Job Discussion Forums

[pbMunkey]

I just enrolled in a 100 hr TEFL course here in the states with plans to promptly fly to Saigon after receiving the certificate and apply to as many english schools as possible with hopes of landing a job for 15-20 bucks per hour. Im interested in some of the bigger schools but then again, money talks. Anything wrong with my plan? i'm also confused because i see some posts talking about ILA and some others only wanting to hire CELTA 120 hr course grads.. how does my 100 hr TEFL stack up. Should I just jump ship while it's still early and take the CELTA in HCMC?

PS. i'm only paying $895 for this class in the states.

[yogurtpooh]

Yes. The CELTA will not only look good in your resume, but will likely prepare you better merely because you'll actually be in Vietnam throughout. A lot of schools will frown upon online courses. I've taken a 120 hour in person TESOL course here in the states and it was very disappointing and rushed. My employers won't have to know about that though. The CELTA and the cost of living there for a month and potentially another month to find work and to settle down will mean higher ultimate costs too. But go for it if you're serious about this. And chances are if you can demonstrate that you are a good teacher a mere additional 20 hours shouldn't matter... but it might affect your salary negotiations against your favor. Either way, if the big guys don't hire you, there are plenty of other schools in Saigon that probably would. Some people don't even have any additional certificates aside from a BA.

[pbMunkey]

[yogurtpooh]

No , not in Vietnam, but I'll be coming there in June. A 120 hour TESOL or any similar certificate will almost ensure a job or at least will get you some interviews and then you'll have to demonstrate how good you are before they offer you how many dollars per hour. The CELTA is probably more valuable because it's pretty intensive and by living in Vietnam before actually working can't hurt (except for financial reasons). Either way I think your 100 hour program should be fine, but don't expect to work for ILA because well... they're probably more likely to hire out their own graduates... but not all of their graduates. But it shouldn't really matter with most other potential employers. Some teachers only have their BA. The interview and the class demonstration will probably matter more. Still, it can't hurt to get a CELTA!

[pbMunkey]

You know, the fine print is always "a TEFL certificate from a recognized or accredited institution" Is required. This freaks me out cuz they won't know what my school is because it's not a big school - just a local one. Btw, do u have a job lined up already? If so with which school. Tell me ur experience

[toiyeuthitmeo]

I agree that with a BA and SOME kind of ESL teaching certificate, you'll find work here, but there will be some hurdles for you. CELTA has the stamp of approval of Cambridge, and is actually a pretty solid, useful, and consistent course, world-wide. The things to consider are

1) Schools prefer CELTA in Vietnam, probably around the world.

2) There is good work for holders of other TEFL certificates, provided that the course covers all or most of the following points

a) 120 hour course

b) involved you being observed and critiqued by a recognized teacher-trainer in a real EFL classroom

c) awarded by a well known, accredited, or at least quality-verifiable institution [e.g. the institution or your can provide some proof or documents that outline their teaching methods, the syllabus, the nature/scheduling of the course, the methodologies focused, etc]

d) in general, on-line or mostly on-line courses are shunned


As long as you're spending nearly $1000 on a TEFL cert which sounds like it may not fit the above, I'd encourage you to save up a bit extra and take a CELTA. Anywhere in the world will do. It will make your initial career much easier and likely, more lucrative.

[yogurtpooh]

Toiyeuthietmeo is absolutely correct.
I would have done the CELTA myself but I'm an extremely poor graduating college student who could not have afford the cost of tuition and cost of living for two-three months total there before any work. If you're worried about the legitimacy of your certificate, perhaps you can contact graduates and see if they have had any problems obtaining work? My course and certificate is 120 hours but I'm pretty sure we didn't spend more than 80 hours in class... they just included homework time and essay writing time and lesson preparations in to bulk it up. I wasn't complaining then because it was still pretty demanding of my afternoons and several weekends, but now looking back at it, I probably would have benefited more from the CELTA course and then immediately jumping into the job market.

I think you're too focused on ILA and all the major branches here. These might not always be the best places to work. Smaller and individual schools would be happy that you have any additional certification along with your BA... so it shouldn't really matter all that much. But... if you feel like you really want to enhance yourself overall, go with the CELTA. If you can't afford it, then what you're going for sounds fine. Tell us more about your course, such as what is being offered within those 100 hours.

And unfortunately, I do not have a job lined up already. I've been told it doesn't really work that way and that you would likely have to go there and find work in person. But then again, I might not be the best person to share experiences with you because I am a Vietnamese American who wants to stay away from Saigon. I've sent out five applications now and only heard back from one school who offered me salary around 400-500 for 85 hours... what a complete joke, especially since I'll be likely working harder to prove to students and parents that my English is above that of the locals.

Anyways, good luck, I'm sure you'll be able to find work, especially if you're American and white.

[pbMunkey]

The school I am attending is called LCC (language & culture coaching) and is being taught on campus at UCLA. The curriculum seems pretty solid just like what toiyeuthitmeo delineated. Only thing is that this is not a 120 hr course. Does VN care between 100 and 120? When I graduate, the certificate would indicate that I completed a 100 hr tesol course.

At this point, i have the opportunity to fet a full refund because my school is changung venues and is allowing us to back out due to inconvenience. So the question I have is: is it worth it to forfeit 30 hrs that I've already invested, pay 500 more to take the celta course in VN from ila? Would the difference in potential job offers & higher wage make up for this backtracking?

Ps yoghurtpooh, I'm a viet kieu just like u; hence, I can understand your worries. I feel so blind and lost right now but it's nice to know others with a similar situation.

[pbMunkey]

The school I am attending is called LCC (language & culture coaching) and is being taught on campus at UCLA. The curriculum seems pretty solid just like what toiyeuthitmeo delineated. Only thing is that this is not a 120 hr course. Does VN care between 100 and 120? When I graduate, the certificate would indicate that I completed a 100 hr tesol course.

At this point, i have the opportunity to fet a full refund because my school is changung venues and is allowing us to back out due to inconvenience. So the question I have is: is it worth it to forfeit 30 hrs that I've already invested, pay 500 more to take the celta course in VN from ila? Would the difference in potential job offers & higher wage make up for this backtracking?

Ps yoghurtpooh, I'm a viet kieu just like u; hence, I can understand your worries. I feel so blind and lost right now but it's nice to know others with a similar situation.

[yogurtpooh]

If you are really serious about this and can afford living in Vietnam an additional month while taking the CELTA, then go ahead and take it.
How did I sense you were Vietnamese?????
As far as being Viet kieu... that's a whole another ball game. In the end, it might not matter if you have a CELTA or a TESOL. Just be prepared to be offered a lot less than non Asians with the same credentials, but if you stay firm and show them that you are just as good, if not better than a native speaker,then hopefully someone will give you a chance... especially if you stay in Saigon. Nothing's set in stone with this ESL business, especially in Vietnam. A CELTA won't necessarily mean a higher salary than another certificate. It's really more about initial classroom execution and the interview amongst other things. To be safe though, just do the CELTA if you can... it's legit and recognized in a lot of other countries... so in case Vietnam isn't for you, you can go elsewhere.


After looking over their website, they seem to be legit and they have a job placement promise as well. This looks like a pretty good program. Likely very close to the CELTA program... but geeze 5 weekends from 9 to 6?? That's dedication there... So since you've already committed time, just stick with it, imo.

[I'm With Stupid]