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11 Reasons to Volunteer Teach English in France

Published on December 11, 2019

Do you want to engage in meaningful cultural exchange? Eat delicious, home-cooked French cuisine daily? Challenge yourself personally and grow professionally? Maybe you should volunteer teach English in France! While not as lucrative as a professional teaching placement, teaching English as a volunteer is undeniably rewarding, and just as (if not moreso!) fulfilling.

person volunteer teaching english in france

Your time as a volunteer English teacher in France is about to be magnifique.

There are a lot of cool volunteer programs in France for teaching English, and they’re all striving to give you and your students the most enriching experience possible. You’ll make friends, get an inside look at the French way of living, and gain language skills of your own! Does it sound too good to be true? Don’t worry — for a commitment of just one month to 12 weeks, you can have it all.

But why should you pursue these volunteer opportunities in France? Sit back, grab a croissant, and relax. We’ve laid it all out for you.

11 reasons to volunteer teach English in France

1. It’s a human-based experience

Volunteering to teach English in France is an excellent way to engage in cultural exchange and immersion. Every single day you’ll be interacting with French citizens, enjoying genuine moments of understanding and friendship. You’ll be absorbing the culture that surrounds you, and end your days feeling accomplished and inspired. And isn’t that what we all want our travel experiences to be?

Oftentimes, volunteering abroad involves a hands-off approach, where you may not get to see the results of your time and effort up close. However, such is not the case when you volunteer teach English in France — it’s quite the opposite. You’ll be consistently face-to-face with unfamiliar cultural norms and learning a different way of life, all while helping French children or adults advance their English language skills. It’s a total win-win.

2. You’ll live in a homestay

croissants on a table in france

We’re not saying fresh croissants every morning is a surefire part of the deal...but maybe?

Many volunteer opportunities in France in other sectors like medicine, environment, or tourism often involve living with fellow volunteers in dormitory-style housing. While this is an excellent way to develop friendships with peers from around the world, it sometimes hinders the ability to truly immerse within the local (in this case, French) culture. So teach English in a homestay in France instead!

This can be an intimidating situation for introverts or those who aren’t confident in their French language skills, but homestays prove to be a stellar choice time and again for travelers. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to get to know the French culture intimately, gain advanced language skills, and experience superior language practice. Plus, it may prove easier to avoid homesickness when you’re living with a family!

3. There’s potential to pick up a second language

You can volunteer in France and learn French too! Depending on your placement and living situation, you’ll have an exceedingly easy time picking up new French skills or developing the skills you already have.

It’s important to keep in mind that to volunteer teach English in France you may need beginner French skills; they’ll help immensely in enabling clear communication with your students and host family.

However, general language knowledge is all you need! You’ll be stunned at how much your skills develop during your time completing volunteer work in France. How does it sound arriving in France as a French beginner, and leaving as a French pro?

4. You can get tailor-made placements

bike leaning against streetlight in france

Wherever you go to volunteer teach English in France, you’ll have authentic moments.

Opportunities to teach English in France as a volunteer are not one-size-fits-all. If you have certain goals for your volunteer placement, you can often share those ideas with your provider and get the experience you’re looking for. Want to teach English basics to kids? Or business English to adults? Do you want a quieter pace of life in the French countryside, or to be amongst the action in Paris? Determine what you want your volunteering placement to look like, and communicate it clearly to your advisor. They’ll help you bring your vision to fruition!

5. It will boost your resume and your career

Whether or not you have dreams of being a long-term teacher abroad or just want to add a little *pizzazz* to your resume, you’ll only benefit from teaching English in France as a volunteer. Teaching isn’t easy as it is, and when you throw in added challenges like a language barrier and unfamiliar culture, your volunteer teaching experience will be undeniably valuable on a resume and in your future career.

Potential employers will be impressed to see that you got tangible results at a volunteer placement when managing such unique challenges, improving your chances of snagging that interview you want. Make sure to keep track of your accomplishments while volunteering in France — it’ll be helpful to have a reference point in interviews later on.

6. It isn’t a huge time commitment

When some people think about volunteering abroad, they assume they’ll need to commit half a year or longer to their placement. While this is true of some fields, such is not the case with volunteer teaching English. Many of these volunteer programs in France only require a month-long commitment, and offer placements up to just 12 weeks.

This is great from a financial point of view (less travel = less money spent), but also good news for those who are just looking for a way to keep summers busy or to avoid a postgrad slump. Furthermore, placements usually aren’t full time either. You’ll spend just 10-20 hours per week sharing your English skills, and the rest of it absorbing everything France has to offer!

However, it’s helpful to remember that the longer you stay, the bigger impact you’ll have in your placement. You want to completely meet your potential, right? Your students will thank you for it!

7. You can go almost anywhere in France

person volunteer teaching english in france

There’s no reason why you can’t go off the beaten path during volunteer work in France!

Do you envision yourself strutting down historic Parisian streets, or enjoying a cup of coffee amongst lavender fields in the French countryside? No matter what your vibe is, English teaching volunteer placements will cater to you.

There are people all throughout France who want to learn English and who want to enjoy the cultural exchange that’s a common byproduct of hosting a foreign traveler. If you have a particular city or region of France in mind for your placement, be sure to mention it to your provider. Or throw caution to the wind and have them place you wherever you’re needed most! Who knows where you’ll end up?

8. There’s demand year-round

The demand for English skills in France doesn’t end in the winter or summer time — there is volunteer work in France available on a rolling basis! However, French families go on holiday during the summer, so it’s important to keep in mind that placements during June, July, or August may be limited to one month.

That’s perfect if you’re a student looking to have a meaningful summer, but if you’re looking to volunteer in France long-term, you may want to volunteer during the fall or winter instead. The weather may not be as agreeable, but cozying up under a blanket with a croissant and cup of tea with your host family every night after sharing your language skills all day sounds like a dream come true.

9. A degree and experience isn’t required

Teaching a new language to people sounds like a huge responsibility, so it’s natural to assume that you’ll need a degree or prior experience in order to get a placement. However, most programs do not require a background in education, and only want to see a high school diploma as a qualification.

person taking a photo in france

Another requirement to volunteer teach English in France? Be willing to leave your comfort zone!

Oftentimes, you’ll be provided with an orientation in order to learn the ropes, but more or less, volunteer English teaching is informal. You’ll agree with the parties you’re teaching on how often lessons will be, and what it is they want to learn (this is where basic French skills will come in handy). If you’re determined and hardworking with a sense of creativity, teaching English in France as a volunteer will be a challenge you deeply appreciate (and learn a TON from).

10. You’ll have the same conveniences as at home

Teaching abroad, whether as a volunteer or as a professional, is most common in regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America. In these locations, Western teachers are often expected to give up many creature comforts from home. This is an exceptional way to learn a different way of life and gain new perspective, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Your life as a volunteer English teacher in France will look pretty similar to life at home in terms of transportation, cost of living, and some cultural norms, so you may not feel as out of your depth as you might elsewhere in the world. However, culture shock is still expected (and 100% normal), so be prepared to deal.

11. The rest of Europe is just a train ride away

You’re gearing up to volunteer teach English in France, so it’s safe to assume you’re a bit of a wanderluster, right? Depending on how long you stay in France and where exactly you’re based, you’ll be perfectly positioned to explore greater Europe during your downtime on the weekends. Spend a few days in London, or take some time off on the beaches of Barcelona! Just be sure to communicate your schedule to the family you’re staying with in order to avoid any confusion or worry over your whereabouts.

Ready to volunteer teach English in France? Talk to our Online Advisor (for FREE!) and seal the deal

Volunteer to teach English in France and change your life!

person volunteer teaching english in france

Get excited! The benefits of volunteering to teach English in France will be more than you can know.

Are you imagining your life as a volunteer English teacher in France yet? Are you coaching a young professional on her English skills in a chic apartment in Paris, or helping toddlers grasp grammatical concepts in a small village in the country? Hey, you know what they say....If you can dream it, you can do it!

Once you have your ideal experience in your mind and a month (or more) to spare, you’ll be ready to book your ticket and go. What are you waiting for?

View ALL English Teaching Volunteer Opportunities in France

This article was written with help from ALIORE-Worldwide Workshops. ALIORE was founded in 2005, and specializes in providing cultural and linguistic volunteer activities in France. They pride themselves on their meaningful, authentic cultural exchanges between participants and their host families.

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