Job Discussion Forums

[jobjimmyx1]

Hi, I'm a new teacher having just graduated CELTA. I have lots of offers from Korea and China; but it's a bit more challenging in Vietnam. Any help with a recruiter and/or school contact would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[I'm With Stupid]

ILA
Apollo
VUS
Language Link

[jobjimmyx1]

Thank you. I've hit 3 out of the 4 with no responses yet; so I'll try the 4th for sure! Many people have also told me that it's easier to get a job once you hit the ground there. Much appreciated.

[snollygoster]

Hit the ground- Pound on doors. Bring your CV etc and leave copies with who ever at the places mentioned (and more), get business cards and CALL BACK.
I dont know if you are in HCMC or Hanoi, but some advice:
In HCMC be proactive- attack the job finding task aggressively (dont use a recruiter-save your money and your nerves).
In Hanoi, more softly softly- same tactic, just a bit more refined.
If not successful, pm me with your details-I can open doors.

[tefl peasant]

Email doesn't really bode well in Saigon or Hanoi.

Sometimes it does, but often not. As noted, hit the ground, visit.

These schools mentioned above are factories. Mills. They churn 'em and burn 'em, and you will land somewhere.

[jobjimmyx1]

You folks are great! Thank you so much.
Jim

[tefl peasant]

[bingmayong]

[jobjimmyx1]

Thank you both, much appreciated.

[hot_rock]

There is indeed at LL on Vo Thi sau but its -literally and metaphorically- in the shadow of VUS! And as far as I know, its the only branch here.

In hanoi on the other hand, LL is the biggest player. VUS is the LL of SaiGon; and vice-versa.

And before anyone starts, yes I realise VUS isn't the "best" school in Saigon, or LL in Hanoi- but they are the biggest in terms of number of students and campuses (and hence teachers, I assume)

Incidentally, people (on this board especially) often bemoan the fact that the mills e.g. VUS, LL, ILA provide an inferior standard of education than some of the smaller schools. I am not challenging the view; I work of VUS and am well aware of the fact that many students there learn pretty much nothing at all. But apart from -in Saigon- ACET and RMIT, who exactly are these schools which are superior yet rarely discussed?

To go even further off the OP, I have to point out that the kind of student care provided at ACET et al is extremely costly (for the enrolling student, anyway...), and that for an rapidly-growing proportion of Saigon's population, schools like VUS are actually pretty cheap.

[snollygoster]

VATC is probably the biggest "mill" in Vietnam with campuses galore in HCMC, also in Vinh Long, Can Tho, Danang, Quang Ngai, Dong Nai, Nha Trang, and more (None in Hanoi although they used to have one there).
VATC has been the launching ground of many a successful ESL career in Vietnam, and despite much adverse "press", does deliver what it promises to teachers. It was once owned by a gentleman named Peter Phan (not related to Tinkerbell) and his generosity to teachers was legendary. Now owned by a company called "Blackhorse" and the generosity thing has disappeared.

Similar to VUS etc-

Language Link in HCMC is not really of the same "quality" as its northern parent, and teacher horror stories abound.

Another "biggie" to add to the mix is Cleverlearn- not as bad as some suggest (opinion), but far from the likes of ACET or RMIT.

In most, a degree in tom-foolery would be an appropriate practical qualification, and a box of face paints would be good to have in the kit.
If considering ACET or RMIT, put on the more sensible hat.

[haller_79]

VATC wouldn't let me use their photocopier. This is the title of a book I may or may not publish depending on public interest.

[snollygoster]

The photocopier seems to be a massive problem with a lot of Viet owned establishments- The foreign owned ones- Language Link, ACET etc, allow teachers to use it as much as is needed.
How can you deliver resources to paying students if schools try so hard to prevent you delivering the programs they get paid for?

I have witnessed many a farce at the photocopier- having to order 3 days in advance, only being allowed to order 6 copies (to give a class of 20- a worksheet each), and similar stupid stories- Photocopy man is only available from midnight on Tuesdays to 4am, and you have to have a piece of paper signed by the Pope and bearing a red stamp from Vladimir Putin to get any copies done- and then the machine (the one and only) is broken down, or produces such poor quality copies that they cant be used anyway.

All to support teachers do their job well!

There are no restrictions on face paint and big funny shoes- They are kept in the Directors office when he/she is not wearing them.

[deadlift]

Ah, the photocopier.

SEAMEO on Le Thanh Ton required copies to be ordered 3 days in advance. You filled in your slip, left it with your book ("what if you need the book for another class?" I asked) in a tray, and hoped that the copying got done correctly. Clearly, no chance of cutting/ pasting together parts of pages.

Paying $15 an hour, they expected this degree of forward planning.

[tefl peasant]