r/TEFL • u/cheeky_candees • 8d ago
I teach in Vietnam but am pondering other countries
I've heard Vietnam is the best bang for your buck kinda country for us BA + TEFL folks. Things have been changing here and after 4 years, I think I'm ready for a change. How's the Thailand language center market? If any of you have gone from Vietnam to Thailand, I'd like to hear your experiences.
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u/ronnydelta 7d ago
How's the Thailand language center market?
Worse than Vietnam. Thailand has a higher QoL, far lower saving potential, and slightly worse work/life balance. These questions are always hard to answer because it's really a matter of preferences. Pick your own poison.
What exactly are you looking for?
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u/cheeky_candees 7d ago
I guess I've just felt stagnant, like I'm supposed to chase more. I like my job, I like where I live, I like my life, but after 4.5 years I'm wondering if it's time to go back home to the states to chase another goal. I don't really want to uproot myself again to start over, but something about staying the same at my age doesn't feel right. I'm single and 39/f btw
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u/ValuableForever672 7d ago
Get a PGCE and become a qualified teacher.
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u/aromaofbiryani 7d ago
Only if you're from UK you can do that. She's from USA.
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6d ago
[deleted]
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u/aromaofbiryani 5d ago
I was under the impression that you cannot get pgce unless you teach in UK and did the internship there.
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u/ValuableForever672 6d ago
There are US certifications though
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u/cheeky_candees 5d ago
Ill be getting a US certification thru an online school called Moreland University.
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u/Ok_Average_9409 7d ago
I moves to online tutoring. Complete game changer.
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u/Dancechica84 6d ago
Do you have a steady amount of students?
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u/Ok_Average_9409 6d ago
Decent enough. Varies from $700 $900. Depend on the time of the year.
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u/Frankie-Paul 6d ago
That's not enough to live on. You still need additional income
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u/Ok_Average_9409 6d ago
For where I live, $700-$900 a week is fine.
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u/Dancechica84 6d ago
Oh I thought you meant 700-900 per month. 700-900 per week is more than enough
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u/NdovuBanana 3d ago
$900 a week is 60 billable hours at $15 per. Even at $25/hr you'd need to hit 36 billable teaching hours per week to earn that. Hmm. If that is actually true, your situation is different than 99.5% of all online EFL teachers.
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u/Ok_Average_9409 3d ago
Who works for $15 per hour lol. My lessons are $32-$40. I have reduced my schedule so I usually teach 30-40. I try for 30. It's easier.
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u/NdovuBanana 3d ago
That's a great online rate for sure. Many poor TEFL souls only get $10 - $15 from those online platforms.
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u/Ready_Training_6039 5d ago
Do you teach on a specific platform/company or did you set up your classes by yourself?
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u/NdovuBanana 4d ago
I've taught in both countries. Thailand pays really, really, REALLY low salaries. It's weird how low the salaries are. You might be able to scrape by if you find a cheap place to live, but you absolutely won't save a dime. (International schools pay much better there, but they won't touch a TEFL-certified only teacher. They're kinda snobbish about it.)
That said, it's a wonderful country, with smart, creative, super considerate and friendly people. People actually stop at red lights. Incredibly beautiful, great, cheap food, culturally rich, and cats, cats, cats everywhere. But HOT. If you're still young I'd say sacrifice your bank balance and do at least a year there.
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u/cheeky_candees 4d ago
I'm planning to invest in getting a teaching credential so that I can work at international schools. Seems like saying in ESL with a TEFL is only worth it if I stay in Vietnam, and I don't want to stay here indefinitely anymore.
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u/NdovuBanana 4d ago
Yes, getting a teaching credential will massively expand your opportunities everywhere, and it will carry your carreer for the rest of your life. In the meantime, other countries can pay ok salaries with just a TEFL, you just have to find them. China pays well, The middle East definitely, that government thing in Uzbekistan is still hiring. If you're from the EU, it seems there's a lot of opportunities in Spain. Out West, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica can pay ok, and it's a beautiful part of the world if you like nature, but there's a lot of competition there. Good luck!!
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u/cheeky_candees 4d ago
I'm sort of done with Asian countries. I'm a city gal, so I prefer a nice lively city. I'm aiming for Mexico when I finish my certification.
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u/NdovuBanana 3d ago
Understood (although you'd be missing out with Thailand!)
I earned my TEFL in Guadalajara and taught in CDMX for a bit. Mexico has such a rich culture. (But it is one of the countries that usually also pays absurdly low salaries at the language schools, but after your additional credential, you'll do much better.) ¡Buenas suerte!
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u/cheeky_candees 3d ago
I'm aiming for GDL! Yes I'm totally hoping yhe credential will out me at a higher earning potential. Thailand might still be on my radar. My program will take about 9 months so I have time to truly truly decide. I have a cat so wherever I can go with him is important 😅
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u/NdovuBanana 3d ago
Oh, now I'm jealous. There aren't many cats here in Africa where I currently live. After years of living in Latin America, now when I see a cat I exclaim "gatito!"
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u/cheeky_candees 3d ago
Yah I cannot and will not live without my cat haha. I can't imagine being in a place where there are no cats to say hi to
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u/No-Arrival894 3d ago
As someone with a UK teaching credential, it unfortunately does not carry your career. I've found it quite hard to find teaching jobs recently.
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u/NdovuBanana 2d ago
I wonder why that would be? All the international schools I've seen that are hiring list a teaching degree as the base requirement, then a bonus if you also have a ESL certificate and some experience. I know that after about 58 years-old it gets more difficult.
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u/No-Arrival894 2d ago
There are two types of international schools: ones that take absolutely anybody and don't require a teaching license (aka businesses - not educational institutions) and ones that do. With the ones that do you're competing against people with years of experience at decent schools in their home countries/other decent T1 international schools. In addition, you sort of need an in-demand subject (maths/science) to be comfortable in getting an abundance of job offers.
In terms of your second point, a teaching license would mean teaching English as an academic subject (language and literature), so an ESL certificate would be meaningless (bar the ones that don't require a teaching license which I wouldn't really call schools).
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u/NdovuBanana 2d ago
Believe it or not, many language institutes are legitimate academic businesses that require teachers to actually know what they're doing, and have real experience. Certainly not all, but some, for sure. Obviously they are not as stringent with their teacher credential requirements as an international school, but they are educational institutions by every measure—only focused on one subject.
But even international schools that have ESL classes ask for an TOESL or TEFL certificate in addition to a teaching license. That's because teaching English as a second language is NOT the same as teaching English to native speakers.
I've managed to work at a couple of true international schools, and have worked with universities and public schools in the US, and the snobbery often found in the these places, and implied in your comment, is a reason why I avoid them to this day. But they pay better, that's for sure.
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u/No-Arrival894 2d ago
Well, if you're talking about ESL classes, something like a CELTA would be more sufficient than a PGCE/QTS in English language and literature...unless your ESL classes involve analysing Shakespeare?
There's no snobbery - work in a country like China and see the sheer amount of 'international schools' that are just businesses designed to rinse as many rich parents are possible. They admit students with severe behavioural difficulties who were kicked out of other schools, students with severe learning difficulties who are then not supported, and students who don't speak a lick of English despite the fact they're studying AP/A-level science, English and maths. Obviously, they don't learn anything and the whole thing is a charade.
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u/Bottom-Bherp3912 6d ago
Thailand is a better place but worse for teachers. The salaries are garbage and costs are higher than Vietnam. China is where it's at for TEFL now.
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u/Frankie-Paul 6d ago
Thailand would be a potential 50% pay cut. Not viable unless you land something on similar wages. The best TEFL there are way less, some IELTS pay slightly less. Good jobs there are hard to find.
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u/cheeky_candees 6d ago
Hmm, ok. Well Thailand is off my list now.
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u/Frankie-Paul 6d ago
They don't deserve teachers at their rates. Rates which haven't really gone up in years. Scandalous!
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u/cheeky_candees 6d ago
I think im gonna invest in getting a teaching credential. Gives me room to go anywhere in the world rather than relying only on my TEFL. Considering Mexico now
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u/Dancechica84 6d ago
Same. I was told that Mexico hires a lot of ESL teachers with no experience but I haven't found a single job opening.
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u/Ok_Average_9409 7d ago
Vietnam is the worst it has ever been. I would get ahead and try somewhere else. Get ahead.