Job Discussion Forums

[Jolie_V]

Hello, I want to get out of Manila for awhile and Vietnam has caught my eye

Brief background : I started out as an ESL teacher in 2003 but has specialized in IELTS test preparation classes for both modules - General Training and Academic since 2007.

I have a B.A. in Communication Arts, a couple of M.A. units, CELTA and TESOL qualified ( did both courses at ECC Thailand)

Given the fact that I am deemed as a non-NES ...Am I hire-able?

I would appreciate your thoughts about this.

Thank you very much.

[skarper]

If your spoken English is very good then I think you will get a job - in the end.

In the meantime you will face discrimation because you are not white. Students and parents expect white teachers, so employers prefer that.

Having said that you are well qualified and experienced. If you can handle 1-2 years of working under you skill and pay level then I think with persistence and luck you can get a job to suit you.

There is no blanket block on Filipinos working in Vietnam, like in Korea for example.

[Jolie_V]

skarper, thanks for sharing. Good to know that discrimination isn't as disheartening as it is in Korea...ironically, hundreds of Koreans spend their summer vacation here to work up their English levels in academies run by Koreans..

My spoken English isn't too bad either

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Hi Jolie V,

I work with three Filipino teachers and I can't see why the school wouldn't be open to hiring more. It might be an idea for you to touch base with ACET. Starting salary in HCMC or Hanoi is usually in the ballpark of about $20 per hour. Good luck!

[Jbhughes]

Mind me asking what you do in Manila, Jolie?

I agree with what's been said so far. The discrimination is definitely there and you will need to prove yourself. Further to that, even after you do prove yourself, you still will find fresh white faces walking in and getting paid more than you.

There are some other threads about Filipinos (and -Filipinas) working in Vietnam, if the search function doesn't work, just scroll through the pages, I'm pretty sure the titles are relatively obvious.

Oh, and as you likely already know, you can get your 21 day stamp as a member of ASEAN, so you could just wait for a cheap flight (Cebu Pacific has offers every now and then) and look around for that time (presuming Filipino authorities don't have an issue with that).

If you have any in depth questions about dealing with papers etc then send me a pm and I'll see if I can answer them. (I work with a Filipina who's been through hell and back and finally has everything together)

Good luck and IMO you've got to really want to be here to put up with all the crap long enough to get somewhere you want to be (this applies to anyone coming here, even more so an 'other Asian')

[Jolie_V]

Thank you so much Sgt. Welsh and JbHuges for your time. I wasn�t expecting a �walk in the park" experience.

Why Vietnam? I noted that there seems to be a high demand for IELTS prep classes there. Korea and China were never considered because of the weather.

I have enjoyed teaching and �studying� IELTS (which I simply find fascinating). At this stage, I am curious what it woul be like to teach in a setting that is vastly different from the Filipino and the sprinkling of Korean, Chinese and French IELTS test prep students I�ve had.

If I can find IELTS teaching jobs that will enable me to survive and discover Vietnam�s culture without draining my savings�am good to go!

Btw, I�ve come across 3-month teaching contracts ..works well for me
( provided I do get hired)�at least it�s enough for me to know if I should stay or just pack up and go home..lol

[skarper]

Pay should be about 20USD an hour for IELTS work.

However, a lot of the less skilled and frankly easier work pays 15-18USD.

As an Asian they may try to pay you much less. Life being how it is you may need to take a job for a low rate rather than do nothing and get nothing, especially at first.

Private work is also possible (though not strictly legal) and you could find a few students who'd pay 5USD for an hour of your time. If you can get 2-3 to study together you are close to the school rate for a whole class of up to 20 students - and far less hassle. Make them pay up from for a block of several lessons and don't give any refunds if they cancel.

MOD EDIT

Somebody really serious might pay 20USD an hour to study one on one with you. 20USD is a fortune to many Vietnamese, but some can find it, especially if money is coming in from the USA.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Now is the time to return to the topic of the thread. Future off-topic postings will be deleted. Several have just met this fate and makers of similar off-topic or derailing postings will be sanctioned.