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2 years experience + TEFL?
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utopia69



Joined: 01 Jun 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Not at home
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 11:25 am    Post subject: 2 years experience + TEFL? Reply with quote
Hello, have been doing a search of the forums and was hoping to get some advice and up to date information if possible.
I'm hoping to teach in Vietnam later this year. I have been teaching in International schools in Egypt for over a year and previously taught in Europe in private schools after completing a training course (not TEFL) and had ongoing observation and guidance.

I do have an online TEFL and over 2 years experience teaching children and adults (with references), but the downside, no degree as I started working straight out of school (with a successful career in advertising/marketing though!).

I'm female, with English passport, in my early 30's. Do I really have a chance of getting employed in Vietnam? Realise I won't be able to get a work permit but would love to experience the country for 6-12 months.
I read somewhere that schools will only accept in class TEFL certs - is that something that I will need to have to do, even with my online cert and experience? Are International schools a definite no, or do they sometimes accept people in my situation?

Is Cambodia a better choice for me?

Appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks!
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RustyShackleford



Joined: 13 May 2013
Posts: 449
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 11:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Online TEFL is fine but lacking a degree will hurt your chances and likely reduce your paygrade.

Cambodia is the only realistic option at this point with your quals.
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skarper



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
No degree means no work permit and limits you to lower tier schools, part time hours and a lot of general annoyance.

Being female and with what seems to be some useful experience does help though.

I think you would find work and be able to manage for 6-12 months. You won't save much and may even lose some money. It depends on how hard you work, how lucky you are and how much you spend on rent/fun etc.

I have no idea if Cambodia is a more favourable market.
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EFL4Life



Joined: 30 Aug 2014
Posts: 25
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 3:37 pm    Post subject: Re: 2 years experience + TEFL? Reply with quote
.........................................

Last edited by EFL4Life on Fri Dec 30, 2016 6:50 am; edited 1 time in total
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TRH



Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 5:42 pm    Post subject: Re: 2 years experience + TEFL? Reply with quote
EFL4Life wrote:
utopia69 wrote:
I have been teaching in International schools in Egypt for over a year
You could not have been teaching at an International school.
It does seem that the term "international school" is a rather slippery one. In Vietnam they seem to vary from those that can send students to top tier universities abroad to those that simply have a few hours a day of instruction in English. What they are in Egypt could be another whole matter.

I am less sure now but didn't 5 years of experience (still more than the 2 years for the OP) previously qualify as a substitution for a Bachelor's degree. That may have changed but I haven't focused on it. I did have a friend without a degree who paid a lawyer $1000 for his work permit. Surely a fair share of that went to bribed officials. He was a good teacher but got canned supposedly because of complaints about his Glaswegian accent. However, when I polled some of his students they said his accent was fine with them. I think he was being manipulated by his agent to move him to another school. Accent may not be a problem for the OP but the story is indicative of how someone without a degree can be tossed around.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 5:57 pm    Post subject: Re: 2 years experience + TEFL? Reply with quote
utopia69 wrote:
I have been teaching in International schools in Egypt for over a year and previously taught in Europe in private schools after completing a training course (not TEFL) and had ongoing observation and guidance.

I do have an online TEFL and over 2 years experience teaching children and adults (with references), but the downside, no degree.

What exactly did you teach for those two years?
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skarper



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
PostPosted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 11:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Whether or not the OP worked in International schools in Egypt she will not be able to do so legally in Vietnam.

She will be limited to multiple part time gigs at the lower end of an already rather debased market.

Some people like this as it allows them to work as much or as little as they want while enjoying the lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that surely?

I think the basics of her situation are well covered. There are hundreds of people very like her who spend a few months in Vietnam 'teaching' before moving on to greener pastures. Just as long as she knows what she's letting herself in for.
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utopia69



Joined: 01 Jun 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Not at home
PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2016 6:59 am    Post subject: Re: 2 years experience + TEFL? Reply with quote
EFL4Life wrote:


You could not have been teaching at an International school.



Happy to send you a copy of my contract and link to school website if that will make you feel better and less confused?
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utopia69



Joined: 01 Jun 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Not at home
PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2016 6:59 am    Post subject: Re: 2 years experience + TEFL? Reply with quote
nomad soul wrote:

What exactly did you teach for those two years?


English!
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utopia69



Joined: 01 Jun 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Not at home
PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2016 7:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
skarper wrote:

She will be limited to multiple part time gigs at the lower end of an already rather debased market.

Some people