Transplanting to VN from AUS - English teaching - Starry starry eye'd

This is both an introduce myself post and an enquiry post.

I have been "loitering"  - I understand is the expression - on this site for a while and have finally joined up.

I am considering transplanting to Vietnam from Australia. My brother is retired and lives in HCM with his family. A recent holiday there was my inspiration to consider re-locating. I loved the place and the people. I don't want to retire even if I could. It seemed obvious to me in my travels there that there was a desperate need for English speaking skills in a country with a rapidly growing tourist-based revenue stream. Perhaps somewhat starry eye'd for a 65 year old, I thought I could - now don't laugh - teach for a fee in HCM and teach for free in a regional area for part of the year (the paid work effectively subsidising the free work). Yes okay you can all laugh now!!.

I am a Barrister by occupation - a trial Counsel in U.S. parlance - with black gown and horse-hair wig like the English crime dramas for the full image! I have been a Barrister for over 24 years; a lawyer for 30. I am a crime specialist; almost exclusively as prosecutor. I therefore have a 4 year law degree. I am also a qualified advocacy teacher although that is not a 'teaching qualification' from a university, merely in-house training which entitles me to train other lawyers.

I have done some research on minimum standards to teach; TESOL being the obvious one. There are many such courses here in Melbourne with good levels of contact hours. I think I have a grasp of the requirements. My english skills are good. My questions are perhaps more fundamental to my considered "transplantation".

First. Is it realistic to consider that a 65 year old new TESOL teacher would be employable for salary in HCM or, indeed, elsewhere in VN, even if he could otherwise get unpaid volunteer work in a regional area?

Second. Would it be more realistic to consider some form of private tutoring in lieu of classroom teaching; building up a student base over time? Obvious areas which come to mind are in reading and conversational English. I also note the range of specialty english language tests imposed on students for entry to various tertiary courses. I imagine there may be opportunities for specialty tutoring in those fields.

Third. I note many comments by contributors regarding the english skills, or lack thereof, at University level teaching. Have you any insights you could share into the availability of lecturing or tutoring work in the universities, or advanced colleges, for a western-trained lawyer? Comparative law? Western legal history? Comparative Constitutional law? Law enforcement training?

I hope you can share some thoughts with me even if they are not encouraging. I am a big boy and while my ideas of transplanting to VN are exciting - for me at least - I am very willing to hear the truth about such a plan.

On a personal level I am also a father of three (adult children) married to a teacher (the same one for 36 years) musician (piano), photographer, bush-walker, film collector and most recently re-trained on a motorcycle. I thought I would throw those items in lest you think of me as only some stodgy old lawyer.

thanks in advance
Last edited by damianellwood (Today 16:57:44)