employment opportunities for a school psychologist

[Bevdeforges]

Just another note, too, on your plans. You need to be thinking in terms of qualifying for a visa, which means you need to find a job with an employer who can sponsor you and your family in the visa process. This pretty much rules out the public sector altogether. And if you come over on a work visa, your spouse will not be able to work at all. at least not for the first few years.
Cheers,
Bev

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by xveruskax

(When I said proficient, I meant "fluent" or capable of handling the language in an academic setting. I am not at that point now. However, I speak, read, write English very fluently. I speak, read, write Spanish fluently. I speak, read, write German moderately fluently. I'm still working on French but I'm not worried about becoming fluent. That just takes time which I have.)

Indeed it does take time - for some people, a lifetime! One doesn't even get close to reasonable fluency in French without total immersion for at least a year or two, and bilingualism with a consistently high level of cognitive proficiency - imo needed for the kind of work you have mentioned - is still a long way off.

I am a professionally qualified translator and interpreter, and have lived for a couple of decades in France where I speak French 99% of the time. I am probably as close to bilingualism as most get without being brought up by parents of two nationalities, or living in France as a child. I was a voluntary suicide counsellor and agency director for ten years, and as a mature student took a Social Sciences degree with the Open University (in the UK). Even with my level of fluency, I genuinely think that it would be very difficult indeed to do justice to such work in France, and more importantly, to the French children concerned. It's not a job I would consider in anything other than my mother tongue.

[jojo]

I think you mentioned you have family in Paris, can they not employ you for a while so that you can get a taste for the language and a feel for what it could be like to live and work in France??


Jo xxx

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by jojo

I think you mentioned you have family in Paris, can they not employ you for a while so that you can get a taste for the language and a feel for what it could be like to live and work in France??


Jo xxx

It's highly unlikely that a family business (I think he said they are bakers) can justify hiring a foreigner to the appropriate agencies - especially in the current economic climate. It's the big disadvantage of being from outside the EU.
Cheers,
Bev

[xveruskax]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Just another note, too, on your plans. You need to be thinking in terms of qualifying for a visa, which means you need to find a job with an employer who can sponsor you and your family in the visa process. This pretty much rules out the public sector altogether. And if you come over on a work visa, your spouse will not be able to work at all. at least not for the first few years.
Cheers,
Bev

I've known of American individuals who go to Berlin and find work in the public sector, as English teachers in the public schools, like afterschool lessons with children. They also had a masters in fine arts but had to teach English to get by. I might consider teaching English a temporary employment if it gets my family and I into France.

If both my wife and I find employment with a different employer, I'm assuming the work visa would not be an issue.

Doesn't seem like transitioning into French society is all that easy but it's not impossible.

[Claire la richarde]

Originally Posted by xveruskax

I've known of American individuals who go to Berlin and find work in the public sector, as English teachers in the public schools, like afterschool lessons with children. They also had a masters in fine arts but had to teach English to get by. I might consider teaching English a temporary employment if it gets my family and I into France.

As I recall, French schools usually use students from other countries as English language assistants.

Indeed, the relevant French government website Foreign Language Assistants in France - CIEP

says under "Requirements"
- Be aged between 20 and 30 years old;
- Be the holder of at least a two year higher education qualification;
- Be able to speak good French.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by xveruskax

I've known of American individuals who go to Berlin and find work in the public sector, as English teachers in the public schools, like afterschool lessons with children. They also had a masters in fine arts but had to teach English to get by. I might consider teaching English a temporary employment if it gets my family and I into France.

If both my wife and I find employment with a different employer, I'm assuming the work visa would not be an issue.

Doesn't seem like transitioning into French society is all that easy but it's not impossible.

Germany has a formal exchange program for teachers from the US. I have never heard of a similar program in France, though it's possible such a thing exists. But in Germany, I believe the exchange program is for a limited period of time (i.e. a year or two).

The German civil service and the French civil service are two very different animals.

If both you and your wife find employment with different employers, your residence permits will be limited by the term of your employment with your respective employers. If one of you should lose your job for any reason, their right to remain in France goes away. It's a risk you'll have to live with.
Cheers,
Bev

[xveruskax]

Originally Posted by Claire la richarde

As I recall, French schools usually use students from other countries as English language assistants.

Indeed, the relevant French government website Foreign Language Assistants in France - CIEP

says under "Requirements"
- Be aged between 20 and 30 years old;
- Be the holder of at least a two year higher education qualification;
- Be able to speak good French.

Wow, the pay is less than 1000E a month before deductions. Not enough for a family. It's nice that the work is only 12 hours a week though, plenty of free time. There have to be other options I'm sure.

"If both you and your wife find employment with different employers, your residence permits will be limited by the term of your employment with your respective employers. If one of you should lose your job for any reason, their right to remain in France goes away. It's a risk you'll have to live with.
Cheers,
Bev"

I thought if one person is employed under a work visa, that the spouse is also allowed to stay and work. Or is that only for the "competences et talents" card?

[frogblogger]

As I recall, French schools usually use students from other countries as English language assistants.

Indeed, the relevant French government website Foreign Language Assistants in France - CIEP says under "Requirements"
- Be aged between 20 and 30 years old;
- Be the holder of at least a two year higher education qualification;
- Be able to speak good French.

Wow, the pay is less than 1000E a month before deductions. Not enough for a family. It's nice that the work is only 12 hours a week though, plenty of free time. There have to be other options I'm sure.

These positions are aimed at students in the middle of their studies, and principally those who are taking a degree where French studies are an integral part. Indeed back in the 70s there were even positions for 'temporary' English Language Assistants in France, open to school leavers taking a year off before starting their French studies at university - I did this aged just 18, and was paid the magnificent sum of 800 francs net per month for 8 hours work each week, plus 4 hours spent helping the kids with their "sporting and cultural activities" - ie playing table tennis and listening to music with them. Free accommodation, free food and unlimited wine with lunch and dinner. 4 day weekends. Great memories!

Not a position meant for mature students, or those with families, I imagine. It certainly wasn't back in the 70s.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by xveruskax

I thought if one person is employed under a work visa, that the spouse is also allowed to stay and work. Or is that only for the "competences et talents" card?

If you apply for a "dependent visa" for your spouse at the same time you apply for your work visa (suitably sponsored by your employer-to-be) the spouse can accompany you. But the spouse cannot work. You have to declare your spouse along with your original visa application if you want him or her to accompany you.

I don't know the precise status of the spouse on a competences et talents visa, but I'm betting the spouse doesn't get work privileges unless s/he is part of the "projet" proposed by the main applicant (and essentially gets his or her own competences et talents visa).

You may be confusing the status of the spouse of an EU national resident in France. The situation for us non-EU nationals is quite different.
Cheers,
Bev