Job Discussion Forums

[paula83]

Hi -

I have noticed that many people start their ESL/TESOL teaching experience in Asia? Does anyone know why that is? Is it that much harder to start somewhere else?

I was also wondering is it possible to start working in Vietnam as a first time, inexperienced teacher?

I do speak french, will this help me at all?

Thanks!

[ajc19810]

Hey,

I think people come to Vietnam because it is so easy to get work here. You dont need to go through the crap that other countries put you through like Korea. On top of that you can earn a good salary here without sacrificing your lifestyle. You can work as much as you want or as little as you want and at the end of the day a beer still costs less than a $.

Life here is so easy, as long as you are able to go with the flow of the somewhat mad logic of the ESL world you will be fine. Come along and find a job that suits you.

Inexperienced, no problem. You will pick it up in a few classes and the schools dont really care. Students here are really cool and love the opportunity to speak with a foreigner.

If you need any more advice I would be happy to help. By the way, French isn't really spoken to much especially in the south, but you will find sme old timers who do love to try their language skills. (it wont help you in the classroom)

[paula83]

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it. I'm looking to get an idea of salaries and what not but so far most of the job postings want someone that has 2+ years of experience.

[ajc19810]

Salaries differ from place to place. Most people I know get around $16/h. After tax. I think that is pretty standard, but you can earn much more than that, just depends on what and who you know. I work in higher role so my salary is higher, but i know most people earn between $1400 - $2000 after tax ( a month that is)
Don't read too much into job postings. I tell everybody to come here first and then find a job that suits them. After you come here you can decide what type of school you want to work at. I have worked at all different types, but i love to work at language centers as the students are so much fun and there is some flexibility.
2 schools spoke with me last week, who advertise for teachers with good quals and loads of exper, but most really just want someone who is not a complete burnout and will accept a lot less in regards to experience and sometimes quals. Can I ask how old you are?
As I said before, just come along and check it out for yourself you will realize that there is tonnes of opporunity.

[shanethemainman]

A little about me and my wife and i befour i relate to the this topic as this is my first post and i feel it is necessary

We are both in Australia wanting to go to Vietnam.
My wife speaks french she also speaks Arabic and English, she wants to be a model actually she is of Iraq Background she is 20 years old she is very well presented and a very attractive young woman. she wonders weather there is work for an amature model in asian countries as we hear it is easier for foreigners to get into modeling there.

I am an Australian who speaks only English i am an amature photographer here is pictures of us and some of the photography iv done http://www.flickr.com/photos/saliephraims/ i have only labor background (pick packing forklift etc) i am well groomed and i am 27 years old.

We both want to travel to Ho chi minh city and get a place there to stay for about a year, we want to work 20 hours or more per week each and have enough money to travel around (as far as Thailand)

We want to teach English there as we hear it is way to easy to get a job there and the pay is decent enough to do as we like and live comfortably. (and i hear it is enough to actually save a little as well correct me if im wrong)

Were not rich so don't expect to live in luxury but don't want to sleep in the slums, a safe unit or small apartment would suffice, we are stressed we wont have enough money to return and gain another position in Australia were stressing that there wont be enough hours available to work as i hear that most people only work 20 hours a week..

Is this really as easy as getting a work visa, getting on an plane, getting temp accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City while we look for work and our own place to stay? is it really so easy as learning the TESOL there and getting a job there (for both of us)

Are there any modeling opportunities or photography opportunities? or will these have to be kept as mere hobbies until we get back?

We will be taking only about 10 - 15 grand between us and hopping to hire motorbikes and or bikes to travel around town.

Does anyone see any problems that may occur in our situation?

[ajc19810]

Your wife - It is better if your wife looks well....white and speaks English well.

you - 27 years old. That is only going to help your chances of finding a job. I am the same age. I had 2 job offers after the first 2 places I visited. They didnt even look at my resume, in fact they didnt even ask for it at all.

TEFL - You could actually secure a job before coming to Vietnam if you wanted. Schools such as VATC will sign you before you come and you will do the TESOL certificate in your first week in Vietnam. I think it is about $1600. A waste of money, but a way to secure a job before leaving.

Model - Funny you ask, I actually was signed to do 2 Vietnamese movies just last month. For a huge pay check of 500,000VND per day ($30). I know a couple of talent scouts that are always looking for westerners to do some work. But the money is not something to make a living on. More of a laugh than anything.

Travel - Airasia just opened up in Saigon. Travel just got cheaper

Money - 10-15k. That's heaps. Especially now with Oz dollar so strong. Even if only one of you was working you would be ok to survive (but not live really well) I support my wife here, however she is Viet.

Teaching hours - Most schools operate in the evening. Usually 3 hours a night. The rest of the hours can be picked up on the weekends.

[shanethemainman]

Well she does have a french accent but she speaks English fine, lol tho i do get i guess all we can do is try, im just wondering if there's anything else she could do to make money there. she is studying to be an accountant but yeh not yeh and i doubt she would be useful to anyone there as we both dont speak a word of Vietnamese, lol yeh id go do the modeling thing or do a tc show or whatever i think it would be funny to and something different lol, THANKS FOR THE REPLY you were most helpful i think it wouldnt be a good idea if we went cause it would be hard to support us both on just my pay from teaching english. hey if theres any one interested in adding me to msn to chat about this feal free my msn is shane _ ephraims at hotmail (withought the spaces)

[Prof.Gringo]

Just wondering.... I have been living and working in Mexico for almost four years, most of that time in ESL. I do have a 120 hour TEFL which I took here in Mexico, But I don't have a degree.

Would I have a hard time finding work? Also, what about visas?

I have taught kids for the last two years, so that's fine with me.

How much cash would one need to get a start in Vietnam?

Thanks!

[shanethemainman]

far as i know, from what iv read if you have tesol and your white you will get a job there streight away lol no matter what, tho being older aparently is a little harder but you still will find a job but i dont know hat natio you are,the tesol course online sais you should have a minimum accent and are best of to be native english speaker

[norbdemn]

From what I have read on this thread so far, you all seem to give people the
impression that Vietnam schools would take any backpacker....LOL

Let me give a more realistic view; there are definitely schools that look for
specific qualifications such as a BA, TEFL cert/credential from your home
country and teaching experience - these schools are more selective.
Although, there are some schools that do not require specific quals, make
sure they stand by their word, pay you on time, and overall support you
when needed.

Good Luck

[ajc19810]

Norbdemn,

You are spot on with that people should be careful.

Just wanting to get your opinion if you believe schools are lowering the required qualifications for employment. I have my finger in a few pies here and the general feeling i get here is that some schools will take anybody. Let me give some examples.
- Hiring without checking if the degrees that people say they have are real or if they even have them.
- Listing required qualifications on the internet, but accepting teachers with a lot less or nothing at all.
- Telling teachers that they can only employ you for a short time bec you dont have the neccessary documents, but will keep you on for as long as you like.

I can give examples of two of the biggest language schools in Vietnam that have done the above.
I can also give examples of 2 reputable international schools that have also done the above.
I can also give a list of 20-30 schools that only care about your qualifications so that they can lower your salary when you say you dont have any.

[Prof.Gringo]

Thanks for the responses

I am a native speaker from the US. Early thirties. I am not a backpacker and I have been doing this for four years in Mexico.

In short, do I need to get a TEFL in Vietnam? Would this give me any advantage? Or is my TEFL from Mexico OK?

Is Vietnam also a place like Mexico where it's best to just show up and look for work? Or are there any decent schools which will hire you without being in country?

Are the schools really hard up for native speakers?

Thanks again

[deessell2]

[freebeacher]

I am a white male US citizen aged 47 but almost everyone says I look like I am in my thirties. I have a B.A. but no TEFL certificates. Will the lack of a TEFL certificate mean I cannot get a work permit?

In 1991 I taught for 6 months in Taiwan, one month in Greece and 3 months in Spain. I have a lot of business experience. Is Saigon a good place for me to get a job? Is the cost of living low? Is it easy to find private students while waiting for the school to pay me? How often do they pay? Is it true that USD16 per hour is a common wage at a school? That sounds high for a developing country. What will be my biggest problem, if any, in getting in and getting work? Does immigration require a return ticket? Does Air Asia require one? I am in Australia now. Thanks.

[erica63]

Freebeacher, you can find a job here, but you'll be helped if you get a TEFL, even an online one (100-hour is the best if you can't afford/don't have time for an in-class course with observed practicum). You'll find a job with that. Once you have a TEFL you can command $16/hr. It is high for a developing country, which is why HCMC is such a great place to teach English!

No return ticket needed, even for the visa. You can work on a tourist visa. Just get the cheapest one and your school will probably pay to renew.