Job Discussion Forums

monkel · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Australia

i have 2 yrs experience and i'm doing my masters in applied linguistics.... do i need tefl, celta or a "teaching" diploma to find work in vietnam?
thankyou to anyoone who takes the time to reply..........

Lee_Marrero · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 66 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

From what I am told you do not. I have been offered 2 jobs just with a BA

Paul John · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 52

Generally speaking, experience counts for more than qualifications. The best teaching positions normally require a degree + TEFL cert + experience. From what you've said about yourself, you're better qualified than the majority of TEFL teachers here. I doubt that you would have any difficulty getting a good position.

monkel · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Australia

thanks for your help guys! c u in vietnam.........

Guest · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:49 am Post subject:

I was in Vietnam (HCMC) in July and August - volunteering in an Orphanage and while I was there I was offered severanl "teaching conversational English" position at $10 US per hour.

I have at least 3 email contacts for Schools in Saigon if you would like them.

[email protected]

No Moss · Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 1995 Location: Thailand

Hi, I taught in Vietnam for 18 months. My experience in Ho Chi Minh city was that a TEFL of some sort helps (preferably a CELTA or a Trinity, since that seems to be the choice of the large Australian presence there). Generally, a TEFL gets you several more dollars an hour. There are many big schools that take you whatever your qualifications, but pay you less if you don't have a degree (TEFL doesn't seem to matter to them).

I like the Vietnamese, but I'm not sure that Vietnam is a place where many westerners would want to stay long term.

schwa · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 164 Location: yap

No Moss · Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 1995 Location: Thailand

Well, for example, people urinating (and occasionally worse) in the streets, extremely high density population in HCM City, intrusive government (can't have a girl in your room in most places after 10:30 p.m. or so), poor hygiene in restaurants even by Asian standards, high noise levels, dangerous traffic (you will go down at some point if you ride a motorbike), high percentage of drunk, BS'ing expats (and some really great people too, of course).

Vietnam has its charms, and it's OK for a year, but I wouldn't consider going back there.

Guest · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:32 am Post subject:

Yes, I basically agree. I was only there for two months as I could not seem to settle down and did not know why. At least it was HOT there.

It is BLOODY COLD here in China, but the minute I stepped foot here I knew I was in the right place and have no intentions of leaving. There is much more support here in China for teachers (first time ones anyway) and I love living at the School etc.

China is also cleaner - where I live and I have only seen 3 men urinating in the street in nearly 5 months (maybe it is too cold) but in Ho Chi Minh City I would see at least 3 per day.

Ajarn Miguk · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 227 Location: TDY As Assigned

No Moss · Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 1995 Location: Thailand

Well, HCM City has laws against unmarried men and women sharing a room in hotels, guest houses, and apartments, and that can be enforced by the landlord or by a midnight police visit. People manage to circumvent that problem after they get their feet on the ground, but it does limit their choices of places to live.

Certainly HCM City is not unique in having a high density of population--Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and others have the same problem. However, HCM City requires resident permits for Vietnamese, so that citizens without a HCMC permit can't really rent a place to live. That plus poverty creates a large number of "street citizens".

People do urinate on the sidewalks. They may do the same in other cities, perhaps in India or Indonesia, but they don't in most areas where the ELT business is good.

Traffic is worse in Bangkok, but not as dangerous (it goes too slow in Bangkok!). And there is always the Skytrain and the river taxis.

My opinions are leavened by 5 years in Asia and many cities visited, so I'm not a "newbie". You betcha not.

But it's worth a year, particularly for younger people. The people are nice, the beer and food are cheap, and the girls in their ao dai's are a sight to behold--elegantly beautiful.

Ajarn Miguk · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 227 Location: TDY As Assigned

No Moss · Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 1995 Location: Thailand

Sigh. Just not up for a urinating contest.

RowanM · Joined: 04 Mar 2004 Posts: 2

I don't want to have to live in a separate residence from my s.o. until I learn the ropes. Is there any difficulty finding a "real" apartment where you do not have to be married? I have never been to Vietnam, but I know every new country has enough hard lessons to learn without having to worry about being separated from your loved one every night! Is this a tough reality throughout Vietnam?