From First French Class to Teaching in France: Catrina’s TAPIF Experience

Before arriving at Cal Poly, Catrina had never spoken or studied French. Because her major required a language course, she saw it as an opportunity to challenge herself and learn something new. In one of her first French classes, Catrina learned about the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). After completing the application process, Catrina was accepted as an English language assistant at Lycée Ferdinand Buisson in Voiron, France. 

Catrina committed herself to developing her language skills through French Club, a Duolingo streak that has now surpassed 1,590 days, and conversations with former TAPIF assistants connected through Cal Poly’s French Department.

She worked with students ages 13 to 19, leading lessons about American culture, history, holidays, and her own interests, including crocheting and drama. She also facilitated lunch and after-school clubs, including a theater club in which students wrote, directed, and performed a play entirely in English for their peers. Although many students were initially shy about speaking English, they gradually became more comfortable participating in activities and asking questions about Catrina’s life and culture in the United States.

Catrina had the opportunity to travel throughout France and Europe, visiting London, Malta, Brussels, Luxembourg, Rome, Venice, Pompeii, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Paris, Bordeaux, Lille, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, and Lyon.

Today, Catrina is pursuing a single-subject teaching credential in History at San Diego State University. She is also exploring the possibility of adding a bilingual authorization. Her time in France continues to shape her goals as an educator. Catrina remains in contact with the teachers and fellow assistants she met through TAPIF and hopes to return to France in the future. For now, she is committed to continuing her French studies and applying the cross-cultural and instructional skills she gained abroad in her own classroom.