French has been around for centuries and has evolved and changed based on France and its culture. The French language, unsurprisingly, is known as the language of love. This is characterised by the beautiful-sounding words spoken in French. The language is known for being soft and pleasant to the ears.
With all these, it comes as no surprise that the number of people who learn this language has increased tremendously over the years, and this number continues to grow. There is a demand for French teachers all over the world, and Singapore is not excluded from this list. As a country that is a hub of different cultures, languages, and nationalities, French is a language that has recently risen in demand. In this article, we will talk about how to become a French teacher, which includes the qualifications you will need as well as the skills and expertise you will require to be successful in this role.
Acquiring French Teaching Qualifications
If you are someone who is looking to score a teaching job in Singapore, one of the first things you must have is qualifications. Unlike some countries out there, Singapore has stringent regulations, especially for its teaching professionals. Let us look at some of the qualifications you will need for a French teaching role in Singapore.
Degree in French Language
If you check out the requirements for a job listing for a French teacher in Singapore, it would state that the candidate must have a degree in the French language. Therefore, pursuing a degree is of utmost importance.
DAEFLE
This diploma is offered by the Alliance French Singapore for those who want to teach French as a foreign language in the country. The DAEFLE is basically a competency test that certifies that you can teach French as a second language. This certification is not only applicable to Singapore but it is required to teach French in other countries as well. If you have this qualification, you will be able to teach French as a second language in countries such as Malaysia, Canada, Dubai, and many more.
The Role of a French Teacher
Teaching French can open many doors to promising opportunities and exciting experiences. Therefore it is important to take the role of a French teacher seriously.
We have all attended classes since we were young. In Singapore, kids start attending nursery and kindergarten at three years old, and an average student will continue their educational journey throughout their lifetime. In this section, let us look closely at what exactly French teachers do.
Assessing Students
One of the important parts of being a French teacher, regardless of whether you are teaching it as a first or second language, is having the skills and abilities to assess your students. This is one of the common requirements for not only a French but any linguistic teacher. There are many ways to assess your students, including tests and activities such as quizzes focussing on French grammer rules, vocabulary and spelling. Teachers will have to prepare for these assessments in order to know how to proceed with their lesson plans.
Developing Materials & Lesson Plans
One core part of being a French teacher is developing lesson plans and materials for your classes. As a French teacher, you will have a syllabus set either by the organisation you are teaching in or the country in which you reside and teach. This is vastly different from a freelance tutor or teacher who sometimes has to come up with a syllabus by themselves.
In order for you to impart knowledge effectively to your students, you will have to devise a plan and come out with materials that will help your students not only understand what you are teaching better but it must also be aligned with the syllabus and time frame you have been given. This is by far one of the most challenging parts of being a French teacher.
Arranging Fun Events
A more fun part about being a French teacher is arranging activities and fun events for students that can help them with their French language. French has been around for thousands of years. In fact, the first French writing appeared in 842 AD. This language is not only rich linguistically but also filled with culture and heritage. In order to help students be more effective learners, French teachers tend to arrange events such as incorporating games into lessons, having unique French projects, and more.
Teaching the Language Effectively
This is by far the core of being a teacher. In order to be an effective French teacher, you must be able to teach your students French effectively and efficiently. A lot of skills come into play in this, including but not limited to communication and management skills. As a teacher, you must not only ensure that you cover your syllabus in the allocated time but also ensure that your students understand what you are teaching. You must concentrate on their written, speaking, and writing skills. This is not as easy as it sounds. There is a lot of preparation and effort required for this.
Characteristics of a Good French Teacher
We all know how challenging teaching someone can be. Being a language teacher makes the task more difficult, and this includes teaching the French language. Teaching a language is extremely difficult, unlike teaching subjects like maths, accounting, science, and many others. You might be wondering why.
We use language to communicate. Teaching a person a language is basically teaching them to communicate using words and sounds that are foreign to them. Learning a language challenges your brain and requires a lot of time.
Therefore, it is no surprise that students face many challenges as they learn a new language. Let us look at some qualities you will need in order to be a successful French teacher
Patience
If you are teaching French as a second language, you should already be able to understand how difficult learning a new language is. One of the key characteristics of being a French teacher is the ability to be patient with your students. As you know, different people learn differently and at a different pace. For you to bring out the best in your students, you must always remember to be patient with them. This will help you be a more effective teacher and help your students come out of their shells and learn effectively and efficiently.
Empathy
All of us have struggled to learn something new. Some of us struggled with maths when we were in school, while others struggled with languages, science and many more. We all know how hard it is to learn and grasp something new, but we are also aware that with the correct coaching, we can learn anything. In addition to being patient with students, as a French teacher, you should also empathise with your students' struggles in learning a new language. This will help you build a positive relationship with your students, and they will come to not only learn from you but also respect you as a teacher.
Communication
Communication skills are very important, especially for a French teacher. Linguistics teachers must have excellent communication skills, as this is what will help them impart knowledge to their students. Unlike many other subjects, teaching a language subject is extremely difficult, as it is the very means we communicate.
The Importance of Training for a French Teacher
In order to be a successful French teacher, you will need a specific set of skills that will enable you to effectively and efficiently teach your students a new language. Although there are many options to obtain training to teach French, one of the best things you can do is to become a French language assistant. A language assistant is a person who assists French teachers in their classroom, and this includes communicating with them, performing activities with students, and many more. In this article, Exploring Opportunities for French Language Assistants, we have detailed everything you will need to know about being a language assistant, which will help you start your journey to becoming a successful French teacher.
Superprof is an online platform that connects students with tutors from all over the world. If you have the skills, qualifications, and knowledge of the French language, you should consider joining Superprof as a tutor. One of the best things about joining Superprof is the ability to be an independent tutor in charge of your schedule and, most importantly, impacting the lives of students around you.
If you are located in Singapore, it does not matter if you teach French as a native speaker or as a second language. Both have their advantages, and there are students just waiting for you to help them start their journey in learning the French language. Some may need help with French grammar check while others may need help preparing for an exam. Become a successful French personal tutor by joining Superprof Singapore!
If you are a student interested in learning French, you should head over to our website to check the profiles of our existing tutors, who are there to help you on your journey.
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