job in Houston (Dallas, San Antonio, Austin: employment, transfer, private schools)

[geraldine feraud]

I'm french and I arrived in Houston this year for at least 3 years as my husband has been transferred here. I was working as Financial Controller at Alcatel-Lucent before coming here. Now I'm looking for a job to keep in touch with the professionnal world. I was wondering where I could teach french, given the fact that I don't have diploma in teaching, but a Business School diploma.
Thank you for your advices.

[sophie5]

Hi Geraldine. In public schools French is usually only taught at the high school level. You can try private schools, as well as Awty International School, though I am not sure of the qualifications they require. You can also contact the Alliance Francaise - they might have some good information for you. Bonne Chance!

[ZeroTX]

You can always find work as a French teacher, they are hard to find! You don't need a teaching degree, you can get your teaching certification through an alternative certification program since you already have a bachelor's degree (google that, texas alternative teacher certification program). Some examples are:

Texas Teachers | Alternative Teacher Certification Program - Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso, Texas
iteachTexas.Com :: Online Alternative Teacher Certification Program in Texas
Online Texas Teacher Certification
Texas Teaching Fellows - Home

But, I think this is the best one (Region 4):
Region 4 Educator Preparation Services

Here is one through Houston ISD, which is a decent program:
Welcome to ACP

Either way, you can become certified as a teacher and your first year of teaching counts as your internship year. You receive full salary, minus the costs of the program.

The high schools always need French teachers. Native speakers are a RARE treat for us, and that would allow you to teach Advanced Placement classes for the advanced French learners. Non-native speakers wouldn't be able to do this as effectively (IMO).

[chris_ut]

Make sure you have the proper visa to work in the US before you apply.

[Supermac34]

Do you have a Masters degree? I think you can teach at Colleges with a Masters degree and Houston is full of community colleges than need qualified folks teaching.

[geraldine feraud]

Thank you for your messages. I do have the employment authorization card to work here.
I was more thinking about teaching in a language institute, giving individual lessons to people with already a good level of French (in France I followed English lessons like this). Do such institute exist in Houston ?

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by geraldine feraud

Thank you for your messages. I do have the employment authorization card to work here.
I was more thinking about teaching in a language institute, giving individual lessons to people with already a good level of French (in France I followed English lessons like this). Do such institute exist in Houston ?

I know what you are talking about. I lived in Canada for a year some dozen years ago and they had those language institutes you speak of. I never heard of one here.

[texas7]

You might try and find work as a translator -- or work at some of the conversational language schools that teach courses to businessmen and women. There are several here but unfortunately my mind can't think of the names of any of them. If I remember any I'll post them.