Job Discussion Forums

[gth1]

Well, since my 'About 10 hours ago . . .' posted immediately, I must � assume � my original post went straight into parallel space somewhere so, I'm re-posting.

Good Morning All,

I'm not only a newbie to this forum but a 'brand new' newbie to the prospect of teaching English in a foreign country. Believe it or not, in order to frame my questions I have made this long story as short as possible. My apologies in advance and, let's get right to it.

I would very much like to teach English in Viet Nam. I am also very interested in learning Vietnamese (immersion method) which I think would benefit �my� students.

I am a mentally and physically fit sixty (60) year old white American male, a college graduate (BS in Hotel Administration/accounting minor; University of Nevada at Las Vegas, NV, 1977), a Jacksonville, FL business owner and operator for twenty five years (2 restaurants and a pawn shop simultaneously for ~ 17 years) and, have been retired for about five years.

Since retirement I have revived/indulged my interest in learning Vietnamese (another whole story) and have a mostly self taught working foundation in the language in that I write Vnese better than I speak it and speak it, better than I can hear it (so far). I want to learn to write, speak and hear Vnese - fluently. And, I think I am a good teacher of English.

The idea of going to live in VN and teaching English comes from a few of my VN 'students' with whom I sometimes exchange language studies. They think I'm a good teacher. Other teaching experience? None. Except running two restaurants for seventeen years. In order to do that effectively I have/had to be a good teacher! So the more I thought about it the more the idea excites and motivates me like nothing else has for many years!

I do not yet have a TEFL certificate but can and will obtain one quickly. MOD EDIT

However, before I pay for the TEFL class, plane fare to Viet Nam and many other up front expenses, I have a few questions for which I cannot seem to find an answer elsewhere:
1. My first and most important question is: Will � my age � likely disqualify or prevent me from teaching English in VN, or, relegate me to only the worst of the worst jobs available?
2. Will schools in VN accept TEFL Certification from Oxford Seminars?
3. More generally, can someone speak to 'Accredited or Acceptable' TEFL certification. There many, many schools online offering TEFL Certification all of whom claim 'worldwide acceptance'. Surely some of them are either outright scams, certification 'mills' or, of little value when actually presented to a prospective employer, therefore:
a. How can one tell the difference?
b. Is there a 'list' somewhere that separates the wheat from the chaff?
c. Is there some 'accreditation body' which gives, or withholds, their seal of approval and if so - does anybody really care?

Now. All that said I'm going to approach a related but off topic inquiry so I suppose protocol dictates a response by PM. If the consensus seems to be that � my age � will greatly and negatively influence my getting a fair to decent teaching position, and, given my thumbnail CV, can anyone direct me to perhaps another endeavor in VN? I still want the adventure and, I still want to learn Vietnamese � immersion style!

Thank you for your time and patience with this inquiry and I look forward to your insight.

gth

[lizarddoctor]

You meant this post?

[gth1]

[sigmoid]

Basically, there is one and only one requirement for teaching English in Vietnam, namely:

Can you tolerate living there?

Most people leave after about 6 months.

[si_in_edinburgh]

Have a look at the website, www.cactustefl.com
They are almost like a TEFL "brokers" if you may, and you can pretty much trust that the courses they put on their website are legitimate.
Best of luck,
Si

[gth1]

[gth1]

[sigmoid]

You make it sound like there's some kind of big-time competition for ESL jobs going on in Viet Nam.

Most schools in Sai Gon hire who they can get, while schools in Ha Noi wish they were that lucky and simply do without.

If you're professional in appearance [well-groomed, well-dressed], have some degree of self-confidence, a decent-looking resume and a pleasant personality; and don't have a serious drinking problem, you should be turning down work from the moment you get out of the airport.

[lizarddoctor]

[gth1]

[gth1]

[desultude]

[sigmoid]

[gth1]

[gth1]

. . . to my inquiry regarding my age and TEFL Certification by Oxford Seminars.

Hi Folks,

A week or more before finding this forum I emailed VATC with essentially the same questions and format as the original post of this thread. This AM they replied and the answers are, "Yes," my age is fine and, "Yes," they accept TEFL Certification from Oxford Seminars.

Additionally, they also sent along five Word docs which included a sample Teacher's Contract, Procedures for getting a work permit, etc., etc.

Other comments from VATC were, quote: "Thank you for your interest in cooperating with us! I have no doubt that you'll be a valuabe staff and good friend to us." And in closing, "Once again, thank you for your interest in working with us and I am looking forward to hearing from you soon."

I was surprised and thought it nice of them to reply with encouragement and extra but unsolicited info.

FWIW . . . I also emailed two other schools but - as yet - they have not responded. Doi la the . . .

That's it. Just thought I'd update.

gth