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Joew55
Joined: 15 Apr 2011
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:51 pm Post subject: New to Vietnam |
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Hi,
I'm thinking about coming to teach in Vietnam in late Jul, early Aug. Is this a good time to come? What schools do you recommend? I've been teaching for the past 3 years in Argentina with a TEFL cert.
cheers |
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Andy123
Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Think twice about that one. It has changed much. People that I have known for years are fleeing in masses. |
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Joew55
Joined: 15 Apr 2011
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:21 am Post subject: |
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| really? whats so bad about the place these days? where in Asia would you recommend then?cheers |
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Andy123
Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:38 am Post subject: |
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Too many teachers here now and many economic refugees. School enrollment is down, wages have dropped in many and then there is inflation.
Where to go? China? |
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shanewarne
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 146
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:41 am Post subject: |
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| People come and go in vietnam.Thus, Job openings become available every so often, week in, week out. So don't listen too much to the folks on here, they're just afraid of the competition and losing more of their comfy lifestyle. But best thing to do is come and see for yourself and be prepared to take some risks. |
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kerryn
Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 34
Location: africa
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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Dont listen to people who tell you not to go....!
Plenty jobs... ILA a good bet! |
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Aristede
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Andy123 wrote: |
| Think twice about that one. It has changed much. People that I have known for years are fleeing in masses. |
If they're fleeing in masses, then there should be plenty of new job openings. I may be tempted to try Vietnam now myself. |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| f they're fleeing in masses, then there should be plenty of new job openings. I may be tempted to try Vietnam now myself. |
The point is they're fleeing masses for a reason, actually a number of reasons.
| Quote: |
| So don't listen too much to the folks on here, they're just afraid of the competition and losing more of their comfy lifestyle. |
Most of these warnings come from people who have already left Viet Nam and are just trying to help other people avoid wasting their time.
| Quote: |
| But best thing to do is come and see for yourself and be prepared to take some risks. |
Yeah, people should do that and then let us know how it turns out. |
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Jbhughes
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 254
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Joew55,
What teaching contexts were you involved in with during that 3 years in Argentina?
Is your TEFL cert a CELTA or a CertTesol or something with similar credentials? How many hours was it? Was it online or on-site or blended? How many hours of observed teaching practice were there?
What is/are the nationality of your passport(s)?
What race are you? (I can't remember the PC way of asking this question and it's a discriminatory concept anyway, so why bother dressing it up)
How old are you?
Are you attractive? i.e. would university-age sts 'fancy' you?
How entertaining are your lessons? Do you make sts laugh and like you?
What would you risk or lose out on by coming over here if it wasn't successful?
I think the more longer term posters will be able to advise you well should you be prepared to answer these questions.
Disclaimer: I'm merely representing what priorities I think employers in Vietnam have when considering potential employees. While I don't believe in political correctness, I don't consider the above to be relevant to good teachers - aside from the certification question. |
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Joew55
Joined: 15 Apr 2011
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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hey,
I'm 28, white, Irish with a 4 month TEFL/TESOL course 120 hours learning and 8 hours observed teaching and yes I would say that I'm not bad looking!
Most of my classes here are one to one or group ones following books and I usually get on great with the students.
I was thinking of trying ILA, what are their wages like? whats the accommodation like that they/schools in general arrange?
Cheers |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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| shanewarne wrote: |
| So don't listen too much to the folks on here, they're just afraid of the competition and losing more of their comfy lifestyle. |
I just relate both my personal experiences and those of my close friends here,,,,,,
"....afraid of the competition?"
Errmmm.....OK....if you say so....... |
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Aristede
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:41 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
The point is they're fleeing masses for a reason, actually a number of reasons. |
If they are in fact doing so. Are "masses" three friends, dozens, or hundreds of people? All advice is worth assessing, but hyperbole dents credibility IMO.
| Quote: |
| Most of these warnings come from people who have already left Viet Nam and are just trying to help other people avoid wasting their time. |
I'm sure that some of them are sincere, especially when they cite specific information and experiences. But I've noticed a syndrome wherein certain posters lament the passing of a semi-mythical "Golden Age" in their country of choice and tell any interested newbies that currently wages have plummeted, the schools are all bad, the native population is hostile, etc. Don't even bother coming, they say, because there's nothing left for you worth having.
For some, it's not a matter of the glass being half empty or half full. The glass has a crack in it, so it will soon be completely empty regardless. Fortunately, there are other posters who offer counterexamples and provide a more balanced view. |
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Skyblue2
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 127
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:39 am Post subject: |
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| Joew55 wrote: |
| I was thinking of trying ILA, what are their wages like? |
Enough to get by.
| Joew55 wrote: |
| whats the accommodation like that they/schools in general arrange? |
You may have to do your own legwork. And whatever accommodation will be overpriced (foreigner price) and eat up 1/3 of your salary. You might have to share a house like a college student.
The good old days of Vietnam are gone. |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:49 am Post subject: |
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| Aristede wrote: |
| Quote: |
The point is they're fleeing masses for a reason, actually a number of reasons. |
If they are in fact doing so. Are "masses" three friends, dozens, or hundreds of people? All advice is worth assessing, but hyperbole dents credibility IMO.
| Quote: |
| Most of these warnings come from people who have already left Viet Nam and are just trying to help other people avoid wasting their time. |
I'm sure that some of them are sincere, especially when they cite specific information and experiences. But I've noticed a syndrome wherein certain posters lament the passing of a semi-mythical "Golden Age" in their country of choice and tell any interested newbies that currently wages have plummeted, the schools are all bad, the native population is hostile, etc. Don't even bother coming, they say, because there's nothing left for you worth having.
For some, it's not a matter of the glass being half empty or half full. The glass has a crack in it, so it will soon be completely empty regardless. Fortunately, there are other posters who offer counterexamples and provide a more balanced view. |
Hear, hear!
| Skyblue2 wrote: |
| You might have to share a house like a college student. |
It's up to the person if they want to stay in shared accommodation or not. Some people probably like the social aspect of it and, no two ways about it, it is a good way to save money. However, if you want to live by yourself, it's not difficult to pick up a comfortable one bedroom apartment in Hanoi or Saigon for between $350-$450 a month. Providing you don't have large debts to service back home, this should be well within the means of an entry-level TEFLer. |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| But I've noticed a syndrome wherein certain posters lament the passing of a semi-mythical "Golden Age" in their country of choice |
Semi-mythical?
Anyone who was in Viet Nam around 5 - 10 years ago would be familiar with the following totally-factual facts:
Fact 1) Traffic used to be somewhat normal with about half the motorbikes and almost no cars.
Fact 2) The cost of living used to be a lot lower. Five years of rampant inflation is a well documented reality. Wages haven't plummeted. They've merely stayed pretty much the same.
Fact 3) Continual 6-month business visas were had for the asking. Visa runs were non-existent.
In short, VN can't compete anymore. |
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