Job Discussion Forums

[shamblaram]

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone can help me/advise me...

I have just done a CELTA at International House and would like to teach ESL in Vietnam as soon as possible. I'm hoping to fly into Vietnam in the next week or so... And I'm desperately trying to get all my certs/docs (and notarised in the UK/before I arrive in Vietnam...?) to take with me. I'm currently in the UK waiting to receive the official cert for my CELTA from IH, a replacement BA (lost the original) and a criminal record check. I expect them to arrive in the post any day...

But I also have an MA Creative Writing from Birkbeck, London (misplaced the original cert for that, too!). Birkbeck are mid-exams busy, and saying that it might take a while to be able to get around to processing my request for the cert...

Do you think I should wait for the MA cert to bring out with me with me? Do you think the MA Creative Writing will help getting a job? Could it be seen almost on a par with an MA in English (or even an MA Linguistics/TESOL) and therefore help when negotiating a salary? Or to give me an advantage in getting a job at a University, re the written word and academic English? Or for teaching business English/communications ?(I also have over 10 years in the advertising/communications/media industries).

If anyone has any experience wit this, I would hugely appreciate any advice. Many thanks in advance.

[toiyeuthitmeo]

Hmmm... Any MA is good, in that it is a baseline requirement for nearly all International Schools. These schools often pay better than language schools, have some benefits, and offer an 8-5 workday with weekends off. Most of these schools really want their ESL teachers to be busy all day, which means they'll try to get you some normal classes. I don't imagine that there are very many creative writing classes in these schools, but I assume that you could "spin" your MA into being a literature or composition (term papers, essays, reports, etc) specialist.

As of now, I've never heard of any creative writing curriculum for ESL, although the idea is intriguing to me. When negotiating jobs and in your CV, I would probably try to present an MA creative writing as giving you a unique ability help students with writing, in general. After all, you are a Master of Writing, right?

Your background in advertising is good. It will make you appeal to business learners. However, Vietnam is fast becoming a kid's market. A thing to consider and be on the lookout for, is actual jobs in advertising! Media such as smart phones, internet, cable TV, billboards, etc is still developing. There are 83 million customers in this country, and despite economic troubles, it is a materialistic place where everyone wants to keep up with Nguyens, and beat them, even if they can't afford it. Their are millions of households that have yet to be convinced they need an oven, screens on their windows, dishwashers, or microwaves. I know, I know, a bit soulless and in the face of various traditions, but SOMEBODY is going to do it eventually...

And finally, yes, do make sure you have all of your fully authenticated documents before you come. It will be massively helpful.

[shamblaram]

Thank you so much for getting back to me. And also for the suggestion of looking for jobs in Vietnam advertising.

I had thought about that but I figured that most of the advertising in Vietnam would be written/communicated in Vietnamese (which I can't speak/read/write- yet) If agencies sometimes need English headlines/copy/creative concepts, it'd sure be great to top up the earnings with a bit of freelance. If that's possible ???

For better or for worse, these are changing times and empowering locals with English language to participate in the globalised world (whether for basic communication or for business, even businesses as soulless as advertising) is after all why we're all on this website, right?
(Hopefully I wont get any 'you colonial S.O.B' tirades for this sentiment)

Anyway, I will wait for the MA cert for sure. Thanks again