Job Discussion Forums

[rico4444]

I've been to Hue and loved it as a tourist, but what would your opinion be as to living and working there? Mundo Group has placed 2 ads on eslcafe within the past several months. The web site looks great, and it looks enticing as a place to teach, but I'm a little concerned about whether or not there would be enough to do for entertainment and for opportunities to meet other expats outside of the school (I'm not counting tourists passing through). I'm not a serious night-life person but I don't want to be a recluse either. Thoughts?? Also, any specific info on the Mundo Group would also be appreciated......thanx

[timservo]

There are other posts on this subject elsewhere. To reiterate: applied twice, nothing despite M.A. + 20 years experience. Mundo looks like a scam, possibly related to scam Tyndale, also Singapore-based.

There are no jobs in Hue; it's too small. Students (few) go to Da Nang or further. I've been in VN for 3 years and it is my experience that unless you can bear the weather and the people in Ha Noi, which few seem to be able to do for long, the only place for steady work is HCMC, which is now about as pleasant, and as cheap, as a long hospital stay. Way too many backpackers driving down salaries, with Zimbabwe-like inflation and prices compared with 2005.

Salsipuedes!

[rico4444]

Thanks for the info.......I sent my resume to Mundo and they never replied and I have 8 years experience + CELTA and I got similar feedback from some others so you may be right about it being a scam.

I'm familiar with the current problems you spoke of re: HCMC.....but I'm still coming and will arrive in mid-June so I'll keep an open mind and hope for the best.

Thanx again

[inky]

timservo: Have you ever actually lived in Hanoi? If it is so awful in Vietnam, why stay? Leave, and make room for someone with a more positive attitude. People like you are very tiresome. I hear there are numerous positions available in Zimbabwe.

[saigon cowboy]

Don't bother signing up online at most schools because it's easier for them to delete your mail and get back to what they were doing.

Many don't speak enough english to understand your resume and will just ignore it.
The average secretary makes about 2,500,000 dong a month at the smaller schools and maybe more at the larger ones.

Rule# 1 apply in person
2 don't smell like alcohol
3 no visable tattoos
4 clean appearance
5 don't sign any contracts
6 and NEVER give your passport for them to hold.

And if you don't like the school you can always catch a pretty secretary and invite her to dinner before leaving. She will almost always say yes.

[paradox3696]

[lucreziaborgia]

Hi Rico,
Hue is a pleasant place to live if you have a well paid job or a private income. You need to avoid the tourist area because that is incredibly expensive. The people can be a bit of a worry as well.
They have an attitude. It's not exactly 'Western friendly' once you scratch the surface.
I'd avoid Mundo School and the only other options are universities and private language schools that do not pay enough. There is a tradition in Hue that most things are underwritten by NGOs (especially English teachers) hence there is no tradition of paying a liveable hourly rate. Qualified English teachers are paid around $8 an hour by universities for around 1 1/2 hours work (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, GE) with huge classes (25+). Private English schools run by Vietnamese pay less and expect you to teach classes of 30+.
These pay around 200,000VND for 2 hours work. Private students will pay up to 50,000VND for a 2 hour lesson but the usual rate is 20,000VND.
It's a difficult place to live but a very pleasant one as well. The food is fantastic.
Mundo school and the Singapore International School are the only two that pay acceptable salaries unless you're employed by an NGO.
I'd avoid Mundo school for reasons I'm not prepared to disclose.