TESOL Course in Hanoi – four important inclusions

If you’re considering which TESOL course in Hanoi, Vietnam will be the best fit for you – and represents value for money – I’d encourage you to reflect on the following four points: 1. quality accreditation, 2. precourse support, 3. accommodation, and 4. meaningful job support. Let’s ‘drill down’ on these four points.

Quality accreditation

When it comes to the accreditation status of TESOL (and TEFL) courses in Hanoi, and elsewhere in the world, you could be excused for thinking that one size fits all. If a course says that it’s accredited by entity ‘XYZ’, then it must be legitimate; there’s no need to worry! Correct? Incorrect! You might strike it lucky, but anecdotally there’s a 90%+ chance that a course you think looks fine, is at best, a glorified personal development programme with certification that carries zero ‘qualification’ value. The 90%+ figure encompasses all those TESOL and TEFL courses that come with ‘private’ accreditation and, in some cases, no accreditation whatsoever.

You need TESOL certification that’s a product of ‘Nationally Recognised Training’ in the country of origin; certification that comes with government-sanctioned accreditation. For example, the Australian Government accredited TESOL programme at AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh (Cambodia) meets this core requirement.

“What’s the problem with ‘private’ accreditation”? I hear you ask. Any random person over the age of 18 who can put their hands on a phone bill in their name (or similar) for ‘proof’ of identification can set up a private ‘Limited Liability Company’ (that costs around US $25.00) and call themselves a TESOL accreditation entity. Regrettably, the TESOL Training industry is full of these dodgy, private ‘accreditation’ entities that are nothing more than ‘Diploma Mills’. If you opt for a TESOL course in Hanoi that offers ‘Nationally Recognised Training’, all being well, you will end up with a legitimate teaching qualification that can be used around the world.

Precourse support

Precourse support includes everything that happens from the moment you sign up for a TESOL course in Hanoi through to the first day of your TESOL programme. In the precourse phase, there’s a lot of things to organise, including: a visa, medical insurance, important documents (degree, background check and the like), vaccinations (if necessary) and booking an airline ticket. You’ll also need to think about what you should (and shouldn’t) pack, how to navigate immigration and customs on arrival at Hanoi International Airport, transport from the airport to your accommodation and settling into a new environment where people speak a different language.

Arguably, there isn’t anyone better placed to guide you through the precourse phase of your TESOL programme than the person (or their delegate) who signed you up for your TESOL course in Hanoi in the first place. Presumably, they’ll be on the ground in Hanoi. There’s a good chance they’ve provided precourse support to plenty of other TESOL students over time. They’ll know what to do. They’ll know where to go. They’ll know who you need to speak with.

Not all TESOL providers in Hanoi offer ‘free’ precourse support. Some say they do, but it doesn’t happen, or it falls well short of what is promised. Before you sign on the dotted line and lock yourself into a TESOL course in Hanoi, you must know exactly what support you will receive. You’re throwing caution to the wind and heading off to teach English in Hanoi; you can do without surprises and disappointments in the lead up to your TESOL programme.

Free precourse support from AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi includes, but isn’t limited to: visa and insurance guidance, help with essential documents, up-to-date advice on vaccinations and travel-related Coronavirus testing, where to find cheap air tickets and how to move through the arrivals process at Hanoi Airport with a minimum of fuss. The team at AVSE-TESOL will even send a representative to the airport to personally collect you and make sure you’re settled into your accommodation if that would be helpful. AVSE’s precourse support also includes a Welcome Dinner on Saturday evening and a City Tour on Sunday, before your course starts on Monday – at no additional cost.

Accommodation

Hotel or Guesthouse accommodation in Hanoi can be expensive. With a basic online search, you will see that it’s tough to find somewhere to stay in Hanoi for less than US $25.00 a night; and with this kind of budget, you’ll probably have to share a room and a bathroom with a bunch of random people. What will this mean for you if the fee for your month-long TESOL course in Hanoi doesn’t include accommodation? Put simply, it means that you need to add around US $700.00 (28 nights x US $25.00 = US $700.00) to the cost of the course. You’d also need to add the cost of transport to get to and from the training centre for the duration of the course. Depending on the distance between the accommodation you found and the training centre’s location, your transport costs could be as high as US $300.00.

When you add US $700.00+/- (accommodation) and US $300.00+/- (transport) to the programme fee, that ‘cheap’ TESOL course in Hanoi doesn’t seem so cheap after all.

There are four good reasons why you ought to choose a TESOL course in Hanoi – like the one offered by AVSE-TESOL – that includes accommodation. First, you’ll have your own bedroom and bathroom, befitting someone who’s enrolled in a quality teacher training programme, without having to pay a penny more than the advertised programme fee. Second, almost certainly the accommodation that’s included in your programme fee will be within walking distance of the training centre. This means your course-related transport costs will be zero. In fact, you might even be able to pop ‘home’ at lunchtime. Third, there’s a good chance that your classmates will be staying at the same place – great for bonding and socialising. Fourth, if your TESOL provider is anything like AVSE-TESOL, they will have thoroughly vetted the accommodation – safety, security, cleanliness and the like – before booking you and other TESOL students into the place. This vetting process effectively means that you’re not walking into something that’s an ‘unknown’ quantity.

Meaningful job support

While most TESOL providers in Hanoi speak in glowing terms about the extent of their job support for folks who enrol in their programme, what’s delivered, often doesn’t match the rhetoric. Job support should start in the precourse phase, in my view, continue throughout the month-long course and culminate in placement once the TESOL course is ‘done and dusted’.

Job support is a lot more than fax-streaming your curriculum vitae (resume) to random schools. Among other things, it involves making sure you have the skills, knowledge and quality certification to work as an ESL educator; understanding your aspirations; working with you to put a curriculum vitae together that meets the employer’s expectations; engaging in mock interviews and making appointments for you with specific employers. If ‘employer one’ doesn’t offer you a job, your TESOL provider needs to understand why you were unsuccessful, so you’ll have a better chance with ‘employer two’. Of course, negotiating an employment agreement is a personal matter between you and a potential employer, but it would be comforting to know that your TESOL provider is open to being a ‘sounding board’ if it’s necessary.

Meaningful job support from your TESOL provider will positively impact your overall ‘teach English abroad’ experience. In stark contrast, if job support falls short of the mark (or is non-existent), there’s a chance that you’ll be left to your own devices in an unfamiliar environment. What’s the message? Make sure that meaningful job support is part of your TESOL package, have a clear understanding of what support will be delivered – and speak up if you receive less than what was promised. 

Summary

You won’t have any trouble finding a TESOL course in Hanoi with a simple Google search, but you may well have trouble working out which course is best for you. As you’re flicking through website pages, blog articles, online reviews and suchlike, I’d encourage you to hone in on four points: 1. quality accreditation, 2. precourse support, 3. accommodation, and 4. meaningful job support. If you come across a TESOL programme that doesn’t tick all four ‘boxes’, best to keep looking. Teaching is a profession. You need a qualification, not a ‘personal development certificate’. Precourse support (at no cost) from someone who has helped others embark on a ‘teach English abroad’ adventure is invaluable. When you weigh up the issues associated with having to find your own accommodation (time, added cost, safety, security, walking into the unknown …) against accommodation that’s included in the TESOL programme (zero added cost, classmates at the same location, walk to the training venue, known quantity….), the choice is an easy one to make. There are words about ‘job support’ on a website page or in a flashy video, and then there’s real job support that’s multi-faceted and targeted. Don’t accept anything less than the latter.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and owner) of AVSE-TESOL in Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) and Cambodia (Phnom Penh). AVSE-TESOL has been training aspiring ESL educators for jobs teaching English in Vietnam and Cambodia for more than 15 years. Check out the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn

How to notarise and legalise your TESOL certificate in Vietnam

Let’s say that you completed the Australian Government accredited TESOL course in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at AVSE-TESOL, and you’re out and about talking to potential employers. Once you’ve found a teaching job that’s a good fit for you, there’s a high chance that your Vietnamese employer will ask you to have your TESOL certificate notarised – and possibly legalised. I say, ‘possibly legalised’ because more often than not, the employer (or an agent acting on behalf of the employer) will take on this task themselves. Regardless of whether you’re asked to arrange for your TESOL certificate from AVSE-TESOL to be notarised only or notarised and legalised, you’ll see in this blog post that it’s all manageable.

This post is only about the notarising and legalising processes in Vietnam. There are separate processes altogether for notarising and legalising your TESOL certificate in Australia and other countries.

Perspective:

Before touching on the notarising and legalising steps related to your certificate from the TESOL course in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at AVSE-TESOL, it’s worth considering the purpose behind the two distinct processes. You could be excused for thinking the purpose has glaring shortcomings, but ‘it is, what it is’.

Notarising your TESOL certificate from AVSE-TESOL will occur at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi or the Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City. Succinctly, notarising is about confirming that the name on the certificate matches the name of the person who presents the certificate. Hence, the notary will want to see your passport (or similar). Notarising is also about confirming the entity that issued the certificate is a legal entity (only). It’s not the responsibility of the notary to determine if the legal entity has the necessary authority to issue or accredit TESOL certificates in Vietnam (or elsewhere) – or to offer vocational training programmes in the first place. While AVSE-TESOL ticks all the necessary boxes, many entities that provide a TESOL course in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or both, ‘fly under the radar’.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (Vietnamese Government) in either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is responsible for legalising ‘foreign’ documents for use in Vietnam. The city – Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City – where you have your certificate legalised is an important consideration, but I will come back to that later. The legalisation process essentially involves certifying that the notary’s signature and stamp (see above) are legitimate. You might be surprised to learn that ‘legalising’ is not confirmation that the document is what it purports to be – for example, a legitimate teaching qualification.

We have touched on the purpose of notarising and legalising your certificate from the TESOL course in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at AVSE-TESOL. Now, let’s look at how to complete the tasks in Vietnam in two easy steps, with a minimum of fuss.

Step one:

Step one involves obtaining a notarised copy of your TESOL certificate from the Australian Embassy in Hanoi or the Australian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.  If you did the TESOL course in Hanoi and then moved to Ho Chi Minh City or vice-versa, there’s no need to travel back to the city where you did the course for notarising (and legalising) purposes. However, both the embassy and the consulate require visitors to make an appointment beforehand. You can make an appointment in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City via the relevant website address noted below. You will be charged a fee by the embassy or the consulate for providing a notarised copy of your TESOL certificate. The fee is payable in cash or by card. Here are the contact details for the Australian Embassy in Hanoi and the Australian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Hanoi: Australian Embassy

Website: https://vietnam.embassy.gov.au/
Location: 8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/TZF2Sa8JF1qY89jy6

Ho Chi Minh City: Australian Consulate 
Website: https://hcmc.vietnam.embassy.gov.au/

Location: 20th Floor, Vincom Center, 47 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/HrtdeH4k2NNHfDhY8

Step two:

The process of legalising a TESOL certificate in Vietnam is ordinarily completed by an employer (or an Agent), but your employer might ask you to do it yourself. If you are asked, take the notarised copy (Step one) of your TESOL certificate to the Department of Foreign Affairs (Vietnamese Government) in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. This is where the location issue does become important. You must visit the Department of Foreign Affairs in the same city your TESOL certificate was notarised (Step one).  There’s no need to make an appointment. The process usually takes 24 hours to complete, and it only costs a few dollars. Here are the contact details for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Hanoi: Department of Foreign Affairs – Consular Section

Location: 40 Trần Phú, Điện Bàn, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/2bRbh9bbxNcDJzg5A

Ho Chi Minh City: Department of Foreign Affairs – Consular Section
Location: 184B Pasteur Street, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/rrGK3BK6gDr4bY1q7

Conclusion:

In this blog post, I’ve touched on what’s involved when having your certificate from the TESOL course in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at AVSE-TESOL notarised and legalised in Vietnam. Your employer will likely ask you to complete the notarisation task, and then he (or she) will take care of having your TESOL certificate ‘legalised’. If you’re asked to complete both the notarising and legalising, it’s simply a matter of following the two-step process that has been outlined in this blog post.

About the author: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and founder) of AVSE-TESOL in Vietnam and Cambodia. AVSE-TESOL offers Australian Government accredited TESOL courses in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phnom Penh. Check out the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn

TESOL course in Hanoi: Eight questions to ask before you sign-up

It might come as a surprise to some people, that not all TESOL programmes in Hanoi are equal. Moreover, not all TESOL programmes and related certifications are what they appear to be. In this short blog post, I’ll provide eight key questions that you should ask a potential TESOL provider before parting with your hard-earned money. Doing a TESOL course in Hanoi is an experience that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. With a few carefully worded questions, see immediately below, you’ll be better placed to make an informed decision on which TESOL course is best for you.

Key Questions

Question one: I noticed that your TESOL course in Hanoi is accredited by (name of entity) in (name of country where the course is ‘accredited’). Is this entity a privately owned Limited Liability Company? Moreover, how much do you pay (name of entity) for each certificate you issue.

Pretty much every TESOL course in Hanoi claims to be ‘accredited’ by an entity of one kind or another. On the surface, this might seem like good news, but there’s a catch. Most TESOL courses in Hanoi are accredited by a random Limited Liability Company (around US $25.00 to establish). Any person with a gas bill, a driver’s licence or other proof of identification can establish a Limited Liability Company with a flashy name like ACCREDIT TESOL and call themselves an ‘independent’ (insert – US $25.00 company) ‘accrediting’ authority. If you were so inclined you could do it yourself, but please don’t. These ‘independent authorities’, in the main, are no more than old-fashioned ‘diploma mills’ that are a blight on education and training – worldwide.   

Question two: What’s the difference between ‘Nationally Recognised Training’ (in the country of origin) with accreditation by a government and ‘accreditation’ by a privately owned Limited Liability Company?

If it’s not a product of ‘Nationally Recognised Training’, it follows that the certification cannot be internationally recognised. Words on a website page can be helpful. Well-made videos and other forms of marketing can be enticing, especially when the provider is selling a teach English abroad (or similar) adventure. TESOL ‘training’ in Vietnam, Cambodia, and other developing countries is one of those industries where the adage, ‘buyer beware’ definitely applies. Questions directed at confirming accreditation status are best asked directly by making an appointment to speak with a ‘real person’ at the training venue if you’re already in Hanoi or via Zoom if you’re not in Hanoi. Meeting with a real person will help with warding off ‘weasel lines’ like:

‘Certification’ from our TESOL course in Hanoi is accepted for Work Permit purposes’.

– Does this mean that the certification is a legitimate teaching qualification? No it doesn’t. It might mean that the Vietnamese public servant who processes a particular Work Permit application doesn’t know about accreditation and related teaching credentials, doesn’t care, or both. By way of example, if a policeman (government official) unwittingly accepts a bogus driver’s licence during a regular traffic stop, does that mean the licence morphs into a genuine driver’s licence? Of course not.

‘You can have your certificate notarised at the United States Embassy (or another embassy)’.

– Does this mean that the certificate is a legitimate teaching qualification? Nope! It may mean that the privately owned ‘accrediting’ entity is a Limited Liability Company (cost factor of around US $25.00) in the United States (or elsewhere) – like millions of other ‘mum and dad’ companies. Any suggestion that the notarisation process at an embassy is directed at establishing the legitimacy of the TESOL course in Hanoi, a teaching ‘qualification’ or related certification, is simply untrue.

– ‘Accreditation doesn’t matter – there’s no ‘worldwide authority’ that presides over TESOL / TEFL courses.

If you hear this line from a TESOL provider, I’m genuinely sorry to say – you’ve hit the bottom of the barrel. No worldwide authority presides over courses for lawyers, doctors, dentists, and every other profession on planet earth. The ‘no worldwide authority’ line is a classic red herring. We have ‘Nationally Recognised’ training and related qualifications in individual countries. If your TESOL certification is a product of ‘nationally recognised’ training in the country of origin, certification issued by AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi is a good example, you have every reason to believe that it will be recognised in other countries, although you might have to jump through a few hoops.

Question three: I see that your TESOL course in Hanoi comes with employment support. Let’s say that you send me to VUS, ILA (or similar) in Hanoi after I complete the course. Will you receive a commission payment from the school if they employ me?

‘Double-dipping’ – payment at the frontend by the TESOL student (you) and payment at the backend by the employer (VUS and the like) – is common practice from TESOL providers in Hanoi. You might be okay with this practice because placing someone in a job involves work, and people should get paid for their work. I get it. If receiving commission payments for referring people to an employer is not publicly acknowledged on the TESOL providers website, at a minimum, it shows a lack of transparency. I’d go further and say it shows disrespect for TESOL students, if only because you wouldn’t have known about the ‘backhander’ if you didn’t ask the question.

Question four: Does the course fee include accommodation?

Accommodation in Hanoi isn’t cheap. For example, if the TESOL course in Hanoi goes on for four weeks and doesn’t include accommodation, you can add US $700.00+ to the course fee. Moreover, you can add an additional US $300.00+ if you need to pay for transport to get to the training location.  

Question five: Is your business licenced by the Vietnamese Government to deliver Vocational Training programmes, in general, and specifically, teacher training programmes and related qualifications sourced from abroad?

If the answer is not a resounding ‘yes’ to both parts of the question above, you should vote with your feet immediately. If the answer is ‘yes’ to both parts of the question, ask to see the relevant documentation. It’s your right. Legitimate Vocational Training providers in Vietnam and companies that import products and services (teacher training programmes in this instance) must hold the relevant licences. The licences are separate to a ‘run-of-the-mill’ company registration certificate, a taxation notice and suchlike.

Question six: Can you show me a copy of your Public Liability Insurance policy so I know that I’m covered if I have an accident or get injured at your training venue?

Reputable Vocational Training providers worldwide, including in Vietnam, are compelled to have Public Liability Insurance for their training venue. It provides a level of protection for those people who use the venue. If you’re injured or worse, you (or your family) may be eligible for financial support. Unfortunately, TESOL providers who ‘fly under the radar’ in Hanoi tend not to be bothered about what happens to you on their premises. In the event something untoward occurred, they’d simply shut up shop, and there’s a good chance that you’d never find them. Will your medical insurance provider cover the costs of an injury, accident or worse on a property owned or rented by a company – the TESOL provider – legally compelled to take out Public Liability Insurance but didn’t bother? I suspect not, but you should know the answer beforehand.

Question seven: What is the failure rate with your TESOL course in Hanoi?

Obviously, nobody wants to fail, but with any serious qualification, some people inevitably will. Tertiary institutions around the world budget for a 20% (+/-) failure rate. If the provider tells you that nobody fails their course, it will provide an insight into the legitimacy of what’s on offer. If you’re told (insert a number) % of people fail the course, you may wish to ask the provider why people fail. In the same vein, it would be worthwhile asking the TESOL provider when you can expect to receive your certificate. If the provider says in the last week or the course, the last day of the course and the like, it raises questions about the independence of the assessment process – which goes to the heart of legitimacy. It also raises questions about how the provider got a certificate with your name on it from the United States, the United Kingdom or wherever the accrediting entity is based, in what amounts to lightning speed, perhaps even before you’ve finished the course. The answer is pretty obvious.

Question eight: Tell me about your TESOL trainers.

Teaching and training are different activities. Some folks are brilliant teachers, but poor trainers and vice versa. To illuminate this point, for a moment, think about sex education. You can be a sex education teacher or a sex education trainer – these activities require a markedly different skill set. Most TESOL providers in Hanoi employ a ‘garden variety’ teacher as their TESOL Trainer.

Regardless of whether the TESOL Trainer is an Oxford Don or footed the bill to do a short, online course at Harvard (open to anyone prepared to pay), if that person doesn’t hold formal certification in vocational training, they’re not qualified to preside over a TESOL course in Hanoi. As an example, if you accept the premise that someone who holds a US driver’s licence isn’t qualified to train law enforcement folks in tactical driving, then it follows that you accept the assumption that people who do not hold a specialist vocational training qualification, are not qualified to preside over a TESOL course. Certainly, that’s the view of the Australian Government, the US Government, the Canadian Government, and the list goes on.

Summary

There are two or three Vocational Training entities in Hanoi, including AVSE-TESOL, that offer a Nationally Recognised TESOL course that comes with a TESOL qualification that’s genuinely internationally recognised. Unfortunately, there are many more ‘TESOL courses’ in Hanoi that simply don’t stack up. Thorough due diligence is imperative. Look beyond the ‘sharp’ videos and words on a website page. If the course (and related certification) is not Nationally Recognised in the country of origin, it follows that it cannot be internationally recognised. Armed with a few targeted questions (accreditation, double-dipping, notarisation, and other issues covered in this post) – and determination to sort the ‘wheat from the chaff’, I’m convinced that you’ll find yourself in a Nationally Recognised TESOL training programme in Hanoi. Equally, I’m confident that you’ll land a brilliant teaching job once the course is over, in part at least, because you didn’t scrimp on your training.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the owner (and founder) of AVSE-TESOL in Vietnam and Cambodia. AVSE-TESOL offers an Australian Government accredited (Nationally Recognised Training) TESOL course in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Online. Check out the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn

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‘Grey Nomads’ – teaching in Vietnam

Here’s a prediction based on phone calls and emails that I’ve received in recent times. I’ve got it pegged that we’ll see international Grey Nomads (50+ years of age), predominantly from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, teaching in Vietnam (and Cambodia) in record numbers. What’s the key ‘pull, push’ factors? Read on.

‘Grey Nomad’ is an endearing phrase that’s commonly used in Australia. Over the past few years, the phrase has gained traction in Southeast Asia. In the context of teaching in Vietnam, a Grey Nomad is a foreigner of more mature age who has travelled to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or elsewhere in Vietnam to work as an English language teacher. Arguably, the most famous Grey Nomad of all time is Marco Polo. He travelled around Asia in the late 1300s and early 1400s. History tells us that Marco Polo took full advantage of the opportunities presented to him in Asia; it seems to me that the modern-day Grey Nomads are doing the same. 

Let’s drill down a bit. We know Grey Nomads are 50+ years of age, but what else do they have in common? What pathway do they typically follow from their former life to teaching abroad? Why is Vietnam a beacon for Grey Nomads? How are they received by the Vietnamese schools that employ them?

Pathway

For many mature teachers, the path to teaching in Vietnam follows a familiar pattern. Most are single, career-focused individuals with a strong professional background. They’re often motivated by a desire for meaningful experiences and a touch of adventure — whether in retirement or after a major life changing event, such as redundancy, divorce, or suchlike. Increasingly, rising living costs and political instability in many Western countries are prompting people to seek a new direction. Teaching in Vietnam offers exactly that — a fresh, rewarding, and very different kind of lifestyle.

Typically, Grey Nomads that I’ve encountered through my work teaching in Vietnam are well-informed. They’ve done the necessary research. Your average Grey Nomad has it pegged that the number of English teaching jobs in Vietnam is greater than the number of suitably qualified people to fill them – many times over. They know it’s not enough to be a native-English speaker who happens to be breathing and upright to call themselves an English teacher. Most Grey Nomads have invested in quality English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher training that’s government accredited and internationally recognised. The Australian Government accredited TESOL programme at AVSE-TESOL in Ho Chi Minh City (and Phnom Penh) is an excellent example of top-notch ESL teacher training. More ‘mature heads’ know that quality training provides the skills, knowledge and certification that are pivotal to getting a decent job in the first place – and to do the job well. Grey Nomads are attuned to the idea that job training – teacher training in this instance – is not an area where people can scrimp.

Why is Vietnam a beacon?  

Foreigners who are teaching in Vietnam, in the main, earn a decent salary – relative to the cost of living. Having said that, from my observations, the vast majority of Grey Nomads aren’t motivated by how much they can earn. On a list of motivating factors, making money would come in around number nine for most ‘Grey Nomads’. Not in any particular order – lifestyle, low cost of living, personal safety, ease of travel – within Vietnam and to neighbouring countries, diversity of experiences on offer, warm climate, decent beaches, and friendly local people – would all rate higher than making money. Most of the Grey Nomads who are teaching in Vietnam are happy if they can cover their everyday costs. I suspect this reflects their ‘stage of life’. Grey Nomads tend to be people with a long work history. Some will have worked like a ‘Trojan’, perhaps even held two jobs at the same time, scrimped and saved, bought, and sold properties, raised children, experienced heartache – led full lives. They’ve done the hard yards for the benefit of others and the benefit of the wider community. Now it’s about ‘me time’. In a nutshell, why is Vietnam a beacon? It has ‘me time’ written all over it.

How are Grey Nomads received by employers (schools)?

Earlier in this article, I inferred that the number of English teaching jobs in Vietnam is greater than the number of suitably qualified people to fill them – many times over.  This is the case now, and it has been for the rapidly approaching two decades that I’ve been living and working in Vietnam. Pretty much from the time Vietnam opened up to the world after the devastating war years, the country has experienced economic growth that’s envied around the world. This growth has led to an insatiable demand for English language skills – and qualified, foreign English teachers.

In a ‘job-seekers market’, schools welcome anyone they can get their hands-on, including Grey Nomads, who are qualified to teach English. Consequently, ‘market forces 101’ dictates that Grey Nomads are well-received by schools along with other qualified teachers. Having said this, if a school can choose between Person A – quality TESOL certification, a wise head, even temperament, professionally minded, stable work history, and culturally empathetic – or Person B – dodgy ‘TESOL certificate’, youngster, a bit of an attitude, fussy, expects ‘top dollar’, almost certainly the decision making process will be short.

Summary

I expect we’ll see an unprecedented number of Grey Nomads from all over the world taking on jobs teaching in Vietnam in the short to medium term – perhaps even the long-term if the global uncertainty stretches into the latter part of the current decade. Almost to a person, the Grey Nomad teachers arriving in Vietnam will have done their ‘homework’, hold quality TESOL certification, and travel abroad for diverse reasons. The principal motivation for those Grey Nomads who take on jobs teaching in Vietnam will most likely be ‘me time’, a lower cost of living – and stability; it won’t be money. Grey Nomad English teachers will continue to be welcomed by schools the length and breadth of Vietnam because of who they are and what they bring to the important work of teaching English.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the owner of AVSE-TESOL in Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia.  AVSE-TESOL offers an Australian Government accredited TESOL programme in Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Online – a great pathway for teaching in Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries. Check out the AVSE website: www.avse.edu.vn

Teaching in Vietnam – learn to manage yourself…

There’s a lot of information on the internet for the benefit of newcomers to ESL teaching in Vietnam about managing a class, writing a lesson plan, maximising the benefits of information technology and suchlike.  Regrettably, information on how new teachers should manage themselves from a mental health perspective is scarce. Your ability to manage your wellbeing is pivotal in acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to become a competent – and medium to long term – ESL educator.

Teaching in Vietnam can be immensely pleasurable and rewarding, or it can be your worst nightmare. Teachers who are adept at managing themselves tend to do well; those who aren’t inevitably move on to a different profession. Managing your wellbeing while teaching in Vietnam mainly involves ‘being aware’, making subtle changes in how you approach your teaching work or both. It rarely requires folks to make drastic changes in their life, although this does happen on occasions.

While doing some rudimentary research before writing this blog post, I was surprised to see that the Australian Government accredited TESOL programme at AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh is the only TESOL or TEFL course in Southeast Asia that has ‘managing yourself’ or similar as a ‘stand-alone’ unit. Yet another area where ESL teacher training at AVSE-TESOL is ahead of the pack.

In this blog post, I’ll shine a light on three areas where people who are new to teaching in Vietnam can positively contribute to their wellbeing – from today – managing stress, time management and building a teaching portfolio.

Stress

In plain English, stress is an adverse reaction that some people experience when subjected to excessive pressure or have demands placed on them. Why touch on stress in this blog post? Firstly, it’s a hot topic amongst people teaching in Vietnam. Bemoaning and finger-pointing are commonplace in ‘teaching in Vietnam’ social media platforms, with schools named and shamed, mostly unfairly, for being the root cause of a teacher’s stress. Secondly, and more importantly in my view, stress can have a disastrous effect on our ability to process information. This can have serious implications on a teacher’s:

• Situational awareness within the classroom
• Ability to make objective decisions
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Capacity to competently discharge their duties

Like any profession, there are many elements of teaching that are stressful. Stress can manifest in various ways, including, but not limited to: working long hours; living away from home for the first time; delivering unfamiliar course content; dealing with the pressures associated with student achievement, or being ‘buried’ under a mountain of paperwork. Some or all these factors could lead to a new teacher feeling that they’re unable to cope. Whether it’s just a hint of a feeling or something more paralysing, here are some coping strategies that have worked for me in my role as an ESL teacher and may work for you also:

1. Don’t ignore stress. If you can feel the pressure building while teaching in Vietnam, don’t wait until it’s too late to release the valve or seek assistance. It’s okay to find it hard to cope now and again, and it’s okay to feel angry or upset. These are natural human emotions. Instead, work to build your stress awareness, learn to look out for the signs and recognise potential triggers. Once you can acknowledge stress building or identify a stressor, you become more equipped to manage your responses.

2. Gain perspective. Stress can sometimes result from a loss of perspective. When we become overwhelmed, we can lose sight of what is important. If you’re feeling stressed, then you may need a new frame of reference, whether that means taking a day off, spending some time with friends or family or simply getting away from the teaching environment for a while. This might at first feel counterproductive, especially if you are balancing lots of tasks, all of which are pressing. However, a break or change in environment can revitalise and refocus the mind.

3. Learn to relax. Relaxation is said to restore our balance. Therefore, it’s crucial that you develop the ability to switch off at some point in your day and take the opportunity for a few moments of calm. For some people, this is through exercise. For others, it’s quiet meditation, reading a decent book or watching a film. Most importantly, don’t confuse relaxation with recreation. If you are already exhausted in daily life, trying to relax by doing even more, may not be the panacea. Relaxation techniques that could be used to reduce stress include focused breathing exercises and meditation. If you feel that you’re struggling and the sense of being overwhelmed won’t abate, make sure you seek medical assistance.

4. Be organised. Becoming more organised can be a useful preventive measure in reducing personal stress. It’s usually those moments when our lives seem cluttered and out of control that our coping systems become more fragile. Many of these moments of inundation can be curtailed by learning to manage time more productively.

Time management

Time management plays a pivotal role in handling the demands of ESL teaching in Vietnam. Not only will poor time management affect the quality of your teaching and potentially your ability to go on to find other work, but it can also detract from the enjoyment experienced in the process itself. Moreover, poor time management, a lack of work structure and poor course planning can lead to greater levels of stress. While much of an ESL teacher’s role is framed by the institute and school timetables, assessment frameworks and deadlines, the effective use of an individual’s time can lessen the feeling that there is simply too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Here are some hints to assist you in productively managing your time while teaching in Vietnam:

• Create a teaching in Vietnam ‘to-do’ list. One of the fundamental tools for managing time is that list of things you need to complete and when they need to be completed. The to-do list essentially consolidates all your tasks into one place. From there, you can prioritise the tasks and tackle the important ones first. Also, by prioritising the tasks according to their urgency, you reduce the temptation to start with more manageable tasks rather than those that are most urgent.

• Review your list. It is a matter of priority that you ensure the to-do list is monitored, reviewed, and updated on daily. The to-do list should be a rolling resource that you constantly reference to ensure its currency and relevance to your work teaching in Vietnam.

• Create an organisational framework. Keeping on top of your administrative tasks, including the boring stuff like filing, student reporting and associated school paperwork, will ensure your stress levels are not heightened by an avalanche of jobs and competing deadlines. Remember, stress levels can build if you leave everything until the last minute.

• Delegate! Delegation is arguably the most crucial time management skill. If you are allowed to delegate while teaching in Vietnam, use it wisely and strategically. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should try and get someone else to do the work for you, but if your school provides clerical and/or technical support, avail yourself of the service. This will ultimately increase opportunities for you to invest in duties or tasks that provide the most significant impact within the classroom.

• Set aside time each day for communication, such as emails and phone calls. Doing everything in an assigned block of time is far more efficient than spreading tasks out across the day in a piecemeal fashion. Moreover, you’re less likely to leave emails unanswered if you know there is an assigned time for dealing with them.

Building a portfolio

Folks who are new to ESL teaching in Vietnam often underestimate the value of creating a ‘teaching portfolio’ and developing the habit of keeping it updated. So, what exactly is a teaching portfolio? It’s a personal record drawn up and compiled by the teacher. The teaching portfolio is an effective way for teachers to reflect upon, describe and document their teaching philosophy, goals and achievements. In addition, it provides a structured means of presenting information for job search, promotion or career enhancement. Most importantly, if you make a point of keeping your teaching portfolio updated, you won’t have to ‘reinvent the wheel’ by remaking lesson plans and preparing teaching resources for topics that you’ve already taught. In short, the ‘tools of your trade’ will be in one place.

Here are eight tips on how to start putting a ‘teaching in Vietnam’ portfolio together.

Tip 1. At the beginning of the portfolio, it’s important to outline your teaching philosophy via a brief statement (1–2 pages). Essentially, you should aim to explain why you make the pedagogical decisions that you do.

Tip 2. Endeavour to describe and provide a framework of the teaching responsibilities to which you’ve had exposure – if any. This can be as simple as listing in tabular form the units or courses, levels, and class sizes you have taught.

Tip 3. You need to show the reviewer evidence of your effectiveness as a teacher. This may be illustrated by providing examples of selected written comments from teacher evaluations, reference letters from students, summaries of peer teaching observations, and the like.

Tip 4. What teaching strategies do you deploy while teaching in Vietnam? Put simply, what kind of work do you do with your students? Examples here could include lesson plans, course plans, videos of classes you have facilitated, learning resources or handout materials you have created – the tools of your trade (see above).

Tip 5. The portfolio should also show your involvement in developing syllabi and any influence you may have brought to higher course-level planning, design or development. For example, amendments you have suggested to a syllabus, courses you have planned, learning objectives you have devised belong in the portfolio.

Tip 6. What methodology do you use to construct assessments and feedback material? This section is an opportunity to demonstrate the approaches you use to map assessment regimes to learning outcomes and how these instruments have been used to help students evaluate their progress. In the context of teaching in Vietnam, evidence might include examples of written feedback, tests and quizzes you’ve formulated, assessment mapping samples – and a precis of how things worked in practice.

Tip 7. What investment have you made in your personal and professional development? Provide descriptions of professional development experiences that you have engaged in to enhance your instructional abilities.

Tip 8. Remember to organise your portfolio so that it is easily accessible, is well structured and reflects your best work and thinking. This applies regardless of the portfolio’s medium, whether digital or paper-based. It is also important to remember that it is much easier to collate and file documents as you go along rather than trying to create a portfolio in one sitting, under a tight deadline.

Summary

Teaching in Vietnam is hard work. It’s not all ‘bells and whistles’. There’ll be times when you love the work, but like any job, there’ll be times when you’d rather be in another place. This blog post was directed at shining a light on three simple things that you start doing now to manage your wellbeing throughout your teaching journey proactively. First, learn about stress and how to manage it. Second, become a time management guru. Third, develop a teaching portfolio. Your longevity teaching in Vietnam is in the interest of all stakeholders.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the founder and owner of AVSE-TESOL in Vietnam, Cambodia and Online. TESOL certification (Australian Government accredited) from AVSE-TESOL offers a brilliant pathway to teaching English in Southeast Asia. Here is a link to the AVSE-TESOL website:  www.avse.edu.vn

PHO is ‘PHO-nomenal’…

From the very beginning of this short piece, I want to confess to an abject failing on my part during the 15+ years that I’ve spent teaching in Vietnam and running my business, AVSE-TESOL. Here it is! I didn’t take to eating (or slurping) Pho until very recently. Putting together this article was the impetus for my change of heart. I suspect my dislike of Pho over the years has something to do with a medical condition called Misophonia. Folks with this condition have profound and adverse reactions to the sound of other people eating. I can feel my blood pressure rising at this moment just thinking about slurping, chewing and suchlike. While I’ve never been diagnosed with Misophonia, I am very familiar with the symptoms. The good news is that I found the perfect antidote, but more of that later.

Now that I’ve bared my soul to personal shortcomings when it comes to Pho consumption, let’s turn our mind to the purpose behind this article. The Story of Pho! What’s the origin of Pho? Why is Pho considered ‘PHO-nomenal’ by every Vietnamese person I’ve ever met, including my extended family and colleagues teaching in Vietnam? Where will Pho be in 2040 – how ‘Pho’ will it go (sorry, I couldn’t help myself)? We’ll finish off this piece with the ‘Ultimate Pho Recipe’ for you to try at home.

Origin of pho

Before doing some background reading, I was under the impression that Pho dated back to when King Hung 1 was a mere twinkle in his mother’s eye during the legendary Hong Bang period, centuries ago in Vietnamese history. No, this is not the case. Pho only dates back to the late 19^th century. Gosh, what a surprise! In stark contrast, the famous Aussie Meat Pie dates back to 9500BC during the Neolithic Period. The Ancient Egyptians even ate a version of the Aussie Meat Pie, according to archaeologists.

Pho, as we know it today, gained popularity in the north of Vietnam in the mid-1880s. It brought together the key ingredients of Chinese and French cuisine at the time. Keep in mind that the Chinese have tried on a few occasions throughout history to occupy Vietnam. The French colonised pretty much the whole of Vietnam (and neighbouring Cambodia) for more than 100 years until the decisive battle at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 heralded the end of French occupation. The Chinese influence on Pho includes noodles, rice, vegetables and various spices; the French contribution was red meat.

Over time, Pho made its way from the north of Vietnam to the country’s southernmost point in Ca Mau Province, located in the Mekong Delta. On its north to south journey and over time, the original version of Pho has evolved into a contemporary ‘dish’ available in restaurants of all sizes and traditional street food outlets the length and breadth of Vietnam. It’s served up to visiting Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers and even the occasional dictator. There’s a terrific photo on the internet of Bill Clinton eating Pho at a restaurant in downtown Ho Chi Minh City during an official visit. Certainly, it’s a staple food of most long-term expats. 

Why is pho considered to be ‘PHO-nomenal’?

From what I’ve seen over the past 15+ years, Vietnamese people, foreigners I’ve met through my work teaching in Vietnam and random expats, enjoy a decent bowl of Pho for the same reasons: 1. it’s cheap; 2. it’s quick, and 3. it’s consistent with a balanced diet and healthy living.

There is no question – Pho is cheap. At a ‘half-decent’ inside restaurant, a bowl of Pho in Ho Chi Minh City will ordinarily cost no more than US $2.00. If you’re happy to sit on a small plastic stool at a small plastic table (almost universally blue in colour for some unknown reason) and eat your Pho with shared chopsticks in a shared plastic bowl, then the price will be not much more than US $1.00. The good news is that the shared utensils and bowls are washed between customers, or at least they should be. Vietnamese customers don’t seem to care. They simply take a napkin, give the utensils a quick wipe, and then ‘hoe into’ their meal. Expats teaching in Vietnam tend to a bit more discerning. I’ve seen expats bring their own bowl and utensils to an outside Pho stall – to the amusement of locals – or ask to rinse the utensils that are provided with boiling water. It’s probably wise, but I can’t imagine that I’d be bothered going to so much trouble.

Anecdotally (with my Vietnamese wife as the source), it will take an average person 5 minutes (+/-) to pull together a bowl of Pho, assuming the ingredients have been prepared beforehand, chopped, diced, boiled and suchlike. In a restaurant, it takes around 3 minutes. 

An average-sized bowl of Pho contains 350 to 400 calories – 20% of the recommended daily intake for an adult. Is Pho as healthy as people suggest? The answer is ‘yes’ and ‘no’. ‘Yes’ – if you go light on the noodles and salt, heavy on vegetables and opt for lean meat. ‘No’, if the bowl of Pho is dominated by noodles, subject to a heavy hand with the salt and has undesirable additives for colour or flavour. I once saw a foreign chap add sugar that he brought with him, to a bowl of Pho at a street stall, but I don’t think this practice is usual.

Where will pho be in 2040?

When it comes to history and fast food, Pho clearly does not match the ‘reverence’ of the Aussie Meat Pie, which we know dates back to pre-biblical times. Moreover, from my observations, Vietnamese folks’ love for a bowl Pho is yet to match the passion that the French have for a plate of snails. I have always found it to be one of life’s ultimate contradictions that the French version of ‘fast food’ is the ‘snail’, but I digress.

While Pho has inroads to make, quite literally of biblical proportions, or perhaps I should say ‘portions’ given the context, make no mistake, it has ‘rusted on’ support. These days, those who love a good-sized bowl of Pho go well beyond local people, ‘Viet Kieu’, tourists, and expats teaching in Vietnam. Business conglomerates – large multi-business and multi-national companies – are ‘gobbling’ up the ‘Pho Market’ in Vietnam and elsewhere. Pho 24 (Vietnamese owned) now has more than 50 Pho restaurants across Vietnam and abroad. Pho Hoa (2018 Top Global Franchise List – Entrepreneurs Magazine), 70+ locations, Pho Que (rather an unfortunate name) Huong is another North American Pho Business with a sizable international footprint.

So, where will Pho be in 2040? I expect it will be every bit as popular as it is now, but increasingly it will be consumed in fast food chains rather than at small food stalls found on the street. Just as the proliferation of large shopping malls spelt the end of ‘mum and dad’ grocery shops, it looks to me that the Pho Fast Food Franchises spell the end of the small, blue plastic stools and tables and the shared utensils that I referred to earlier.

The ultimate pho recipe

After an exhaustive search online, speaking with Pho connoisseurs, taking advice from friends and acquaintances in my ‘teaching in Vietnam’ orbit and trying various concoctions in my own kitchen (while wearing earmuffs – note my earlier comment about an antidote to Misophonia), I’m confident that I’ve found the ‘Ultimate Pho Recipe’. It belongs to a quirky Vietnamese / Canadian chap named Quang Tran. While I have never met or spoken with Mr Quang, his version of Pho scores 10/10 from me, which shouldn’t be underestimated given my eating affliction, although ear muffs make a world of difference. My extended Vietnamese family – all life-long Pho eaters – also gave Quang’s Pho recipe a perfect score. You will find Quang Tran’s Pho recipe on his YouTube channel found here.

Summary

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this piece – we’ve ventured near and ‘Pho’ (again, I couldn’t help myself). I’ve bared my soul about the sound of chewing and slurping. We’ve looked at the origin of Pho and noted that it only goes back 120 years or so. Surprising for sure! We’ve turned our mind to where Pho will be in 20 years from now, concluding that the blue plastic chairs and tables (and shared utensils) are under threat from business conglomerates. It has been determined that the ‘Ultimate Pho Recipe’ belongs to the Mr Quang Tran. This occurred after an extensive research and consultation process including, crawling the internet, and reaching out to expats who, like me, are teaching in Vietnam. Arguably of most importance, it’s been determined that ear muffs allow folks like me to enjoy a good bowl of Pho. This alone is news that’s worthy of being spread ‘Pho and wide’!

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and owner) of AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Online. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Peter now calls Ho Chi Minh City home. For more than a decade, AVSE-TESOL has been providing aspiring ESL educators with the skills, knowledge and certification they need to land well-paid teaching jobs in Vietnam or Cambodia. Check out the AVSE website: www.avse.edu.vn

Five things to do on arrival… 

You’ve been planning this part of your life for years and the time has finally arrived. You’re heading off on an adventure, ‘uncharted waters’, teaching English in Hanoi, Vietnam. Your first stop in Hanoi will be the Australian Government accredited TESOL course at AVSE-TESOL. You’ve read more than 200 online reviews about AVSE-TESOL, with the vast majority being top notch. Given your background, as solid as it is, bears no resemblance to teaching English in Hanoi, you figure that investing in quality vocational training – teacher training – is a wise move. I think you’re right. Not only will the TESOL training at AVSE-TESOL provide you with the knowledge, skills and quality certification you need to land that all-important first teaching job, it gives you four weeks to find your feet in a new country, surrounded by like-minded people who ooze ‘positive vibes’..

Here’s the last bit of perspective. This blog post is focused on what to do immediately after you’ve arrived in Hanoi, taken a taxi to your accommodation, had a shower and a snooze. The tips that are provided are equally relevant if you’ve chosen to do a TESOL course with a provider other than AVSE-TESOL, probably more so given AVSE’s supportive arrival process. Applying these tips should make your transition to a new lifestyle, initially as a TESOL student followed by teaching English in Hanoi, more straight-forward than it might otherwise be.

Tip 1: Fix your phone

Walking around outside without a cell-phone that’s immediately accessible and useable, for many people, is akin to being ‘butt naked’ in the street. Rightly or wrongly, these days, cell-phones are an integral part of everyday life, especially when you’re located in unfamiliar surroundings. Google maps (via your cell-phone), may well end up being your best friend, at least for a few days until you know the backstreets and alleys that characterise Hanoi. Moreover, once you’ve fixed your phone, you’ll be able to reach out to family, friends and your TESOL provider. They’ll all be eager to hear that you arrived safely. Here’s a word of warning, however, when you need to use your cell-phone in the street in Hanoi, it’s best to take some cover in a doorway or similar. Why? You’ll reduce the chance of being subjected to a ‘ride-by’ snatch – a crook on a motorbike. 

Getting your phone up and running might be a simple case of inserting a new (local) SIM card. Conversely, it might be a nightmare. If you’re a cell-phone guru, you’ll be fine. If this doesn’t sound like you, visiting a cell-phone shop close to your accommodation should be a priority. The good news is, cell-phone shops in Hanoi are seemingly on every street corner. The receptionist in your hotel or guest house will surely point you in the right direction.

In the unlikely event that you’ve travelled abroad without a cell-phone, you will need to get one. Jobs offers for teaching English in Hanoi are typically made by phone. If the employer can’t reach you by cell-phone, he (or she) will simply move onto the next candidate.

Note, fixing your cell-phone at the airport – a common ‘rookie’ error – will cost you substantially more than visiting a ‘mum and dad’ phone shop downtown.

Tip 2: Know the local neighbourhood

Now that your cell-phone is in working condition and you can tap your best mate ‘Google Maps’ on the shoulder, there is less chance that you’ll get lost in Hanoi when you venture out. So, venture out. It’s time to get to know the neighbourhood where you’re staying, even if your current accommodation is only a short-term thing. Before venturing into the unknown, even though you have ‘Mr Google Maps’ in your pocket, take a business card from the place where you’re staying or write the address on a bit of paper and put it in your wallet as a back-up strategy to avoid getting lost. Worst case scenario, let’s assume you do get lost.  For sure, you will find the way back to your accommodation sooner or later, if only because downtown Hanoi isn’t that big. Anyway, it could be argued that getting lost in Hanoi is all part of the adventure.

Where is the grocery store, the pharmacy, the bus station, a great coffee shop, an area for passive recreation and most importantly for visitors to Hanoi who have done their research, the local ‘Bia Hoi’? What’s a Bia Hoi? Do a quick Google search and then make a point of visiting one when you’re in Hanoi.

Familiarising yourself with the neighbourhood extends to working out how to get to the address where your TESOL course will take place. Again, Google Maps will come in handy, but something as simple as a ‘Mud Map’ with landmarks might be enough. Doing a ‘dry run’ from your accommodation to the training venue would be time well-spent.

Tip 3: Bond with those around you

Assuming your TESOL course in Hanoi comes with high quality accreditation, like the Australian Government accredited programme at AVSE-TESOL, you’ll be mixing with people – classmates, professional Vocational Trainers and TESOL support staff – who are on the very same journey as you, or are leading the way. You’ll be with like-minded souls. It’s within this kind of environment where life-long personal and professional relationships are formed.

When you’re in a foreign country, friends are more important than ever. Almost certainly you’ll need to reach out at some stage for guidance on visa matters, travelling around Vietnam, where to get a job teaching English in Hanoi, where not to work, employment or lease contracts and the list goes on. It makes sense to have a pool of decent people you can call on when they’re needed. Human nature dictates that people are usually happy to give a helping hand to someone they consider to be a friend. As always, people will be more likely to consider you as a friend, if you’re respectful and nice to them.

Tip 4: Take safety precautions

Statistics show that Hanoi is markedly safer than the capital cities of most developed countries, but crime, especially petty crime, does occur. Foreign ‘tourists’ are ‘standout’ targets when they ‘flash their cash’ or get around town with their valuables on display – cameras, jewelry and suchlike. You will see this kind of behaviour pretty much on a daily basis in main tourist areas in Hanoi. I suspect it has more to do with ignorance than anything else. 

When a villain is apprehended by the police – or a member of the community – there are no ‘ifs and buts’. Justice Vietnamese-style is swift and often brutal. Vietnam is one of those countries in the world where it’s not a good idea to transgress the law, regardless of whether you’re a local person or a visitor. 

While Hanoi (and elsewhere in Vietnam) has a well-deserved reputation for being safe, it’s always smart to take precautions including, but not limited to: store your money, passport and other valuables in a place that’s secure; know how to get into your accommodation after hours; be accompanied by friends when walking in the street at night; don’t use your cell-phone when standing or walking in the street; if you have to carry a bag in the street, make sure it has a long strap so you can place it across your body; if you hire or buy a bicycle (or motorbike) to get around Hanoi, make sure it’s locked when left unattended; and know who to call in case of an emergency. It’s common for folks who are teaching English in Hanoi to have evening classes that go to 8.30pm and even later. Travelling home (alone) after a late class requires extra vigilance. All of these precautions equally apply to any other city in the world.

Tip 5: Always remember that you’re a visitor

I have been living and working in Vietnam for more than 15 years. Back in 2007, my old dad visited me in Vietnam. During this trip, he mentioned in passing ‘always remember you’re a visitor’ – and to this day, I’d like to think that I’ve heeded his astute advice.

Vietnamese people have every reason to be peeved with foreigners. For 3,000+ years, foreigners have felt the need to turn up without an invitation and tell local people how to run their life. Despite what’s happened throughout history, almost certainly you will form a view that Hanoians and other Vietnamese folks are up with the loveliest the world has to offer. Those who felt the need to trespass have long since been forgiven. These days, foreigners who are teaching English in Hanoi, are revered. Personally, I’d like to keep it that way.

You and I – and hundreds of thousands like us – are now welcome in Vietnam, but as my old dad said ‘always remember you’re a visitor’. Be polite. Go about your work teaching English in Hanoi in a professional manner. Respect local customs and traditions. Don’t get involved in discussions about politics and religion. If there are language problems, be mindful that in Vietnam people speak Vietnamese and if you’re having issues with understanding something or getting your point across – they’re your issues. To drive home the importance of ‘always remembering you’re a visitor’, here’s a succinct analogy: when visiting a friend or neighbour’s house, would you take it upon yourself to rearrange their furniture? I don’t think so.

Summary

In summary, I’ve provided 5 tips that should make it easier for you to your new life as a TESOL student in the short-term and then teaching English in Hanoi. Fix your phone, know what’s available, make an effort to network, take sensible steps to enhance your safety and be respectful towards locals. You’ve been brave enough to embark on this ‘once in a lifetime’ adventure, so it makes sense to grab the opportunity with both hands.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and owner) of AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Online. AVSE-TESOL has been training aspiring educators for jobs teaching English in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and other parts of Southeast Asia for more than a decade. Check out the AVSE website: www.avse.edu.vn

Teaching English in Hanoi versus teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City

I am often asked if teaching English in Hanoi is better than teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa. How do you answer that kind of question with so many variables, including personal preference? Typically, I’ll offer comparisons between the two destinations and remind the person who asked the question that neither place has to be their forever teaching location. If you’ve had enough of a particular teaching destination, move to a new one. Teaching English in Vietnam and elsewhere abroad is one of only a few professions that allow moving from location A to B to C with minimal fuss. Why? There are many more ESL teaching jobs available in Vietnam than there are suitably qualified people to fill them. This is one time in your life when ‘market forces’ will well and truly work in your favour.

Five comparisons

Immediately below, you’ll find five comparisons between teaching English in Hanoi and teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City. I trust you’ll find the comparisons helpful if you’re one of those people who’s not sure whether north (Hanoi) or south (Ho Chi Minh City) should be your teaching English abroad start point.

One – Pace of life:

Teaching English in Hanoi offers a much slower pace of life compared to teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City. With a bohemian feel, you’ll find an aspect of art, culture, or history in every street in Hanoi – in some streets, you’ll find all three. In contrast, Ho Chi Minh City is a modern metropolis and international hub. There are places in Ho Chi Minh City that provide an insight to the ‘old Vietnam’; Ben Thanh Market, and the Quan Am Pagoda are two examples, but increasingly the landscape is being consumed by high-rise apartments and offices.

Two – Weather:

Teaching English in Hanoi comes with the classic four seasons – with a Southeast Asian variation – hot and wet in the summer months and cold and dry in winter. Ho Chi Minh City has only two seasons, wet and dry. The wet season is characterised by high humidity and a daily downpour, the like of which most folks have never witnessed before travelling to Ho Chi Minh City. As the name suggests, there’s zero rain during the 6-month dry season. Regardless of the season, Ho Chi Minh City is oppressively hot 24/7.

Three – Teaching jobs:

The availability of English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching jobs is one area where Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are hard to separate. There is an abundance of ESL teaching jobs available in both locations. Moreover, the type of ESL teaching work on offer is similar. In both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, teaching jobs are available in privately owned English Language Centres, government schools and tertiary institutions. Private tutoring and onsite ESL classes for business people are also common in both cities.

Four – Cost of living:

There are some cost-of-living factors, accommodation, for example, that are seemingly more expensive in Hanoi compared to Ho Chi Minh City. Equally, there are other cost of living factors; food is one example that comes to mind, that are more expensive in Ho Chi Minh City compared to Hanoi. Overall, the cost-of-living difference between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is negligible, if it exists at all. By any measure, Vietnam is a cheap place to live. The wages and employment conditions afforded to foreigners who are teaching English in Hanoi – and Ho Chi Minh City provide for a savings capacity and lifestyle that most people can only dream about.

Five – Crime:

Personally, I have always felt safer in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere in Vietnam than I did when I was living in Melbourne, Australia – my hometown. Of course, scams and petty crime are not uncommon in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but the prevalence is not a distinguishing factor between the two cities, in my opinion. Sure, there are places where it would be unwise to walk alone at night in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and you do need to avoid rookie errors like using your cell phone in the street and carrying your wallet in your back pocket, but the same applies to pretty much every city in the world.

Summary

In this blog post, I have touched on five factors that people commonly weigh up when deciding whether to start their teaching abroad journey in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. The pace of life and the weather are obvious differences between the two cities. However, if there is a difference between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with the availability of teaching jobs, the cost of living and crime, it wouldn’t be enough to say that one of the two locations is a better place to work as an ESL teacher over the other. Overall, that old expression, ‘same, same, but different’, certainly applies when drawing comparisons between teaching English in Hanoi and teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director and owner of AVSE-TESOL in Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia. With TESOL training schools in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, Peter has spent the past two decades working in the ESL sector in Southeast Asia. Check out the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn

‘Me Time’ While Teaching English in Hanoi

I’ve got it pegged that you’re here because teaching English in Hanoi is on your radar. Of course, it might be a far-off ‘blimp’, a flashing red light with a deafening siren, or somewhere in between. Regardless, it’s terrific that Hanoi is on your mind. You’re in for a treat. It’s a fascinating city. I can’t think of anywhere else in the world where you’ll find so much history, art and culture in one place. Yes, it’s chaotic, densely populated, and the quirky weather – hot, humid, and wet for half of the year and dry and cool for the other half – takes time to get used to, but you’re in the market for change. Correct?   

Teaching English in Hanoi comes with a range of benefits, including: a decent salary, the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of local people, a much lower cost of living compared to western countries, and the chance for plenty of ‘me time’. Personally, I’m a big fan of ‘me time’. It’s good for the heart and soul. My version of quality ‘me time’ involves being out and about rather than sitting in front of the ‘telly’. If your version of the best ‘me time’ is like mine, being out and about, here’s a list of five places in Hanoi you’ll absolutely love.

Train Street

Train Street in Hanoi is a popular destination for local people and visitors because it’s so unusual, and there are always plenty of people ‘hanging out’. Most railway lines in developed countries come with an easement of ten to fifteen metres on both sides of the track to protect people and property. The easement in Train Street on the left and right-hand side of the track is twenty centimetres (+/-). There are rows of old houses on both sides of the track on Train Street. Many have been converted into restaurants, cafes and bars. Somehow, trains squeeze between the dwellings day in and day out with zero ‘wriggle room’. Pull up a chair, order a cold beer and wait for a train to go by. It’s a sight to behold.

Underground shopping mall

People go to shopping malls for all kinds of reasons – to buy things, see a movie, catch up with friends and the like. However, Hanoi is one of the few places where people visit a shopping mall to experience subterranean life. The Vincom Mega Mall in Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan District is entirely underground. The outside roof of the mall is a park, similar to a park you find in any other major city. While the 800+ retail shops at Mega Mall are the key drawcard for most visitors, the quirky design of the building is enough reason to pop down there when you have a chance.  

Hoan Kiem Lake

As much as you’ll love teaching English in Hanoi, finding the right balance between work and ‘me time’ is imperative. The Hoan Kiem Lake precinct in Hanoi is ‘me time’ central. There is always something happening at Hoan Kiem Lake and the surrounding area that will capture your interest. You’ll see people of all ages and backgrounds jogging, taking a stroll, walking their dog, ‘people watching’, playing board games and sharing quiet time with a friend. Informal, dance and exercise classes take place every evening at Hoan Kiem Lake. Step outside your comfort zone and join in. You won’t be imposing. You’ll be welcomed with open arms.

Cafe Dinh

If the walls in ‘Cafe Dinh’ could talk, there’d be enough material for a bestseller. The coffee and ambience at this place are superb. It’s like being in a time warp. Located on the second floor of an old, decaying building overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, it’s easy to miss Café Dinh. But once you find it, I’m confident it will make it to your list of ‘me time’ destinations while you’re teaching English in Hanoi. Interestingly, a family member of the current owners created the original ‘coffee with egg’ recipe in the 1940s, that’s a favourite of pretty much every Hanoian I’ve met. Unfortunately, the ‘coffee with egg’ concoction and my taste buds don’t get on very well, but you should try it at least once.

Bach Thao Park

London has Hyde Park, New York has Central Park, Melbourne has Treasury Gardens – and Hanoi has Bach Thao Park, also known as the Hanoi Botanical Gardens. With mature trees, lakes and open space – yes, there’s grass – Bach Thao Park is like an oasis in the middle of an urban jungle. The park is very popular with Hanoians and foreigners seeking to escape city life’s hustle and bustle. I read somewhere that Bach Thao Park is the ‘lung’ (singular) of Hanoi. While I think that’s an exaggeration, you’ll undoubtedly appreciate the greenery. Lay out a blanket under one of the beautiful, old trees at Bach Thao Park, open a book, and you’ve got half a day of ‘me time’ at zero cost.

Conclusion

In this short article, I have identified five places that are well worth considering when you’ve got time away from your job teaching English in Hanoi. Train Street and Mega Mall rated a mention because they’re so unusual. Next, Hoan Kiem Lake and Bach Thao Park are brilliant locations for ‘me time’, offering serenity that can be hard to find in a big city. Finally, the ambience and history of Cafe Dinh make this place my personal ‘me time’ favourite location. Visit Cafe Dinh once, and it will almost certainly be your ‘me time’ favourite.

Have you already visited one or more of the five locations on my ‘me time’ list? If so, share your opinion in the comments section below.

About the author: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and founder) of AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. AVSE-TESOL delivers an Australian Government accredited TESOL programme in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. Check out the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn

Don’t forget insurance

The key indicators – job advertisements, pay rates, ‘me time’, cost of living – suggest that Hanoi, Vietnam, is one of the hottest destinations worldwide for adventurous people who are keen on teaching English abroad.  If you’re somebody who is thinking about teaching English in Hanoi, here’s some advice. Do it. Assuming your credentials are in order, you’ll find a job with relative ease, earn a decent wage and only work 100 hours (+/-) a month. When the low cost of living is added to the mix, there’s a quintessential expat lifestyle on offer.

Perspective

While there is every reason to believe that your experience teaching English in Hanoi will be rosy like my own over the past 15 years, and tens of thousands of others over the past three decades, travelling anywhere abroad comes with risks. Heaven forbid you have a motorbike accident, pick up a horrible bug of some kind, be attacked by a rabid dog or meet some other misfortune. We might think that we’re indestructible, but the reality is, we’re not.

The consequences of meeting misfortune while abroad, as distinct from home turf, is where problems arise. Days, weeks or perhaps even months recuperating in a Vietnamese Public Hospital do not come cheap for foreigners. There are sad stories all over the internet of mums and dads in England, the US, Australia and elsewhere being lumbered with substantial medical bills because their son or daughter had an accident, got sick or suffered an injury while teaching English in Hanoi – and they didn’t have insurance. Travelling abroad without insurance is irresponsible! If you’re unable to meet the cost of basic insurance for the time you plan to spend in Vietnam, then it’s best to put your plans on hold. It’s that important.

Like you, I’m not happy about paying insurance premiums of any kind, but the idea that my old mum and dad (both in their 80s) would be forced to mortgage or sell their house to cover my medical bills or to ship my mortal remains back to Australia, fills me with horror. Without wishing to alarm you,  I know six expats who have been shipped home in a box and two in a vase, during my time in Vietnam. In each case, the costs were passed onto the next of kin. You cannot assume that your job teaching English in Hanoi will come with insurance coverage. Some do, but 90%+ don’t.

Key features

Decent travel insurance with medical coverage is relatively easy to find with a simple Google search. ‘Compare, compare, compare’ is the key to getting a good deal. Once you think you’ve found a good deal, then it’s time to use your bargaining skills to get an even better deal. You may be surprised to learn that insurance costs are less than you expected and the inclusions are more than you expected. Personally, I’m covered by World Nomads, and I have been for all but one year of my teaching abroad journey. Here are some of the key items that a decent insurance policy will cover:

Medical: This is not an area where you can scrimp. Your insurance policy needs to cover all medical expenses – inpatient and outpatient – in the event of an accident, sickness or injury while you’re teaching English in Hanoi. The language typically used in a travel insurance policy is ‘Unlimited’, or words to that effect. You need ‘Unlimited’ medical coverage.

Baggage: It’s about the replacement cost of items that are lost, stolen or damaged while you’re abroad. Depending on the value of your possessions, this might be an area where you can reduce your insurance premium. If your possessions aren’t worth much, you should ask the insurance provider if you can obtain a cheaper fee by: 1. excluding ‘Baggage’ from the policy; or 2. only covering items that will be costly to replace.

Trip cancellation: If you need to cancel your travel plans for whatever reason, you’ll be able to claim non-refundable payments. For example, you may have paid US $800.00 for airfare from Rome to Hanoi. You need to cancel your ticket. The airline charges you a cancellation fee of US $250.00. It’s possible (depending on ‘Deductibles’) that your insurance will cover the US $250 fee. Trip cancellation is an area where you can be thrifty following a simple risk versus benefit analysis. It’s worth considering.

Death or disability: The cost of having mortal remains shipped from Vietnam to another country is astronomical, in the realm of someone having to mortgage their house. Without insurance, either a family member or friend will have to meet all expenses to get you home for burial. The alternatives are to be ‘shelved’ in a Vietnamese mortuary as an unclaimed body or to be ‘unceremoniously’ cremated and posted home. Both options are frightful. The consequences of suffering some kind of permanent disability while you’re in Vietnam are equally dire without insurance. Scrimping with death or disability cover is unwise.

Deductibles

Pretty much every travel insurance policy that I have seen references ‘Deductibles’ by way of a monetary sum. The term ‘Deductibles’ is insurance jargon for what you must contribute in the event of a claim before your insurance policy kicks in. For example, let’s say you’re out with your mates on a Friday night, you walk into a wall and break your nose. The total cost of getting your nose fixed in Hanoi is US $1,000.00. Your ‘Deductibles’ are US $650.00. At best, your insurance provider will reimburse you US $350.00 (US $1,000.00 – US $650.00 = US $350.00). Why have I raised ‘Deductibles’ in this post? Firstly, most people don’t know they exist until they make a claim – and receive a lower payment than they expected. Secondly, you might be able to use the ‘Deductibles’ number to achieve a lower premium for your insurance policy. The higher the ‘Deductibles’, the lower the premium. Suppose your goal is to be covered for high-cost, ‘worst-case scenario’ type situations during your time teaching English in Hanoi. In that case, you might choose to increase the ‘Deductibles’ to a sum that’s terrible to contemplate, but is manageable, in exchange for a cheaper insurance policy.  

Summary

The message in this short article is straightforward. Teaching English in Hanoi is an ‘adventure of a lifetime’, but make sure you’re covered by medical, death and disability insurance (as a minimum). If you have an accident, get sick, suffer an injury or worse – and you’re not covered by insurance – your ‘adventure of a lifetime’ may well end up being a nightmare. If you’re unable to pay for insurance before departing from your home country, put your plans on hold until you can. Shop around until you find an affordable insurance policy, that comes with the coverage you need – and ‘Deductibles’ that are manageable.

Enjoy your time teaching English in Hanoi. Most importantly, stay safe.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and owner) of AVSE-TESOL in Vietnam and Cambodia. AVSE-TESOL offers an Australian Government accredited TESOL programme in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and online – a brilliant pathway for people looking to teach English in Southeast Asia and beyond. Visit the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn

Teaching English in Hanoi to clear student debt

My name is Monica Willow. I’m from Denver, Colorado. AVSE-TESOL asked me to write a Guest Post for their Vietnam Blog, and I’m delighted to help out. I’ll take this opportunity to share my personal experience with teaching English in Hanoi as a way to clear student loan debt.  

Circumstances

Attending university or college in the United States is expensive. Every year, students take out loans to further their education. I’m no different to millions of students in America and around the world doing the same thing. Accumulating student debt is the ‘norm’ for people who want a tertiary education. Literally, millions of Americans living in the world’s most prosperous country are left debt-ridden because they pursued a university or college degree. There are reported cases of people carrying student debt from their early twenties through to retirement age.

I completed a Social Work Degree at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2014. By the time I graduated, my student debt was just shy of US $50,000. You might be surprised to learn that the debt I had accumulated was only a fraction of what some university friends and acquaintances had amassed. Within a month of finishing my degree, I moved back to Denver to live with my mum and dad. My thinking at the time was that I’d be able to: 1. find a well-paid job in Denver because of my degree, and 2. chip away at my student debt because I’ll be living rent-free at my parent’s place.

Within a week of moving back to Denver, I found the job of my dreams. Good news! Well, not exactly. It took less than two months to realize that the ‘job of my dreams’ doesn’t pay enough to cover everyday expenses, let alone to reduce my student debt. I was working long hours as a professional Social Worker and getting nowhere fast. My social life was non-existent because I was ‘penny-pinching’ and if it weren’t for the free accommodation at my parent’s place, my student debt repayments wouldn’t have even covered the interest. Was I naive? I think so. My life at the time was soul-destroying. I needed a new approach that would allow me to meet my financial commitments while enjoying a ‘normal’ life – spending time with friends, going to movies, dancing, eating out, pursuing a hobby, and doing other things that I enjoy.  

Vietnam, here I come

In April 2015, a friend of mine from university, Tory, sent me a Facebook message about her life teaching English in Hanoi, Vietnam. Tory’s message piqued my interest. I’d especially noted that I could earn more working as an English language teacher in Hanoi than working as a Social Worker in Denver. Moreover, everyday expenses in Hanoi are markedly less than in Denver. Putting the financial aspect to one side, I’d always wanted to travel outside of the United States and experience other cultures. Tory had traveled to Hanoi within days of completing her degree. The ability to make a snap decision (and live with the consequences) is one of Tory’s many positive attributes. I tend to procrastinate, but not on this occasion. Fast forward six weeks, I arrived in Hanoi on 27 May 2015.

Ask me about Social Work (or movies), and I’ll ‘gasbag’ forever because it’s what I know. Teaching English abroad requires a new skill set, knowledge, and internationally recognized certification. It’s not enough to hold an American Passport or be a native English speaker to take on a job as a professional English teacher. With this in mind, I chose to follow in my friend’s footsteps and enroll in the Australian Government accredited TESOL program (teacher training) at AVSE-TESOL in Ba Dinh District in Hanoi. I loved the people at AVSE-TESOL. I also loved the intensive 4-week TESOL course. The certification that comes with the TESOL course at AVSE-TESOL is highly regarded by Vietnamese schools. With TESOL certification from AVSE, I started teaching English in Hanoi on 29 June 2015.  

Bottom line

It’s now summer in 2019. I’m sitting in Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, writing this blog post while waiting for a flight back to the US. I’ve spent the past four years teaching English in Hanoi. Where has the time gone? It has been a privilege. How lucky was I to learn about this opportunity? Very lucky! On top of making many wonderful friends, Vietnamese, and other expats, I’ve seen tangible results flow from my teaching work. I’ve traveled extensively in Asia – and I’ve managed to clear US $45,000+ of student debt. Yes, I still have another US $5,000 to go, but it’s manageable. Vietnam has been good to me. I’m grateful.

Here’s a crude outline of my financial arrangements during the almost four years that I taught English in Hanoi.

• Average month salary (Language Center + Online): US $2,300.00
• Number of months worked (including paid leave, excluding vacations & unpaid training): 42
• Average hours worked per month: 108
• Average monthly rent + utilities: US $350.00 (predominately single room in a shared house)
• Average monthly expenses (food, personal items, socializing, motorbike…): US $600.00

Calculation: US $2,300.00 x 42 = US $96,600.00 – US $39,900.00 (US $350.00 + US $600.00 x 42) = US $56,700.00 (in the black). Of the US $56,700.00 that I cleared (after all expenses) from teaching English in Hanoi, US $45,280.00 was used to reduce my student debt and the balance was spent on airfares, my TESOL training, traveling and other sizable, one-off expenses. I should reiterate, this is a crude estimate.

Summary

Being saddled with student debt is the reality for many Americans of my generation. People work long hours for an eternity and lead unfulfilling lives because it’s the only way they know to clear their debt. If you’re anything like I was, up to my eyeballs in student debt, consider teaching English in Hanoi or elsewhere in Asia to turn your life around. This simple debt-clearing strategy worked for me. There’s every reason to believe that it will also work for you.

About the writer: Monica Willow arrived in Vietnam in May 2015 with some firm goals in mind. Working as an English teacher in Hanoi to clear accumulated student debt was one of those goals. An Alumni of AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi, Monica’s ‘good news’ story can also be yours. Check out the AVSE website: https://avse.edu.vn/

Jobs Galore for Filipino Teachers in Vietnam

There has never been a better time than right now for qualified or aspiring Filipino English teachers to secure well-paid teaching jobs in Vietnam. Qualified means, a university degree, government-regulated TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certification, an English proficiency test result at C1 level (CEFR) or higher and a clear background check. Aspiring means everything that’s required to be considered ‘qualified’, other than government-regulated TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certification. If you’re in the ‘aspiring’ camp, the friendly folks at AVSE-TESOL can put you through their in-class (or online) Australian Government accredited TESOL programme in Ho Chi Minh City and you’ll be in a great ESL teaching job in no time. I will come back to this point towards the end of the article.

Vietnam is crying out for English teachers. So, if you’re a Filipino teacher looking for great opportunities to expand your horizons, experience adventure, explore new situations, and make a difference in the lives of others, look no further. You’ve found the perfect job. The demand for Filipino teachers in Vietnam is huge.

It’s noteworthy that Filipino Teachers in Vietnam are paid at a rate that’s typically three, four and even five times higher than what’s possible in the Philippines, but the cost of living is similar. Filipino teachers can live a very comfortable lifestyle in Vietnam. Without cutting corners, it’s possible for Filipino teachers to save money for their own future – and support their family in the Philippines.

Popularity of Filipino Teachers in Vietnam

One of the things I’ve noticed over my years in Vietnam is how much the local people love Filipino English teachers. It has a lot to do with their professional mindset, great work ethic, and good educational background! These qualities often give Filipinos a distinct advantage when it comes to getting teaching jobs in Vietnam. However, it’s not just about what you can do for them, but also what a teaching job in Vietnam can do for you – and your extended family.

Career Advancement for Experienced Filipino Teachers

If you’re a qualified English Teacher in the context of what’s required in Vietnam, there’s every reason to believe that you’ll be in a terrific ESL teaching job shortly after you arrive in Vietnam, especially if you complete the Teaching Jobs Abroad Programme over nine days at AVSE-TESOL in Ho Chi Minh City. Again, I will provide specific details about programmes offered by AVSE-TESOL later on.

It’s common for Filipino Teachers who are already qualified and experienced in their home country or abroad, to take on ‘senior teacher’ and managerial positions in universities, colleges, government schools and private language schools the length and breadth of Vietnam. Why? Experienced Filipino teachers who find their way to Vietnam tend to be highly educated, professionally-minded – and adaptable.

Opportunities for Newcomers to ESL Teaching

Government-regulated TESOL certification at AVSE-TESOL in Ho Chi Minh City is just the beginning for Filipinos who aspire to teach English in Vietnam, but have limited or no experience working as an ESL Teacher. By way of a reminder, folks in this ‘camp’ will have an undergraduate degree (any discipline), an English Proficiency test result at C1 level or higher and a clear background check. What can a ‘newbie’ Filipino English Teacher in Vietnam expect? Newcomers can expect adventures, opportunities, appreciation and career pathways. Typically, a new person to teaching ESL in Vietnam will start with a job at an English Language Centre, then move to a senior ESL teaching position, next, a job as an IELTS educator (or similar) – and perhaps even a university posting. Let’s drill down on the usual career pathway for a Filipino who is new to teaching English in Vietnam.

Base-grade ESL Teacher

Most newcomers to teaching English, regardless of whether the job placement is abroad or in their home country, start their career as a base-grade ESL educator. Often, this will involve teaching ESL classes 20 to 25 hours a week (in-class), with preparation work mostly done as unpaid work outside of class. You’re probably thinking that the unpaid work component is grossly unfair. I agree, but such is the work life of a professionally-minded ESL teacher. The good news is that time spent preparing lessons becomes markedly less as you gain experience. Schools in Vietnam expect teachers to take classes from young learners through to adults. Now is not the time to be picky in my opinion. As a newcomer, it’s imperative to get a foothold in the profession.

Move Up the Ranks to a Senior ESL Teacher Position

With plenty of classroom hours under your belt, you may advance to a senior ESL teaching position. In this role, you’ll take on more responsibilities – mentoring ‘newbie’ ESL teachers, getting involved in curriculum development, taking on administrative activities and suchlike. Your salary will go up a notch commensurate with your growing experience, and expertise. As a senior ESL teacher in Vietnam, almost certainly your time in the classroom will be less and you’ll have more say about the classes you take.

Become an IELTS Instructor

As IELTS score is used internationally as a way of assessing English language proficiency for various purposes such as university entrance abroad, immigration to English-speaking countries and for professional and academic roles that require a high proficiency in English. Achieving a decent IELTS score can be a life-changing event for students in the sense that it can open doors for a better future.

Filipino Teachers in Vietnam who work as an IELTS Instructor are responsible for providing training and guidance to help people get their desired IELTS test score. IELTS Instructors have advanced skill sets in English language teaching, test taking strategies and the like. Typically, an IELTS Instructor in Vietnam is paid around 30% higher (+/-) than a mainstream ESL teacher. Can you see yourself working as an IELTS Instructor in Vietnam? Certainly, there are plenty of job opportunities.

How About Managing an English Language Centre?

Vietnam has many English Language Centres. They’re everywhere. English Language Centres in Vietnam are often looking for experienced educators for managerial roles. As the Manager of an English Language Centre in Vietnam you’d oversee the daily operations of the facility along with supervising teachers and staff members. You’d also get involved in the design, development, and delivery of language programmes along with ensuring their quality and relevance for the market. Language Centre Managers are usually very well paid. Often, there will be a base salary and financial incentives to build the student numbers.

University or College Lecturer and Beyond

If you’re ambitious, aim higher and move into the realms of tertiary education as a university or college Lecturer. Many tertiary institutions in Vietnam deliver programmes exclusively in English. ‘SaigonTech’ in Ho Chi Minh City, were I used to work before establishing AVSE-TESOL is a terrific example. As an experienced ESL teacher, you may find that working at a university or college is a perfect fit, if so, ‘the sky is the limit’ – College Lecturer, Senior College Lecturer, Deputy Director of Studies at a university of college, Director of Studies at a university or college – or even higher. How proud will you be? How proud will your family be?

Other Reasons to Consider Teaching in Vietnam

We’ve looked at the career possibilities for Filipino Teachers in Vietnam, but there is a raft of other excellent reasons why you should be on the next available flight from Nino Aquino Airport in Manila to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Here is a random selection of those reasons:

Competitive Salaries: I have already noted the attractive salaries on offer, directly and indirectly, a few times in the article, but given that better wages and conditions are key reasons why so many Filipino folks choose to work abroad, it’s worth mentioning again. Filipino Teachers in Vietnam are offered a very attractive salary compared to what they’re used to at home – often three, four and even five times higher. When you factor in the similar cost of living in Vietnam and the Philippines, you can see there is real potential to earn decent money to support your family and move forward with your life.

It’s Just a Short Plane Trip Home: Many Filipinos who work abroad find themselves on the other side of world and in unfamiliar surroundings. That won’t be the case if you were working as a Filipino Teacher in Vietnam. You’ll be a mere three-hour (+/-) plane trip from home and working in an environment that’s similar in many ways to your home country. You could fly back to the Philippines quite regularly to see your family and friends. Certainly, you’ll be earning enough to do that comfortably, perhaps two or three times a year.

Similar Time Zone: The time difference between the Philippines and Vietnam is only one hour. That makes catching up via FaceTime, Zoom, Skype and the like both convenient and practical.

Similar Climate, Environment and Culture: There won’t be much acclimatising to do when you move from the Philippines to Vietnam. Like home, Vietnam has a tropical climate with two main seasons in the south – wet and dry. You will also notice many similarities between Filipino culture, cuisine, flora, fauna and lifestyle in general. This is all going to help you feel right at home teaching in Vietnam.

Same Focus on Tourism:  Both the Philippines and Vietnam rely heavily on tourism, particularly from English-speaking countries. The booming tourism industry in the Philippines and Vietnam is a key reason why there is such a focus on learning English in both countries – and why English teachers are in such high demand. 

Warm, Friendly People: Like Filipinos, Vietnamese people are warm, friendly, and welcoming. There is a great deal of respect for teachers in Vietnam, something you’ll be familiar with because it’s the same in the Philippines. Indeed, teachers in both countries are highly valued and considered important members of society who play a vital role in the overall economy and prosperity of the country. This is in marked contrast to some western countries where teachers are often – and regrettably – treated with a distinct lack of respect. My native Australia is a prime example.

Join Other Filipino Teachers in Vietnam

At AVSE-TESOL in Ho Chi Minh City, our number one priority is helping people like you embark on new and exciting journeys in the world of teaching English abroad. So, in response to the huge demand for Filipino Teachers in Vietnam, AVSE-TESOL has put together three secure pathways, which I’m positive you will find attractive, to brilliant ESL teaching jobs in Vietnam. Read on.

Pathway One – In-Class TESOL Programme in Ho Chi Minh City: Ho Chi Minh City is the epicentre of English language teaching and learning in Vietnam. It’s a vibrant, diverse, and friendly city that seemingly never sleeps. At any given time, there are markedly more job opportunities for Filipino English Teachers in Ho Chi Minh City, and elsewhere across Vietnam, than there are suitably qualified people to fill the jobs. Regardless of whether you plan to make Ho Chi Minh City your ‘forever’ teaching destination – or if you’re just passing through, you’ll love the place. There is something interesting to see and do around every corner.

AVSE-TESOL’s Australian Government accredited in-class TESOL programme in Ho Chi Minh City adheres to a ‘9-Point Playbook’ that guarantees the following:

• Pre-programme support
• Right work visa
• Help and advice with insurance
• Hands-on job support
• Supportive friends and mentors
• Teaching knowledge and skills
• Australian Government accredited TESOL certification
• Accommodation for 25 nights
• Post programme support
• …….and much more

You can learn about the Australian Government accredited in-class TESOL programme at AVSE-TESOL in Ho Chi Minh City via the following link: https://www.avse.edu.vn/english-teaching-jobs-ho-chi-minh-city/

Pathway Two – Online TESOL Programme: Our online Australian Government accredited TESOL programme provides you with exactly the same skill sets, knowledge and government-regulated TESOL certification as our in-class programme. The only difference is that you complete the theory units of the programme online at your own pace, from wherever you happen to be. Once you’ve completed the online component, you lock in a plan to fly to Ho Chi Minh City to do your TESOL practicum. From there, work visa and insurance guidance, hands-on job support, help with accommodation and the like all swing into action.

You can learn about the Australian Government accredited online TESOL programme at AVSE-TESOL via the following link: https://www.avse.edu.vn/online-tesol-course/

Pathway Three – Teaching Jobs Abroad Programme: Although we think our TESOL programme in Vietnam (and Cambodia) is the best of the best, we recognise there are other institutions that offer government-regulated TESOL programmes. If you already hold government-regulated TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certification, we’re more than happy to help you get started as an ESL teacher in Vietnam (or Cambodia) via our Teaching Jobs Abroad programme. Here are the key inclusions:

• Pre-programme support – visa, insurance, key documentation
• Supportive friends and mentors
• Accommodation for 9 nights
• Intensive 9-day practicum – real students and real classes
• Hands-on job support
• Post programme support
• …….and much more

You can learn about the Teaching Jobs Abroad Programme at AVSE-TESOL via the following link: https://www.avse.edu.vn/teaching-jobs-abroad-vietnam-cambodia/

Next Step

There are ESL jobs galore for Filipino Teachers in Vietnam. Regardless of whether you are a seasoned English teacher or a newcomer to the profession, there’s every reason to believe that with AVSE-TESOL in your corner, you’ll be in a brilliant teaching job in Vietnam in record time – like many Filipino people before you.

Jobs for Filipino Teachers in Vietnam offer career pathways and a high-level of respect in the local community. Importantly, teaching English in Vietnam comes with an attractive salary that will allow you to support your family – and move forward with your life. Make the move!

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and founder) of AVSE-TESOL in Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Over the past two decades Peter has been creating pathways for Filipinos and others to teach English in Vietnam and Cambodia. Check out the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn

Want a Top Job as a Vietnamese English Teacher?

If you’re a Vietnamese person with decent English language skills and a university degree (any discipline), now is the perfect time to start a rewarding career path as a Vietnamese English Teacher. There are well-paid teaching jobs available right now – all over the country – for local people with the necessary knowledge, skills, and qualifications to work as a Vietnamese English Teacher. 

Let’s drill down on the core qualifications needed to work as a Vietnamese English Teacher. You will be pleased to know that the qualifications are pretty straightforward. There are essentially two pathways that a local person can choose from once they’ve decided to seek employment as a Vietnamese English Teacher. 

Pathway One:

Complete a four-year education degree with an emphasis on teaching English as a second language (ESL). There are terrific universities in large cities and regional hubs in Vietnam that offer degree programs for those who aspire to work as a Vietnamese English Teacher. True, studying at university for four years to work as a Vietnamese English teacher is a huge personal and financial commitment. However, speak with any practicing Vietnamese English teacher, and they’ll surely tell you the sacrifices they had to make for an ESL teaching career were worth it. What other vocation in Vietnam allows you to: 1. see tangible results for your effort after a relatively short period, 2. earn triple the average salary, and 3. hold an esteemed position in the local community? I can’t think of one!

Pathway Two: 

The second pathway to securing a well-paid job as a Vietnamese English teacher involves adding government-regulated TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA certification to an existing university degree that does not have an ESL teaching and learning focus. For example, let’s say that Mr Minh from Dong Thap has a Bachelor of Business Degree from Hong Bang University. Mr Minh’s degree has nothing to do with teaching ESL. If Mr Minh adds a Certificate in TESOL (Australian Government-regulated) that’s offered by AVSE-TESOL (or similar) in Ho Chi Minh City, he will meet the core requirements to work as a Vietnamese English Teacher. This second pathway is often followed by people who are looking for a new direction. Perhaps the person has a science degree, but after five years they’re over beakers, test tubes, and chemical compounds – and teaching English offers something completely different.

Conditions of employment:

Regardless of whether you follow the first or second pathway that are noted above, here are the typical conditions of employment that are available for a Vietnamese English Teacher in English Language Centres the length and breadth of Vietnam:

– 20 to 25 hours a week in class
–  work mostly in the evening and over the weekend
– earn double, triple, or even quadruple the average salary in Vietnam
– paid monthly in Vietnamese Dong
– teaching young learners through adults, including exam preparation classes
– at least one full day off each week
– 12-month contract
– medical insurance
– professional development opportunities

Succinctly, taking a job as a Vietnamese English Teacher means you’ll be: 1. working sensible hours, 2. earning a top salary for a Vietnamese person, 3. in stable, ongoing employment, and 4. making a positive difference in the lives of fellow Vietnamese citizens – and the development of your country.

Prospects:

Anecdotally, the current ESL teacher workforce in Vietnam is 50% Vietnamese and 50% foreigners. The foreigner component is around 80% native English speakers from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the like, with the remaining 20% being non-native English speakers from the four corners of the world. With a booming economy and a high percentage of the population under 35 years of age, there is every reason to believe that the insatiable demand for English language skills in Vietnam will drive job opportunities for Vietnamese English language teachers for the next 20 to 30 years at least. 

Based on what has occurred in other Southeast Asian countries over the past two to three decades, as Vietnam continues to develop, there will be a noticeable shift in the current 50/50 balance between local and foreign English Teachers in Vietnam – in favour of local ESL teachers. What does this mean for local people with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to work as a Vietnamese English Teacher? Simple! It means they’ll never have to worry about finding a rewarding job that pays well by local standards. If there was a ‘Premier League’ for job opportunities in Vietnam, working as a Vietnamese English Teacher would be at the top of the ‘table, or at least very close to the top.  

Next step:

AVSE-TESOL has been delivering an Australian government-accredited TESOL program in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for well over a decade. The TESOL program at AVSE-TESOL in Vietnam (or online) is a terrific example of ‘Pathway Two’ that I mentioned earlier in this article. With Australian Government-accredited TESOL certification – delivered in Vietnam – you will be in a top ESL teaching job in four short weeks. Importantly, you will have the knowledge, skills, and government-regulated teaching certification that drive success in a teaching and learning environment.

Let’s have a closer look at what the Australian Government-accredited TESOL program at AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City covers:

Units of Competency – Certificate IV in TESOL: 

TAEDEL401: Group-based learning sessions – plan, organise and deliver

TESCUL401: Learn about cultural factors that impact ESL teaching and learning

TESPRN402: Assist ESL students with their pronunciation and speech

TESGRM403: Assist ESL students in grasping English grammar

TERES404: Find and create resources that promote learning

TESRED405: Assist ESL students in developing their reading and writing abilities

TESSPK406: Assist ESL students in developing their speaking and listening skills

TESASS407: Assess teaching and learning proficiency

TESMTH408: Understand and use a variety of TESOL methodologies.

TESTST409: Assist ESL students in preparing for various English language tests.

TESCAL410: Competently use Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) options in an ESL classroom

TESCHD412: Develop and implement creative strategies to engage young learners

Observation classes: You’ll observe a seasoned ESL teacher running actual ESL classes for a minimum of six hours in Vietnam, Cambodia, or elsewhere. 

Teaching practice classes: Trainees do eight hours of teaching practice with actual ESL students in Vietnam, Cambodia, or elsewhere. The first six hours of teaching practice are critically assessed – and feedback is provided.

Assessment:

The Certificate IV in TESOL includes 14 modules. According to the Australian Qualifications Framework, two assessment options are available, competent’ or ‘not yet competent’. TESOL students must obtain a competent assessment in all of the fourteen modules that form the study program to be eligible for a Certificate IV in TESOL (11245NAT). Assessment tasks come in various forms – short and long answer questions, multiple choice questions, gathering teaching and learning resources, the fourteen-hour practicum (see above), and more. This study program does not include a final examination.

Time commitment:

The total time commitment is conservatively estimated at 150 hours (due to clustered assessments). Most in-class TESOL students complete the TESOL program within four weeks. Typically, our online TESOL students complete the course in eight to twelve weeks. There is no minimum timeframe to complete the study program, although there is a maximum timeframe of six months.

‘Cutting to the chase’, do the Australian Government-accredited TESOL program at AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City – or online – and you’ll be in a brilliant job as a Vietnamese English Teacher in record time.

Conclusion:

There’s no doubt that pursuing a career path as a Vietnamese English Teacher is a wise move. Regardless of whether you’re a Pathway One or Pathway Two person, working as a Vietnamese English Teacher pays exceptionally well by local standards and provides a rewarding career path. You’ll never be out of a job. You’ll have ‘superstar’ status in your local community. You’ll also be making a positive difference in the lives of local people.

If you’re a Pathway One person, you should feel free to reach out to AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at any time for guidance. The friendly folks at AVSE-TESOL are always happy to share their ESL knowledge and expertise. The critical first step for Pathway Two folks is to start the Australian Government-accredited TESOL program at AVSE-TESOL in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at the earliest opportunity.

About the writer: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director – and founder – of AVSE-TESOL in Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Originally from Australia, Peter has called Ho Chi Minh City ‘home’ for the past 17 years. Feel free to reach out to Peter directly if you have any questions about working as a Vietnamese English Teacher. Here is his email address: peter@avse.edu.vn