Job Discussion Forums

threetowns · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 6

Greetings All,

First off, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and knowledge. I've been lurking through the threads and they've been very helpful.

I am a Vietnamese American (U.S. citizen) and recently passed the CELTA program. I have an extensive background in Finance, but a very limited teaching experience, and I'm looking for entry-level teaching positions in HCMC.

I would love to hear from anyone with a similar background. Thanks.

threetowns · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 6

Wow, no replies. This must be a sensitive subject.

I was hoping to secure a job before heading back to Vietnam, but it seems like I will have to apply in person.

What route should I take in terms of visas if I'm to do this?
(Visa length, visa beforehand or upon arrival, etc.?)

Also, will it be difficult to convert a tourist visa when entering the country into a work visa/work permit if I land a job?

Your experiences and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

MrMrLuckyKhan · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:39 pm Post subject:

...well, someone has to tell him........ ummm....

As u may already know, it might hurt you in some (probably most) cases that you are look Vietnamese and want to be a Native English teacher. I'm not living there now, but I'm sure someone will come along shortly and throw some info at you... Good luck to you and have fun!!!

threetowns · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 6

I anticipated a cold reception from employers, but didn't expect the silent treatment from the forum members. A bit discouraging...

Thanks Khan for your honesty.

Andy123 · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 206

Do not expect that there will be a parade or a welcome back party because you decided to come back.

S.E. Asian expats have a very negative reputation of being unfriendly and insular so do not expect much help.

It sounds like you have not done your research. You are going to have to spend many hours on the net reading and deciphering. Do not expect free advice and if you do be careful of the source.

You will have some issues with employment but there are jobs for the Viet Kieu. I know many and like the rest of the expats some are completely off their rockers and some are fine examples of good human beings. I know several Kieu�s that exploit their position and take advantage of the natives.These folks make me sick.

Some hate the Viet Kieu, some love to use them and some just love them. At the end of the day you will be viewed as just another Tay.

When looking for a job at "most" schools do not tell them you speak Viet, if you do. You will have to learn to be selective with the truth about everything you do. Just like the rest of use.

Best of luck.

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

MOD EDIT Then, so much of what is interesting is also controversial. I had not even thought of the Viet Kieu part of your question until I saw others reference it. Of course, we cannot know who they are by looking, so I do not have a big opinion on them like I might other groups here that I can actually identify. My VN friends do repeat what other posters have said. For one thing, parents want their children taught by English teachers who look western. If you speak both languages well, logically, it should be quite an advantage, but at this time, it seems to be a liability to look VN and teach English. Westerners get extra respect because they look western, especially in the classroom. The more touchy subject (if that one is not bad enough) is the overall reputation of Viet Kieu here. Seems that they often treat the natives as poor, dumb country bumpkins. Not always, but enough of them do that they have that reputation. If you are nice, they may never know you are Viet Kieu (in normal street life), so you are not counteracting that bad reputation, but if you are a jerk, they probably figure it out, and so you add to it. As you surely know, life is not always fair, and perhaps that is even more true over here. But, if you really love it here, you have to accept the difficulties in return for the great rewards.

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

IES (International English School) will hire VKs.

101 Nguyen Van Cu
Dist.5 Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM
Phone: 3923-4390

or Nguyen Beau Str. in D5

hot_rock · Joined: 16 Apr 2010 Posts: 107

Don't read too much into the fact that you didn't get a reply; people just can't be bothered, i think! the thing about this forum is that a topic can get a thousand views and only ten actual responses. Many people scan it without contributing (myself included, usually!!)

Your Q has also been asked before a few times.

If you have a CELTA (and did you ay a degree too? I forget), then you WILL get a job. They will probably use the fact that you look vietnamese as an excuse to offer you a slightly lower wage; you will have to stand firm and haggle at the interview stage.

I know a Viet kieu who works at ACET (one of the best schools in saigon). He had very little experience. he gets two dollars an hour less than the starting wage for whites...but the ACET wage is high generally...and these "starting wage" figures change like the weather anyway. if wages are on the decrease, get a job now and in a year's time you may be on more than the white new-starts.

I also know one at VUS (the biggest school in saigon). he's on about 30% less than me, a white new-start.

Viet kieu might have a bad reputation in general but i wouldn't worry too much about that;if you're a good person people will see that and act accordingly exactly as if you were from any other country. Anyone who is prejudiced in the long-run despite the fact that you do not fit the stereotype is almost certainly not worth giving a toss about anyway, like any racist.

threetowns · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 6

I want to preface that I'm an active member of other online forums and hate it when new members are too lazy to use the "search" function. I had started this thread because I was not able to message anyone privately due to the minimum post requirement, and had hoped to reach out to another Vietnamese American or someone who transitioned into teaching English from a business background (I noticed there was another thread about day trading in Vietnam).

Andy, thanks. I wasn't expecting a welcome parade and I have done some research. Note my first post where I mentioned I have been lurking on the site (also other ESL forums) and my third post where I wrote that "I expected a cold response from employers." It's unfortunate that Viet Kieu's have such a bad reputation.

Mark, I hope I didn't come off as a jerk. I think a jerk in any country would be disliked. I have experimented including and not including my Vietnamese language skills on applications and have received mixed results. It's difficult to mask a "Nguyen" last name though. My apologies for not clarifying the Viet Kieu aspect--- I thought "Vietnamese American" implied this.

CThomas, thank you very much!

hot_rock, I was only able to find another thread on this forum about Viet Kieu, and that thread was quite short. I do have a B.S. in Finance with 8 years of experience with various financial firms. I'm OK with the uneven pay. Thanks for the encouragement.

Vietnam is foreign land to me, not a return home. And like with all foreign places I've visited, I will treat the area and people with reserved respect and admiration. Thank you all for the well wishes and I hope one day to be able to share my experiences with others on this board.

jayasia · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 65 Location: Isaan

i posted this before on here....
http://www.wordhcmc.com/insider/160-general/763-for-whites-only

i can assure u none of the comments at the bottom were mine.

i have faarr more important things to do!

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

You're welcome. Just get some experience and keep at it: teach and network, teach and network. Many, many opportunities will open up for you.

Andy123 · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 206

Hot_rock what great advice-if you are a good person people will see. That sums it up perfectly.

As far as "masking" your name, Nguyen, it has been done quit successful by some. A good example in the infamous Viet Kieu businessman who changed his name from Nguyen to L.....

I know many fine VK who are fantastic teachers who truely care about their students and want to give back. Unfortuantely, I know too many VK who think it is perfectly acceptable to treat the Viets like stupid country bumkins who think it is okay to cheat, use and abuse.

I wish you a happy and successful journey.

epicbest · Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

Viet Kieu here,

I'm at ILA. One of the biggest language schools in the country.

A lot of negativity surrounds ILA for its overly corporate culture, but on this issue they must receive some plaudits. I received a complaint from a student in my first week of teaching because of the colour of my skin. The management threw the complaint out and has supported me throughout. I also get paid the same as other new starters.

This is less likely to happen in the smaller schools where professionalism isn't so well entrenched, making it more difficult to secure a well-paid position (or a position at all). Therefore I advise you to apply at one of the larger schools like the aforementioned, Language Link, ACET and others.

Hope this helps you. Good luck!

p.s. for a glimpse of Viet Kieu life:

http://jamathy.wordpress.com/

jerrycomo · Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 15

Ay ay ay... It's really depressing to read that "white is all right" in Asian countries.

threetowns · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 6

Jay, what a disheartening read. One of the comments from the article suggests a dislike for New Yorkers. I'm doubly screwed then, ha!

Thanks again CThomas and Andy.

Epic, informative and enticing blog--- thanks for the glimpse. Unfortunately, I applied to ILA HCMC and was not granted an interview. I'm still hopeful about the other schools though.

Jerry, ditto.