advice

What to Expect as a Primary English Assistant : 8 Questions and Answers

August 29, 2017

After my first TAPIF placement in Chambéry, I noticed that much of the TAPIF blogging community focuses on assistants in secondary schools. This is completely normal, as there are far more people placed at the secondary level! There are many commonalities between the expectations and experiences of primary and secondary assistants; there are also many … More What to Expect as a Primary English Assistant : 8 Questions and Answers

Starting a Pen Pal Exchange

June 19, 2017

In my two years of language assistant-ing one of my favorite activities has been establishing pen pal correspondences between my classes and American students. Having worked for a year in an American elementary school, I had pretty easy access to teachers interested in participating, and this past year, I managed to hook up no less … More Starting a Pen Pal Exchange

The Great Marseille Apartment Hunt of 2016

December 22, 2016

The wily explorer arrived to the Marseillais jungle with an accommodation booked for one week, and one goal: to finally capture a rare wild apartment. Having hunted before in this country (albeit a different region), she felt thoroughly prepared. She conjured memories of her last wild apartment hunt in the mountainous region of Chambéry; a … More The Great Marseille Apartment Hunt of 2016

Art Lessons to do with your Primary Students

November 9, 2015

One of my regular duties as an English teaching assistant was teaching weekly arts plastiques lessons for CP and CE1 (1st and 2nd grade). Their teacher occasionally came up with ideas, but she wasn’t very crafty (her words), so most weeks she left it up to me. Going off of various topics they were working on … More Art Lessons to do with your Primary Students

Flashcard games!

October 2, 2015

Here we go, current/future assistants, just in time for the start of your contracts. My favorite, easiest games that require little-to-no prep!! Plus, see here for my favorite art activities! Flashcard games GALORE!!!!! Flashcards and other visuals are so important to teaching new vocabuluary. Your colleagues may have flashcards you can use, especially for basic things … More Flashcard games!

My Suitcase Can Only Weigh HOW MANY Pounds?! And other packing concerns.

August 24, 2015

I’ve gotten a few questions recently about packing for TAPIF. Figuring out what to bring for seven months, in a strange country, for a professional job, which takes place over mostly winter-y months, all while keeping in mind airline limits is not a simple task. My number one recommendation is: make sure you can carry … More My Suitcase Can Only Weigh HOW MANY Pounds?! And other packing concerns.