“Ancienne journaliste, je suis devenue prof”

After seven weeks of good holidays, Valérie, a 55-year-old French professor, has also returned to school like thousands of students. But this will only be her fifth time back to school. Because she started teaching at the age of 50.

Valérie, 55, is very happy to meet us talking about her new job: French teacher 5^e Wait 6^e Secondary in Brussels (accounting option). She knew the media: She was a journalist for many years and was fired at the age of 50. “I experienced a big doubt,” she admitted. “My work has not evolved as much as I wanted to do than myself and my work. Then I wanted to pursue a more important career. I said to myself: As a French teacher, I wanted it. The mastery of language, literature, culture, philosophy debates, I have always fascinated me. -I studied art history in college. Later in the evening. transparent

Real company support

Valérie didn’t choose her first school: she landed in a very weak socioeconomic index of majors, Athenaeum, where students were “not easy to manage” and “real slap”, especially when we were completely in COVID, I had to wear a mask and I had to wear a mask to attend class. We say 40% of teachers stopped 4 years ago: I understand this school, and that’s why.

“Sometimes I’m discouraged”

At the beginning, Valérie began a vibrant career, always conveying her passion for language and culture. “As a journalist, I am ready to answer questions, interested in students…but I have to calm my enthusiasm. Being a teacher is standing for 7 hours in a row.” The first advice to him: “Don’t spend all your energy from the first hour!” “I learned a synonym for a long time (once I sat, we lost all authority) to save my voice (I found myself a few Aphones) and changed my approach (actively involved, group work, etc.).

Most importantly, it must face the lack of acceptance of students – they are optional compatibility: French courses are not their priority, nor are they absent from work. Mainly in 5^ebecause there is no repetition. “I’ve been discouraged because I only have 4 or 5 students out of 24 and asked myself how I will complete my plan and bridge the 6 gaps^e – Grammatical basis is far from being acquired, I must say I have only 2 students, their French is native language. During the oral examination, only 5 were present, while the others had no medical certificates. When I met them again on the second week, they said to me, “But, ma’am, anyway, we know we went to 6^e. ‘”

60 hours/week for beginners

Another difficulty: administrative burden. Valérie noted over a five-year period that she had exploded: Secretariat, Paperwork, Educational Conference… “We said that teachers take 20 hours of classes a week. It’s wrong: we pretended to be 38 at school without having to calculate course preparation and evening nights. For beginners, this might be in the Absolue Sexmute of the 60s. Teacher bashing, This trend of public criticism of teachers we often see on social networks. “We imply that the teacher doesn’t do much. It’s so far from the situation!”

Very useful news skills

Valérie said: What she learned in her first career as a journalist is far from missing. “Study, synthesize documents, check resources, talk to cameras or listeners…these skills are given to me every day as a teacher. I also have animation writing workshops (Valérie is also a writer, editor’s notes), and I like to have my students write, invite me to write in the classroom…The students love that I am a journalist, and I accept this or such journalist.”

They lost many fantasies

Valérie’s students are mostly 17-18 years old. “When I hear my colleague 1^about Or 2^e She said, for the second time, I was happy to get rid of the teenage mood or hormone management issues. Mine is a little mature. I have fewer discipline issues – even if I know of some rare cases of violence. Perhaps given my age, I benefit from natural authority…”

Valérie Le sent: Some of her young men were weakened by confinement. They suffered a lot of pain from lack of contact and solidarity and lost a lot of fantasies there. Not to mention some people have almost no French class a year.

“I regret it too.” During parent meetings, I sometimes look forward to 3 hours without seeing anyone. There is no doubt that they believe that their children are (almost) professional and no longer need to participate. But it’s a mistake: I, I know they still need the support of their parents. “

We sometimes walk on eggs

On the other hand, the joy of Valérie in her new profession is that when a book, testimony or museum visits students are amazed – activities they don’t have to get used to. “Literature makes it possible to open up to existing questions: stereotypes, determination, gender equality … Even if you have to choose readings with caution, because debates can quickly ignite. I often introduce feminist authors in my program – the educational freedom allows me. Given the multiculturality of my classes – I have students who come from everywhere: Maghreb, Afghanistan, Syria … – The subject is delicate.

My greatest victory

But over the year, she noted that each other’s gaze would develop and take it as a personal victory. “I got a message from a student a year after I left telling me that she thought of Simone de Beauvoir and would rather learn to be independent than get married immediately, and I understand the importance of my role.”

Enrichment is mutual. Students entrust their emotions to me, stories, ways to see the world. Classes are a microcosm of life, intimate. Some people leave their country, cannot survive, don’t have enough time to eat or work at night…their stories remind me of them.

Physical hard work

In short, Valérie doesn’t regret her changing direction in just one second. “Where am I? I saw myself being a teacher until I was 67.” His only fear? His body does not follow. “No doubt I will get more technology to attract students’ attention and make them more independent at work, but professors are physically a tough job. I will have to practice a lot of exercise to ensure persistence!”

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