13 March 2019

Are you thinking of doing a TEFL Course in France? Toulouse is the 4th biggest town in France with a population of 1.2 million people and has so much to offer as a destination to live and enjoy teaching English abroad. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider getting your TEFL certificate in Toulouse: Central European positioning Situated in south-west France, Toulouse sits near the Spanish border which makes it so much easier to travel there and visit the northern Spanish cities by plane, train or driving. You can travel from Toulouse easily to tons of French cities, like Nantes, Montpellier, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux or Paris. On an international scale, you can travel across Europe to countries such as Italy, Brussels, Switzerland, Germany or England and it won’t take you more than 2 hours in a plane to get there. There are so many low-cost airlines that enable you to enjoy lots of weekends traveling Europe and seeing new places. Great for students Toulouse continuously ranks as one of the top destinations for students. There are more than 100.000 students living in Toulouse at once, so you’ll always find friends who share similar interests and are also experiencing living in a new city. Students have unlimited access to buses, trams and trains for 10euro/month for those under 26, but there are also reduced prices for the 26-35 age group. When it comes to rent, you are looking to pay around 450euro/month for a studio apartment. Prices can vary depending on the area, but it’s still a lot cheaper than the majority of European cities. Food French cuisine is among the best in the world and nothing can be better than getting to experience it firsthand in a small, local restaurant. The thing to remember is that lunch is the most important meal in French culture. It’s common for people to eat together during meals, not only at home but also at work. Traditional French food is healthy and locally sourced, including delicious vegetables and meat.   Work opportunities Toulouse is one of the best cities to teach English in France. Teachers can start working as soon as they finish their TEFL course and normally start with a few hours and build up as the weeks go on. Private language schools can pay from 15-25 euro an hour depending on the place. Alternatively, you can work, freelance which may be an advantage for some positions. The language schools in Toulouse look for teachers all year round, especially at the start of the academic year. It’s also worth noting that the competition is a lot less fierce than in big cities like Paris so you’ll have plenty of options. Learn the language of love! Learning French is a dream for many, but its tricky pronunciation doesn’t make it easy. Living in Toulouse, you have plenty of language schools that are fantastic for getting started or improving the language. When it comes to practicing speaking the locals are very friendly and happy to help you feel more comfortable speaking French! If your goal is to learn this beautiful language, definitely choose Toulouse as your TEFL destination, as you won’t have as many options for speaking English there, thus improving your French far more than if you were in a more tourist-centered city. Would you like to find out more things about living and teaching in Toulouse? Follow our blog or Facebook for weekly updates, and if you’re still not sure what country to choose to teach English, check out all of the destinations that we offer.    

If you’re thinking of moving abroad to teach English, a common fear when people look into it, is “will I be able to survive on my teaching salary?”. It’s a scary thought to move anywhere in the world for the first time, and making sure you have enough money to live on is super important. Here at TEFL Connect, we will make sure you know all there is to know about where you’re moving so you won’t be caught out by any unexpected surprises and will know how much TEFL teachers earn in Toulouse, France. Here is our guide to TEFL teachers’ salaries. The currency you’ll be using in France is the Euro (€) which equals $1.14 USD/0.86 GBP at the time of writing this guide. Hiring is year-round in France, with the majority of jobs in bigger towns and cities, such as Toulouse! There are also opportunities in summer camps and language centers and private tuition is an additional option. A typical wage for a native English speaker with a Bachelor’s degree is €1200 – €2000 per month if you teach 25 hours per week. Living costs in France: Rent (a standard small apartment per month) – €500 Bills (electric, gas, air con etc) – included in rent! Phone – €25 for a sim with a good amount of data each month Transport – Public transport is fantastic in France, and Toulouse in particular! There’s a metro, tram, buses and extensive cycle trails. A day ticket for all public transport services will cost approx €4 and a monthly pass is only €10 if you’re younger than 26 years old. There are also discounts for those younger than 35. Food – Cooking at home is a must with the amazing fresh produce France has to offer. If you do decide to venture out, a casual meal in a nice restaurant will cost approx €12, there are fast food chains, and of course high-end restaurants in the mix too. There’s something for every budget. Socializing – A beer or wine will cost around €5, a good coffee €2.50, there’s a huge cafe and restaurant culture with great nightlife too! Toulouse comes alive at night. Total Once you’ve paid your necessary outgoings each month, based on a salary of €1500 per month, you’ll be left with a few hundred Euros per month to spend or save as you please! Travelling throughout Europe is cheap, so you’ll have enough to plan those weekend getaways. Get in touch with us through email or Facebook if you want to know more about teaching English in France, of check our other destinations!

If you’re teaching English in Europe, there’s a high possibility that you’ll visit Toulouse for a bit of French charm at some point. If you have only 24 hours in Toulouse, TEFL Connect has your back. Follow our recommendations for places and free tours that you simply can’t miss in the “pink city”! 24 hours in Toulouse: where to stay Toulouse is one of those places that offers a great diversity of places to stay. If you decide on accommodation in the center of the old city (highly recommendable), you will get a chance to walk through the most amazing areas, full of beautiful examples of French architecture, like the Basilica of Saint-Sernin or the Convent of the Jacobins. The center of Toulouse is within walking distance from all the monuments, museums and places of interest. In addition, you will be in the heart of the city, which means a lively nightlife with plenty of restaurants, bars and pubs. For something a little more reasonably priced, you might want to consider staying at the area of Pierre Goudouli Garden, which is where you’ll find some great chain hotels.   24 hours in Toulouse: things to do The Space City The Cité de l’Espace (Space City), inaugurated in 1997, is a scientific theme park dedicated to the great space exploration. There you can find authentic spacecrafts, like the Russian Soyuz capsule, take a stroll through an exact replica of the Mir space station or experience the lunar gravity in a simulator. The Basilica of Saint-Sernin The aforementioned basilica is possibly the most important historical monument of this French city. It is linked to the French part of the ancient pilgrimage routes of the ‘Way of St. James’ also known as Camino de Santiago in Spanish. The first construction of this great church began at the end of the 4th century, and today it is the largest Romanesque church in Europe that is still standing. La rue du Taur Famous La rue du Taur (The Street of the Bull) starts at the Saint Sernín Square, where the basilica is located, and leads to the great esplanade of the Capitol and its square. Both La rue du Taur and the church of the same name situated in it, commemorates the martyrdom of San Saturnino (Saint Sernin), who died dragged by a bull. The Capitol We can find the Capitol on the square named after it. Nowadays town hall is situated in this 18th century building with a neoclassical facade that alternates stone and bricks of striking red color. The ballrooms of the Capitol are decorated with the paintings and sculptures of the late nineteenth century that feature prominent figures and events in the history of the city of Toulouse. Bus tour Yes, we know that tourist buses aren’t that original and there’s one in every city. The thing is, there are so many of them exactly because they offer some of the easiest ways of seeing the city if you’re short on time. With the bus, you’ll be able to see the majority of the historical attractions of the “pink city” and listen to anecdotes about its life through the audio guide (available in French, English, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese and Japanese). As part of the tour, you get to visit the old town and enjoy the main churches of the cathedral of Saint-Étienne de Toulouse (cathedral of Toulouse) and the Basilica of Saint-Sernin. It passes through the Renaissance facade of the Hôtel d’Assézat, where the Bemberg Foundation art gallery contains an impressive collection of French paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries. Don’t miss out on seeing the banks of the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi to discover a union between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Along the way, admire the typical pink terracotta bricks that cover the majority of the city. E-Bike tour Here’s a great alternative to some of the more classical tours. Discover Toulouse and its highlights with your E-Bike guided by a professional monitor. We guarantee that you’ll love the experience.  The historic center of Toulouse is still living in medieval times with its narrow streets full of surprises – perfect for a bike ride. Garonee River Between the Saint-Pierre Square and the Pont Neuf runs one of the most beautiful walks in Toulouse. There you can stroll under the trees of the Quai Lucien Lombard or go to the Daurade Square to board the Bateaux Toulousains, the tourist boats that cross the river Garonne and the Brienne canal (a must if you only have 24 hours in Toulouse). Sunny days offer a breathtaking view of the sunset from the terrace of the Café des Artistes or the Saint-Pierre staircase. It is worthwhile to cross the Pont Neuf and get to know the popular district of Saint Cyprien, with the Châteaud’Eau, a former water tank converted into a photographic gallery; the Hôtel Dieu Saint-Jacques, headquarters of the Museum of Medicine; the hospital dome of La Grave, and the contemporary art museum Les Abattoirs.   Where to eat One of the best reasons to take a trip to the beautiful city of Toulouse is the incredible food. During your 24 hours in Toulouse you can start in one of the best-known restaurant chains in France – Leon de Bruxellesm that specializes in mussels (or moules, as they are called in France) and French fries. Other options to taste the delicious food of the south of France are the restaurants Le Foxy and Balthazar. FREE activities in Toulouse You can enjoy free entry to museums and monuments in the center of Toulouse and take advantage of offers from other places with the Toulouse City Card. It allows you to move without stress for free with the local public transport network, including metro, tram, buses and airport shuttle, as well as provides additional discounts at numerous popular tourist sites and stores. Is 24 hours in Toulouse not enough for you to fully experience everything that it has to offer? Check out our TEFL course