Job Discussion Forums

generalgiap · Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Posts: 95

Yeah, the afternoon tea with the asian expat housewives is so easy, no book, conversation, a few jokes, and 20 mins per lesson is usually eating all the food that they give you. It can get quite boring but who cares. They also rarely ask a question about grammar etc. Its basically tea time and socialising with their friends, it's either at thier apt with a teacher or at the sheraton same price. Oh well, its a bitch but somebodys got to do it.

Belgrove, good to hear that the evening english clubs are going well

I also agree with haller,

came to Vietnam a long time ago where teaching privates was not possible, secret police following you, usd 1-2 per hour for teaching very few cars on the road, some motos but mainly bicycles.This was before the language mills, but have worked in the language mills, enjoyed the experience, have started small businesses outside of Education, some have been successful, luck and hard work, the vietnamese have also taken me to the cleaners-this can happen in any country, after 20 years in vietnam, can speak the language, know the culture, and most importantly, its not what you know but who you know.

haller_79 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 145

Belgrove · Joined: 27 Sep 2011 Posts: 35 Location: Saigon

You experienced guys who've been here a while may remember English Home years back. I did a little work for them in some of the most beautiful houses in Saigon.

I think their first client was an Agribank director and some staff if I recall correctly.

It was while doing this work I started to meet connected people and I started to work for myself.

I grew to prefer the corporates and I now sub-contract.

Good luck to all.

Stay sober and get a reputation, is about all I can add.

generalgiap · Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Posts: 95

Belgrove · Joined: 27 Sep 2011 Posts: 35 Location: Saigon

TheOmar · Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 21

Whoa, some reason I didn't get any notifications about all the replies from this Thread. I'll start replying now...coming soon. I even saw a "Deleted Post" notification from the Moderator! Wow! Sparked some heated discussions did I? My bad.

TheOmar · Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 21

I appreciate the blunt answer actually and I hope I prove you wrong as well.
1 out of the 70 hotels I emailed actually wrote back and said it's a good idea but they don't need a position. They wished me luck though! I guess that's a start?

TheOmar · Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 21

Thanks for the motivation! Ya I'm beginning to feel that I'll need to actually GO to these cities and show up personally to these hotels or wherever - resume in hand.
So far I've just been shooting off emails, but that method is a fail.

TheOmar · Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 21

Yes I agree that the language school track is your foot-in-door move to a new city/country. It's a great way to get acclimated to the new locale and culture while earning some money and meeting new people.
Then, after 1 or 2 years if you're good you can branch off to your own thing depending on the contacts whom you met.

Furthermore, it allows you to apply and research whatever private sector English you want to venture into - be it hotels, companies, private lessons, or whatever.

I've been shooting off emails to hotels for the past 3 weeks and get nothing. It's all about showing up in person and having contacts.

Thanks everyone for the valuable info so far!