Job Discussion Forums

[tgrear2008]

Well,

Title says it all. Am I good to go for Vietnam with a BA and a state teaching license from ohio, and a couple years experience with a public school? One year in Korea ESL.

No CELTA.

Also, I cant get a straight answer. Does vietnam want a State Police Check or an FBI? A state check is way easier and quicker. I'm also in Korea at the moment. for what its worth.

Im looking to go to HCMC. Any other thoughts, pitfalls, words of wisdom?

Yes, I'm trying for INT schools, but I need a contingency plan.

[toiyeuthitmeo]

Get a CELTA. Takes a month, you can do it in Saigon or Hanoi and use the time to acclimatize, it is actually quite useful, and will pay for itself quite quickly in terms of better work opportunities and pay rates.

International schools should work out if you specialize in a subject they like (maths, science, technology).

[tgrear2008]

I just thought that a state teaching license was equal to a CELTA in regards to them being recognized certificates and carrying some weight, obviously not content. Plus I will have 1 year of ESL classroom experience, in addition to the other two years teaching math in NC.

I have to take a couple classes to renew my license before it expires this summer, so I don't want to throw down another couple grand for a CELTA in the same year.

Thanks for your info, I will consider this as an option, and weigh the costs/ benefits.

[snollygoster]

In your case you can work without CELTA. Police check? Not sure as its a nightmare for USA folks. I know of people who have local check only and have Work permits. The "laws" in Vietnam are flexible depending on who you are, who you are talking to and the condition of the moon and the growth rate of the roses.

[tmac-100]

[hot_rock]

Snollygoster, I'm delighted to say for once a post of yours made me smile (smirk). Merry christmas sir

[Oh My God]

[tgrear2008]

Well my license is Middle School Math and Social Studies. I'm not sure if math teachers are a dime a dozen as they seem to have more job vacancies then when I look for Social Studies positions.

I think procuring all the necessary police checks will be a PITA however I have almost 8 months to get things lined up. My plan is to arrive in Vietnam and see what my current qualifications can do for me, then if it is necessary, take the CELTA course.

I feel I understand the process of authenticating the documents from the US. I never considered what to do with the police check from Korea, so I will go consult the wisdom/nonsense of Google once again.

Thanks for your helpful replies.

[Oh My God]

[Bold As Love]

Tgear, you are a licensed teacher. You have been adequately trained in the art of pedagogy. There is no need for you to get a CELTA. I don't have one, and neither do the vast majority of international school teachers. Sure all training is good, but will the cost and effort of a CELTA/TEFL, etc. make a significant difference? Most especially if you choose to teach any subject but English. It is certainly not a work permit requirement in HCMC.

I am an American, and it is not that overwhelming to get your documents prepared. You need to get a notarized copy of your local police report only. No fingerprints or anything very challenging. Just go to the local station and ask for a check. Mine cost $5.

That report, plus your highest college degree must be apostilled, by your state Secretary of State and then sent to the VN consulate (SF or NY) for translation and certification. Takes time and will probably cost a couple hundred dollars by the time you are through. But you will be golden.

I would say you could start substitute teaching at any international school at first and then work your way in.

Good luck.

[The Mad Hatter]

I have a state license in ESL and it has hardly helped me at all. If you come to teach here you will be treated the same as everyone else, less even since they only understand the words "tesol" and "celta" here. I work for quite some time getting seniority at a college only to be replaced as head teacher by a former long haul truck driver who possibly did not even have a tesol or celta and degree was from several online institutions. Having so much qualifications and having to follow illogical and uninformed instructions from superiors who arent professionals as you is very sad indeed.
In addition , you will have to provide letters from your university that the degree is real, and a teaching license carries no weight here. If you want to get high bucks you must work at a real international school but these only hire from outside the country at job fairs such as in Iowa every years. Do not try and apply here because that works against you as it is not standard practice. Good luck.

[tgrear2008]

Well, the last two posts contradict each other. I'm confused. I think I should roll up in to Vietnam and see if I can get hired. If I fail, then I'll take the CELTA, and try again.

Thanks for the idea about substituting at INT schools- I never thought about that. I'd really like to find work enough to save some cash and then hit up the major INT school job fair located in Bangkok, January 2012.

I should be able to arrange all the documents for Vietnam in 8 months while still living in Korea. I do have some support people to help with mailing things back and forth to the Sec of State and the Viet consulate.


thanks for the replies...keep em coming if you can think of anything else to include. 8 months will go by fast.

[Oh My God]

[The Mad Hatter]

I agree with Oh My God entirely 100%.
I did not intend my post to confuse you.
He is right in that you have a lot of earning potential, as a "real Teacher" .
This terminology is not used anywhere on the street here, its just for the purposes of this conversation. You can indeed make more money here. But your best bet is to go to the job fairs in Iowa or wherever they are near you, and apply that way. This is because the real international schools (as opposed to the many ones that only claim to be and pay less - with worse methodology and practice) will almost always not take you seriously if you apply from within the country. Why? Because they know the open secret that no one likes to talk about here. We that come here are suspect somehow. To a greater or lesser degree. Im not trying to denigrate anyone by saying this, but its a bias that persists in the industry, that I wish would go away but it keeps reappearing.
In my case when I have gone to these schools with my state certified teaching credential. I can almost hear them chuckling. Sure you are... or something must be wrong with you right.
At other times when I went to the in between "international schools" I have some American manager who was a real principal there trying to hire on the cheap- ( $17 an hour back in "06 ) and thinks he can dicker me down or somehow cast aspersions on my resume. through cleaver innuendo or just his being the dominant ape silverback here .
My advise: apply only online or in-person at a job fair over there. If it fails, come here in person as a last resort then you can probably find a job but at less renumeration.

[tgrear2008]

I totally understand how "in country hiring" is not as good as when they bring you in from another country. At this point, I'm not in the position to throw down the funds for an excursion to a job fair.

I will continue to apply online and through direct mailing. I am registered through Search Associates. I could attend a fair in Bangkok in March, but if it is not successful, then I am out 3 grand possibly. That's not a risk I want to take. I suppose that if I can't land something through the web, then I will do the CELTA and teach English in Vietnam for a year, and hit up the major fair a year from now.