Teach English in France
TAPIF and the British Council scheme get conflated constantly — one is US-only, the other is the real route for UK passport holders. Here’s the distinction almost nobody draws clearly, plus the honest post-Brexit visa picture.
TAPIF is US-only — British Council is the UK route, and they get confused constantly
This is worth stating plainly, because it's one of the most common mix-ups in TEFL content about France: TAPIF (the Teaching Assistant Program in France) is run jointly by the French Ministry of Education and the French Embassy in Washington, and is restricted to US citizens — paying around €1,010/month gross for 12 hours a week, October to April. It is not an option for UK applicants, despite how often it's cited generically in TEFL guides.
The actual UK-accessible equivalent is the British Council English Language Assistants programme in France — a separate scheme, UK-nationals-only, requiring around 2 years of UK higher education and French to B1 level. Placements run October to April. Applications for the 2026–27 cycle closed 11 February 2026; the next opens in autumn 2026. Honest post-Brexit context most guides skip: outside the assistant programme, employer-sponsored TEFL work visas are effectively closed to UK citizens now — an employer must prove no EU citizen could fill the role first. Realistic alternatives are the assistant programme itself, a student visa (which permits up to roughly 964 hours of work a year), or registering as a freelancer/entrepreneur. A UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme has been under negotiation but is not operational yet and shouldn't be treated as available.
- TAPIF: US citizens only — not available to UK applicants
- British Council English Language Assistants: UK nationals only, ~2 years UK higher education, French to B1 level
- Outside the assistantship: student visa (limited work hours) or freelance/entrepreneur registration are the realistic post-Brexit routes
What you can expect to earn
Private language schools form the bulk of the market outside the assistantship, with international and bilingual schools paying considerably more. Paris pay looks attractive on paper but is expensive relative to cost of living — regional French cities often give a better pay-to-cost ratio.
| Employer type | Local currency | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Private language school | €1,200–2,400/mo | £1,025–£2,050 |
| International/bilingual school | €2,500–4,000/mo | £2,135–£3,420 |
Where to find real openings
Which TEFL Global course fits?
Neither TAPIF nor the British Council assistantship requires a TEFL certificate — but private language schools do expect one. Our Level 3, 120-Hour TEFL/TESOL Course (£169.50) covers what most French language schools look for.
Researched July 2026 from official program pages and named recruiters where cited above. Government programs, visa rules and salary bands change — always confirm current details on the official site before applying.
FAQs about teaching in France
No — TAPIF is restricted to US citizens. The equivalent route for UK nationals is the separate British Council English Language Assistants programme in France.
Not yet — it has been under negotiation but isn’t operational, and shouldn’t be relied on as a current route into France.
It’s effectively very difficult — the employer must first prove no EU citizen could fill the role. The assistant programme, a student visa, or freelance/entrepreneur registration are the more realistic routes.