Job Discussion Forums

[SElliott]

Hello everyone,

I have a question in regards to teaching in Vietnam. Firstly, I think it's necessary for me to point out that I'm looking to teach in Vietnam for only a year. I've always wanted to teach English as a second language and Vietnam is a country which I have been interested in for sometime now. With that out of the way, it's important to note that I'm not looking to make this a career (pay isn't that important, it's the experience that matters). However, I'm not looking to work for peanuts either, is $1300 a month a reasonable number to expect?

With all that being said, what are the odds of me picking up a job with a 4 year honors degree, and a TEFL certificate? My cert is not online, I took it in Montreal over a course of 4 weekends. This class included lesson prep and the philosophy behind teaching English. It's no celta but will having the degree and the certificate enable me to land a decent job?

There seems to be a lot of negativity on this board from those who are currently teaching in Vietnam, many suggest Korea. While Korea does seem to be more forgiving to a new teacher, Vietnam offers such an exotic experience, something which I'm looking to get while teaching English.

[skarper]

In the big cities (HCMC is best but Hanoi is also doable) you will find work.

They will pay you as little as possible and some will try to pay ~$15 USD an hour.

I'd say about $18 will be your average pay and therefore you wil need to work about 20 hours a week to gross 1300. If you have to pay tax (many will not pay your tax but they are more than happy to deduct 25% and call it 'tax') you have to work another 5 hours a week. Any holidays (even national holidays or the 2 week tet break you will not get aid anything). Ditto sick leave. Ditto visa run leave and you will have to foot the bill for all that - see separate threads.

This is quite hard to maintain though in summer you might manage 30+ hours and a slightly higher average wage.

Your tefl cert is a joke. Bring it and wave it by all means but it means nothing at all.

A lot of people come over here just like you - looking for an experience and adventure and just a break from the grind. OK - why not? I'd say about half have a miserable time and struggle to find any silver lining. About a quarter get by OK, break even and can say they enjoyed most of it. The remaining 25% luck out or maybe they brought one of those Ozzie style attitudes and can make the best of anything. Good for them.

There are a lot of threads on here covering your situation which I'm sure you will have perused.

Don't be fooled by ulta positive comments on here or by the spin the big mills like to put on it. You are not eligible to work for them without a Celta Equiv anyway...

To be frank - unless you are out of work and don't have any hope of finding a job, are running out of benefit entitlements etc I would just stay home and leave your Vietnam TEFL adventure for a few years. There are more and more down at heel westerners fetching up here and getting exploited, thereby spoiling the market for qualified long termers, and also doing a fairly lousy job as they try to work out what an adverb mght be...

But if your heart is set on it or you just have few better options (been there myself) then you are perfectly entitled to give it a try.

Bring 3000USD and a return ticket. Expect to leave with less than you brought. You won't be able to send money out of the country anyway.

[charlesmarlow]

[SElliott]

[deadlift]

[SElliott]

It was a 110 hour course, which is better than most online courses many people are taking (and successfully teaching with all over the globe). However, as I already said, it appears CELTA rules in Vietnam. Could someone explain to me what's so special about CELTA, what exactly puts it over the others?

People seem to look at CELTA as the be all end all of teaching certificates, but to be honest, from what I've read it's really no different than other in class certifications you have out there with the exception that there are more hours and feedback from the profs. Seems to be a glorified TEFL cert. Complaining about the CELTA will do little to change the fact that many big schools require it, but still, what's so special about it and more importantly, why do other countries seem to be more lenient on their requirements compared to Vietnam?

I spoke to a friend who was teaching in Korea and he states that while many schools say they 'require' a certain certification, it's still worth applying as they may still hire you. He's currently working at a school ran by the government that 'required' a TEFL cert and he was hired having only a BA. Is the situation different in Vietnam?

[skarper]

The deal with the non-Celta equiv courses is that anybody can set them and there is no oversight from an external body.

Ergo - they could by OK but more likely they have serious shortcomings. Now, plenty of Celta courses are pretty iffy too. Which is why better schools require an pass at grade 'B' or a years experience as well.

I wouldn't try to look for hidden meanings in the advice you get - old timers are not threatened seriously by newbies. Most have their niche carved out.

People with one or two years on the job are the ones who will tend to resent you, since you are probably as good as them and likely to be cheaper/less trouble to the management.

There is at least 2 tiers to EFL in Vietnam. Serious pl