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Teaching English in Vietnam vs Korea
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bobbybob



Joined: 29 Jul 2013
Posts: 10
PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:24 pm    Post subject: Teaching English in Vietnam vs Korea Reply with quote
Hi

I recently came across this really useful website about teaching english in the above said countries:
MOD EDIT

However, it is a couple of years old and I was wondering whether anyone had any up-to-date info.
I understand savings can be made in both Korea and 'Nam. But 2 years later in 2013 what kinds of savings can be made these days?
Can you make £10,000 worth of savings after 1 year in Vietnam?

Also, is it still possible to just turn up in Vietnam and get a job at the language insitutes?

I have a BA and CELTA qualification.

Thanks
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skarper



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Saving 10 000 a year would be difficult and impossible in the first year with basic qualifications etc. At International schools and the top places maybe..but it is hard to land these jobs and they tend to go to people with experience and connections.

Work is always available in the big cities but not like it was. The bigger chains can be choosey and for quite odd reasons, so just turning up expecting to work at ILA/Apollo can make for a jolt. They seem to like people to go through their process - though supply and demand will also apply.

Korean job board will fill you in on Korea. My info is 5 years out of date.
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Tigerstyleone



Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181
PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 7:51 am    Post subject: Re: Teaching English in Vietnam vs Korea Reply with quote
bobbybob wrote:

Can you make £10,000 worth of savings after 1 year in Vietnam?

Thanks


No you cannot. No housing, no benefits, no severance, no pension, no camps, no airfare, no abundance of private students. Plus you have to invest in airfare, motorbike, housing deposit or hotel, notary stamps, legal documents, visas, maybe even some shirt and ties etc. You're behind a month's salary or two before you even get started.

But as soon as I post this another Senior Member will come through and talk about his big money job at British Council or RMIT and tell you he saves $20,000 a year. So there it is.
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vabeckele



Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:11 am    Post subject: Re: Teaching English in Vietnam vs Korea Reply with quote
Tigerstyleone wrote:
bobbybob wrote:

Can you make £10,000 worth of savings after 1 year in Vietnam?

Thanks


No you cannot. No housing, no benefits, no severance, no pension, no camps, no airfare, no abundance of private students. Plus you have to invest in airfare, motorbike, housing deposit or hotel, notary stamps, legal documents, visas, maybe even some shirt and ties etc. You're behind a month's salary or two before you even get started.

But as soon as I post this another Senior Member will come through and talk about his big money job at British Council or RMIT and tell you he saves $20,000 a year. So there it is.


Yeah, when I got here I was able to put half of my money away and that was about the figure you mentioned. But as I have become more involved, the less I make. This is also due to some pretty drastic changes here in Hanoi. I do not know about down south. I personally think Hanoi is shooting itself in the foot. They actually look at you in disbelief when asked if there are paid holidays. Not a good sign.
There are fresh grads like yourself working for RMIT and the like but it is like winning the lottery. With so many teachers applying for that one winning number...

Having said all that Vietnam can offer some pretty good personal time. You can work 8-10 hours a week and make a thousand bucks. But those jobs are few and far between - Try that in Korea.

I would also like to mention the fact of other countries and employers looking at your resume and finding a bunch of C1, C2 and B3 visas when you should in fact have a work permit and/or some kind of residency. If you haven't been paying taxes, then what were you doing? And this is a valid question for a potential hiring school. If you are looking for professional advancement I would ensure an employer here crosses all of the Ts and dots the Is - Korea can do that; offer perfect visibility and put money in the bank.
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Tigerstyleone



Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181
PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The OP was asking about 10,000 UK Pounds which is $15,000 USD.
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vabeckele



Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tigerstyleone wrote:
The OP was asking about 10,000 UK Pounds which is $15,000 USD.


With no holidays I managed to save about a thousand bucks a month and go out everyday. I am not doing that at the moment, nor have I been for a while now. I guess 10,000 dollars to be about right. Perhaps a little more.

I am out of here, again, within a few weeks. I want to feel what transparency feels like again. But I will be back.
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Mushroom Druid



Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 91
PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
vabeckele wrote:
I am out of here, again, within a few weeks. I want to feel what transparency feels like again. But I will be back.


You're leaving and/or taking a break from VN.

I left VN also and I will wait a year before deciding to return or not.

There is work in Hanoi, but it does sound like good work.

Plus, the visa and work permit charade.
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vabeckele



Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mushroom Druid wrote:
vabeckele wrote:
I am out of here, again, within a few weeks. I want to feel what transparency feels like again. But I will be back.


You're leaving and/or taking a break from VN.

I left VN also and I will wait a year before deciding to return or not.

There is work in Hanoi, but it does sound like good work.

Plus, the visa and work permit charade.


If you were in Hanoi you left at the right time. I will be out for the next academic year only to visit. If things have changed for the better I'll return, but I won't hold my breath.
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Mushroom Druid



Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 91
PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
vabeckele wrote:
Mushroom Druid wrote:
vabeckele wrote:
I am out of here, again, within a few weeks. I want to feel what transparency feels like again. But I will be back.


You're leaving and/or taking a break from VN.

I left VN also and I will wait a year before deciding to return or not.

There is work in Hanoi, but it does sound like good work.

Plus, the visa and work permit charade.


If you were in Hanoi you left at the right time. I will be out for the next academic year only to visit. If things have changed for the better I'll return, but I won't hold my breath.


I was in Hanoi. I felt and feel that the market is changing.