Working Abroad: Teaching in the French Alps – A Blog Post by Rebecca
Rebecca studies French and Russian and is currently working abroad on a WIYA placement in France. She has provided the following testimony about her experience so far.
Though the bureaucratic process was one of the most difficult that I have ever encountered in my life so far, working in the French Alps has absolutely been worth the wait. The commune of Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle is hidden deep within Savoie, situated between the Winter Olympic towns, Chamonix and Albertville. Though the village itself is quite small, the local community have been incredibly welcoming, and in working with SEK International School, I have been able to visit some beautiful places. In the run up to ski season, weekends were spent going on trips to cities such as Annecy and Geneva, the medieval towns of Conflans and Yvoire, and doing activities like paintballing and hiking.
In between teaching and assisting with French and English classes, I’m free to explore the region as I please, and la randonnée has quickly become one of my favourite pastimes. These walks can last anything from a 1 hour loop, to a full day trek, but one of my personal favourites is up to La Bèque, a headland that sits about 500 metres above the school, which provides a great spot for sitting and watching the sun set over the valley. If you’re considering working or studying in a rural area, it’s definitely a good idea to bring a good pair of walking boots with you, so that you can make the most of it!
The 22/23 ski season had a bit of a rough start with the lack of decent snow coverage in the Alps back in December, but upon returning in January, we came back to some great powder. Megève and Les Saisies are our local resorts, where the students complete their winter Sports class, but we’ve also done day trips to Val Thorens, Courchevel, Les Contamines, and La Giettaz. Getting to ski for a whole season as part of my job has been an incredible experience, it’s given me the chance to both really work on my technique and also take in a whole variety of mountain ranges; even experiencing, in person, just how much the landscape changes throughout the winter period here in the southeast of France has been fascinating. I’m now particularly looking forward to doing some outdoor swimming in the lake that will be filled in Flumet come spring as the season closes.
Living in the school’s residence has been a truly unique experience, and one that has greatly aided in improving my French language skills, as I am not only communicating with the teaching staff in French, but also those in the residence too, and with it being a Spanish international school, I have even had the opportunity to take a beginner’s Spanish course with the SEK school group. Accommodation and catering costs are covered by the school, which massively helps with budgeting, as mountain gear can get quite expensive when all added together. But all of this is resulting in an experience that is a brilliant combination of language learning, work experience, and my love for the outdoors, all set against the stunning backdrop of the French Alps.
Thank you to Rebecca for sharing her photos and experience from her time abroad. If you would like to hear more about Rebecca’s experience or find out more about working abroad in general, please email [email protected]