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Posted

I am currently doing an MA in English Lit. ( I have a BA in the same subject) When I finish next summer, I want to go to Asia, teach English, and also have time to write -- novels mainly.

I keep hearing that Vietnam offers teachers good salaries, good opportunities, and nice lifestyle. Is that true? If so, are there a good number of available positions?

What websites could I use to gain more information? Basically, I want to build up a good picture of what Vietnam is like for a Western teacher.

Many thanks,

--Daniel

Posted

I've been teaching in Thailand for four years and the last two of them I've been trying to get a job in Vietnam. From virtually EVERY teacher I've chatted with, once they get a job in Vietnam they stay there. Thailand isn't bad, but I've heard nothing but praise for working in Vietnam. Good luck!

Posted

I've been teaching in Thailand for four years and the last two of them I've been trying to get a job in Vietnam. From virtually EVERY teacher I've chatted with, once they get a job in Vietnam they stay there. Thailand isn't bad, but I've heard nothing but praise for working in Vietnam. Good luck!

Quan, how come you are having trouble getting a job? They seem plentiful enough? Good luck to you too! I don't know if I should get my Tefl and build up some experience in Thailand first?

Posted

The educated Vietnamese are very keen on extra tuition for their kids for them to be able to get into the best schools / universities so with a teaching qualification you should be able to get freelance work in the evenings / weekends if you can't get contacts for work in the private VN schools.

Your chances will increase dramatically in the provinces where the teachers of English are all Vietnamese who learnt from Vietnamese so pronunciation and understanding is not so good.

Posted

There are forums specifically for English teachers, like Dave's ESL Cafe. http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=14

Vietnam is a love/hate country. I find this discussion a good example of the wide range of opinions on the country: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/why-ill-never-return-to-vietnam

I'm not really aware of salaries in Vietnam but given the level of poverty I can't see how could there be English teaching jobs with a good salary. I would go in the Middle East for that.

Posted

There are forums specifically for English teachers, like Dave's ESL Cafe. http://forums.eslcaf...wforum.php?f=14

Vietnam is a love/hate country. I find this discussion a good example of the wide range of opinions on the country: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/why-ill-never-return-to-vietnam

I'm not really aware of salaries in Vietnam but given the level of poverty I can't see how could there be English teaching jobs with a good salary. I would go in the Middle East for that.

Several of my neighbours in Ha Noi own Mercedes (SLR), BMW, Lexus but I guess they are the poor ones compared to the guy that drives a Bentley, his wife's car is a Porshe Carrera.

Compared to them my neighbours in England live in poverty.

Posted

That doesn't tell us their salary. People often buy expensive cars to flash, and their credit cards are maxed out. The idea that teaching English in Hoi An allows for a luxurious lifestyle seems absurd to me.

Posted

^Same can be said of US and Europe which are not considered to be poverty stricken countries, but it does tell you that in a country with poverty there are people with wealth that can easily pay the salary of an English teacher, and there are wealthy people in Hoi An too.

I'll give you another example, in Mumbai there are people who live in poverty but there has just been completed the most expensively constructed residential dwelling in history at a cost of US$1 Billion (yes that's not a typo).

Or another example, Bangkok where there is poverty but some people can afford to pay English teachers.

Posted

Of course there's wealthy people everywhere (and there's plenty of people filthy rich in India) but just because they have money doesn't mean that they'll want to spend significantly more than the rest of the population for English lessons.

Anyhow, this is all speculations unless a poster can provide concrete numbers of the expected average salary for teaching English in Vietnam. I suspect the average salary is between 800$ to 2000$, but doesn't come close to what one would call a "good salary" (ie 4000$ or more).

Posted

Of course there's wealthy people everywhere (and there's plenty of people filthy rich in India) but just because they have money doesn't mean that they'll want to spend significantly more than the rest of the population for English lessons.

Anyhow, this is all speculations unless a poster can provide concrete numbers of the expected average salary for teaching English in Vietnam. I suspect the average salary is between 800$ to 2000$, but doesn't come close to what one would call a "good salary" (ie 4000$ or more).

If they want the best possible opportunities for their kids to attend the best universities they will.

Isn't that why we send our kids to private and International Schools here (and elsewhere)? to give them the best available education?

Posted (edited)

There are forums specifically for English teachers, like Dave's ESL Cafe. http://forums.eslcaf...wforum.php?f=14

Vietnam is a love/hate country. I find this discussion a good example of the wide range of opinions on the country: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/why-ill-never-return-to-vietnam

I'm not really aware of salaries in Vietnam but given the level of poverty I can't see how could there be English teaching jobs with a good salary. I would go in the Middle East for that.

Several of my neighbours in Ha Noi own Mercedes (SLR), BMW, Lexus but I guess they are the poor ones compared to the guy that drives a Bentley, his wife's car is a Porshe Carrera.

Compared to them my neighbours in England live in poverty.

I stayed in Hanoi for 4 months last year and the only place where I saw more high end luxury cars was in West LA about 30 years ago...somebody's got money around there and, presumably, can pay for high quality western education for their offspring...

this contrasts in a bizarre way with the crumbling colonial charm of Hanoi and the bustle of a major SE Asian city which is the capital of a socialist republic...

in the sparsely populated area where I live now out in the provinces it seems like all the teenaged kids in the area are released from school about the same time that us engineers on a local project are returning to our accommodation and clog the thoroughfare on their bicycles...I observe and reflect that in the rural area where I live in Thailand most kids their age would have dropped out of school already except for ethnic chinese...

maybe a flawed observation but something to think about...:)

Edited by tutsiwarrior
Posted (edited)

Before I traveled to Vietnam i also heard stories of people that were very positive and people that were negative. I had a very good experience and am very happy I went. It is another great south-east Asian country (best countries in the world) and it's great to see the little differences between them. So definitely go.

I think that many tourists travelling to Thailand are so much impressed by the ''Thai smile'' and friendliness, that they don't see it when they're scammed. It always amazes me how oblivious some people can be. The Vietnamese are more direct. they don't hide it when they're doing business. However most of them can still be very friendly, if not while doing business, then certainly in other situations. unless you are more of a sensitive person who likes to flatter and be flattered in all situations, then you should definitely go there.

another thing that's more apparent in Vietnam than in Thailand is their nationalism. it's more apparent for the same reason as the above. Same for the Thai, they also are very nationalist. Could be a good thing, but for a small percentage of the people it turns into disrespect, hate and mistreatment of the foreigners. I'm living in Bangkok, so i have some authority on the subject.

For living there, there are other things coming into question. you'll have to start from zero learning the language and social culture. Also, don't forget it has a completely different kind of governance. you do not have as much personal freedom as you have in Thailand. There are more rules, and you are more expected to uphold them.

I personally really like Vietnam, and would like to go try out living there. although some of the rules will be a pain in the ass, it's definitely not a Singapore. There have been some harsh mis-governance in the past sold under the name of communism, but things are getting better every year. The women for me are definitely as pretty as Thai women, the cities are beautiful with a great ambiance, Less cars and more motorbikes in the cities is definitely a plus (better traffic, very 'romantic') and there are some beautiful pieces of nature. There's definitely not as much nightlife though. less working girls as well. depending on what you want at this point in your life, make a decision.

EDIT:

Be mindful though, the quality of English taught in schools and universities in Asia is very low. hard to take serious even. As a career, i wouldn't really recommend it. I'd say, temp it, until you find a more rewarding job.

Edited by PeterGriffin
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

The U.S. college that I completed my My PhD dissertation case study on has just opened at least one campus in Vietnam. You can find their open positions bySEARCHING for Vietnamese specific openings. They pay really well if you are qualified. They also pay well in China :jap:

For obvious reasons, I cannot disclose the name of the college, but y'all are smart. :-)

Here's an article that 'claims' to know the college I studied. B):whistling:HERE

Edited by Yoknapatawpha
Posted (edited)

There are forums specifically for English teachers, like Dave's ESL Cafe. http://forums.eslcaf...wforum.php?f=14

Vietnam is a love/hate country. I find this discussion a good example of the wide range of opinions on the country: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/why-ill-never-return-to-vietnam

I'm not really aware of salaries in Vietnam but given the level of poverty I can't see how could there be English teaching jobs with a good salary. I would go in the Middle East for that.

But whatever you do, DON'T POST YOUR RESUME on Dave's. All you'll get is loads of agencies trying to push their websites and rip off jobs.

Try ajarnforum.net - there may be someone with some recent experience posting there.

Edited by cat5

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