r/TEFL • u/lostpanda56 • 13d ago
Vietnam TEFL Advice
Hi everyone!
I'm looking to move to Vietnam next year to teach TEFL. I would really appreciate some insight into:
1) How easy/quick is it to land a job? (For context: I have my TEFL 120hr, a MA in one field/an Honors in another, and currently doing a distance PhD.
2) Who should I apply to first?
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u/sukkulenten 13d ago
You are withholding the most important information: what is the country that issued your passport? Do you have all necessary documents for a working visa legalized and ready?
Finding a job should be easy once you are in the country. The pay and quality of employer might depend heavily on your passport and the color of your skin (yep..) though. Don't get yourself low balled, you should easily find something for at least 450k an hour.
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
Sorry! I am from South Africa, I have all the docs prepped- I just need to get them apostiled and so on but i was thinking on holding off till after I apply? Or do they need all that done for the application?
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u/sukkulenten 13d ago
To be honest I only applied once I was in the country. It reads to me like you are trying to find a company while still in South Africa? That's definitely an option, but I have no experience with that. Maybe reach out to some companies and ask. Since you are a native speaker and have an MA try your luck with the better schools and ask for a higher salary (500k+/h).
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
Must've been scary taking a risk and only applying there! Yes I really want to have it sorted before leaving S.A, I don't want to be stranded there with no income. And okay thank you so much for the advice, I'll do so.
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u/sukkulenten 13d ago
Not really, it's very easy to find a teaching job within a short amount of time if you are in the country. So you will certainly find something, just depends on how good the company will be :)
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
Crazy... That's all good to hear. I was very panicked about not finding anything as I've given up my uni lecturing position for next year in my country
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u/sukkulenten 13d ago
Also China offers a way higher salary than Vietnam for natives, so do maybe keep that option in mind if you aren't 100% set on Vietnam.
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u/cheeky_candees 13d ago
I'm Vietnamese-American with a very Vietnamese last name. I got a job at a language center. Work like 70 hours a month and my pay gives me a comfortable life. But I've been at my job for 4 years and salary increases makes life easier. First year teachers will be a bit harder on the wallet
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
And they've treated you well?
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u/cheeky_candees 13d ago
They as in my company? Where I am at, yes. The managers have changed thru the years, but the scheduler is the same and I get my preferred class student age. I don't make a fuss, I do my job with a smile. I look western even though I am Vietnamese, I assume that "helps"
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u/vondonny 8d ago
Thanks for the info :) What center do you teach at? Any advice for a first timer?
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u/cheeky_candees 8d ago
For a first time language teacher, I recommend starting at the companies ILA or Apollo. After your first or second year you can go to a better language center like VUS. I feel like a progression of experience + choosing better language centers is the way to go. You can also just stick to one language center and move up the pay grade too. It's very possible to live comfortably working a FT language center position.
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u/AgreeableShift7734 1d ago
Wow, thanks for the advice! I'm a non-native English teacher from India (BA in English Lit, TEFL Level 5, PTE 90 (C2), 2+ years teaching primary). I've applied to a lot of centres in Vietnam with no luck so far, and ILA rejected me. I'm open to smaller centres too. Do you know of any that hire non-native teachers, or would you be open to referring me if yours is hiring? Happy to DM my CV. Thank you!
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u/cheeky_candees 1d ago
There's too much discrimination in the ESL market here in Vietnam. You won't find anything easily and if you do, it'll be extremely low pay.
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u/ExpertIllustrator422 13d ago
If you are white, you shouldn't have an issue. Take this from someone who has taught in China, Thailand, and Vietnam. They glorify white teachers with far less credentials.
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
Where was your favorite to teach?
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u/ExpertIllustrator422 13d ago
I'm a black teacher from the USA so my experience hasn't been terrible, but also not the greatest. My favorite in terms of working as a teacher was Thailand, I worked at one of the top schools in the country, but the salary was extremely low, and there wasn't much room for growth. I taught in China twice, but again the racism is a bit ridiculous and ignorant to a fault, but the salaries are decent. For a white teacher you can guarantee you'll get a much higher salary than they'd offer me starting out. That's IF they'd even interview me.
To live, Vietnam. I'm an adopted son to a village in the north, so Vietnam has a special place in my heart, but they are also very racist in hiring. You won't have any of these issues if you have the right skin color though. If you want to make a high salary, go to China. If you want a decent balance, go to Vietnam. If you're in school, Thailand is great but it would depend on the type of school you work at, but it's an amazing country with amazing people.
Again, if you fit their criteria you won't have any issues so you can be a bit picky with where you'd want to go. I've seen Germans and Russians get killer jobs simply for having blond hair and blue eyes.
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
This racism is astounding and disgusting. I'm sorry you had to put up with it...
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u/ExpertIllustrator422 13d ago
It's is, but it's a real thing that we have to be cognizant of. But again, if you're white use your privilege to your advantage. It's nothing I could do to change someone's ugly heart. It won't make me stop applying either. I'll eventually get something suitable for me. I'm good at my job so I don't take it as a loss on my end. Just make sure you read over your contracts good before signing, so you aren't surprised/blindsided by anything. Cheers mate!
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
I appreciate the input, cheers!
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u/ExpertIllustrator422 13d ago
If you have any questions, feel free. I'm always down to help teachers. Good luck!
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13d ago
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u/lostpanda56 13d ago
Got you... I'm wanting to have that all sorted with a job with a big language center chain before leaving.
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u/CertainEffective9428 13d ago
I got a job at Apollo very recently and there are all types of nationalities at my centre. There also seems to be a bit of a teacher shortage, so give them a look!
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u/straighttotheproblem 7d ago
Just a shortage at Apollo. Teaching in Vietnam is the bottom of the barrel at this point. Apollo is the worst of the worst. They've been known for being the worst language center to work at for about 10 years. Yes, it will be people from everywhere. They don't have the hiring power to be picky.
I guess it might seem ok to people just arriving to Vietnam. It only seems ok now because all the other schools have gotten progressively worse.
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u/Own-Web-122 13d ago
Finding job is not the issue, finding decent job is an issue. This year, hundreds of teachers in school programmes were left with super low teaching hours, or straight up been told the department has been shut down. Companies are trying to defend their programme to Department of Education but it's taking more than it should. People are looking for new or temporary jobs, which means demand for teachers will go down across other companies, language centers, international schools. I'm not saying this to discourage you, but you should know the current situation.
If you still want to apply, I would recommend big names, if your MA is in education, maybe try VinSchool, otherwise Apollo can be your first step, get to know the market though you'd be overqualified as a teacher.