What is the TAPIF Program for Teaching English in France? [2024-25]

Welcome to our guide on the TAPIF Program for Teaching English in France! If you have a passion for teaching and a desire to immerse yourself in French culture, this program might be the perfect opportunity for you.

We regularly work in direct consultation with the French Embassy in the United States to uncover all you need to know about this popular Teaching Assistant Program in France. We updated this guide last in December 2023 to provide the latest details about the 2024-2025 TAPIF Program season.

TAPIF Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

Let's delve into the fundamentals of TAPIF to ensure you have a solid grasp of the subject.

TAPIF: Everything You Need to Know

Watch International TEFL Academy (ITA) graduate Jada Downing teaching English in Belfort, France with the TAPIF Program:

What is TAPIF?

What is the TAPIF Program?

TAPIF, which stands for Teaching Assistance Program In France, is a program run by the French Ministry of Education and the Cultural Services of The French Embassy that places Americans between 20-35 years of age as assistant English teachers in elementary and secondary schools throughout France.

Read more: Teach English in France

Though similar programs are offered for Canadians and other English speakers, TAPIF France is specifically for Americans who want to teach English in France.

TAPIF Program Highlights

Here are a few key items about TAPIF France:

Go further: Apply for the TAPIF Program. 

Participants may submit preferences for where they want to teach, but assignments are determined by TAPIF and are given in April when acceptances are announced.

Assignments may be given in school districts in mainland France or overseas departments such as French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion.

The TAPIF Requirements (Including French Language Proficiency)

What Qualifications Do You Need for the TAPIF Program?

To qualify for the program, you need to meet the following TAPIF requirements:

You do not necessarily need a TEFL certification to qualify for the TAPIF Program. However, it does improve your chances of acceptance. It will also boost your confidence and and give you a solid foundation as an English teacher.

You will need some strong French language skills (your level should be equivalent to the B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR));

Having some teaching experience can also prove beneficial. Think about prior experience in schools, language-oriented professions, or volunteering, especially with local refugees or other educational entities. Demonstrated experience living abroad also serves as a valuable asset for an English language assistant, showcasing adaptability to a new country.

Additionally, experience working with children or young adults, even outside of formal schooling settings, can contribute positively to your TAPIF application.

Finally, you'll also need to provide official documentation validating the level of your university studies. We'll explain more about the necessary documents to provide for your TAPIF application below.

Go further: What Are the Requirements for Teaching English in France?

TAPIF Application Process

Applying to the TAPIF program is much like applying to a university or graduate school program.  The applicant will be expected to provide information on their academic background; French language level & experience; experience working or teaching children and young adults; and experience with living abroad. Applicants will be expected to submit a 500-word “statement of purpose” in French. Paperwork applicants can expect to submit will also include:

• A scan of a current passport
• A scan of your university transcript
• A language evaluation from a University French professor
• A letter of recommendation in an academic or professional capacity
• $60 application fee
• The application process to the 2024-2025 Teaching Assistant Program in France opened on October 15, 2023 and closes in mid-January, 2024
• Applicants receive notice of their acceptance and their assignment in April.

Please consult the TAPIF website for more details on how to apply for this teacher assistant program in France. 

Visas for TAPIF

One of the major benefits of the TAPIF program is that it provides U.S. citizens with a viable and legal way to teach English in France on a long-stay work visa (Long-term visa D).

Outside of the TAPIF program or working on a student visa, Americans typically find it very difficult to find work as an English teacher in France because there is a strong preference by French employers to employ European Union (E.U.) For Citizens who hold a legal right to work in France, and unlike in some countries, it is not common for French schools to employ American teachers "under the table" without a work visa or residency in France.

Canadians are fortunate enough to be able to get a working holiday visa that enables them to travel and work in France. 

TAPIF Salary, Stipends & Health Insurance

How Much Do You Get Paid in the TAPIF Program?

English teachers under the TAPIF program receive a net stipend of 790 euros per month (approximately $845 USD - exchange rates do fluctuate). This is typically enough to live modestly.

Some teachers, particularly in bigger cities like Paris, find that it really isn't enough to survive comfortably. Even though their long-stay visa does not provide a legal right to accept other jobs, many participants earn extra cash on the side by giving private language lessons and/or babysitting.

Participants to this France teaching assistant program also receive basic health insurance through the French national health insurance system. Teachers are responsible for their own airfare and housing costs. Most TAPIF teachers arrive in France with a minimum $2,000 USD to help with start-up costs like their first month's rent.

Read more: How Much Do English Teachers Make in France?

TAPIF France FAQs

How Hard Is It to Get into TAPIF?

It’s important to note that TAPIF is a competitive program and meeting basic criteria does not ensure acceptance. When it comes to TAPIF acceptance rate, for the 2015-2016 program, for example, more than 1,850 eligible prospective teachers applied and 1,100 were accepted. 400 applicants were placed on the waitlist and approximately 300 were able to join after slots opened during the summer.

Is a TEFL/TESOL Certification Required for the TAPIF Program?

A TEFL/TESOL certification is not technically required for the TAPIF program. However, program applicants are encouraged to pursue the certification as acceptance is becoming increasingly competitive and holding a TEFL/TESOL certification shows that an applicant has invested in and studied the methodology behind teaching English as a foreign language. It is also useful to have gained practical teaching experience included in your TEFL/TESOL certification as a practicum.

Here is a quote taken directly from the official TAPIF website:

"A TEFL or ESL certification is NOT required to apply to TAPIF and in fact, most program participants do not have this certification. That said, a TEFL or ESL certification can nonetheless give you an edge during the application process because it shows that you have studied the theory and pedagogy behind teaching English to speakers of other languages, and that you may also already have TEFL/ESL classroom experience."

Some other factors to consider regarding the question of whether you should get a TEFL certification if you want to teach in TAPIF (or elsewhere for that matter);

• Your teaching experience will be far easier and more rewarding if you possess basic teaching skills in areas like classroom management, teaching methodology, and error correction. A primary complaint and reason for drop-outs in programs like TAPIF (and similar assistantship programs in Spain and Japan) is that participants without training feel lost and unable to cope with their classroom assignments because they are totally unprepared.
• Your students will learn more from you and respect you more (as will your colleagues and peers) if you are trained and possess professional-level teaching skills.
• TEFL certification will provide you with the skills and qualifications to gain employment teaching English in up to 80 other countries worldwide and could very well qualify you for other teaching opportunities in France and elsewhere in Europe and around the world.

Do You Need to Speak French for TAPIF?

Yes, a basic knowledge of French is required for TAPIF. While fluency in French isn't mandatory, proficiency in French will greatly enhance your experience and ability to communicate with students and colleagues in the classroom and in daily life while in France.

Finally, you can also find a list of FAQs about TAPIF on their official website. Good luck!

Go further: I'm an American Who Wants to Teach English in France - What Are My Options?