Teaching English in Vietnam
Thursday, 23rd April 2009
Ruth Tidy gives us the lowdown on living and teaching in vibrant Vietnam.
I’m currently sat in a pretty Vietnamese house, with a fan blowing behind me, thinking about what time I need to leave to go to the gym so I can meet my friend for sushi at one and then head to school to plan and teach some lessons! After that I’m heading to drink a few cocktails and listen to a Cuban band ...today’s a rather extravagant day however these type of days are not infrequent!
How did I end up living here with this pleasant, comfortable, interesting lifestyle?!
I was ready for a change - a new challenge, and having (as clichéd as it sounds) always wanted to see the world I decided to work out how I could do this and then, as Nike’s famous slogan says, ‘just do it!’
I signed up for the CELTA course in Vietnam in quite a haphazard way. Basically I went to a Cactus open evening and the lovely Laura told us about the opportunities available there. I thought it sounded ‘pretty sorted’ and kind of adventurous (previously I’d been planning to do it in Mexico or Brazil!) and I sent off for the application (not the easiest part of the process!).
Still unsure whether I wanted to just travel and ‘bum around’ or actually live and work in another country, I headed to Vietnam to embark on the CELTA. The course was intense – it felt like a full-time job that required a lot of self-motivation and more hours than your average 9-5. It was not hard work but it certainly required me to work hard. It was worth it though, the teaching practice is invaluable. It was quite fun as well - the seventeen of us doing the course were all pretty cool (if I do say so myself!) as we were all the type to uproot not quite knowing what was going to happen next.
After the course I wanted a break and after an interview with ILA (the school I did my CELTA at) I travelled for a month and a half with three friends from home. Having been offered a job with ILA I had the opportunity to go back and live in Ho Chi Minh City. I hadn’t planned this but despite the crazy traffic, the pollution and the regular haranguing by street sellers and motorbike drivers HCMC had charmed me with its chaotic, confused ways, and the safe, friendly, interesting atmosphere drew me back.
So here I am! Teaching is good, the students are friendly and the majority are keen. The school has a great atmosphere, plenty of resources and support, and a ton of teachers. Everyone works hectic weekends yet has the week to enjoy a life of leisure. My weeks consist of two nights teaching plus yoga, frequent visits to a rather beautiful pool, coffee at cafes and, of course, drinking! Sometimes we go to western-style bars and other times local Bia Hoi’s where we sit on plastic chairs on the side of the street (slightly smaller than average plastic chairs are a fixture of Vietnam, watching Western men negotiate them is hugely entertaining!) sipping the cheap, light, yet effective home-brewed beer.
As far as I can tell, there are very few countries where a teacher can indulge in such a lifestyle as the one here. The quality of life, the respect and friendliness of the Vietnamese, and the teaching conditions are all excellent. The weather is indeed hot and we are fast approaching the rainy season - which I’m not greatly looking forward to – I hope you adjust to such things though. Of course there are negatives - everywhere has them - but they are definitely worth it. I am sure it will be a shock to the system and a huge adjustment to either go to another country or back to England where it certainly isn’t as cheap and easy to eat out…
Some teachers seem to stay for a few years or even permanently (especially if they meet a lovely Vietnamese girl - one of my friends has and I shall be attending their wedding very soon!). Will I stay? No. It is fantastic, a lifestyle and experience not to be paralleled yet there are things I miss and the unfamiliarity of the culture isn’t something I want to have forever. Also there is so much more of the world to see and with a CELTA I can go see it.
Tags: vietnam, tesol, celta, course, cactus, tefl, culture, english
Posted by Laura Harrison 2009-04 under Teaching Languages, Success Stories,
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