Job Discussion Forums

[EricCC]

Hello,

I am a 37 year old teacher living in Korea. I worked in education in the US for several years, will have my MA in TEFL completed soon, and would like to move to Vietnam in the next three or four years to live and work.


I'm a little concerned, however, that I am getting too old and/or I will have "too much experience."


Any real advice for someone in my position? Anyone in their 40's working in Vietnam who can share their experience?

Thank you.

Eric

[isabel]

How about those of us in our 60's?

[cb400]

EricCC:

If you want to come to VN I would suggest Hanoi instead of HCMC. I am 36 yrs old with 9 years teaching experience and I am struggling to find work in HCMC, over the 20 something 'I am so hungover' group who will work for 13-15$ an hour.

I personally found Hanoi much easier for good work and professional development, but I prefer HCMC for the lifestyle.

I am moving onto greener pastures soon, let me know if you have any specific questions.

Cheers

[LettersAthruZ]

In terms of any discrimination regarding age towards my teaching peers at schools and centres in The North, age really, really does not seem to be a much of a factor from what I have observed.

[mark_in_saigon]

Discussions about rate per hour often do not address the other issues which seem to me as or more important, such as number of hours, having to trudge around from one remote location to another and the relative unprofessionalism of any particular job.

I think any mature, serious professional (regardless of age) is always going to be shocked by the experience, if this is his first time teaching outside the west. While the kids may be better in ways, the workplace, the processes, the environment, ones peers, superiors, any or all of that can be just amazingly disastrous, or in the majority of jobs it is. Most newcomers have to start off in those kinds of jobs, and I think anyone who comes over has to assume he may work in that kind of job.

It is an interesting question if a person can have too much experience. I think the answer has to depend on the person, his goals, and other factors. Just knowing how to teach very well can be too much of a good thing. Your superiors may not know or care about that, and you can actually be valued or devalued more based on things like your overall appearance or racial profile, things like that. So knowing how good you really are could actually frustrate you in a case like that. Maybe some beautiful young European comes in with broken English and gets more hours than you because he looks like a demigod, how are you gonna feel about that? I am not sure huge experience in teaching has the market value it should here, maybe it depends too on what special knowledge you have. I think business training has extra value, and some of the more advanced levels of English really require more skills than most of the backpackers carry in their tucker bags. If you actually have management experience and training (and skill), and you carry yourself professionally, you are in a rather small pool, and you should eventually be able to do something more than only teaching lower levels in a mind numbing scenario, as so much of this really is.

Best profile for working here is having enough money coming in from other sources that you can live without these guys, it really gives you the upper hand. It is best for them to need you more than you need them. Don't have to be rude about it, but if that is your profile, let them know in a subtle way that you are free to work or not to work, and you only work at places that make the effort to eliminate the stupidity of it all, which aint many.

[kurtz]

In Hanoi at least I think only the really crappy places to work would prefer the gap-yearers; aim high in Hanoi like a DOS position in one of the mills or some of the best schools like RMIT or ACET. There are opportunities in Hanoi.

Being able to adapt here is something else. Maybe spend some time in Hanoi (or Saigon) to see if you like it here before committing as Vietnam isn't for everyone.

[Mattingly]

[LettersAthruZ]

[The Mad Hatter]

'economic refugees', 'shills'

I think we should be aware of whom we are talking and maybe moderate our language.

Everyone is different.

In Vietnam nobody has a divine right to get the first and best job. Because someone came here after you and may, or may not, have the qualifications you two don't have (hence the illegal WP in the case of LAZ) doesn't make you superior or give you the right to use these derogatory terms.

Good posters here occasionally paint a different picture than you do. If you don't agree, so be it, let it go and continue on your way.

LAZ, can I ask you what you teach?

To any newcomers of any age I would advise you to come here and give it a try. If you're not a born failure you're quite likely to do well for yourself. It's all down to you and the type of person you are. Don't arrive here and expect things to come easily, it's what you make it.

Good luck to the OP!

[inhanoi]

I don't see any 'economic refugees.' That description conjures up visions of The Road.

On the other hand, there IS an influx of talented, qualified people here, due to the poor economies in 'the West.' I welcome these folks. They are 'upping the game.' The illegal WP gang should indeed feel threatened by them. My fellow teachers are SO much more professional and serious now than the people who were here just a few years ago.

[The Mad Hatter]

[LettersAthruZ]

Whilst I've never stated or even implied such, if you feel that I am superior, well, perhaps a group hug may be of assistance to you.

"Derogatory terms"?

OK - got me there. We'll go PC: "People looking to better their lot in life" and "those speaking and/or acting on behalf of school/centre management"

I hold an illegal work permit? How so?

Regardless, I'm not going to get into a pi**ing match over this.

Simply stated, whilst some posters claim that I am posting a very negative portrayal of life in Viet Nam as an ESL Teacher and "scaring away" prospective instructors, I am simply stating the contrary, that it is misleading for some posters to claim that life here is a breeze with ease of locating teaching positions and EEEEAAAAASSSSY co-operation from Governmental authorities.

WHY would I state this position???


Uhhhh....it's a little bit stinging to hear about easily-obtainable positions and the ease of obtaining proper documentation when you've already dropped almost a grand USD to arrive here and you become disillusioned to find that the rainbows and sunshine scenario here portrayed by some posters on this thread has actually gone away some months ago!

Still - each case is different for every individual. I'm not attempting to "scare" ANYBODY away.......just suggesting caution and research first......

......IF you got the cash (and don't happen to be an economic ref...errr....person looking to better their lot in life) , an INVESTIGATORY trip here would really be helpful in sussing out the lies and half-truths from the facts.

OR, as sagaciously stated in this thread - http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=95095


....have a "Plan B"!

[The Mad Hatter]

I'm sorry, I may have read you wrongly:

[kurtz]

[Mattingly]