Working as an English teacher in Vietnam

Why in Vietnam?

Because it is warm all year round, the sea, surfing, a large number of old and newfangled attractions, delicious food and cheap prices for everything. There are also cheap flights from Vietnam to neighboring Asian countries when you want to get even more impressions. Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore - tickets for all these destinations are within $50. Popular cities for foreign teachers in Vietnam are Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Those who are constantly looking for obstacles and excuses will say that for this you need to have a teacher's education and be a native speaker. Ideally - of course, in practice - not necessarily. Residents of Asian countries really want to know English. And as we know, the population of Asia is huge, there are simply not enough English and American teachers for all schoolchildren and students. Moreover, now communicative English is held in high esteem, and not academic. The kind of English that you can use to communicate, not to write a poem or a dissertation.

So feel free to cast aside doubts that English is not Native for you.

What level of English should a school teacher have?

Answer: from B1 and above. The higher, the more opportunities to find a job with a high salary. The lower limit of B1 is more suitable for work in kindergartens with toddlers, where simple English is welcome.

And we always advise not to stop learning English, to continue constant practice. Read books in English, watch movies and TV shows in English, write a blog in English or write posts on Instagram and Facebook not only in your native language, but also dub it in English. It matters. If you do all this, you will immediately feel how your speech is enriched.

So, we figured out the level of knowledge of English. Now the question is regarding profile education and work experience. Your education must be at least a bachelor's degree, the specialty does not matter much. You need more work experience to feel more confident in the classroom, especially at first. We are in a hurry to answer your next question: where to get experience to work as an English teacher? The answer is simple: offer your services as a tutor. This will allow you to prepare teaching materials, analyze the reaction of students to your teaching style. To do this, it is not necessary to rent an office, you can meet with students in cafes, at home, in good weather in parks. Online tutoring is also popular now, through a video messenger. This is convenient for both you and your student. Again, the main thing for students is the opportunity to practice, as in this case - and for you, practice as a teacher. In this way, you will be able to develop your own teaching method and develop the skills of presenting the material so that it is understandable and not boring.

So, when all internal barriers are overcome, all doubts are dispelled, you need to proceed directly to the preparation of the move. This is a task that needs to be planned in detail.

Moving preparation

First of all, we advise you to take a TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course and get a certificate that confirms that you are an excellent teacher who knows how to present the material and how to teach English to any age group of people. The next step is to write a brilliant resume. Write only the education and experience that are relevant to the teaching position. Experienced job seekers know the value of a cover letter. Do not be lazy, write it, a well-written cover letter will shorten the job search time by several times.

Find fresh vacancies, so in the search on job sites and drive in “English teacher Vietnam”, visit profile groups on social networks, also search in English. What else helps a lot when looking for a job: when you complete the TEFL & TESOL course, receive a certificate, the center where you studied will provide access to fresh and relevant vacancies.

The issue of a visa is relevant for any trip abroad. Vietnam has a very loyal attitude towards foreigners, and the regime is not burdened with visa visits to the embassy or visa centers. If you have agreed with the employer that he will issue you a work visa before your arrival in the country, then we congratulate you, everything is fine and great. If not, then do not be discouraged, since apostolization and translation of all necessary documents is also a costly undertaking. And a visa to Vietnam for 3 months costs only 25 dollars with a single entry, and before that you will need to order an invitation letter on special sites, the cost of which is only 6 dollars. Then it will be possible to extend the visa or initially apply for 6 months. Everything depends on you. You may want to check if this country and the selected city suits you. Employers also often like to set a certain trial period to test your knowledge of your business and attitude towards work and responsibilities. It is better to discuss all the details regarding the visa in advance with the kindergarten, school or college where you will teach. So that you understand all possible scenarios for the development of events in a new country.

It is also very important to discuss the issue of housing in a new country. First, does the school that hires you cover housing costs. Very often it covers by allocating a limit within which you can rent a house. Very often HR helps you with the choice of housing. If you are so unlucky, and the employer dumps this issue on your shoulders, do not despair. Rent a house for the first time through rental services, there are a lot of them now, and they are very convenient, and when you get used to it, when you figure out the areas, how long it will take to get from home to school, you will already choose a permanent home. If you are traveling alone, then you will have a huge choice. It will be possible to find housing with a pool and a gym and not far from the beach. Will you say that this is a fairy tale, or that it costs fabulous money? In Asian countries, including Vietnam, this is a reality, and all this is available even to a simple English teacher.

We know that many teachers who go to work in Vietnam are concerned about nutrition.

What kind of food is there?

Yes, specific and spicy food is in abundance here, but there are also a huge number of European-style cafes. In stores you can find both peculiar products with a strange smell and purpose, as well as the usual delicious fruits, vegetables, sausages, cheeses, and dairy products. Globalization is doing its job, there are a lot of expats in Vietnam, comfortable living conditions are created for them, so food is the last thing to worry about.

How to move around the city?

What transport to use? Most move on mopeds. You can either rent a moped or grab a taxi, it's very cheap. But it must be said that the traffic is very chaotic. A traffic light is a rare occurrence, everyone just navigates along the way. It is extremely difficult to move on foot, there are sidewalks for pedestrians, but they are completely crowded with either cafe tables or mopeds, as a result, you will have to walk along the roadway, where it is dangerous to walk. Therefore, we advise you to rent a house, housing closer to work. At first, this state of affairs is shocking, but over time you get used to it. Accidents happen, but not more often than in any other country.

Of course, we do not advocate that everyone urgently needs to go and work in Vietnam as an English teacher, but we believe that this is an invaluable experience that will expand your horizons, understanding of the world, the limits of your capabilities. Surely, with a probability of one hundred percent, you will learn a lot about yourself that you did not suspect before. An ideal country does not exist on planet Earth, this is a well-known fact, but from each of your travels, life in new conditions, you can take out something useful, pleasant, which will lead to new ideas, goals, dreams, desires. Many foreign teachers, and even just expats, find their destiny, love, when they move to another country to live. And this is quite logical. You already have a priori a lot in common, since you met at this point on the planet without being born here. And as all coaches say without exception, you need to leave your comfort zone, only then will personal growth occur. And it is true.

Working as an English teacher is work, but if you love your job, then this work is a pleasure. And when a teacher receives a good salary for his work, which can afford good housing, and delicious food, and beautiful clothes, and unforgettable travels, then pleasure becomes a lifestyle.

Let's summarize. Doubts were dispelled, there is a desire to go to Vietnam as an English teacher.

What is the course of action?

• Passing the TEFL & TESOL.
• Obtaining a certificate.
• Drawing up a resume.
• Selection of vacancies.
• Interviews.
• Preparation of required documents.
• Tickets and accommodation.
• Moral preparation of yourself, friends and relatives.

Follow the points, and positive changes will not keep you waiting.