Teaching Jobs Abroad Program (TJAP)

A fast, structured pathway for TESOL, TEFL or CELTA qualified teachers seeking paid ESL work in Cambodia or Vietnam.

Outline

The Teaching Jobs Abroad Program (TJAP) at AVSE is a structured, purpose-designed pathway for TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA-qualified ESL teachers who want to start teaching English in Cambodia or Vietnam with clarity and support.

Delivered in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, the program is suitable for applicants seeking a practical, time-efficient alternative to navigating relocation, local systems, and job connections independently.

Participants complete a short, supported pathway that includes accommodation during the 9-day program, real classroom teaching experience, cultural and social activities, and direct referral to vetted partner schools.

TJAP is designed to reduce uncertainty, build confidence in an unfamiliar environment, and support a smooth transition into paid ESL teaching — without hype and complexity.

TJAP in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

AVSE’s TJAP training centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is located within a working school environment (Westline School) that offers study programs for more than 800 students from kindergarten to Year 12. This setting gives TJAP participants practical, first-hand experience of everyday classroom routines and expectations within a Cambodian school community from the outset.

ESL teaching roles in Cambodia are largely concentrated in and around Phnom Penh. Most positions are based in private international schools catering primarily for young learners aged 4 to 17. These schools represent the main employment pathway for foreign ESL teachers in Cambodia, with many employing graduates directly from AVSE’s TJAP. The ESL market is relatively compact and collegial, allowing teachers to establish themselves quickly within a close-knit professional community.

TJAP in Cambodia is particularly well suited to open-minded, adaptable foreign ESL teachers who are comfortable working and living in a developing-country environment shaped by strong family and cultural values. The program offers a safe and structured way to reduce the risk and uncertainty connected with moving to Cambodia and commencing employment as a foreign ESL teacher.

TJAP in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is where AVSE began in 2009. TJAP in Ho Chi Minh City is delivered in the original AVSE building, a real English language school providing study programs for more than 300 young learners, seven days a week. Completing their training in a real school in Ho Chi Minh City gives TJAP participants continuous exposure to ESL classrooms, students, and teaching expectations throughout the 9-day program.

While Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are the main entry points, Vietnam’s ESL market offers a range of teaching roles across diverse locations. These include kindergarten, general English, and international exam preparation, with opportunities available in major cities, regional centres, rural areas, and coastal locations.

TJAP in Ho Chi Minh City is especially suited to foreign ESL teachers seeking access to an established, vibrant teaching market, where multiple school types and teaching formats operate at scale. Being professionally minded, adaptable, and culturally aware are core requirements for success in TJAP in Ho Chi Minh City, and for teaching English in Vietnam more broadly.

What’s Included

TJAP at AVSE in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City brings together the key elements foreign ESL teachers need when moving to a new teaching destination. Accommodation on arrival, visa and documentation guidance, classroom experience in a local context, a realistic job strategy, and in-country support are combined into a single, structured program.

• Pre-program guidance (visa, insurance, and documentation)
  Participants receive clear verbal and written guidance on appropriate visa categories for entry, medical insurance options, and documentation needed to meet work-permit conditions. Visas and insurance are arranged independently by participants.
• Intensive 9-day practicum-based program
  TJAP is delivered as a concentrated, small-group program over nine days, combining hands-on activities, guided workshops, and contextual orientation. Participants progress as a cohort, supported by experienced AVSE staff based locally.
• Accommodation during the program (9 nights)
  Basic, single-occupancy accommodation with an ensuite bathroom is provided for the duration of the program. In both Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, accommodation is practical, centrally located, and within walking distance of the AVSE training centre.
• Welcome dinner and social orientation
  A hosted welcome dinner and drinks on the first evening provides an opportunity to meet fellow trainees and AVSE staff in a relaxed, social setting.
• Organised group activity
  Participants take part in a guided group activity during the program. In Phnom Penh, this includes a scenic evening cruise on the Tonlé Sap River. In Ho Chi Minh City, participants join a staff-led city orientation tour.
• Guidance from local trainers and tutors
  AVSE staff in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City provide guidance and share local knowledge relating to ESL teaching and learning throughout the program.
• Cultural immersion workshop
  An interactive workshop led by local staff introduces cultural considerations relevant to teaching and living in Cambodia or Vietnam.
• Employment and job-readiness workshop
  A session led by AVSE’s Job Placement Administrator covers working legally, employer expectations, recruitment processes, and job-search preparation.
• Hands-on job support
  Participants receive hands-on job support from designated AVSE staff in Cambodia and Vietnam. Support covers referrals to vetted partner schools, guidance on employer-sponsored work permits and visas, employment contract advice, plus direct liaison with employers where required.
• Post-program guidance
  AVSE provides follow-up support beyond the nine-day TJAP, including guidance on longer-term accommodation options, career pathways, visa considerations, navigating local bureaucratic processes, further training, and employment advice.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for the Teaching Jobs Abroad Program at AVSE vary between Cambodia and Vietnam due to differences in government regulations and work permit requirements. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria specific to their chosen destination.

Eligibility for the TJAP in Cambodia

Applicants choosing Cambodia must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a government-regulated TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA qualification.
• Provide a criminal background check from their home country, issued within the past six months.
• Be a competent English speaker with the ability to teach effectively in an ESL classroom environment.
• Be eligible to travel internationally and meet entry requirements for Cambodia.

Note: A university degree is not a mandatory requirement for legal employment as an ESL teacher in Cambodia. Teaching documents are not required to be notarised or legalised for use in Cambodia; however, applicants must be able to present their original documents.

Eligibility for the TJAP in Vietnam

Applicants choosing Vietnam must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a government-regulated TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA qualification.
• Hold a recognised university degree (mandatory for legal employment as an ESL teacher in Vietnam).
• Provide a criminal background check from their home country, issued within the past six months.
• Be a competent English speaker with the ability to teach effectively in an ESL classroom environment.
• Non-native English speakers must provide evidence of English language proficiency, typically IELTS 7.0 or higher (or equivalent certification).
• Be eligible to travel internationally and meet entry requirements for Vietnam.

Note: For Vietnam, key teaching-related documents — including TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certification, a university degree, a criminal background check, and an English proficiency test result (where applicable) — must be notarised and legalised (two distinct steps) in the country where the relevant document was issued.

How the Teaching Jobs Abroad Program Works

Having reviewed the eligibility requirements, the four steps below outline how the Teaching Jobs Abroad Program unfolds from enrolment through to job transition.

Program Fee & Enrolment

The program fee for the Teaching Jobs Abroad Program (TJAP) is US $884. This fee covers the core TJAP components in Cambodia or Vietnam — including supported arrival and orientation, accommodation during the program, a practical teaching component (with real students), and hands-on job support with vetted partner schools. 

Before You Apply: What Past Participants Say

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Completing and submitting the enrolment form below initiates the first step of the TJAP process (Enrol & Prepare). AVSE will then confirm your eligibility within three business days and provide written advice.

Enrolment