Job Discussion Forums

[eddiek1syou]

Hi all,

My first post here, but I have been researching on various boards for quite some time now. MOD EDIT

So just to keep things fresh I decided to get answers for myself on what the deal is with these certification programs. I was almost certain that I would go to Saigon and pay $1400.00 to TEFL International because an individual from this board had a lot of good things to say about them. I exchanged a few emails with this individual and he has provided me with a wealth of information. However, I thought I would see what the majority had to say as well, because I just discovered some posts from about 2 yrs ago (on another board) that had a whole lot of negative to say about TEFL International, and that just got me spooked. Is TEFL International a school you would recommend or not?

I also know that the majority of the individuals on here would agree that the online cert programs are garbage, but please answer this next question honestly: When they look at the cert does it show that the course was taken online? Do they even care?! So many posts I've read stress the fact that several schools really don't care, as long as it is a cert. I already have a bit of English teaching experience under my belt and if it is just a matter of having a cert then I would like to pay $295 to americantesol.com instead (God, I can already feel the heat I'm about to get for just saying that).

The last issue I wanted addressed honestly is a racial issue. I am not white. I have been told by many (that did not know my race), "Don't worry, as long as you have a white face you're in the clear". Not to be a fruit-basket, but reading those kinds of posts kind of sting a bit. I am an American born/raised Korean and I can hardly speak Korean myself... Do you think me not having a white face will be an issue for me and make finding a job in Vietnam difficult?

I have a laminated birth certificate and I made a bunch of copies to prove I am American. I have even reconsidered going to VN for certification to instead get a cert from an American-based institute to better my chances of them believing I am American. I even considered bleaching my skin, dying my hair blond and getting eye deslantation surgery.. OK, well maybe I am kidding about those last 3, but still this sucks.

Thanks for reading my long novel of a post!

[eddiek1syou]

28 views w/ no replies? C'mon guys, a little help here!

[sigmoid]

Dude, you're an American. Don't worry, be happy.

Most anyone can get work teaching English in Vietnam. It's a difficult place to live and most schools are faced with a chronic 'revolving door' situation as teachers leave suddenly and frequently.

Check http://www.saigonesl.com/forum/index.php

[Phinaes Gage]

IMHO
Online Certs are not worth the paper they are printed on. Most schools will not accept them unless they include a large teaching component. I have a few friends who did online certifications in Europe, and then had to do another TEFL or CELTA course because they could not get a job.

[TimkinMS]

[deessell2]

[Waldorf Salad]

I've taught in Taiwan and Korea and I just started working in Vietnam. I'm surprised to see how many teachers of different ethnic backgrounds there are here. Skin color/nationality doesn't seem to be a big issue here compared to Taiwan and especially Korea.

I've been here only four weeks, but I haven't met a single teacher with a work permit. Almost everyone has a business visa.

I don't have a TEFL/Celta/Tesol but a lot of experience and found it very easy to find a job.

[Phinaes Gage]

[lafslast]

I've been teaching in HCMC for three years, and I have seen SOME non-white foreign teachers.

Almost all schools want a WHITE face in front of the class P E R I O D (if they want to keep students in their school), and this includes discriminating against Americans of VN decent.

A few schools (e.g. Saigon Tech) will hire anybody (black Nigerians included). But, they pay 7/8 US an hour, good luck getting paid, getting any descent hours, and not being treated like your a lower life form.

Vietnamese DEFINITELY want WHITE, AMERICAN teachers ONLY, but very few Americans come here/stay here. Brits, Aussies, and Canadians have no problem here until the school finds an American teacher. I have seen some excellent, highly qualified Brits, etc. teachers seen their hours reduced to the point that they quit, after an American teacher shows up in their school(s).

At the two Int'l. schools I've work at, there have been non-white teachers... but they are paid much less, work few hours, and get classes like PE to teach. When they're desperare for teachers, they hire Canadians and tell them to say that they're from "America" (not Canada) when students ask them what country they're from.

Note: Here in southern VN they DO remember the war and LOVE Americans. They have also heard all about WWII, the Japanese, AND they're KOREAN labor and police battalions.

In the guest houses I have stayed at, the Korean tourists TODAY would NOT like the looks that Vietnamese give them after they turn their backs and walk away.

You should do some research about exactly where in Asia Koreans are really welcome. Asians have good memories, and they've heard all the stories about WWII from Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, and Dad... not to mention History Books.

Were I you, I would proceed with the greatest of caution. WWII "comfort women" regularly raise hell at some embassy about their "comfort women" days at the hands of the Japanese and Koreans.

Ask if ANYONE has ever seen a KOREAN foreign teacher here. I think not... certainly not for more than a week or two.

Good luck... you come here... you will probably need a lot of it.

[ChuckECheese]

Handsome + Popular with students = No problem + Higher pay.

[eddiek1syou]

lafslast, we'll see what happens. The way you write posts is somewhat annoying. If you knew anything about the VN war then you would know that over 300,000 South Korean troops fought in the war along side the U.S., so why would there be hostility towards us in that respect? I can understand why a handful of people might have a resentment for Koreans, which would probably be the males that feel like Koreans are coming over and stealing wives from them and such.

I should also mention that the dirty looks that you see locals give "KOREAN TOURISTS" in Vietnam are probably from old traditional Vietnamese folks. A lot of the popular culture in Vietnam is a reflection of the popular culture in S. Korea, as Korean music, movies, dramas, etc have been sweeping all of Asia for the past decade or so. Take a look at all the young kids and their hair, a replica of the Korean style. Every Vietnamese friend I have in the states (and individuals that I have spoken w/ that live there) tells me Vietnamese LOVE KOREANS... There are a couple of colleges here in Seattle that flourish w/ Korean and Vietnamese foreign exchange students and the Vietnamese (girls) get dreamy for all of the Korean foreign exchange students. Not that it is very important, but since you (and many others) insist that it is all about popularity, there you go. This of course would be how the majority of the youth feel at least.

Another reason why you may never see Koreans in Vietnam teaching are because A.) A good majority of Koreans feel they are superior to the Vietnamese and don't even have the desire to set foot in the country. B.) Korean-Americans would rather teach in a more developed country like Japan or Korea. So yeah, I think I feel safe concluding that the reason you've never seen many Koreans teaching is probably because the lack of Korean presence. Same with Japanese, how many Japanese teachers do you see? Not many I assume. I will probably be one of the very few because I am a little different. First, I don't think I am superior like many of my snobby Korean-American/Korean peers and because frankly, I don't care what others think.

I hang out with a lot of Korean-Americans/Koreans, and when I tell them I'm going to Vietnam to teach they look at me in disgust and wonder why I would want to teach in such a country. I grew up around a diverse group of friends, almost half of which are from Vietnam so I've grown to not be such a racist *beep*. I even told my father, who got pissed at me and told me to teach in Korea instead. If you were Korean or had a better grasp of Korean culture, this would all be common sense to you, but you're not.

MOD EDIT

Here's a video I think you should watch http://youtube.com/watch?v=5DvtKnBEaBY

MOD EDIT

[mickeyrex]

IMHO there have been quite a few VN students that I've encountered who are totally enthralled by Korean culture. That said, forget any "body" enhancement you might be considering and work on a more positive attitude. It might take you awhile to get some work, but I'm sure something will come up. Too bad you don't speak Korean fluently because Kyopos can rack-up quite a bit of dosh in Seoul at the right school. It will be more difficult for you, but if your heart is set on coming to VN don't let anything dissuade you. If things go south you can always return to the U.S. or Korea (of course, assuming you're young, you're probably trying to avoid the military requirement ). Good luck.

[eddiek1syou]

[eddiek1syou]

[laconic]

eddiek1syou wrote:

"I was actually born here in the states so I wouldn't have to join the ROKs military even if I did move there fortunately."


Actually, it's a little more complicated than what you believe. Was your name ever entered on the family register in Korea?

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=17267&highlight=gyopo+military+service