Moving to live in France

[Patricia Mc Donnell]

Hi
I am looking for help and advice. I would like to move to live in South France - Nice/Antibes area - probably for a year in the first instance to try it out. I am a qualified social worker with many years experience of working in children's proceedings in the courts and as an independent self employed social worker. I am not fluent in French - but did study it to A level many years ago. I am 49 years old and prepared to re visit my French at night school. I would also consider the tefl course. Would it be possible for me to gain employment 1) as a social worker/care worker/companion to elderly etc or 2) to work as a teacher of Eng as a foreign lang either in a school or privately.
I would be able to support myself for a few months but just want to find out if any of this is possible or realistic.
Life is too short to sit in the rain and under the grey clouds of Belfast!!
Looking for all advice available.
Many thanks
Patricia.

[Bevdeforges]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Normally, in France, when you're talking about "social worker" you're talking about government sponsored aid or assistance. Which means "fonctionnaire" - which means that you're at a major disadvantage being any nationality other than French. (The language thing will be yet another major disadvantage.)

TOEFL is a possibility, but remember that the public schools are also part of the civil service. You could try the private schools in the area, or the language schools. It's not a super well paid type of work, but it's worth looking into.
Cheers,
Bev

[Patricia Mc Donnell]

I appreciate your reply. To be honest I would do any type of work in France - apart from general dogs body - have moved beyond this! Would there be a possibility of teaching English to children on a private basis - or English for business etc - other thing I had heard advertised on riviera radio were companions for elderly English people - taking them shopping, making meals etc
Patricia[/I]

[Bevdeforges]

Anything is possible, including the type of private work you mention. However, depending on the exact nature of the work, and how much you are earning, you may have to declare your "business" in order to qualify for social insurances and properly report your earnings for tax purposes.

There are a variety of "statutes" you can declare under should you set yourself up in business. All the declarations need to be done in French.
Cheers,
Bev