Teaching English and volunteering

Teaching English

The availability of jobs will depend on your geographical location, with large urban areas and main cities being best-placed to offer a wider range of roles. While demand for native speakers is a commonly repeated request in order to improve spoken fluency (the French state education system places emphasis on written rules and grammar), be aware that having an internationally recognized English language teaching qualification (TEFL / TESOL / CELTA) will give you a more professional standing.

French state schools will rarely hire non-EU citizens unless they are on a program such as TAPIF (a French government-run program where Americans aged 20-35 assist English teachers in French schools). Private language schools, such as Linguarama, Wall Street English, etc, are the best option for teaching roles, and in addition to an English language teaching qualification may have different requirements for experience depending on the work available – broadly speaking, this will be set at an hourly rate (variable €15-30) and will require you to be registered as a freelancer (‘auto-entrepreneur’) for tax purposes. Other types of private school, such as Catholic schools or bilingual schools, may hire native speakers, though often they require a teaching degree rather than an English language teaching qualification. 

Private tutoring, including conversation classes to aid pronunciation and fluency, can provide further work – know too that for this you will also have to be registered as freelance in order to legally take on clients. Platforms such as Superprof, Preply, Italki, and local Facebook groups, are a good place to start.

Volunteering

A strong social fabric makes France rich with opportunities for volunteering roles, which can be a great way to improve language skills, integration and wellbeing. However, be aware that unpaid work does not automatically exempt you from the need for a working visa.

The rules say that if you are a visitor on a long-stay visa, you cannot work. Working without authorization, even as a volunteer, can affect your ability to renew your visa or apply for full-time residency later.

However, for those on a long-stay visa, unpaid volunteering may be allowed if it is approved by gaining clearance through the necessary channels at the prefecture where you are registered, on the basis that it can be proven as casual, without compensation (of any form, not just financial). Some prefectures may consider volunteering a form of work, especially if it's structured or long-term, so check with your prefecture directly to confirm permission before agreeing to undertake any activity.

Those on a working visa can undertake volunteering without restriction, while there exists also a volunteering visa for those coming to France specifically to volunteer for non-profit or recognized organizations.