha😊 what’s the name of the Facebook group ?
Hi Lucie, we will definitely be making similar content in the future. Our videos can be helpful for anyone going abroad to teach through any program. Thank you for watching! The page is called Assistants de Langue en France / TAPIF : 2019-2020
Hello queen migs! Thank you for the suggestion. That sounds like a good idea. We will definitely make that content for you and others who are interested. It may be an article on our blog, a video, or both! Stay tuned by subscribing to our blog and RUclips channel and be on the lookout for it! Thanks for watching.
hey :) thanks for your video and all the info. I applied for TAPIF this year. I appreciate that you included a section here on mental health in relation to TAPIF. I wondered if you could clarify some of your views further ? In saying that people are adults , have decided to move to a different country etc. this could be taken as contributing to the damaging rhetoric around mental health which puts blame on individuals and defends organisations/institutions/society in their responsibilities. I should say that I don't know all the ins and outs of the mental health situation with this programme (And i haven't done that programme!) , but I just flagged this moment of your video as an opportunity to stand with people who are struggling instead of saying 'thats not tapifs/anyones fault' - which is it how it came across to me. You do acknowledge that moving to another country is mentally taxing, and as it seems that a fair amount of people have expressed that too , so could this not have been a moment to consider that there needs to be more support in place for lang assistants?
Hi there! Thanks for your comment. We are both mental health advocates and argue that the mental health support that TAPIF provides is the coverage to which assistants are entitled under the French Healthcare system. Our point in the video is that if a TAPIF assistant is struggling during the program, there is support in place via the French Healthcare system, and we emphasize the individual’s role in caring for their own mental health because, under the current TAPIF parameters, assistants must play an active role in using the resources afforded to them through the French Healthcare system by reaching out to their employers, making their own appointments, and getting to the doctor’s office by themselves, for example. As we said in the video, TAPIF isn’t a “program” in the same way that study abroad is a “program,” as it is simply a branch of the Language Assistant program run by France Éducation International. TAPIF is not an employer, nor is it usually the appropriate place to seek help as an assistant when in France. We also understand, as you mentioned, the mental strain involved with moving abroad. This is why in the video we impressed upon our viewers that if they don’t believe they are capable of handling the stressors involved with being an assistant, even with the support available via the French Healthcare system, they should have an honest conversation with themselves as to whether or not they are a good candidate for the program. We absolutely stand with assistants who struggle during their time with TAPIF, and our goal is to equip future assistants with the knowledge they need to succeed. This is why we emphasize things like the importance of having a good handle on the French language, for example. No amount of mental health support from TAPIF could fix problems that come from an assistant’s lack of ability to communicate with their colleagues, employers, and French mental health professionals. In this video, our aim isn’t to defend TAPIF, nor is it to propose radical change in the Language Assistant program. Instead, we want to prepare future assistants to deal with the facts of TAPIF as it currently exists. This doesn’t mean that TAPIF, or the Language Assistant program in general, should never change or evolve, but we don’t believe that we have the expertise to propose those types of solutions. Instead, our expertise lies in our experience. We hope this clarifies our views, and that our viewers understand that, in our opinion, TAPIF requires assistants to be independent, mature, self-advocates who are willing and able to use the resources at their disposal in order to succeed. Thank you for bringing up this important topic and for watching our video.
The Francofile hi , thanks for taking the time to write this response and for shedding some more light on this topic. I fully appreciate the experience you’ve had and I think it’s really great that you’re using your position to better equip other assistants or prospective assistants . I misinterpreted where you were coming from and can see now that your intention is to be clear and open about how the situation exists so that people can make decisions about it for themselves . Of course there is always work to be done and open conversations to be had around mental health. Thanks for talking :)
Love the honest review I have watched it over and over . If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you all save before leaving ? Did you only save the minimum I’ve saved about 4,000 USD and I’ve been feeling concerned if this will be enough if accepted .
Hello and thanks for watching! Savings goals are very dependent on region and lifestyle. However, if you haven’t already, don’t hesitate to check out our TAPIF budget article that goes into detail on our monthly spending during the program. www.thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting This article coupled with some research on cost of living in regions you’re interested in may help you determine if 4,000 USD is enough for you. We personally saved more than TAPIF’s minimum suggested amount for start up costs, which was 2,000 USD at the time. However, at the end of the day, we did not end up spending that full amount for start up costs. You’re doing great and keep saving as much as you can!
Of course! It’s definitely a good exercise to think about whether it’s right for you or not. Although it is an exciting opportunity, one shouldn’t go in blindly. Thanks for watching and good luck with whatever you choose! 😊
Hi DedrianaNicole, we did not use credit cards during the program. We would suggest that you compare different credit cards online or speak with an expert in order to make the best decision for your personal situation. Thanks for watching!
I'm trying to save up $10,000 so I can fully equip myself, I visited my friend who was in the TAPIF program in Perpignan. he says to save up as much as you can. he got lucky with a governmental supplemental income along with his Tapif stipend.. I am currently on the waiting list to be selected into an academy.. so Here's to hoping I get in.
Thank you so much for these helpful videos! I was recently accepted into the Nancy-Metz académie. I was wondering how assistants got around in rural areas without a car. I am worried I'll be placed somewhere rural and won't have enough access to transportation.
Hi Eliza, and thanks for watching our videos! Congratulations on your acceptance to the program! Being placed in a rural area is a reality of the TAPIF program, but it doesn’t mean that you actually have to live there. Many assistants, like Jalen, are placed in very small towns for their work, but decide to live in a larger nearby town. Jalen was placed in Bar-sur-Aube (5,000 residents) and lived in Troyes (60,000 residents). Commuting by train in France is, fortunately, a common practice, and one that is made quite easy with the amount of rail the country has to offer. Often times, you can use regional railways to go from a larger city in a specific region to the many small towns and villages that surround it. That’s what Jalen did everyday because he wanted to live in a city with lots of things to do/see and with a somewhat robust public transportation system. Check out our article on living in France without a car as well as our article on a typical TAPIF schedule for more details. thefrancofile.net/life-in-france-without-a-car/ thefrancofile.net/tapif-typical-school-day-and-work-schedule/ It could also be a good idea to do some research on “TER trains” in France as a starting point. If you end up living in the small town that you may or may not be placed in, you can take trains to nearby small villages and bigger cities relatively easily. Secondly, French villages, towns, and cities are often walkable and it is not uncommon to walk longer distances than Americans are typically used to. Lastly, there are taxi and carpooling services that exist all over the country, like BlaBlaCar and Uber. We hope this helps. Good luck with your future endeavors! 🍀😊
Under certain circumstances, yes - though it remains exceptional! Maria actually got her placement changed. You can read about it on the blog here: thefrancofile.net/tapif-roadblock-placement/
Hey! The 2023-2024 TAPIF handbook states the following: "HAVING A SECOND JOB: This particular visa status in France does not allow language assistants to pursue official secondary employment in France. This restriction is intended to make sure that your job as a teaching assistant is your primary means of living in France at any given time (since you will be in France on a special-status visa for assistants). Many assistants do private tutoring or babysitting for cash in order to earn some extra money." We were able to live within the means of the monthly stipend during our time as language assistants. Hope that helps! 🙂
I’m going to be a senior in high school and I’m really interested in becoming a English teacher in France. I was thinking about going to community college for 2 years and save money and then transfer maybe to a French university and get a degree and become a teacher. I am also dating someone in France and we’re doing really good and we plan on marriage and then I will hopefully get french nationality so it will be easier for me to get a job, but I see this and it looks like a great opportunity for me. Do you have any advice! Anything will help!! Thank you :)
Hi, Kyle! It is really nice to see that you have a plan so early. We will try to answer your question as thoroughly as possible, but please keep in mind that we are in no way experts, and that we cannot give you any sort of "official" advice! We are not sure about how "transferring" community college credits to a French university would work. Typically, at American community colleges, students take classes that are relatively basic or considered "general education" that transfer seamlessly into the four-year American university system. All American students, in many, if not most cases, must fill these requirements - no matter what major they ultimately pursue. In France, higher education is not structured in the same way, and "general education requirements" are not as common. Essentially, you could be taking classes at community college that have little, or nothing, to do with your degree in France because students in France jump right into whatever they are at university to study. From our anecdotal experience, teachers in the United States learn "how to be a teacher" and get their student teaching experience towards the end of their university careers. Therefore, you going to community college, or even the first two years of a four-year university, might not give you any applicable teaching experience, in-depth education on pedagogy, classroom management, or the multiple other subjects future teachers learn. You would essentially be a "regular" college student until you reach your education classes towards the end of your bachelor's degree requirements. It would also be a good idea to think about whether going to community college would be necessary or even useful before pursuing a program in France for becoming an English teacher. In France, teachers typically study the language that they would like to teach for their "licence," or bachelor's degree, and then go on to study pedagogy or "how to be a teacher" for their master's degree. It is slightly similar to the US in that sense (where the pedagogy education comes later on in the academic career). If you do go to community college, and you know you want to be an English teacher in French public/private schools, then it may be a good idea to see if the community college that you are considering has a program that will allow you to move into the French education system, meaning that your American coursework will bring your application to a point that resembles that of a typical French student who completed the first two years of their three year "licence." Assuming that a French program would accept you at all, given the fact that you must fulfill other requirements that we haven't mentioned in this response, you would be applying to the third and final year, also known as "L3," of a "licence LLCE" in English or something similar. If possible for you, and if you have not already considered it, you could go directly to a French university and bypass the community college step, especially if, after researching, you find that the community college classes available to you don't do much for your path to France on the whole. Foreign students in France are allowed to work part-time during their studies up to a little over 18 hours per week. This could possibly offset your need to stay in America for two years and save up. If not that, you could also save money during a "gap year" in the states where you work a job, and then you could go directly to a French university after the "gap year." Either way, going to community college or not, you can make your dream come true. Be sure to look for any holes in your path, of course, and patch them up with research like you are doing now! As far as your relationship, we are happy to hear that it is going well and hope it continues to do so - Maria and I are high school sweethearts after all! We would encourage you, however, to make sure that with or without your partner, you can, and want to, make your dream come true. This will be the case if you get a master's-level degree from a French university (necessary for being an english teacher there) like you plan to. Lucky for you, foreigners that complete a degree at the master's level in France are eligible for a special "job searchers" visa that allows them to stay in the country and look for long-term work for up to a year! You are also able to take France up on this one-time offer anytime between immediately upon graduating and four years after graduation! With regard to the TAPIF program, we think it is a great opportunity and would encourage you to do it! Just analyze your situation and see if it is the right fit for and your long-term goals, because it doesn't allow for much of the money saving that you've mentioned. Check out www.campusfrance.org/fr for more info on going to school there. Also, check out thefrancofile.net/category/tapif/ for our detailed blog articles about TAPIF. And last but not least, if your French isn't up to par for your plans, STUDY STUDY STUDY! We wish you luck in your future endeavors and good on you for being so proactive. We hope this has helped you!
J’aimerais que vous fassiez une vidéo qui explique comment vous avez atteint le niveau C2. Moi je suis au niveau B2 en espérant d’atteindre C1 à la fin de l’année.
Salut mizzie923, nous vous remercions pour la suggestion ! Pour le moment, nous vous proposons nos articles sur le même sujet. N’hésitez pas à y jeter un coup d’œil. Les voici: Jalen’s French-Language Journey ( thefrancofile.net/jalens-french-language-journey/ ), Maria’s French-Language Journey ( thefrancofile.net/marias-french-language-journey/ ), All About the DALF C2 ( thefrancofile.net/all-about-the-dalf-c2/ ). Nous avons également cette vidéo qui parle de nos parcours linguistiques ensemble avec le français, matez-la ! OUR LOVE STORY: HOW FRENCH BROUGHT US TOGETHER ( ruclips.net/video/jJkGfKEYYOw/видео.html ) J’espère qu’elles vous plairont et merci de regarder nos vidéos !
Hello!! Could you please also recommend which cities in France are better to choose for this program? (like, Paris is really expensive but Nice is a small town)
Hello, The first thing to know is that while it may seem like choosing a city on the TAPIF application is possible, that is not the case. In reality, there are 24 metropolitan Académies (each named after a city in the Académie) and 4 overseas departments to choose from. For example, we were placed in the Académie de Reims. While some assistants in our Académie were placed in the city of Reims (population ≈ 184,000), many others, including us, were placed in smaller, lesser-known cities throughout the Académie such as Troyes (population ≈ 61,000) and Bar-sur-Aube (population ≈ 5,000). All this to say that you aren't guaranteed a spot in the city for which the Académie is named even if you are placed in that Académie. Keep in mind that regardless of Académie, you may very well find yourself placed in a rural setting, and TAPIF encourages applicants to be open to this possibility. Therefore, we don't really have any specific city recommendations for you. We suggest that you take into account the strength of your application (Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Limoges, Reims, and Rouen are less competitive while Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, and Grenoble are more competitive) as well as your personal preferences (culture, weather, travel plans, budget, connections) when ranking your Académie choices. We personally enjoyed our time living in Troyes during TAPIF and are happy living in Reims as students. Both of these cities are in the Académie de Reims and you can find more information about them on our blog and in other videos. Even though we can't give you a comprehensive ranking of the best French cities, we hope this helps you make your decision. Good luck!
I think the wage about ( $780 euros after taxes per MONTH) is only a ethical living wage if you’re not in the Paris/Versailles/ Cretiel area. I would say the majority of people complaining about it were placed in this area. For example I pay 650€ a month in rent, which was amazing to find (many of my friends paid more) so I only had 120€ left for food/ transport/ phone bill, etc. That is not ethical in my opinion.
Hi, Kellie! Thanks for sharing your perspective. 650 € a month does sound like a steal for that region, nice! In the video, the point we are trying to make is that assistants know well in advance how much they will be making and that the program specifically states that assistants in the Paris region will not be able to live a typical student lifestyle that other assistants placed in other regions will be able to, unless they bring savings (necessary amount to be determined by the assistant before coming to France). We think it would be unethical for the program to mislead assistants in the Paris region by guaranteeing them a typical student lifestyle while knowing it was impossible, for example. If you’d like to see our budget breakdown, here’s our article ( www.thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting/ ). Thanks again for your comment and thanks for watching.
Thank you! As a TAPIF assistant, you are able to enroll in the French healthcare system called « sécurité sociale. » This will allow you to have a percentage of the cost of medical appointments/procedures reimbursed to you. If you would like to have a larger percentage of the cost of your medical appointments/procedures reimbursed, you are free to sign up for what is called a « mutuelle. » This is an optional, private insurance that gives you even more coverage. Thank you for watching! 👍🏿👌🏻
Hello guys, thank you for the thorough video! I'd like to know if you think it'd be possible to work online as a freelancer (on an international/non french website) while on an assistant's visa?
Hi, this is something that assistants have done in the past. However, both the program and the French government advise against such activity. Thanks for watching. 👌🏻👍🏿
I already have a degree in French in an anglophone, can I apply for Tapif without DElF/DALF?? Is there any transport allowance for Language assistant??
Hello! Regardless of your degree, you must prove that you have a B1 level of French. You can either have a French professor write you a letter of recommendation attesting to your skills or submit a standardized French language test (TCF, TEF, DELF, DALF). Read more here: frenchhighereducation.org/teaching-assistant-program/prospective-applicants/eligibility Aside from the monthly stipend, there is technically no transport allowance for language assistants. However, you are eligible to be reimbursed 50% of your transport expenses by your school monthly. Hope this helps!
Hello, yes you do. Here’s what the TAPIF FAQ page (frenchhighereducation.org/teaching-assistant-program/prospective-applicants/faq) has to say: “Yes. Applicants must have an intermediate proficiency in French. In order to be eligible to apply to TAPIF, you must have a French proficiency of B1 or higher on the CEFR Scale. You should be comfortable enough in the French language to complete daily tasks, hold conversations of substance, and manage a classroom of French students. Assistants are required to do a number of tasks all in French, including completing immigration paperwork, opening a bank account, going to a medical visit, and working with French teaching colleagues on a daily basis. Having a good French skills is therefore essential to having to a positive and successful experience as a Teaching Assistant in France!”
Thanks for the video, my friend and I want to do this program, but I had a question about placement. Is there a way to get placed together so we can live together, or is that rare?
Hi and thanks for watching! We are not sure how TAPIF differentiates, defines, or verifies couple status for placement purposes (friends, dating, engaged, married, etc.). However, you can check out our article that explains how we were placed together and things you can do to increase your chances. Good luck! thefrancofile.net/tapif-roadblock-placement/
Hi, Silvestre. We stopped voluntarily after our first year, however, many assistants do the program more than once. You can find this information on the TAPIF Q&A page here. Thanks for watching! frenchhighereducation.org/teaching-assistant-program/prospective-applicants/faq
@@the_francofile thank you, I want to go to an acting school in France and was seeing if it was possible to be able to teach English and do schooling at the same time, and I was wondering because the acting program is 3 years.
Hello, Jaidan. Prior to the program, we had just passed the DALF C2, the highest achievable credential for French as a foreign language. In other words, we were pretty much as fluent as it gets.
@@the_francofile thank you for replying! I am currently residing in Malemort- sur Corrèze, and i am happy that i was accepted into the program. Now that I am here, I am having second thoughts about leaving early because the town I am in is very small and rural and I am having a hard time financially, mentally, and just socially. I am conflicted because I do not want to pursue teaching (I want to go into neuropsychology lol) or really anything to do with France after I leave besides maybe travel for leisure, what would you recommend? thanks for your videos!
Hi, Jaidan. Sorry to hear that your experience has been difficult thus far. It’s hard for us to recommend what path you should take. However, if you’re satisfied with the effort that you’ve put forth in trying to adapt to your new situation, there’s no shame in realizing that the program may not be for you. On the other hand, if you think you still want to keep trying for a bit, we’ve heard of people finishing the program and loving it despite a rough start. In any case, we suggest you reach out to your personal support system and prioritize your well-being when you make your decision. Hope this helps and good luck! 🍀🙂
Not to dissuade anyone from Tapif, but I think a better way to experience France is to just save money, before you go, apply for a work visa, get a job a at an Irish or English pub in Paris, and take it from there. You'll still have to deal with all the French Bureaucracy, but at least you'll be making a little more money and you can explore other routes of teaching English from there, just a suggestion!
Hi, David. As we said in our video, we agree that saving money before moving to France is a great idea. However, the route that you have proposed is unrealistic for most non-EU citizens hoping to work/stay in France. When it comes to the necessary visas, working rights, etc. this would be very difficult. That’s the allure of TAPIF. You are correct that there are many ways to experience France, and we encourage everyone to explore the best options for them to do so. Thanks for watching!
Here’s the issue, sure they let us know ahead of time that we’ll be paid 800 euros a month. But you don’t know where you’ll be placed until July, far after you have to accept the position. As foreigners we have no idea what the cost of living will be. Also, the salary of TAPIF has not changed for TWENTY years. Unless you are independently wealthy, it is not feasible financially to do TAPIF. The problem with TAPIF is that it is radically different depending on what académie you’re in. Some people are in a great académie and have a great time, which is wonderful! But that is not the case across the board. One of the assistants in our académie committed suicide at the beginning of the year and our académie told us that talking about mental health care was “not a part of the French culture” I cannot in good faith recommend the TAPIF program. If you want to go to France there are better ways. Unless you have parents who are willing to bankroll you for a year abroad, DO NOT DO THIS PROGRAM.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for your input! We believe that anyone applying to the program should heed TAPIF’s advice on their FAQ page available to applicants before they start to apply. TAPIF heavily stresses that it is looking for applicants with “an open mind” with regards to placement and that it is “really looking for applicants who are motivated to teach anywhere in France.” They also stress the fact that “Flexibility is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED when it comes to regional placement.” We believe that it is the assistant’s responsibility to research what the cost of living might be because they are the person that has decided to move abroad. We have not come across any credible information on the yearly changes in the TAPIF salary, however the majority of assistants are able to complete their time in France with their needs met. This program is made for a privileged demographic. It requires at least three years of college education, a minimum foreign language level, the ability to travel, etc. However, in most regions of France, the salary is livable. While experiences for many assistants are very different during TAPIF, we don’t view this as a negative. Being unique individuals in different parts of the country dealing with different people at different moments is the nature of the program. The combinations of experiences are endless and we think that’s great! We were sorry to hear about the death of an assistant. In our video, we explain that if assistants need help in any capacity, it falls on the assistant to get the help they need. This includes mental health. We encourage people who are ready to heed TAPIF’s instructions and who fit what TAPIF says they’re looking for to apply to the program. There may be better ways to go to France and we think that is for each individual to decide for themselves based on their situation at the time. We and many other assistants were not bankrolled by our parents. Here is our budget article showing a detailed breakdown of our money situation during the program ( www.thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting ). We would say that this program is feasible with mental, linguistic, and financial preparation, a good attitude, and an open mind. Thanks again for sharing your point of view.
So this is the thing, when it comes to low wages and the ethicacy behind it, it's really a program that caters to the rich or well off. We see this all the time in the USA with internships that pay nothing. YES people know what the wages are going into the situation, but that doesn't make it ethical. I would argue that they pay isn't bad for the fact that it's only 12 hours a week, but I do think it's ignorant to state that people knew what the wages are going into the program. This isn't a career and they wages are incredibly low and unsustainable. If you come from money, or have family to support you then this doesn't matter. But please consider that a privilege. There are so many people who can't even afford the opportunity because of how low the wages are. In Comparison to free internships in the USA, then this is awesome. But just because they are transparent about their wages doesn't technically wave the fact that it is unethical. Like it was stated - they do encourage under the table work. Why? Because they know 12 hours a week is unlivable. And please don't say they want you to experience France but not on their dime. Excuse me? If you are working you deserve to be paid and what you do with your money is your business.
also, this comment was not meant to be a hate comment. I did watch your whole video and I found a lot of very good information. I don't have family and I've supported myself entirely throughout college, etc. So I definitely come from a different point of view as I have lost countless opportunities throughout my lifetime for literally not having enough money. The only reason I am considering TAPIF now is because I do run my own business online and can do it anywhere. I would never have been able to do this after I graduated and I would have absolutely hated TAPIF. I don't belong to any of these groups of course, but I can feel where people are coming from. It's hard to enjoy a program when you are just trying to scrape by. :/ again, no hate towards your video. Just a different viewpoint.
From the French-language requirement, to the higher education prerequisite, to the modest living stipend, TAPIF is a program that caters to privileged people. We have never believed otherwise. Be that as it may, our video is meant to educate about what the program currently IS, not necessarily what the program SHOULD BE in an ideal situation. We aren’t in the business of publishing content on the ethics of TAPIF. In this case, we want to use our experience to help potential TAPIF applicants understand the importance of realistic planning and budgeting to make the current living stipend work. This does not mean that we believe that TAPIF is a perfect program (it is not) nor that it cannot be improved (it can). It seems that you are actually our target audience, as our video has cemented your realization that TAPIF would not necessarily be an enjoyable experience for you - especially if you already know you would only be scraping by. As such, we believe that we share a viewpoint with you, not the other way around. We hope this clears things up a bit. No offense taken!
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Tell us what you think! Do you feel prepared for TAPIF? Why or why not?
This is a great video! Thanks for bringing a realistic and honest approach because a lot of videos that I've seen on RUclips about TAPIF have been so negative, hating on the program. Thanks for being honest because this helps me as a fellow Francophile interested in teaching English in France! Both of your advice was so helpful. This doesn't at all discourage me to apply, but it gives me a better perspective on things I need to consider more in detail to prepare for the big move to France.
We are glad that the video was helpful to you! We loved our time with TAPIF but there are some things that have to be said and known that aren’t so glamorous. Thanks for watching and good luck 😊
Omg YES. I did TAPIF 2019-2020 and I totally agree with everything you're saying. Thank you for speaking some truth and not just inflammatory statements. I think I'm going to post a video about my positive experience and I will link to your video as well.
Thank you so much, Madi!
I was an au pair before doing TAPIF so pretty much everything about the TAPIF program was way better than being an au pair.
Hi Bridget, we bet you gained some valuable experience as an au pair. Good luck with your future endeavors!
@@the_francofile Thanks good luck to you guys too!
Is it possible to be an au pair and tapifer simultaneously ? Especially if the family pays you in cash?
@@misskillerv Yes, you don't really need the au pair contract though you can just be a live-in babysitter.
@@bridgetleonard6702 thanks so much
You guys seem like such a down-to-earth couple. So awesome! I completed the TAPIF program in 2013-2014, but I still lurk on some of the Facebook pages from time to time. You hit SO MANY nails on the head. I thought I was becoming one of those old people telling youngins to stop complaining (I hardly ever commented, but rolled my eyes a lot), but I agree with every single point you make. Thanks so much for making this video!
Thank you for your kind words! We are glad you enjoyed watching. 😊
Oh my goodness! It’s As Told By Dana! I recognize your avi from your blog. Your blog is how I initially found out about TAPIF, way back in high school! Thank you! I love you and the Francophile!
Thanks!
Finally!! I really appreciate this video after read all bad comments in FB. I think the people need to read before accepted the program, and be mature is important. I'm assistant from Peru this experience was really awesome for me because it is important have a good attitude. My English isn't good but I need you say you congrats 👍🏽
Thank you! We understand everything you said, no worries. 😉 We are glad that you had a good time during the program. Thank you for watching and sharing your experience!
Merci ! Nous comprenons tout ce que t’as dit, t’en fais pas. 😉 Nous sommes contents d’entendre que tu t’es bien amusée pendant le programme. Merci d’avoir regardé et d’avoir partagé ton expérience !
Great insights, from mature and real perspectives! I respect your delivery.
Thank you, Kim!
You guys are so smart and wise. Thank you for this video! This is what everyone who's interested in TAPIF should watch.
Thank you for watching and for the compliments, Kellen!
Thanks for this video! I did TAPIF in 2015 and totally agree with the points that you made here. I had a generally successful experience because I was both a French and education major, am pretty independent and a self-starter, and wanted to live with a French family or roommates, and had money saved up from summer jobs.
That surely sounds like a recipe for success. It’s always nice to hear from TAPIF alumni. Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
Thank you for such a thoughtful and valuable video!! I did a similar program in Spain in 2018 and have applied for TAPIF 2022 and I cannot wait!! However it always baffles me that the people on these facebooks don’t seem to think about reality before doing these programs. I definitely would recommend figuring out a phone situation and pre established/paid housing for the first month (Airbnb type thing is what I did) before arrival though flat out. And yeah I’d agree with some of the others you need to be financially stable with savings of 4000+++ to do the program and have a good time.
Thanks for sharing your experience and tips, Livie! We hope that you are able to do TAPIF and enjoy it to the fullest. Bonne continuation ! 😊
I've been living and teaching English in Japan this last year, partially as a way to pay down my college debt. I was just re-accepted into TAPIF, and when I applied I was planning to go. Then the pandemic happened, and finances took a hit. I have enough saved to pay my loans, but I worry about start up costs. It's frustrating because I know I'm a good candidate, with the experience of immigrating and living alone and all, but I needed this honest discussion about finances at the beginning. It's a hard conversation to have with myself, but I know that it needs to happen. It sucks to probably decline based on one factor, but I applaud you for laying out all of these topics in a brutally honest way. Merci beaucoup !
What a tough situation to be in, IllyanaD. We hope you’re able to come to the right decision for you, and, whatever you decide, we wish you luck! Thanks for watching.
THANK YOU for this! wow i've been searching for an honest, fair view of TAPIF, and you both answered all of my questions and more. Crossing my fingers that i'll be able to do TAPIF next year. I appreciate you both!
Thank you for your wonderful comment! And thank you for watching! We are glad that we were able to help you and don’t hesitate to ask more questions as they arise. We wish you the best of luck and are crossing our fingers for you!
@@the_francofile Hey guys, I actually applied to Reims as my third choice, after Lyon and Toulouse. Despite believing that I had a strong application due to multiple english tutoring exeriences, I was accepted (and I confirmed Reims).
With it being my third choice, naturally I was a little bit disappointed. Any advice or even any specific videos I should watch to boost my confidence and get me excited about my placement 😬
Congrats on being accepted and thanks for watching! We loved l’Académie de Reims. You should be excited. Check out our “TAPIF” playlist ( ruclips.net/p/PLgP2ppLLA4qc3uVzDmMJKBYcKkkwn60Bi ) and check out the TAPIF section of our blog ( www.thefrancofile.net/category/TAPIF ). You’ll be able to see things about our experiences in l’Académie de Reims there. Do you have a placement city yet?
@@the_francofile thanks for the quick response, ill definitely check them out.
Yeah so uhhh covid has been an ABSOLUTE shit show and we still havent received our placements (at least not for Reims) let alone hardly any information for the work visa... We might not even receive any meaningful information until September, so I think its fair to say that's causing a bit of anxiety. Nevertheless I'm super excited to start this program and advance to a new stage of life, hashtag classof2020.
Thanks for this video in particular, it addressed and reassured me about particularly important money questions.
Yes, COVID-19 protocols are not making things easy. That’s for sure! You’re welcome for the video and good luck! 🍀👍🏿👌🏻
just got accepted and been binging you guys, you rock for making all this tapif content. So sad how the people who complain are always the loudest, its such an entitled american vibe, glad to see you guys find success with the program.
Congratulations on your acceptance! We hope you’ll fall into the category of assistants who enjoy their experience. Check out our blog for more TAPIF-related content and thanks for watching!
Anyone thinking about moving abroad to teach needs to watch this video! Thank y’all for being so blunt, transparent and straight to the point
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Thank you for your insightful and neutral point of view! I admire your open-mindedness and optimistic outlook throughout your experience as Teacher Assistants. I hope to meet many wonderful TAPIFers with similar mindsets(:
Really appreciate the candid thoughts on your experience in France and with TAPIF--really insightful. I applied for TAPIF 2020-21 and am currently waiting for the selection announcement. Fingers crossed!
No problem, Peter! Thank you for watching and we wish you the best of luck in your TAPIF selection!
I did TAPIF 1999-2000 and it AMAZING. My apartment was in Paris and my school was on the outskirts of Paris.That experience launched my career in Paris and led me to also teach in Asia and other countries in Europe. I worked 11 hours a week, made connections during my time off, traveled on TAPIF SALARY.
I’m a rising senior at my university, and I am definitely considering applying for TAPIF for 2022-23.This video is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you for your sober commentary and reflections on this program! I plan to stay long-term in France, and I am still trying to decide on pursuing a Master’s in France immediately after graduation, or if I should take a year and do TAPIF in order to better acquaint myself with French bureaucracy, culture, language, etc. My major concern is that I would very much prefer to be located in or near the southeast, somewhere in Auvergne-Rhône Alpes, or Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur. I’d also be open towards the southwest. I know that these regions can be very pricey, and are probably in high demand. It also seems that I can rank these regions/academies the highest, but I am still a bit hesitant to apply given that my desired locations are fairly specific. Nonetheless, thank you for all the food for thought!
Thanks for watching, Laurel! We are glad the video was helpful to you. Good luck with your future plans! ☘️😊
I did Tapif during the 2018-2019 school year, and that Facebook group was full of DRAMA. It provided entertainment daily.
We can’t say that 2019-2020 was much different. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this honest insight! I was just offered a position in l’académie de bordeaux for the 2020-2021 school year, and since everything is very uncertain due to COVID, it’s helpful to hear your takes!
Thank you for watching, Grace! We are glad that it was helpful to you 👍🏿👌🏻
I was just accepted into the TAPIF program in Amiens and I'm almost ready to accept ! This video really really helped me with my research pre-decision. You make a lot of good points, especially reiterating that people will get out of it what they expect, and that we have to remember we're on our own for a lot of it it's not a formal study abroad program!
Thanks for watching, Nickie! Congratulations on your acceptance.
Looking back, are you glad you went?
I'm expecting to hear back today, really got my fingers crossed
@@masonchase4599 yes ! I ended up doing a second year. You definitely have to figure out some stuff yourself (housing, bank, etc), but you have a whole community of other assistants doing the same to help you ! It was a really great experience :) I hope you’re accepted !
@@nickieferguson9180 that's great, thanks! I did get accepted (grenoble).. hope you have a good time!
@@masonchase4599 which ville did you get? I got Grenoble also for this year. Annemasse
So much of what you get out of TAPIF is what you put into it. Anyone complaining about the wage is TRIPPING when we only work 12hr/week! Can't find kids to tutor or babysit? Don't understand why you haven't gotten CAF money yet? Make relationships with your colleagues! They will help you! Couldn't stand that FB group full of complaints ffs, be an adult.
I do wish Americans could have a real second job, though.
Thank you for your perspective, Laura! Love your passion on the subject. 🤩
I did not know that as non europeens citizens you couldn't find legit side jobs. I can see why people are upset , when you live in small towns in France finding a job is hard period . Let alone a 2nd one , even for the locals. So if as a foreigner trying to live in France, with low incomes, you technically don't even have the right to get an additionnal job on the side it can become very difficult. My sister as a qualified french woman in her field went to live in the countryside to escape Paris's stress and had to come back a year and a half later for lack of job opportunities. It can be very frustrating. Now , with all that being said Tapif is clearly not responsable for all of the above , so discouraging people to apply to this kind of program is sadening because we desperately need more of you to come here and teach our little brothers and sisters. France is miles behind when it comes to English . That is why I also don't understand why France is not making it easier for you to get multiples jobs . We need you to want to come or stay .
Hi! Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching! Yes, TAPIF assistants needing a visa are on a temporary work visa that is specifically tied to, reliant upon, and issued because of their work contract. Working in any other capacity would be considered working in the country without permission, which is illegal. It would be awesome to be able to move to any country and work with no restrictions, but this is not the case for assistants needing visas. However, the good thing for assistants, especially those living in the countryside, is that they don't have to do any job searching, the TAPIF salary is enough to live on for the vast majority, and assistants can qualify and benefit from housing aid provided by CAF. The program is also helpful in the fact that they disclose all of this information and more to potential applicants to the program. We agree that people who are good fits for the program should apply with enthusiasm and confidence! Maria and I had a really great time!
If you'd like to see how we budgeted during our TAPIF year, check out this article: thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting/
If you'd like to see how we budget as students in France, check out this article: thefrancofile.net/how-to-budget-as-an-international-student-in-france/
Great video, really appreciated hearing your honest perspectives on the program
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Love the energy between you too💛 Your application sounds strong, I want to apply but kind of only want to be in the Paris region. Was Paris your first choice? And when did you guys apply?
Hi Olanna M, thank you for watching! We hope the video was helpful. We encourage you to apply to the program and if you want to be in the Paris region we think that’s great. We personally did not choose to be placed in the Paris region at all since we were applying as a couple and choosing “less competitive regions” gave us a higher chance of being placed together. We chose the académie de Reims, de Grenoble, and de Lille in that order and we got our first choice. We applied during our senior year in college in the fall of 2018. Here’s our article on applying to TAPIF (thefrancofile.net/applying-to-tapif/) as well as our article on our placements (thefrancofile.net/tapif-roadblock-placement/) Let us know if you’ve got more questions!
Thanks for the video! I had a question about placement. My friend and I want to go together, but I realize that placement together may be random and not guaranteed. Do you have any tips on how to be placed together or close to each other?
Merci bien pour la vidéo! C’est très informative et intéressante. Je suis australien et je pense que je vais poser ma canditature au programme soit cette année, soit l’année prochaine. Merci encore. P.S. vous êtes trop beaux!
De rien, Joe ! Merci d’avoir regardé la vidéo. Bonne continuation !
I applied to TAPIF last month and I'm really hoping I make it into the program! This video actually made me feel a lot better, since none of the problems you discussed were things I didn't anticipate or think I can't handle.
Question for you guys... If you haven't already, would it be possible to make a video or blog post about some essential French phrases and terms for working in a school in France? I'm at level B2, so I'm pretty confident about being able to communicate outside of work, but I was wondering if there's jargon or useful terminology I should master.
Hi, Gabby! Congratulations on your TAPIF application, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for you. It’s great that after watching our video, you feel prepared.
Thanks for the video/blog post suggestion. To give you a quick answer, the reality is that while you are teaching in the classroom, you’ll be expected to use English. That means that you’ll only be using French at school with your colleagues, which doesn’t really require a specialized vocabulary, but rather a good grasp on the French language as a whole. Hope this helps a bit!
I love how honest you are. Thank you so much for posting this video. I’ve been looking into TAPIF for the last 3 years and will apply in October. 🤞
Best of luck to you, Pamela!
New subscriber from insta!! Absolutely love this video. Always knew about TAPIF but now was the perfect time for me to see this and to think about when/if it's the best choice for me! Merci!!
Hi! Thank you so much for watching and subscribing. We are glad that our video was helpful for you! 🙂
Please make more video about language assistant! There aren’t many videos about this topic and it’s so interesting even though I am French hahaha😊
what’s the name of the Facebook group ?
Assistants de Langue en France/ TAPIF : 2019-2020
Hi Lucie, we will definitely be making similar content in the future. Our videos can be helpful for anyone going abroad to teach through any program. Thank you for watching!
The page is called Assistants de Langue en France / TAPIF : 2019-2020
could you please make a video on what to do after tapif !
Hello queen migs! Thank you for the suggestion. That sounds like a good idea. We will definitely make that content for you and others who are interested. It may be an article on our blog, a video, or both! Stay tuned by subscribing to our blog and RUclips channel and be on the lookout for it! Thanks for watching.
The Francofile merci bcp!❤️
Really interesting video 👌 all the best for your future endeavours
Thanks so much! Best wishes to you as well. 😀
hey :) thanks for your video and all the info. I applied for TAPIF this year. I appreciate that you included a section here on mental health in relation to TAPIF. I wondered if you could clarify some of your views further ? In saying that people are adults , have decided to move to a different country etc. this could be taken as contributing to the damaging rhetoric around mental health which puts blame on individuals and defends organisations/institutions/society in their responsibilities. I should say that I don't know all the ins and outs of the mental health situation with this programme (And i haven't done that programme!) , but I just flagged this moment of your video as an opportunity to stand with people who are struggling instead of saying 'thats not tapifs/anyones fault' - which is it how it came across to me. You do acknowledge that moving to another country is mentally taxing, and as it seems that a fair amount of people have expressed that too , so could this not have been a moment to consider that there needs to be more support in place for lang assistants?
Hi there! Thanks for your comment. We are both mental health advocates and argue that the mental health support that TAPIF provides is the coverage to which assistants are entitled under the French Healthcare system. Our point in the video is that if a TAPIF assistant is struggling during the program, there is support in place via the French Healthcare system, and we emphasize the individual’s role in caring for their own mental health because, under the current TAPIF parameters, assistants must play an active role in using the resources afforded to them through the French Healthcare system by reaching out to their employers, making their own appointments, and getting to the doctor’s office by themselves, for example. As we said in the video, TAPIF isn’t a “program” in the same way that study abroad is a “program,” as it is simply a branch of the Language Assistant program run by France Éducation International. TAPIF is not an employer, nor is it usually the appropriate place to seek help as an assistant when in France. We also understand, as you mentioned, the mental strain involved with moving abroad. This is why in the video we impressed upon our viewers that if they don’t believe they are capable of handling the stressors involved with being an assistant, even with the support available via the French Healthcare system, they should have an honest conversation with themselves as to whether or not they are a good candidate for the program. We absolutely stand with assistants who struggle during their time with TAPIF, and our goal is to equip future assistants with the knowledge they need to succeed. This is why we emphasize things like the importance of having a good handle on the French language, for example. No amount of mental health support from TAPIF could fix problems that come from an assistant’s lack of ability to communicate with their colleagues, employers, and French mental health professionals. In this video, our aim isn’t to defend TAPIF, nor is it to propose radical change in the Language Assistant program. Instead, we want to prepare future assistants to deal with the facts of TAPIF as it currently exists. This doesn’t mean that TAPIF, or the Language Assistant program in general, should never change or evolve, but we don’t believe that we have the expertise to propose those types of solutions. Instead, our expertise lies in our experience. We hope this clarifies our views, and that our viewers understand that, in our opinion, TAPIF requires assistants to be independent, mature, self-advocates who are willing and able to use the resources at their disposal in order to succeed. Thank you for bringing up this important topic and for watching our video.
The Francofile hi , thanks for taking the time to write this response and for shedding some more light on this topic. I fully appreciate the experience you’ve had and I think it’s really great that you’re using your position to better equip other assistants or prospective assistants . I misinterpreted where you were coming from and can see now that your intention is to be clear and open about how the situation exists so that people can make decisions about it for themselves .
Of course there is always work to be done and open conversations to be had around mental health. Thanks for talking :)
I really appreciate your guys' perspective on the program, it is very mature and helpful! Thank you!
Thank you. We are glad it was helpful to you. Thanks for watching!
Love the honest review I have watched it over and over . If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you all save before leaving ? Did you only save the minimum I’ve saved about 4,000 USD and I’ve been feeling concerned if this will be enough if accepted .
Hello and thanks for watching! Savings goals are very dependent on region and lifestyle. However, if you haven’t already, don’t hesitate to check out our TAPIF budget article that goes into detail on our monthly spending during the program.
www.thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting
This article coupled with some research on cost of living in regions you’re interested in may help you determine if 4,000 USD is enough for you.
We personally saved more than TAPIF’s minimum suggested amount for start up costs, which was 2,000 USD at the time. However, at the end of the day, we did not end up spending that full amount for start up costs. You’re doing great and keep saving as much as you can!
Thank you for all this honest information! It's making me really think about whether this is for me.
Of course! It’s definitely a good exercise to think about whether it’s right for you or not. Although it is an exciting opportunity, one shouldn’t go in blindly. Thanks for watching and good luck with whatever you choose! 😊
what credit card do you recommend to avoid international fees?
Hi DedrianaNicole, we did not use credit cards during the program. We would suggest that you compare different credit cards online or speak with an expert in order to make the best decision for your personal situation. Thanks for watching!
@@the_francofile thanks! the video was super helpful. hope y'all are safe in quarantine.
Great video!
Thanks!
@@the_francofile from what i understand, the best european countries to work in are 🇪🇦🇨🇵🇨🇿🇵🇱 while the best countries globally are 🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷🇻🇳🇹🇭🇦🇪
Thank you for your honesty.
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching. 😊
I'm trying to save up $10,000 so I can fully equip myself, I visited my friend who was in the TAPIF program in Perpignan. he says to save up as much as you can. he got lucky with a governmental supplemental income along with his Tapif stipend.. I am currently on the waiting list to be selected into an academy.. so Here's to hoping I get in.
That’s a great goal! Save, save, save! We hope you get an acceptance soon. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for these helpful videos! I was recently accepted into the Nancy-Metz académie. I was wondering how assistants got around in rural areas without a car. I am worried I'll be placed somewhere rural and won't have enough access to transportation.
Hi Eliza, and thanks for watching our videos! Congratulations on your acceptance to the program! Being placed in a rural area is a reality of the TAPIF program, but it doesn’t mean that you actually have to live there. Many assistants, like Jalen, are placed in very small towns for their work, but decide to live in a larger nearby town. Jalen was placed in Bar-sur-Aube (5,000 residents) and lived in Troyes (60,000 residents).
Commuting by train in France is, fortunately, a common practice, and one that is made quite easy with the amount of rail the country has to offer. Often times, you can use regional railways to go from a larger city in a specific region to the many small towns and villages that surround it. That’s what Jalen did everyday because he wanted to live in a city with lots of things to do/see and with a somewhat robust public transportation system.
Check out our article on living in France without a car as well as our article on a typical TAPIF schedule for more details.
thefrancofile.net/life-in-france-without-a-car/
thefrancofile.net/tapif-typical-school-day-and-work-schedule/
It could also be a good idea to do some research on “TER trains” in France as a starting point.
If you end up living in the small town that you may or may not be placed in, you can take trains to nearby small villages and bigger cities relatively easily. Secondly, French villages, towns, and cities are often walkable and it is not uncommon to walk longer distances than Americans are typically used to. Lastly, there are taxi and carpooling services that exist all over the country, like BlaBlaCar and Uber. We hope this helps. Good luck with your future endeavors! 🍀😊
@@the_francofile This is very helpful, I appreciate all your advice!!!
With the placements, is it possible to get your town changed? And if so, how?
Under certain circumstances, yes - though it remains exceptional! Maria actually got her placement changed. You can read about it on the blog here: thefrancofile.net/tapif-roadblock-placement/
merci bcp pour la vidéo !! 🇫🇷
Bien sûr !
I considered applying for TAPIF this year. But the requirements were just too much for me, so I withdrew my interest in the program.
We hope that you’ll be able to try again another year if that’s something you still desire!
Hey so can you find extra work? Such as working in a hostel, bar or or anything?
Hey! The 2023-2024 TAPIF handbook states the following:
"HAVING A SECOND JOB:
This particular visa status in France does not allow language assistants to pursue official secondary employment in France. This restriction is intended to make sure that your job as a teaching assistant is your primary means of living in France at any given time (since you will be in France on a special-status visa for assistants).
Many assistants do private tutoring or babysitting for cash in order to earn some extra money."
We were able to live within the means of the monthly stipend during our time as language assistants. Hope that helps! 🙂
I’m going to be a senior in high school and I’m really interested in becoming a English teacher in France. I was thinking about going to community college for 2 years and save money and then transfer maybe to a French university and get a degree and become a teacher. I am also dating someone in France and we’re doing really good and we plan on marriage and then I will hopefully get french nationality so it will be easier for me to get a job, but I see this and it looks like a great opportunity for me. Do you have any advice! Anything will help!! Thank you :)
Hi, Kyle! It is really nice to see that you have a plan so early. We will try to answer your question as thoroughly as possible, but please keep in mind that we are in no way experts, and that we cannot give you any sort of "official" advice! We are not sure about how "transferring" community college credits to a French university would work. Typically, at American community colleges, students take classes that are relatively basic or considered "general education" that transfer seamlessly into the four-year American university system. All American students, in many, if not most cases, must fill these requirements - no matter what major they ultimately pursue. In France, higher education is not structured in the same way, and "general education requirements" are not as common. Essentially, you could be taking classes at community college that have little, or nothing, to do with your degree in France because students in France jump right into whatever they are at university to study. From our anecdotal experience, teachers in the United States learn "how to be a teacher" and get their student teaching experience towards the end of their university careers. Therefore, you going to community college, or even the first two years of a four-year university, might not give you any applicable teaching experience, in-depth education on pedagogy, classroom management, or the multiple other subjects future teachers learn. You would essentially be a "regular" college student until you reach your education classes towards the end of your bachelor's degree requirements. It would also be a good idea to think about whether going to community college would be necessary or even useful before pursuing a program in France for becoming an English teacher. In France, teachers typically study the language that they would like to teach for their "licence," or bachelor's degree, and then go on to study pedagogy or "how to be a teacher" for their master's degree. It is slightly similar to the US in that sense (where the pedagogy education comes later on in the academic career). If you do go to community college, and you know you want to be an English teacher in French public/private schools, then it may be a good idea to see if the community college that you are considering has a program that will allow you to move into the French education system, meaning that your American coursework will bring your application to a point that resembles that of a typical French student who completed the first two years of their three year "licence." Assuming that a French program would accept you at all, given the fact that you must fulfill other requirements that we haven't mentioned in this response, you would be applying to the third and final year, also known as "L3," of a "licence LLCE" in English or something similar. If possible for you, and if you have not already considered it, you could go directly to a French university and bypass the community college step, especially if, after researching, you find that the community college classes available to you don't do much for your path to France on the whole. Foreign students in France are allowed to work part-time during their studies up to a little over 18 hours per week. This could possibly offset your need to stay in America for two years and save up. If not that, you could also save money during a "gap year" in the states where you work a job, and then you could go directly to a French university after the "gap year." Either way, going to community college or not, you can make your dream come true. Be sure to look for any holes in your path, of course, and patch them up with research like you are doing now! As far as your relationship, we are happy to hear that it is going well and hope it continues to do so - Maria and I are high school sweethearts after all! We would encourage you, however, to make sure that with or without your partner, you can, and want to, make your dream come true. This will be the case if you get a master's-level degree from a French university (necessary for being an english teacher there) like you plan to. Lucky for you, foreigners that complete a degree at the master's level in France are eligible for a special "job searchers" visa that allows them to stay in the country and look for long-term work for up to a year! You are also able to take France up on this one-time offer anytime between immediately upon graduating and four years after graduation! With regard to the TAPIF program, we think it is a great opportunity and would encourage you to do it! Just analyze your situation and see if it is the right fit for and your long-term goals, because it doesn't allow for much of the money saving that you've mentioned. Check out www.campusfrance.org/fr for more info on going to school there. Also, check out thefrancofile.net/category/tapif/ for our detailed blog articles about TAPIF. And last but not least, if your French isn't up to par for your plans, STUDY STUDY STUDY! We wish you luck in your future endeavors and good on you for being so proactive. We hope this has helped you!
The Francofile thank you so much! This has helped me a lot!
J’aimerais que vous fassiez une vidéo qui explique comment vous avez atteint le niveau C2. Moi je suis au niveau B2 en espérant d’atteindre C1 à la fin de l’année.
Salut mizzie923, nous vous remercions pour la suggestion ! Pour le moment, nous vous proposons nos articles sur le même sujet. N’hésitez pas à y jeter un coup d’œil. Les voici: Jalen’s French-Language Journey ( thefrancofile.net/jalens-french-language-journey/ ), Maria’s French-Language Journey ( thefrancofile.net/marias-french-language-journey/ ), All About the DALF C2 ( thefrancofile.net/all-about-the-dalf-c2/ ). Nous avons également cette vidéo qui parle de nos parcours linguistiques ensemble avec le français, matez-la ! OUR LOVE STORY: HOW FRENCH BROUGHT US TOGETHER ( ruclips.net/video/jJkGfKEYYOw/видео.html )
J’espère qu’elles vous plairont et merci de regarder nos vidéos !
The Francofile Ah merci de me donner les liens. J’aurais du les rechercher avant. J’ai hâte de regarder toutes vos vidéos, elles sont géniales!
Hello!! Could you please also recommend which cities in France are better to choose for this program? (like, Paris is really expensive but Nice is a small town)
Hello,
The first thing to know is that while it may seem like choosing a city on the TAPIF application is possible, that is not the case. In reality, there are 24 metropolitan Académies (each named after a city in the Académie) and 4 overseas departments to choose from. For example, we were placed in the Académie de Reims. While some assistants in our Académie were placed in the city of Reims (population ≈ 184,000), many others, including us, were placed in smaller, lesser-known cities throughout the Académie such as Troyes (population ≈ 61,000) and Bar-sur-Aube (population ≈ 5,000). All this to say that you aren't guaranteed a spot in the city for which the Académie is named even if you are placed in that Académie. Keep in mind that regardless of Académie, you may very well find yourself placed in a rural setting, and TAPIF encourages applicants to be open to this possibility.
Therefore, we don't really have any specific city recommendations for you. We suggest that you take into account the strength of your application (Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Limoges, Reims, and Rouen are less competitive while Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, and Grenoble are more competitive) as well as your personal preferences (culture, weather, travel plans, budget, connections) when ranking your Académie choices.
We personally enjoyed our time living in Troyes during TAPIF and are happy living in Reims as students. Both of these cities are in the Académie de Reims and you can find more information about them on our blog and in other videos.
Even though we can't give you a comprehensive ranking of the best French cities, we hope this helps you make your decision. Good luck!
@@the_francofile Thank you both for your comment and your good wishes ! :)
I think the wage about ( $780 euros after taxes per MONTH) is only a ethical living wage if you’re not in the Paris/Versailles/ Cretiel area. I would say the majority of people complaining about it were placed in this area. For example I pay 650€ a month in rent, which was amazing to find (many of my friends paid more) so I only had 120€ left for food/ transport/ phone bill, etc. That is not ethical in my opinion.
Hi, Kellie! Thanks for sharing your perspective. 650 € a month does sound like a steal for that region, nice! In the video, the point we are trying to make is that assistants know well in advance how much they will be making and that the program specifically states that assistants in the Paris region will not be able to live a typical student lifestyle that other assistants placed in other regions will be able to, unless they bring savings (necessary amount to be determined by the assistant before coming to France). We think it would be unethical for the program to mislead assistants in the Paris region by guaranteeing them a typical student lifestyle while knowing it was impossible, for example. If you’d like to see our budget breakdown, here’s our article ( www.thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting/ ). Thanks again for your comment and thanks for watching.
Very informative! Does TAPIF offer any form of healthcare?
Thank you! As a TAPIF assistant, you are able to enroll in the French healthcare system called « sécurité sociale. » This will allow you to have a percentage of the cost of medical appointments/procedures reimbursed to you. If you would like to have a larger percentage of the cost of your medical appointments/procedures reimbursed, you are free to sign up for what is called a « mutuelle. » This is an optional, private insurance that gives you even more coverage. Thank you for watching! 👍🏿👌🏻
Hello guys, thank you for the thorough video! I'd like to know if you think it'd be possible to work online as a freelancer (on an international/non french website) while on an assistant's visa?
Hi, this is something that assistants have done in the past. However, both the program and the French government advise against such activity. Thanks for watching. 👌🏻👍🏿
I already have a degree in French in an anglophone, can I apply for Tapif without DElF/DALF?? Is there any transport allowance for Language assistant??
Hello!
Regardless of your degree, you must prove that you have a B1 level of French. You can either have a French professor write you a letter of recommendation attesting to your skills or submit a standardized French language test (TCF, TEF, DELF, DALF). Read more here: frenchhighereducation.org/teaching-assistant-program/prospective-applicants/eligibility
Aside from the monthly stipend, there is technically no transport allowance for language assistants. However, you are eligible to be reimbursed 50% of your transport expenses by your school monthly.
Hope this helps!
Do u need to know French to apply for the programme
Hello, yes you do.
Here’s what the TAPIF FAQ page (frenchhighereducation.org/teaching-assistant-program/prospective-applicants/faq) has to say: “Yes. Applicants must have an intermediate proficiency in French. In order to be eligible to apply to TAPIF, you must have a French proficiency of B1 or higher on the CEFR Scale. You should be comfortable enough in the French language to complete daily tasks, hold conversations of substance, and manage a classroom of French students. Assistants are required to do a number of tasks all in French, including completing immigration paperwork, opening a bank account, going to a medical visit, and working with French teaching colleagues on a daily basis. Having a good French skills is therefore essential to having to a positive and successful experience as a Teaching Assistant in France!”
Thanks for the video, my friend and I want to do this program, but I had a question about placement. Is there a way to get placed together so we can live together, or is that rare?
Hi and thanks for watching! We are not sure how TAPIF differentiates, defines, or verifies couple status for placement purposes (friends, dating, engaged, married, etc.). However, you can check out our article that explains how we were placed together and things you can do to increase your chances. Good luck! thefrancofile.net/tapif-roadblock-placement/
Can you do tapif for more than one year? Or do they cap you off?
Hi, Silvestre. We stopped voluntarily after our first year, however, many assistants do the program more than once. You can find this information on the TAPIF Q&A page here. Thanks for watching! frenchhighereducation.org/teaching-assistant-program/prospective-applicants/faq
@@the_francofile thank you, I want to go to an acting school in France and was seeing if it was possible to be able to teach English and do schooling at the same time, and I was wondering because the acting program is 3 years.
Assistants have pulled off studies and TAPIF assistantship at the same time, but it’s not always easy! Good luck 👍🏿🤞🏻
How proficient were you and Jalen in your French prior to the program?
Hello, Jaidan. Prior to the program, we had just passed the DALF C2, the highest achievable credential for French as a foreign language. In other words, we were pretty much as fluent as it gets.
@@the_francofile thank you for replying! I am currently residing in Malemort- sur Corrèze, and i am happy that i was accepted into the program. Now that I am here, I am having second thoughts about leaving early because the town I am in is very small and rural and I am having a hard time financially, mentally, and just socially. I am conflicted because I do not want to pursue teaching (I want to go into neuropsychology lol) or really anything to do with France after I leave besides maybe travel for leisure, what would you recommend? thanks for your videos!
Hi, Jaidan. Sorry to hear that your experience has been difficult thus far. It’s hard for us to recommend what path you should take. However, if you’re satisfied with the effort that you’ve put forth in trying to adapt to your new situation, there’s no shame in realizing that the program may not be for you. On the other hand, if you think you still want to keep trying for a bit, we’ve heard of people finishing the program and loving it despite a rough start. In any case, we suggest you reach out to your personal support system and prioritize your well-being when you make your decision. Hope this helps and good luck! 🍀🙂
Not to dissuade anyone from Tapif, but I think a better way to experience France is to just save money, before you go, apply for a work visa, get a job a at an Irish or English pub in Paris, and take it from there. You'll still have to deal with all the French Bureaucracy, but at least you'll be making a little more money and you can explore other routes of teaching English from there, just a suggestion!
Hi, David. As we said in our video, we agree that saving money before moving to France is a great idea. However, the route that you have proposed is unrealistic for most non-EU citizens hoping to work/stay in France. When it comes to the necessary visas, working rights, etc. this would be very difficult. That’s the allure of TAPIF. You are correct that there are many ways to experience France, and we encourage everyone to explore the best options for them to do so. Thanks for watching!
Here’s the issue, sure they let us know ahead of time that we’ll be paid 800 euros a month. But you don’t know where you’ll be placed until July, far after you have to accept the position. As foreigners we have no idea what the cost of living will be. Also, the salary of TAPIF has not changed for TWENTY years. Unless you are independently wealthy, it is not feasible financially to do TAPIF.
The problem with TAPIF is that it is radically different depending on what académie you’re in. Some people are in a great académie and have a great time, which is wonderful! But that is not the case across the board. One of the assistants in our académie committed suicide at the beginning of the year and our académie told us that talking about mental health care was “not a part of the French culture”
I cannot in good faith recommend the TAPIF program. If you want to go to France there are better ways. Unless you have parents who are willing to bankroll you for a year abroad, DO NOT DO THIS PROGRAM.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for your input! We believe that anyone applying to the program should heed TAPIF’s advice on their FAQ page available to applicants before they start to apply. TAPIF heavily stresses that it is looking for applicants with “an open mind” with regards to placement and that it is “really looking for applicants who are motivated to teach anywhere in France.” They also stress the fact that “Flexibility is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED when it comes to regional placement.” We believe that it is the assistant’s responsibility to research what the cost of living might be because they are the person that has decided to move abroad. We have not come across any credible information on the yearly changes in the TAPIF salary, however the majority of assistants are able to complete their time in France with their needs met. This program is made for a privileged demographic. It requires at least three years of college education, a minimum foreign language level, the ability to travel, etc. However, in most regions of France, the salary is livable.
While experiences for many assistants are very different during TAPIF, we don’t view this as a negative. Being unique individuals in different parts of the country dealing with different people at different moments is the nature of the program. The combinations of experiences are endless and we think that’s great!
We were sorry to hear about the death of an assistant. In our video, we explain that if assistants need help in any capacity, it falls on the assistant to get the help they need. This includes mental health.
We encourage people who are ready to heed TAPIF’s instructions and who fit what TAPIF says they’re looking for to apply to the program. There may be better ways to go to France and we think that is for each individual to decide for themselves based on their situation at the time. We and many other assistants were not bankrolled by our parents. Here is our budget article showing a detailed breakdown of our money situation during the program ( www.thefrancofile.net/tapif-budgeting ). We would say that this program is feasible with mental, linguistic, and financial preparation, a good attitude, and an open mind. Thanks again for sharing your point of view.
So this is the thing, when it comes to low wages and the ethicacy behind it, it's really a program that caters to the rich or well off. We see this all the time in the USA with internships that pay nothing. YES people know what the wages are going into the situation, but that doesn't make it ethical. I would argue that they pay isn't bad for the fact that it's only 12 hours a week, but I do think it's ignorant to state that people knew what the wages are going into the program. This isn't a career and they wages are incredibly low and unsustainable. If you come from money, or have family to support you then this doesn't matter. But please consider that a privilege. There are so many people who can't even afford the opportunity because of how low the wages are. In Comparison to free internships in the USA, then this is awesome. But just because they are transparent about their wages doesn't technically wave the fact that it is unethical. Like it was stated - they do encourage under the table work. Why? Because they know 12 hours a week is unlivable. And please don't say they want you to experience France but not on their dime. Excuse me? If you are working you deserve to be paid and what you do with your money is your business.
also, this comment was not meant to be a hate comment. I did watch your whole video and I found a lot of very good information. I don't have family and I've supported myself entirely throughout college, etc. So I definitely come from a different point of view as I have lost countless opportunities throughout my lifetime for literally not having enough money. The only reason I am considering TAPIF now is because I do run my own business online and can do it anywhere. I would never have been able to do this after I graduated and I would have absolutely hated TAPIF. I don't belong to any of these groups of course, but I can feel where people are coming from. It's hard to enjoy a program when you are just trying to scrape by. :/ again, no hate towards your video. Just a different viewpoint.
From the French-language requirement, to the higher education prerequisite, to the modest living stipend, TAPIF is a program that caters to privileged people. We have never believed otherwise.
Be that as it may, our video is meant to educate about what the program currently IS, not necessarily what the program SHOULD BE in an ideal situation. We aren’t in the business of publishing content on the ethics of TAPIF.
In this case, we want to use our experience to help potential TAPIF applicants understand the importance of realistic planning and budgeting to make the current living stipend work. This does not mean that we believe that TAPIF is a perfect program (it is not) nor that it cannot be improved (it can).
It seems that you are actually our target audience, as our video has cemented your realization that TAPIF would not necessarily be an enjoyable experience for you - especially if you already know you would only be scraping by. As such, we believe that we share a viewpoint with you, not the other way around.
We hope this clears things up a bit. No offense taken!