Requirements for Teaching English in Vietnam

The industry around teaching the English language across Vietnam has experienced rapid growth in recent years, given how the language has become the international standard of business, communications strategies, science and more. It has also created an opportunity for people from across the world and all walks of life to immerse themselves in a new career and culture.

In this article, our team at Teaching House explore the set of requirements for those interested in teaching English in Vietnam.

What Can You Expect When You Decide to Teach English in Vietnam?

 There is a plethora of benefits put before you once you decide to teach English in Vietnam, such as:

Experiencing a new culture 

Teaching English in Vietnam is a great way to gain exposure to and experience of the local culture. Whether it’s learning about the cuisine, exploring local traditions, or experiencing the unique language and customs of the Vietnamese people, teaching English in this country provides a multitude of opportunities for cultural exploration.‍

Making an impact on students' lives

While teaching English in Vietnam, you will have the opportunity to build relationships with your students and help them improve their language skills. As your students grow more confident speaking English, they will also gain confidence as individuals and learn to express themselves in new ways that may not have been possible before meeting you. This can be incredibly rewarding for both you and those in your tutelage!

Earning a steady income

Teaching English in Vietnam is an excellent option for those who want to earn a solid income while travelling. Most schools in this country offer competitive salaries, as well as additional benefits like housing assistance, making it an especially appealing option for those looking to supplement their travel budget with reliable income streams. Some teachers even leave Vietnam with savings to pay off student debt or invest when they return home

Opportunities for growth

Teaching English can be a stepping stone to other opportunities, whether it's moving into another teaching position in another country, working as an education consultant, teaching a different subject in a different country, becoming a translator or pursuing further education to gain skills necessary for higher-level jobs, in fields such as management, marketing, publishing or teacher training. The skills you learn as an English teacher are transferable to pretty much any career path in today's globalised world.

Greater Flexibility

Many English teachers work on short-term contracts, often with schools needing them just for the busy summer vacation months. At the same time, there are plenty of opportunities for ongoing, full-time work. This availability allows you to have more flexibility in your schedule if you also want to take on other jobs or pursue further education.

Teaching English in Vietnam – What are the Requirements?

A Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree

If you wish to teach English in Vietnam, you must first have completed a bachelor’s degree. Fortunately, this does not have to be a degree in English Language, Literature, or even education!

In fact, any four-year diploma or bachelor’s degree from accredited institutions (or three years, should you study in Australia, New Zealand or the UK) will be deemed adequate under this stipulation. This can prove especially helpful for those who have studied commerce, the sciences, arts or another unrelated field, but have a passion for using English to immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture.

TEFL Certification

Alongside your diploma or bachelor’s degree, you will also need a Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification or equivalent, such as the CELTA certification from Teaching House. Proof of completion in these courses gives potential employers the peace of mind that you have had adequate exposure to relevant training and preparation. Most employers require a qualification, such as our CELTA certification, which involves a practical assessed teaching component, so be sure to check your course for that before enrolling. 

The coursework in these programs not only includes theoretical study, but also practical training, giving you invaluable experience in real-world settings. Each course requires a commitment of at least 120 hours which is made up of both classes and individual study hours. 

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Pass a Criminal Background Check

 Another essential requirement for teaching English in Vietnam is that you must pass a criminal background check. This is necessary to ensure that all foreign teachers entering the nation meet high standards with regard to safety and security, especially when working in a classroom with children. Moreover, passing a criminal background is also one of the requirements to qualify for a working visa.

A Valid Passport

A valid passport will also be required to obtain the necessary work visa and permits in Vietnam, without which you will not be legally allowed to work in the country. Employers may also require several methods  of photo identification, which, as a foreigner, you may not have in ample supply.

Preferred Factors & Characteristics

Teaching English across Asian nations is becoming incredibly popular, as it affords those from Western countries an opportunity to explore and immerse themselves in another culture. As such, this can make it very competitive, and companies, schools and education providers are creating set preference lists they can apply to trim down a pool of applicants.

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While these aren’t technically requirements for teaching English in Vietnam, these factors may help improve your chances of finding reliable employment:

• A well known TEFL Qualification: The best way to demonstrate your skills and knowledge as an English language teacher is to hold a well known and highly regarded certificate such as the Teaching House CELTA certificate. Accredited by Cambridge Assessment English, this qualification has the reputation as the gold standard TEFL course for those serious about teaching English. Employers feel assured that graduates of this programme can step into the class and start teaching with ease, increasing your chances of gaining employment quickly.
• Prior teaching experience: Again, you do not need a specific amount of time in a previous teaching position to be considered. It is understood you will have garnered enough experience throughout your training, but employers do prefer those with some real-word practice behind them.
• Age: As Vietnam has an official retirement age of 55 for women and 60 years for men, schools will likely avoid sponsoring work visas for those close to these ages.
• Complete a health check: It isn’t standard procedure, but some employers may request a health check before commencing employment.

Is There Any Way of Teaching English in Vietnam Without a Degree?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a way of teaching English in Vietnam without a degree, as it will likely be required to obtain a valid working visa. Fortunately, that doesn’t wholly preclude you from being able to teach English to those in Vietnam.

If you still have the relevant qualifications, you can provide your services to a company offering online tutoring and teaching services to students from across the world. You can even create your own business, joining various online marketplaces or marketing for your own clients, all the while growing and establishing your career as an educator.

To learn more about receiving your qualifications to begin teaching English in Vietnam, please contact us at Teaching House today.

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