Private English lessons vs Working for a language center or university

MIA2013 wrote:

I was born in HCMC but left when I was a toddler and was raised in the states. This was some 44 years ago! Let me mention that my mother is Vietnamese and my father is American. Does that make me a Viet Kieu? If so, will I encounter any real issues with finding a good teaching job?

If you are willing to relocate, confident and have a dedicated mind on your students and of the society... sure no discrimination will affect you! First of all you need a confidence in you, wait and face the rest! If you would like to live here, surely you can find out some good job or start something your own. We, expats and good minded Vietnamese are willing to help and support. So don't worry about your ethnicity or skin

Ken Charma

The issues will be, you dont have a western look, it will go against you.. But if you can convince a school to take you on due to your actual skills and not your looks, then you should be ok. Can you speaker very good VN, as this will also go in your favour. Dont expect to find private work when you arrive, it takes a long time to get it, also people will want to pay you less due to your asian features.

Thanks Ken for the reinforcement and confidence booster!



Lan

You are welcome, Lan!

Hi Lan,

My situation is quite similar to yours.  I am half Caucasian and half Vietnamese and I was born in Vietnam as well.  I think for many of us who have not lived in Vietnam and/or haven't established connections and credibility yet, it may be easier to teach for school or language center(s) first and move towards having our own students later.  Depending on your work experience, you may also find work at various foreign companies, unless you are only interested in teaching.  I'll be in HCM City this September and I will let you know after  knocking on some doors and testing out different possibilities.

Roe

MIA2013 wrote:

I have been thinking about the possibility of working as a private English tutor vs English teacher for a language center or university. I do have a BS degree and was planning on getting my Celta once in HCMC. I think it might enhance my chances of securing the latter just in case I can't secure enough students for private lessons.

Also, I know this is off topic but I was born in HCMC but left when I was a toddler and was raised in the states. This was some 44 years ago! Let me mention that my mother is Vietnamese and my father is American. Does that make me a Viet Kieu? If so, will I encounter any real issues with finding a good teaching job?


Mucho Gracias todos,

Lan Vazquez

Lan and Roe,

The language centers are no where near the level or shape that they used to be.  But, I encourage you to take the time and locate a good one.  Then latch on to it, work and grow with it.  Don't waste your time and energy on the idea of starting your own little private gatherings. This is Socialist Vietnam and, not too long ago, you and yours were "enemies to the people."   

A lot has changed.  However, the distrust has not.  You are still being looked upon with wary eyes, until you have demonstrated otherwise...  It sucks, but that is how Vietnam works.  You must be careful in all that you do.  Your margin of error is much smaller.

Best,
Howie

Hi Howie,

Absolutely! That is the plan.  I think it's better to absorb and learn the culture, people's way of life, and different job opportunities or lack thereof before committing to a long term contract(s) some where.  And yes, I will take the time and be cautious.  Thank you for your kind suggestions.

Roe

Hey Roe,

First question for you, are you teaching as a way to make money to make end meets or to meet people? As for teaching, the salary is extremely low, 10-15 USD per class session, however, on weekdays, you could only teach max 2 classes, and weekends, more. Normally, on weekdays, students attend english classes in the evening, which normally hold 2 classes per evening. As for weekends, classes are held all day long , thats for DaLat Lam dong anyways. I assume HCM would be the same.

If you're planning to live in Saigon, forget privates.  It takes a while to get them and even when you do, will they pay steadily, cancel, etc.?

There's a much larger demand in Hanoi for teachers in general, but there's a reason.  I'll leave it at that.

If you go the CELTA route, Languuage Link is the best provider and Apollo is the worst, in my biased opinion. Any CELTA provider in Vietnam will send you out woefully unprepared for what you're likely to experience in the real world.

Discrimination is alive and well here, so stay optimistic, but be prepared to deal with it.  I've seen schools put a call out for Viet Kieu specifically, but my guess is that they wouldn't offer a salary comparable with that of a native speaking Caucasian.

Teachers in Saigon and Hanoi can make between $12 to $40 per hour and work between 0 to 35 hours a week.  There's a higher premium placed on math and science teachers.  Schools won't ask that you have a degree in either. They just want teachers that can successfully teach both. 

The market in Dalat is much smaller, so there's not as many jobs, or hours available, but the quality of life is much higher.

Teacher_Mark,

Long time no see.  How and where have you been, bro?

Lan and Roe,

Even though Teacher_Mark double posted, take notes anyway.  He is someone who has been here, particularly the English teaching profession, for awhile.

Teacher_Mark,

Yeah, I am still there.  Whoooh...  North Vietnam, hey!  It must be really hot this time of year.  There's this really good international school in My Dinh.  You should look it up, if you have a chance.

Good to see you back on here, though.

Thanks for telling me. As for native speaker, who determines that anyways? Heck, I have lived my entire life in the U.S.  What about the tesol? Where would recommend getting that certification?

Lan,

I have seen Igor hired, as an English teacher in Vietnam, before guys like you.  So, it's more dicey than it seems...

Yay, we will have Vietnamese Igors walking and talking around town. Seriously?

No, woman!  But there will be a lot of eastern European English teachers.

Hi Roe,

I wish you the best of luck. Have you read some of the remarks about not hiring non Caucasians for teaching jobs! I am disappointed but that's the reality of it. I am not worried about finding a job because we have a pension and nest egg to cushion us for the long haul. Still, let me know how things work out or don't for you.



Best regards,

Lan

Kristina: Teaching is an interest of mine for quite some time now.  Even though I do not have to rely entirely on money from teaching to survive, I do however, want to be reasonably compensated for my time, whether I am teaching or working in other industry.  Thank you for the info!

Teacher Mark: Even though I am optimistic on the outcome, I'll certainly come with a full understanding of the discrimination.  I have heard this many times and I think I am kind of numb at this point.  May be it will slap me so hard when I am there that I will be all sour and bitter but at this point, I am keeping my patience and my blood pressure in check. I appreciate your suggestions and opinion and definitely will keep mental note of them.

Lan:  Yes I did.  However, you have to keep in mind that your look (and mine), although do not look exactly like Caucasian,  we don't look like Asian either.  I think it depends not only how much/little one looks like Caucasian but also how one acts, talks, dresses, and presents oneself in the professional world as well.  Don't be disappointed, just accept that is how Vietnam is.  However, each person is unique and has different skill set and so I say just come, work hard, and create your own path and don't let those who discriminate deter your goal.  You would not want to work or be around those who demonstrate that type of mentality any way, at least I wouldn't.  Thank you for your wish and best wishes to you as well.  Yes, I will let you know how things go in the near future.

Hey Howie,

Thank you for the reminder. I do take mental notes & learn. And by the way, I'm still hoping that we will pass by each other's area so we can grab a beer here in CA.

Roe,

Love that attitude, bro.  Yup, it sucks.  But you can change it, as opposed to allowing it to chane you. 

Up until I came to Vietnam, it was either one speaks English or not.  Then, if fluency is a concern, a couple of minutes and a few questions would straighten that all out. 

For these folks, it is more about show than anything.  Even in business, Vietnamese struggle with quality.  They can't manage and market their products or services.  So, in this case, they bank their money on the number of blonde hairs and blue eyes.

That is what a one-party system and years of political and economic turmoils do to people.  They are slowly changing, though.  I have had Vietnamese, mostly younger, approached me to learn English.  Unfortunately, I am no teacher. 

If you do well in Vietnam, perhaps I will refer them to you. 

As for our beers, I am juggling my schedule right now.  I am thinking about heading back to Vietnam early.  I will let you know.

Howie