Job Discussion Forums

Three Seasons · Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 1

Hello everyone,

How hard is it for a viet kieu to get a job teaching English? I'm Vietnamese-Canadian. I've lived in Canada since I was a toddler, and I don't "look" obviously Vietnamese, ie I'm quite tall! I speak English fluently - in fact, I can hardly speak any Vietnamese anymore, I've got a degree from a Canadian university in English literature, a CELTA, and I'm a researcher now. Yes, I'm officially a "banana" Confused

That said...would potential employers just take one look at my Asian features and reject me outright? Would they refuse to hire me? Will I have to resort to the local wage (god forbid)?

I'm willing to spend more time job-hunting than your average blonde, blue-eyed twentysomething, but do I have a hope in hell of getting a decent job in Saigon, such as something that pays the $12/hr average salary?

Paul John · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 52

The perception among many schools is that students want teachers with 'European' features, so they have little interest in hiring Viet Kieu regardless of qualifications. Nevertheless, there are schools that I know hire Viet Kieu at expat salaries.

PM me and I'll pass on what I know, such as it is.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

I would say that it's not that difficult as I know some Viet Kieu teaching in HCMC that get paid the ex-pat rate. I think it depends on what you're willing to accept. And schools that put more emphasis on appearance than qualifications aren't worth teaching at anyway, for anybody.

Also, couldn't you just teach privately and forget about the schools?