Job Discussion Forums

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Greetings all,

I've read this forum and have found a lot of good information regarding qualifications to teach in Vietnam. Although people are saying it is becoming pretty much mandatory to have a CELTA/TEFL, I'm wondering if there are some reputable, decent-paying, schools in HCMC that would give a serious look at my qualifications, sans a CELTA/TEFL:

BA: English
MA: Communications
Advanced Certificate of Education: Human Resource Education

4 yrs: Teaching SpComm classes: Public Speaking, etc. (US University)
1 yr: High School English (US)
1 yr: 1st Grade (in Mexico)
920 teaching hours: ESL for Adults (Latino and Vietnamese students)

I'm looking into all possibilities (Universities, commercial schools, etc). I know I don't qualify for ILA and the like, but I know a great deal of good jobs aren't posted on the internet. In any case, I'm going -- already got my ticket to arrive January 1st -- but I'm wondering if I should just plan on doing a CELTA my first month there or whether I can approach schools with these qualifications and anticipate decent offers for decent positions.

Again, I'm arriving January 1st, which is right around the corner. I appreciate any helpful information from everyone,and especially people who've been in hiring capacities.

Thanks much. I'm looking forward to meeting some of you soon!

inky · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 283 Location: Hanoi

Plenty of schools would be happy to hire you, including "ILA and the like." The real issue is the Work Permit, would the government accept your credentials in lieu of an additional certificate. My educated guess is 'yes,' but things have gotten a lot more strict. You need the WP for an extended stay.

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Thanks for your reply, Inky. As for the WP, I wonder if the government would accept the Ed degree.... Does anyone have a pointer to more information on this? The question is, Does a person with advanced, Ed, degrees and experience need a CELTA for a WP?

As I think through this, I think lecturers at Universities need only a MA or PhD and seem to get WPs, while Int'l school teachers get them with a BA and teaching certificate. It "seems" logically possible, but it'd be good to get some specific info. We're talking $1500 for the CELTA and no income for a month -- it's a pretty big question for me.

Thanks again, Inky.

vit · Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 14

The requirements for a work permit are somewhat open to interpretation:

3. Specialists are foreigners who possess high-level professional qualifications and technical expertise in services, research equipment, technique or management (including engineers or persons with engineer-equivalent or higher qualifications; artisans of traditional trades) and those with a lot of professional, production and business administration or management experience.

(http://vbqppl.moj.gov.vn/law/en/2001_to_2010/2008/200803/200803250001_en)

I don't know if it would work, but why not try contacting the Department of Immigration Management Department and Ministry of the Public Security [email protected] and asking them for an assessment of your qualifications?

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Wow, Vit. I ran that e-mail address through google and your message (in this very thread) was returned in the results. That was just a matter of a few minutes. Ok, I will do this. Thank you: you gave me information I could not have found on my own. I will follow up asap.

CThomas

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

I didn't hear back from the gov't staff, but, according to the decree, I figure I both a. qualify for a work permit (advanced degrees and 5 yrs experience) and b. don't need one, being the an owner of a LLC.

Green Acres · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 260

Your credentials are fine. It looks like you have a teaching certificate from a US state, is that correct? If so, then bypass the ESL establishment and work for an international school teaching in your field. As well, there are several semi-international schools that have recently opened their doors that would love to hire you. Many of them do not recruit overseas, so you may not have heard of them.

The only factor working against you is the timing. Coming in January is really the tail end of an ESL teaching year, when classes are fewer and teachers are taking vacations, etc. After Tet, it will pick up. As for the international schools, they may have a vacancy that you can fill until the new year when you will be hired full time, but at the same time, they may not. Bring lots of cash.

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Green Acres,

My Advanced Certificate of Education is a post-masters degree in Adult Education and Corporate Training. While not state certified, I've taught teachers with these credentials. And I've worked at an American School in Mexico, including developing their curriculum based on California and North Carolina standards. I'd really like to teach at an International School as you've suggested here. I don't know how intimately experienced you are with the Int'l schools, but is that enough to catch their attention or is it an iron-clad rule in Saigon Int'l schools that the certification must be a state one.

Thanks for your input,

CT