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leretif9
Joined: 24 Mar 2013
Posts: 152
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 Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:01 am Post subject: What are minimum requirements for ESL work in HCMC? |
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How realistic is it to assume that I can get work teaching ESL and pay my bills if:
I arrive in Saigon/HCMC with $2000,
and my only qualifications are being a native speaker and having a BA in English? I have no previous experience teaching ESL.
Thanks in advance... |
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skarper
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:59 am Post subject: |
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Getting by - probably manage if you don't live the high life.
If you have serious debts or a need to save money - slim. People like you usually make about 1200-1500 a month. Sometimes more if they work a lot.
Tax will be a big bite of this - and the costs of visa runs will eat up several hundred USD a year.
If you can save up enough to do a CELTA [and work hard enough for 30 days to pass it] then you can significantly up your level. But that is quite a big if. It costs about 3000USD to do this and quite a lot of people drop out because it's hard work.
Many many threads on this already - so check them out for other POVs. |
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RustyShackleford
Joined: 13 May 2013
Posts: 449
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| It can be done. Read my thread "Saga of a Vietnam TEFL Newbie" for a blow-by-blow breakdown of my departure and arrival. |
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mk87
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 61
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:10 am Post subject: |
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| A celta isn't $3000... or if it is I'd like to know who it is who is charging that. Its around $1700 at ILA and Apollo. |
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skarper
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| You do have to factor in the cost of accommodation and food 'cos they are not included. And you could also factor in lost earnings - which IMO means to do a CELTA costs about 5000USD. |
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ieltsteacher102
Joined: 24 Jun 2014
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| rusty i dont have time to look for that can you send me a link also how long can i survive on 2000 usd do they have dorm rooms in hcmc also can you tell me about veg restaurants and can i ride a moto without a drivers license |
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RustyShackleford
Joined: 13 May 2013
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 10:37 am Post subject: Re: What are minimum requirements for ESL work in HCMC? |
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| leretif9 wrote: |
How realistic is it to assume that I can get work teaching ESL and pay my bills if:
I arrive in Saigon/HCMC with $2000,
and my only qualifications are being a native speaker and having a BA in English? I have no previous experience teaching ESL.
Thanks in advance... |
Yeah, on 2 g's you'll need to really be thrifty. Set-up shop in the D-1 backpacker "ghetto" of Pham Ngu Lao/Bui Vien Streets. Buy a pirate copy of LP. Get a map. Learn the buses or ride a xe om. Apply to every single language center in the area.
GOOD LUCK! |
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VietCanada
Joined: 30 Nov 2010
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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Legally you need a bachelors degree and a teaching certificate. The teaching certificate is described as a TEFL,TESOL or equivalent. These can be earned online for 200 to 300 dollars. It would take a couple weeks to 6 months to complete the course depending on the course itself and your knowledge of or skill with English grammar.
Teaching illegally could get you arrested, fined and a record that would make travelling from your home country all but impossible. I don't know of anyone that has been arrested for teaching illegally. |
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ExpatLuke
Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Posts: 744
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:18 am Post subject: |
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The biggest start-up costs are buying a motorbike and paying 3 months + 1 month deposit on housing.
Both of those can be avoided if you're happy with cheap public transportation (buses) and staying in a guesthouse for awhile (some allow for long term renting). |
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ExpatLuke
Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Posts: 744
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:20 am Post subject: |
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| VietCanada wrote: |
Legally you need a bachelors degree and a teaching certificate. The teaching certificate is described as a TEFL,TESOL or equivalent. These can be earned online for 200 to 300 dollars. It would take a couple weeks to 6 months to complete the course depending on the course itself and your knowledge of or skill with English grammar.
Teaching illegally could get you arrested, fined and a record that would make travelling from your home country all but impossible. I don't know of anyone that has been arrested for teaching illegally. |
Actually, I don't think the teaching certificate is required if you have a teaching or English related degree. I know someone who has a Linguistics and no TESOL certificate degree and she's had no problems getting a work permit. |
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VietCanada
Joined: 30 Nov 2010
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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I can't speak to that but the two items are in fact listed separately on the application for a work permit.
One would need both a B.Ed. and a teaching certification of some sort to get a legal work permit.
Your friend is an outlier. I suspect that there's more to her situation than meets the eye. With all due respect to the two of you. |
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TRH
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| ExpatLuke wrote: |
| Actually, I don't think the teaching certificate is required if you have a teaching or English related degree. I know someone who has a Linguistics and no TESOL certificate degree and she's had no problems getting a work permit. |
I believe this is correct technically, at least the teaching degree part. I have a BEd and when I was handing documents over to my lawyer, she said that since I had the BEd that she would not need my TEFL certificate. She though about it for a few seconds more and then said that she had better take it anyway. I imagine that this was based on her experience that bureaucrats can have their own interpretations of rules even if the rules explicitly state otherwise. Better safe than sorry.
| VietCanada wrote: |
| Your friend is an outlier. I suspect that there's more to her situation than meets the eye. With all due respect to the two of you. |
I suppose you really could say that someone getting a permit by simply complying with the rules as they are written is an outlier here. |
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tmac-100
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| skarper wrote: |
| You do have to factor in the cost of accommodation and food 'cos they are not included. And you could also factor in lost earnings - which IMO means to do a CELTA costs about 5000USD. |
There, there, opportunity costs that you point out are why most of my HS graduating class got minimal qualifications - and why I make a HELL OF A LOT more money than they. I took 2 years off from work and the opportunity cost was $18K in lo Just my opinion based on years of observations. Again, YMMV st wages. Then I spent $5K for training... My salary increased by $6k a year. The rest is history...
If you just take courses for more money - then you are doomed to be disappointed with the results. There is NO guarantee wrt money - or health - or ...
YMMV 
FWIW, a year ago I took a month-long vacation and took a CELTA at IH BKK. It was less expensive thn doing it in the UK, EU, or the MENA. Most folks there were spending the money (and losing earnings) to GET HIGHER WAGES once they were CELTA-qualified.
Your opportunity cost is a RED HERRING. |
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