Job Discussion Forums

dan_2012 · Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

Hi y'all.

I'm coming to Vietnam next year to see whether I'd be a good ESOL teacher. I plan to do a CELTA while I'm there to help my job-placement chances. Here's the thing -- I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (4 year degree). Most of the ads I see for teachers -- and most of the sites of the more respectable language schools -- specify that they want someone with a B.A. Am I going to find that my artsy degree will hold me back? Will my prospective employers size me up on an intellectual level, or simply look to see what formal qualifications I have?

Would appreciate any advice or comments. I'll be in Vietnam in April for a month, but just to have a look around.

kh1311 · Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 16

They just state BA meaning a bachelor's degree. It doesn't matter what kind as much as the fact that you have one.

UpScope · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 82

Your "Artsy" degree will be fine and throw in a Celta and you will have no problem getting a teaching position and the required work permit.

comenius · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:52 am Post subject:

Yup, a 4 year degree of any kind is all you need to work legally. It could be in art history or mechanical engineering, as long as you graduated and can show your diploma to prove it. Smile

dan_2012 · Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

Thanks for the replies.

I'm kinda worried about bringing the original document. I've read that some schools want you to get it notorized or certified or otherwise looked-at by some local psuedo-authority. Is this always the case? Couldn't I just bring a copy or a scan?

Actually, I'm thinking about trying to get a 3 month contact at the first school I work for, in which case am I correct in believing that the notorization/work-permit BS is an unnecessary formality?

UpScope · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 82

Original certs are fine. Don't worry too much about that at all. Totally normal in this part for the world where authorities are just expecting forgeries rather than the real thing. Just a reflection on where we are.

If you do need it to be notarised, then the NZ embassy / consulate will do this on the spot. Not all offices of other countries will, but i believe that the NZ ones will.