Job Discussion Forums

[butterbean]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum; hope you guys can provide some advice. I just accepted a director/manager position at a new school in Thanh Hoa, about 5 minutes outside of TH city.

Is anyone else near there?

I have 6 years ESL teaching, curriculum, and managing under my belt. I accepted the position but am waiting to see the contract...which is making me a little concerned. My contact here (in the US) has been very forthright about providing info, etc. but I'm waiting to get some more concrete details.

So...any advice would be welcome as far as negotiating a contract in VN, expected living conditions, etc. I gather TH is a bit more remote than HCMC or HN; I'm wondering how remote.

ALSO- I'm a single mom and will be bringing my 2yo son with me, so any advice about hiring a nanny, having kids in VN would be REALLY appreciated.

Thanks!

[BenE]

I've never been there myself but I know people who work out in more remote cities in Vietnam.

I'd say it's certainly quite far away from Hanoi and the more established expat community. It's also in the more central provences that aren't normally popular for expats to live in. You might find 1 or 2 teachers making a living out there but nobody here talks about going there to teach.

For any services out there you're going to have to rely on local knowledge from your boss and your ability to learn Vietnamese quickly.

Personally I'd be careful about accepting such a job.
Some more experienced teachers here who I've talked to have told me that they've seen new VN owned schools that sprout up outside of Hanoi and offer senior positions. However, when the person arrives they find that it hasn't been built yet or the actual wages offered are much lower than stated. Is it a Vietnamese or Western owned company?

Then again if you're desperate to get out here then you can always easily come back to Hanoi and find some work here if it doesn't work out.

[inky]

That's very good advice from Ben. I would also caution you about going to Thanh Hoa with such a young child, simply because the conveniences and supportive ex-pat community that you'd find in HCMC or Hanoi simply won't be there. Thanh Hoa province is one of the poorest in Vietnam, and the city can be a rough place. You won't be in any danger, I'm not saying that, but in many ways it's not a pleasant environment. A lot of the residents would be happy to get out of there; many of the young people who work the streets of Hanoi or do menial construction and other very low-level jobs have come to the capital from Thanh Hoa, looking for a better life.

For some teachers, it would be an adventure and a challenge. But with a toddler to worry about, I don't know...

Also, you don't say if you've ever been to Vietnam. If you haven't already experienced the country, you really ought to check if it's really for you, and then have a look at Thanh Hoa.

[saigon cowboy]

Working in Vietnam with a toddler to worry about is tough, i wouldn't do it myself.
You can find a nanny to help you, but the language barrier is an obstacle everywhere, especially where you are going.

Good advice from inky and ben.

[butterbean]

Thanks so much for the advice, folks!

I have seen photos of the school; it's about 5 min outside of TH city, not deep into the countryside.

I've asked several times about health facilities, and the "Head of School", who is a guy from Boston, informed me they would be hiring a doctor. He's been my point person and has been very good so far about answering all of my questions...but not all of them.

I guess I feel a little bit better, actually, taking my son to a more rural place in the sense of less traffic, more room to run (the school/fac housing is on a lot of land) and less pollution. I had my son in South Korea and although the health facilities were stellar (I'd rec. it to anyone!) the traffic and pollution were a real headache.

I'm thinking if I set up a "Plan B" whereby we head up to Hanoi if things are bad, I'd feel better about this.

Please, keep the advice coming, though. Much, much appreciated, and excellent food for thought. I certainly don't want to find myself neck-deep in merde when I get there

[butterbean]

BenE

I ought to add that it is a VN owned school, my contact is American. The school is the Thanh Hoa American School. If you have the occasion to converse with those folks living in less-populated areas, I'd love their input.

I am unfamiliar with contract negotiations in VN; usually, I negotiate the contract until it is satisfactory for both parties. Does that apply to VN as well? Should I ask for "more" considering I'll be in a relatively remote location?

I assumed that more established schools would be less willing to employ a single parent, hence my interest in this position. If I am in error so much the better!

[inky]

Actually, there are some established schools that would prefer to hire a parent, single or not, because that probably translates into a more reliable employee (you won't be coming to school badly hung over or calling in "sick" on a Sunday morning, and you would probably take your responsibilities more seriously in general than a younger person whose priorities may be different). Yes, you might have to call in due to your son being sick, but that's legitimate and less annoying to the school.

[lucreziaborgia]

Hi, TH is not a good idea under any circumstances.
I speak from experience and advise anyone to think seriously before working there.
I have not heard of any such school opening in TH; it has a university and to my knowledge - one private English language school across the road from the university.
It lacks any Western facilities and altho' that may sound romantic from a distance - the reality is something else.
If you have a partner, it maybe tolerable for a few months. I would not take a child there.

[BenE]

With your EFL experience it sounds like you'd have little trouble finding work in Hanoi. I'd be happy to talk more about this when you are certain you want to come to Hanoi.

[SafireRings]

Just wondering if Butterbean ever went out to this school? How was it?

(I'm talking w/ the school right now, and the job offer sounds interesting, but I know how many bait-and-switch "English schools" there are in Asia!)

[uruguay1]

If you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, you may want to consider Vung Tau. It is on the southern coast and about 2 hours from HCMC. Even quicker if you take the ferry. Besides the language academies there, many of the oil companies hire teachers to teach their staff. There is a small expat community if you think you need that. Just my opinion, but I would go to Vietnam and look round before signing a contract. About hiring a nanny, you may want to consult with expats who have been there a while and let them recommend someone. Just be careful, thats all.

[AmanJivan]

I have little knowledge about Thanh Hoa American school, but think I have passed it in my travels.

Thanh Hoa is a pleasant town, quiet by Hanoi or Saigon standards but still a nice place. There is only one supermarket in town and it is not that good. It is a nice town to live in, but it is not the night life mecca of Vietnam. Currently there are about 8 foreigners living in the city, some from Germany the others from USA.

there are only one or two restaurants that serve Western food, but in general the food choices are good.

It is a very safe town to live in and has an excellent beach which is just 5000 dong bus ride from the town. The beach is deserted most of the year, so if you like a bit of peace and quiet by the sea it is a great place to be.

however, if you are the least bit insecure and need support from an expat community it could be hard going.

I made lots of local friends there and found the locals friendly and helpful.

I will email a few friends and see what I can find out about the school in mention