Tag Archives: france

Back in the Valley

Posted on 15.06.2011 by Caylena| Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe that three weeks have passed since the fateful day of my depart from Saint Etienne. It’s hard to believe that I still have not found employment after starting my job search back around March; but I don’t want to talk about that.

It was a great challenge for me to have to leave the place I love (France) and people that I have grown to love in order to come back to a place where I have very few connections (other than my family) and where there are few opportunities in my field (photography/writing/marketing, preferably non-profit). However, I am trying to make the best of it.

The beginning was strange. The reverse culture shock. The weirdest of all was not speaking English with people I know, but hearing English ALL THE TIME. In the coffee shop. At the gas station. At the mall. On television… You get the idea. It was the overheard conversations as well as the conversations with service people/strangers. See, when in France I was so accustomed to hearing French and having to pay only slightly more attention to hear the conversation, that my ears would perk up any time English was around. So it was weird, and still is a little, to have English be the main-liner again. I didn’t have to try to pay attention, but rather to not pay attention.

Since coming back to “upstate” NY (the Mid-Hudson Valley) I have been trying to stay as active as possible. I took a few trips down to “the city” and have been continuing my job search, as well as expanding my online presence/networking.

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Posted in Culture Shock, Life in General

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TAPIF – Ask Away

Posted on 15.06.2011 by Caylena| 2 Comments

Dear prospective TAPIF (Teaching Assistantship Program in France) assistants, this is for you.

Thanks to Google Analytics, I can see that people arrive at my blog looking for information about the TAPIF program. I even got an email from one brave person. You must have questions, otherwise you wouldn’t be searching for information. So, what I would like to do is open the floor (internet/blog) up to you. If you have questions or comments, post them. Ask away. Ask questions here on this entry, write comments or follow up questions on a specific entry. I will take my time to answer your questions as well effectively as possible in a dedicated entry. Don’t be afraid to be the first! you can stay anonymous if you want. You can even email questions. I’m here for you. Please take this seriously.

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Posted in Call to Action, France, TAPIF

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“Oh LOOK! It’s the AMERICAN!!!!!!!!”

Posted on 12.05.2011 by Caylena| Leave a comment

You may or may not have heard that I am participating in a photo exposition in France right now. You may be wondering how this awesome situation came to be.

It all comes back to the cliché, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

Well, I know that I am a photographer and that as a photographer, I would love to participate in exhibitions, particularly in France. However, I know also that having the desire alone is not enough. These facts constitute “what” I know.

So how did I move from the want to the do?

It all starts with my vacation back in February/March. On Feb. 26 I sprained my ankle in Nîmes, France and did nothing about it because it was my first day of a two week tour, during which I would be experiencing incredible things, meeting incredible people, and taking WAY too many photos.

So, a little while after I came back to Saint Etienne, I happened to get sick. So, I decided that with my ankle still hurting and my pending illness, that I should take the chance and go to a French doctor. That left me with the problem of finding one…

So, I spoke with the mother of my completely unofficial host family and she made me an appointment at her doctor’s office. To make a long story short, the doctor prescribed me 8 appointments at a physical therapist. Sounds great, but same problem – where do I go?

Well, lucky for me, Cathy (the mother of the family) knew a PT to suggest, and I started to go there.

As it’s a bit awkward to sit in silence with a physical therapist, we talked. Naturally I mentioned I’m a photographer. She then went on to tell me that her husband is the president of a photography association in the town St Genest Lerpt (where the PT office is) and that the group was in the middle of organizing a photo festival in that town! I asked – because if you don’t ask for things, they are less likely to happen – if it would be possible for me to expose as well. She picked up her phone and called her husband to ask. Apparently he said yes and she took my website information and email address. THAT night I received an e-mail from my physical therapist’s husband telling me how much he liked my work and how happy he would be for a young American to take part in the festival!

The opening was this past Saturday. There were some speakers (the mayor, the person in charge of culture, the president of the organization… and some others). Apparently my PT’s husband had told people about me because everyone seemed to know there was an American taking part in the exposition. Every time I meet someone, they seem to know who I am already. It’s weird. During the opening he acknowledged me and the fact that I’m a young American in the exhibition. It was a bit embarrassing. But what’s more, it’s strange to be considered to exotic. Maybe I should be used to it by now, being here for so long, but honestly, most people do not treat me so differently. But now, it is plain to see: “Oh LOOK! It’s the AMERICAN!!!!!!!!” (In French…)

Anyway, other than that embarrassing part, the opening went really well. I had some really great conversations, met interesting people, and got some really nice complements. My favorites: someone told me they wished they had taken one of my photos themselves and someone spoke about how they could see the emotion of my models and also how I felt about the photo/subject. There were some others, but I’m struggling to find a good translation in English. Suffice it to say, I’m feeling quite honored by some of the things people have said.

The other thing that stood out during the opening was a conversation I had with a professional independent photographer who is also participating. We spoke about a lot of things, but most importantly our relationships to photography, such as why we do it, our methods, how we started, etc. and we actually had a lot in common. I have not met many artists in France, so it was a really refreshing experience to meet someone here that thinks exactly the way I do.

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Posted in Arts/Cuture, Dream Life, France, Local, Photography News/Experiences

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Denial and Frustration (Moving and Unemployment)

Posted on 08.05.2011 by Caylena| Leave a comment

So, now that my contract is officially over, I’ve been out of the lycée for two weeks, my more than a month-long job search is turning around nothing but let-downs and unknowns, and time is dwindling away until the end of my visa, it’s finally starting to sink in that I’m going to have to leave France. Unless one of my billion job applications here magically turns into a yes…

I’m starting to accept the difficulty of the situation and the fact that, ok, it’s not impossible to get a job here, it’s just highly unlikely unless I try for something like working in a café or teaching English again… or if I had a masters or some form of higher expertise/more experience. Granted I was not even hired in hotels where they need English-speakers. So, as my many attempts at getting hired in France seem to be proving quite futile, I must come to terms with going back stateside.

I’m sure I’ll be fine and eventually I’ll find a job – it’s just complicated because I really do not want to go back to working in retail/food service. Of course, I will if I really have to, but it just does not seem like I should need to, as I have two degrees and professional experience. Yet with the lack of positive responses, even in the States, for jobs I’ve applied to, it seems like I should maybe start applying again at places like Starbucks (where I’ve already worked, by the way). Though I doubt whether a job as like that will really pay the bills and the 5 digits of student loans I now owe because our country does not have real public education.

I suppose I shouldn’t really complain since there are so many people that have been out of work longer than me, have families to support, struggle to make ends meet with multiple retail jobs, and so on. Yet, this fact, while slightly grounding, does not take away my right to complain or feel very discouraged with the state of things or report on my lack of a job or desire to go backwards in my career. Especially since jobs I feel qualified for have not even yielded interviews.

Anyway, I was talking about the challenge of leaving. It’s not the first time I’ve had to leave a place, specifically France. Yet it’s always quite bittersweet. This time I feel like I’m being forced out because I’ll become an illegal immigrant if I stay past the expiration of my visa. (It’s a sad and strange feeling to not be allowed to stay somewhere where I feel so right. I’m not exaggerating either, because if I stay after my visa and am caught as an illegal immigrant, I am not allowed to come back to France for, I think the limit is at least 5 years. I can’t change this system, it just feels really exclusive and uninviting. I guess it is the same way for the US which is probably why there is a huge problem with illegal immigration. The difference is that I would rather not hide all the time. Or worry about getting caught.) Since I don’t feel like dealing with that nightmare, I’m going to leave. It’s pretty stressful too – figuring out what the heck I’m going to do with all my stuff that I’ve acquired, saying goodbye, buying a plane ticket (which I have yet to do, by the way, as I’m still slightly under the impression, perhaps it’s wishful thinking or false hopes, that I would be able to find work here), tying up the other loose ends like canceling my cell phone, etc.

But mostly it’s the goodbyes that I dislike. Not just the goodbyes to friends but saying farewell to France and everything it stands for in my life.

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Posted in France, Life in General

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Franchement, my teaching experience

Posted on 01.04.2011 by Caylena| 1 Comment

If you know me personally and/or have talked to me about my experiences teaching, you’ll know that it hasn’t been the easiest for me.

I started in October with minimal teaching experience and no official training. Ok, sure, I had been a teaching assistant at university, a tutor, and a group leader/camp counselor, but never had I worked in this kind of a setting, and with such little direction and supervision.

It’s been quite a journey and learning experience. Quite frankly it’s been a real challenge. Full of surprises, good and bad days, and frustration.

If you are a future or potential TAPIF assistant, be warned. The job really is what you make of it as well as a bit of chance – as your role really depends on the teachers you work with. That said, there are eleven English teachers in the high school where I work, and I have a different role in each of their classes. Sometimes I do what I want, sometimes what the teacher wants. Sometimes I listen to oral exams or train unmotivated students to analyze surprise documents for oral exams. Other times I was/am able to study a subject of my choice, like this week I taught about the Beatle’s and analyzed “Revolution.”

What I really want to say, though, is it’s really important to not ever give up hope. I think this is the most important rule for teaching. I learned this because I had lost hope for one class and was really discouraged; well I somehow repaired the relationship.

I have had this class for the whole time I’ve been here. Originally, the class was split into three groups of about 12 students. I’d always sort of had trouble with them and I had recently found out that they told the teacher that they did not want to go to my class. This kind of surprised me because most of the other classes seem to enjoy my classes, and the other teachers tell me that the students are eager to come. Something needed to change.

Well this week we tried something different. On Monday I had a quarter of the class and we switched groups in the middle, and I was to give them participation grades at the end. I’m not sure switching was necessary, but it definitely helped having fewer at a time. Well, at the end, one girl, probably the best in the class, came up to me and started talking to me in English. She apologized for the class’ behaviour, telling me she did not understand, that she enjoys my classes, and that she feels more comfortable in my class than with the teacher. That really touched me because she did not have to do that.

On Wednesday, the teacher decided to give me the four most unruly students for the whole hour. I convinced her to let me have the girl I just mentioned. Well I learned that even difficult students can become motivated and that one student with whom I’d had a difficult relationship for the last six months enjoyed the class. He really put forth quite a bit of effort, really trying both to understand and to speak. I think it was partly because of the previously mentioned girl; she really helped act as an intermediary. Well, it all just goes to show you that everyone can surprise you and that classes you don’t like can get better.

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Posted in France, TAPIF

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Success in the French Classroom, i.e. Some Activities and Tips that Worked

Posted on 02.02.2011 by Caylena| 3 Comments

1 STG Surprise

Yesterday I worked for the first time with a group of premier STG students, which I had heard was not an easy group. I was thus not too keen on it.

In fact I have just planned to make them introduce themselves and ask me questions about myself. I was slightly afraid that would not take the whole time, that they would not talk, etc.

I was happily surprised that they all (except one girl) were able to – and at least relatively enthusiastic – speak about themselves. The girl who did not talk didn’t because we ran out of time.

Sure they were not all attentive 100% of the time, but enough of them were sufficiently interested and capable that it worked. I’ve also found a new technique that helps: putting them in a circle; it seems to be more conducive to conversation then sitting in rows. I’m going to to that more often now.

1 ES Always good

Today I also had a successful lesson with the premier ES that I ‘ve had all year. They are all a relatively good class, and are mostly willing to participate.

I had them do a debate today on whether the Internet/social media is helping or hindering us in real life.

I separated the eight students into two sides and assigned each group either yes or no. I allotted them some time and then class debate/discussion opened up after.

They did not come out with many unique ideas on the subject, but at least showed that they know that it’s necessary to be careful about what you put online and who you talk to. I also learned a phrase, “se rincer l’oeil,” literally “to rince your eye out,” which apparently is what you say if you see something really attractive, like what we might describe as “eye candy.”

I wanted to show this video from Sonny Side Films, but we ran out of time (though it probably wouldn’t have been good anyway because I don’t have a projector, just my laptop.)

Secondes, up and down…

The group of seconds I had today is sometimes good and sometimes frustrating. It’s partially their level and partially the maturity level (14 and 15 year olds).

Today I tried a new tactic, trying to get them to realize I’m interested in their culture to — oh and of course I used the circle technique too. So I had each of them pic a famous person in French culture that they like, then describe them.

I took notes on the names that they gave and after we played a game, basically “20 questions” style. One person chose someone from the list, and the rest had to ask yes/no questions to figure out who it was.

Enfin

Over all I’m feeling pretty good about teaching for the moment; I hope that feeling and this inspiration stays with me.

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Posted in TAPIF

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What is “Appropriate?”

Posted on 30.01.2011 by Caylena| 1 Comment

For some of my classes, usually with the “terminales” (like seniors in the US), the teachers want me to train the students for the baccalauréat (le bac) exam that they have to take at the end of high school. It’s an all-encompassing exam and is required if you wish to pursue further studies. There are several different versions, each with different requirements. Which exam you take depends on which “classe” you are in (re: STI, STG, L, S, ES, and so on).

Well most of the terminal students I have must do an oral exam in English as part of their bac. For the oral, each student will be presented with an unknown document like a political cartoon, advertisement, magazine cover, etc. After receiving the document, they are allotted a short amount of time, about 10 minutes, to prepare their dialogue.

During the presentations, the students must identify and describe the document, analyze it, state their interpretations and their opinions on the subject. The theme can be anything from racism and the digital divide to the importance of the media.

In the past, it was the subject matter that challenged me the most in my search of classroom content. I did not understand what was appropriate for high school students, because it seems to be very varied and also quite different from my American view of high school themes. For example, I don’t ever remember discussing racism and poverty in high school, at least not to the degree that these documents present the topics.

Well, in fact I’m starting to understand that almost anything could be appropriate. So, the other day I was searching for material and had an idea: animals. Ok, so I decided to search for animal related advertisements.

I came across some cute campaigns and also some shocking ones, namely from PETA. They have a campaign out against the fur industry which uses nude photography and slogans like, “I’d rather go naked than wear fur.” Or another where the models hold up dead, furless, bloody animals and have a phrase like, “Here is the rest of your fur coat.”

Upon going to the PETA website, though I found something that struck me more: a video illustrating the foie gras industry, narrated by the actress Kate Winslet. It’s quite disturbing and only adds to my already dislike of the “food.” (which you can read about in a previous entry: “How do you say ‘foie gras’ in English?“)

YouTube Preview Image

That video, which I had originally watched on PETAs web site, I found on YoutTube for you all. Only watch if you really want to know.

No I did not use the video in class, even if I might have wanted to. I ended up sticking to some ads about adopting pets rather than buying them and an anti-animal-testing ad about mascara.

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Teaching in a French High School 101

Posted on 25.01.2011 by Caylena| Leave a comment

Tomorrow I’ll start a new teaching schedule. Instead of working 3 days a week, I’ll work 4 – Tuesday through Friday. In my old schedule I worked Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, but that changed a lot because apparently Tuesday and Thursday are grève days, or “it’s okay to strike” days. For that reason, or else sick teachers or tests, or whatever you can think of, my schedule was rather unpredictable for having set classes. I hope this time around it’ll be more consistent.

So the high school, or lycée, where I teach is broken into 3 grades: secondes (seconds), premières (firsts), and terminales (terminal/seniors). (In France the grades are counted down – so backwards in relation to American schools.) When you are a seconde you are have a general sort of curriculum, but when you are première or terminale you will be in a more specific curriculum based on your “class.”

It took a while for me to understand this context for the word “classe” because I didn’t realize it referred to the academic program and not the specific subject. Not to mention the classes are all referred to by acronyms and numbers, like 1 ES 1 (première, economie sociale, group 1) or T STG 2 (terminale, science technologie gestion, group 2), etc.

Personally I’ve had a wide range of different classes, from “STI” and “STG” (technology and business subjects) to “L” (litterature focus) and “ES”. In my new schedule I’ll have “S” (science).

So far I’ve found the STI to be the most challenging, with the STG close behind. The STI class that I had was the class of all boys that I mentioned in the previous post:  “What a Day”.

I really enjoy(ed) working with the L and ES classes, who seemed to be interested and receptive to my lessons. There were also a few students who really spoke well, including some that did exchanges in Scotland and California.

It’s always a surprise with the secondes, though. Each class is quite different. They are all about 14 years old, so the age doesn’t help. I find that their levels of English range quite a bit, in spite of the fact that they’ve all taken English at least since middle school (collège).

It’s true that towards the end of this schedule I had become rather frustrated, but I’m going to use what I’ve learned so far to help with my new classes and those that I’ll continue. I’m going to try even harder to make English real for them and get them interested.

Any ideas, feel free to comment.

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Château de Bouthéon

Posted on 25.01.2011 by Caylena| Leave a comment

Yesterday we took a trip to a local chateau. It’s funny living in a place where you can visit castles in your spare time. It’s not like the United States which is comparatively young and so has much less history and less need for castles.

Well the one we visited is the Chateau de Boutheon and it’s in the town where I teach. It’s not very large itself, but there are two main buildings and the grounds – which include a courtyard with some funny trees, a garden area, and a “zoo” (for lack of a better term).

The interiors of the buildings have been converted to museums, not art museums or period decor, but everything about the region – la département de la Loire. For example there is a section about local cuisine (via a game in the kitchen), local language, and even the local aquatic life – a full on aquarium shows the animals we find in the Loire River and the surrounding area.

Above I said zoo in quotations because it is not quite a zoo more like a grounds with fences and a mix of domesticated farm animals (chickens and things) and other random animals like pigeons.

I thought it was kind of cool and that the aquarium in particular was a great idea. Something I don’t know if I would have thought of – to show an ecosystem of the area.

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Posted in France, Travel

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