Becoming a French Teacher in California

<table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td> Bachelor's degree; teacher education program</td></tr> <tr><td>Exams Required</td><td> CSET French</td></tr> <tr><td>Certification Validity Period </td><td> Five years for preliminary credential</td></tr> <tr><td>Certification Extension</td><td> Completion of teacher induction program for clear credential</td></tr> <tr><td>Average California Salary (2018)*</td><td>$80,100 for elementary school, $75,660 for middle school, $80,510 for high school teachers</td></tr> <tr><td>Nationwide Job Growth (2016-2026)*</td><td>7% for elementary school, 8% for middle and high school teachers</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p><h3 id="section---FrenchTeacherJobDescription">French Teacher Job Description</h3><p>French teachers help their students absorb the culture and linguistics of a new language. In this role, you will combine written and verbal exercises in your classroom to help students learn French and assign homework to reinforce instruction and encourage practice away from the group atmosphere. You may instruct students at different grade levels, from early middle school to high school seniors. You'll create your own lesson plans and modify them according to changes needed throughout the school term. You'll also be in charge of the class you instruct, and you'll need to issue disciplinary actions on occasion. Depending on the level of the course, you'll determine how much of the French language is spoken throughout the day. </p><h3 id="section---EducationAndTrainingRequirements">Education and Training Requirements</h3><p>California requires potential French teachers to become certified as single subject experts. You'll start this process by completing a bachelor's degree program. While you don't necessarily have to choose a French major, earning a bachelor's degree in French from a state-approved program will be sufficient for demonstrating your subject matter competence when it comes time to apply for certification. </p><p>You'll also need to complete an approved teacher preparation program, usually while earning your bachelor's degree. This program includes around 45 credits of coursework covering instructional methods and classroom management techniques. You'll also go through a student teaching experience to help you prepare for life as a teacher. </p><p>You could also choose to go through a post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program, which you can complete in one year or multiple semesters, depending on the amount of time you have. </p><h3 id="section---TestingRequirements">Testing Requirements</h3><p>French teachers who did not complete a state-approved French major must demonstrate their subject matter expertise by passing the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET): French test. For the single subject teaching credential, there are three subtests. Each of them contains a collection of multiple-choice questions and short answer sections. You'll need to pay $99 for each subtest, and they can run from 90 minutes to over two hours. You'll pass each subtest with a score of at least 220. </p><p>You must also satisfy a basic skills requirement by submitting acceptable scores on the CBEST, the CSET: Multiple Subjects exam (with writing subtest), the SAT, or the ACT. </p><h3 id="section---CertificationAndRenewalRequirements">Certification and Renewal Requirements</h3><p>Once you finish your bachelor's degree program and earn your single subject teaching credential, you'll be allowed to teach for a preliminary period of five years. Before the five-year period has elapsed, you'll need to finish one of California's teacher induction programs or earn national board certification to earn the next tier, the clear credential. If you don't fulfill the obligations for the clear credential by the time your preliminary credential expires, you will need to apply for a two-year extension.</p>