What’s it like to teach English in France?

Steffanie Zazulak
A teacher stood by a long wooden desk where her students are sat smiling at her
Reading time: 3 minutes

Kirsty Murray taught English for a year at a collège (the French equivalent of a secondary school) in Villers-Cotterêts: a town in the north of France known for being the birthplace of Alexandre Dumas. She taught mixed-ability groups of 11- to 16-year-olds, with classes ranging in size from 10 to 35 students. Here, she shares the five lessons she learned from the experience.

What is it like teaching English in France?
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree Pearson can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

1. Go with the flow

“I spent hours preparing materials for some classes only to feel disappointed when the students didn’t enjoy it. You’ll have days that are good and others when you think you’ve failed. Sometimes you’ll spend an hour planning a lesson and at other times just two minutes – but keep trying.

“One of the best lessons I ever taught was on the theme of animals, with my SEN group. I’d thrown together some flash cards at the last minute and the students spent the whole lesson learning names and making animal noises. Afterwards, they said it was the best English lesson they had ever had.”

2. Appreciating English culture is a motivating factor

“I don’t mean afternoon tea and bowler hats (although it helps), but the important thing is to give students an idea of what it’s like to be English. I brought in English food and encouraged students to talk about their favourite English-language music (it was particularly enjoyable to see students singing along to The Beatles’ 'She’s Leaving Home'), sporting heroes and even the royal family. I wanted my students to get excited about learning English and the best way to do that was to give them a real idea of English culture.”

3. Learn from your students

“When I started teaching, I thought I had a good idea of how students would learn the language. How wrong I was. Listen to your students and you will learn how to create lessons that they will benefit from the most.”

4. Tailor to your audience

“I tried to make the lessons as relevant to the age group as possible. One of the most popular lessons I taught was on texting, as mobile phones were relatively new at the time, and students were really excited to learn that ‘C U L8R’ meant ‘see you later’.

“Some of the teachers suggested teaching weighty topics like politics, so I made it more fun by introducing debates so that the students could learn how to express themselves in English.”

5. It is truly a life-changing experience

“Teaching English can be extremely rewarding but it is also hard work. One of the biggest lessons I learned was confidence. If you can stand in front of groups of restless students every day and come through it unscathed, you can do anything! There were days when I wanted to give up, but I met many interesting people and the students taught me so much about France and French culture. I wouldn’t change the experience for the world.”

More blogs from Pearson

  • Two business professionals loooking at notes together
    GSE, KPIs and ROI (Part 2): Turning language data into business value
    By Łukasz Pakuła
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    In Part 1, we looked at how to build a sensible measurement philosophy for language training using KPIs and the Global Scale of English (GSE). We’ve established that language programs shouldn’t be treated as a calendar entry, but as a strategic lever, and that independence, granularity and credibility are the secret sauce.

    Now it’s time to move from how to why: how these datapoints translate into tangible business outcomes, and how to make sure your investment in English doesn’t just look good on slides but actually delivers value when the CFO walks in.

    From measuring to meaning: translating KPIs into ROI

    Let’s be blunt: only a reckless stakeholder invests without expecting a return. Weighing costs and benefits, however, can get tricky. Without some operational clarity, ROI quickly becomes either a fairy tale or a labyrinth, both of which are bad news in risk-averse corporate cultures.

    From a client’s perspective, it’s vital to include all components in your calculation: direct delivery fees, platform access, materials and, ideally, a provider capable of offering the full package. And please don’t forget the indirect cost of time. Two hours of lessons per week equals more than 100 hours per learner per year. Add the asynchronous learning that every serious learner contributes, and we’re suddenly talking about real numbers.

    If you skip that, the ROI will look spectacular on paper until someone performs a reality check and the budget line gets a little uncomfortable. If you’re an L&D manager reading this, add sensible estimates for coordination and reporting. Ideally, your provider helps you keep those to a minimum. At choices®, which provides language services, we see this as part of the service rather than a side quest. Trust me, it saves everyone time and sanity.

  • Students looking at notebooks smiling
    Get same-day results with Pearson English Express Test
    By Abi Fordham
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you’ve ever taken an English test and found yourself constantly checking your inbox, wondering when your score will arrive, you’re not alone. I worked across Pearson’s social media channels for years, and I heard from students every day who were anxious to know how they did, despite it only being an hour into the standard 48-hour turnaround time.

    That’s why I’m so excited about the Pearson English Express Test - because it gives you something most tests don’t: a score in minutes.

    The score that helps you plan

    Let’s talk about the unofficial score. You’ll see it just minutes after finishing the test. While it’s not certified for university applications just yet, it’s a powerful tool for planning your next move.

    If your score is where you hoped it would be, you can start preparing your application materials with confidence. If it’s not quite there, you’ve got a head start on knowing what to improve, and you haven’t lost time waiting to find out. It’s like getting a sneak peek at your future, and it’s one of the most empowering parts of the Pearson English Express Test experience.

    Fast and reliable certified results

    Of course, you’ll still need your certified score to apply to universities. That’s delivered within 48 hours, after a security review.

    • AI scoring ensures fairness and consistency.
    • Remote proctoring and ID checks keep the process secure.
    • Certified results align with CEFR standards and are trusted by institutions.

    You get speed and reliability – without compromise.

    Why fast English test results matter for students

    When you’re applying to study in the USA, every day counts and you’ll have so many things to tick off your list. You might be juggling deadlines, coordinating with universities, or planning your next big move. The Pearson English Express Test was built to support you, not slow you down.

    It’s fast, fair and designed for students who want to move forward with confidence.

    Ready to take the Pearson English Express Test?

    If you’re looking for a test that gives you answers quickly and helps you plan your next step, this is it.

    Take your test today and experience the difference for yourself.

  • A student and lecturer talking together in a lecture room
    Language education trend predicitions for 2026
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Language education has never been more active or challenging. We've experienced significant changes in technology, changing student needs and higher expectations for practical results. Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook is positive: better tools, clearer skill guides and learning that feels more personal and human.

    Below are nine trends to keep an eye on in 2026 for your language teaching. 

    AI becomes your co-teacher, not your replacement

    Generative AI is moving from novelty to dependable support: drafting lesson variants, generating levelled texts, offering initial feedback on writing and speaking, and freeing you to focus on pedagogy and relationships. The emphasis in 2026 is on ethical, transparent use: you set the learning goals and the guardrails; AI accelerates the workflow.

    Try: Use AI to produce three versions of a reading at different proficiency bands, then validate levels using a recognized framework.

    Data-informed personalization with clear proficiency frameworks

    Teachers want data they can trust and act on. Proficiency frameworks like the Global Scale of English (GSE) make progress visible and instructional decisions simpler, connecting learning objectives, materials and assessments across skills and levels. Expect more “micro-mastery” milestones and dashboards that turn evidence into next-step teaching.

    Try: Map unit outcomes to specific "can-do" statements, then build short practice cycles around those micro-goals. Use GSE-aligned resources to set targets and monitor growth.