My first experience as a teacher

This article seems really important as it tells a story that's very meaningful to me. With a Masters in Communications and having specialized myself in Marketing and social media, I didn't mean to become a teacher at all in the first place. But while I was still doing my Masters I heard about an interesting opportunity to work as a French assistant for a year in a secondary school in Ireland. I applied to the job and I got placed in the north of Dublin, in Finglas in an all-girls catholic secondary school.

There were approximatively 600 students in this school and the 2 second languages taught were French and German. The students also learnt Irish from a young age. Respect and discipline were two really important aspects of the school and the students were generally well-behaved.

I first started as a French assistant, helping the four French teachers of the school in their classes. I mainly did oral work with the students especially with the older ones, preparing them for their exams. With the younger ones I was mainly here to do cultural presentations and talk about France and its customs. I sometimes led the class or part of the class which was really interesting. I also held a French club every Tuesday at lunchtime and an extra French class for older students every Thursday. I had no experience in teaching before this (except for teaching dance but that doesn't count really, does it?) I learnt a lot throughout the year watching the other teachers who were experienced and it was extremely beneficial.

At the end of the year I got the opportunity to have my own classes as one of my colleague in the French department went on maternity leave. Even with no experience, I decided to accept the challenge and I replaced her. It was not easy, even very challenging sometimes and it demanded me to step out of my comfort zone, both personally and professionally. In the end, it really helped me to become more professional. What was also fascinating is that I've learnt a lot about my own mothertongue! You never realise how hard it is to explain your language until you have to do it. And French is SO hard... I'm glad I was born with it!

First teaching experience also means first students and oh I loved mine very much even if many of them drove me crazy everyday. I frankly didn't even think I could get attached to them at all. But my heart of gold got me wrong. Most of the students were lovely girls, very involved and serious. It was just a real pleasure for me to help them. I'm very glad I got to know them, especially 5th and 6th Years (premières et terminales), very mature and studious girls, they just reminded me of myself when I was their age, my fears, my hopes, my recklessness. In fairness, it broke my heart when I had to leave them all. I was with them an entire year, watching them grow and make the choices of their lives. Knowing I won't be there to see their achievements was difficult but thanks to social media, I'll always be able to keep an eye on it!

It was one of the best human experience I had ever lived. And it has determined what I really want to do in the future: teach. And preferably in a secondary school in... London, of course!

For more info about the Language Assistant program, visit CIEP's website (http://www.ciep.fr/assistants-francais-a-letranger) or contact me :)