A country whose cultural roots can be traced to the first half of the Millennium that preceded the Christian Era, Vietnam now finds itself plunging headlong into the modern world community. Although still under a communist political regime, in an effort to improve the fortunes of its people the government has followed the lead of China in re-defining its version of communism to include economic systems and structures that are decidedly capitalistic. In fact, the country now enjoys Most Favored Nation trading status with the U.S., has secured billions in foreign investment in its industry and infrastructure, and seems well on its way to a position of equal status among the developing nations of Southeast Asia.
Background
As observers of modern world history are well aware, Vietnam is a former French possession whose 1950s bid for independence preci
pitated a civil war that, fueled by the military might of the superpowers, devastated an already fragile and struggling country. Vietnam emerged from the conflict with a communist regime closely supported by the former Soviet Union, America's long-time adversary in the Cold War. Because of this political alignment, foreign language education in post-war Vietnam schools strongly favored the Russian language. In the mid-to-late '80s Vietnam's National Assembly decided that the country's further development depended upon aggressively developing foreign trade and investment. To that end, and recognizing the importance of English as the dominant language of international commerce, Vietnam shifted the language focus in its educational institutions.
Today, although stopping short of “embracing” Western cultural trends, the government seems committed to the pursuit of English fluency as a means to its economic ends.
The Challenge
After two-plus decades of mandatory English instruction in primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools, young graduates are still finding it difficult to compete for the coveted jobs with the Western companies. School courses taught by Vietnamese nationals who themselves have learned English as a second or third language are simply not giving their graduates the mastery of nuance, colloquialism and social context needed to communicate effectively in the business environment. Similarly, adults already in the work force often possess skills that would qualify them for better jobs and incomes, but their lack of English fluency limits their prospects. So, while the national policy trend is firmly toward bi-lingualism on a national scale, the challenge in Vietnam, as in other Southeast Asian countries, is to raise the quality of English instruction.
The Opportunity
As Vietnam moves into its emerging new role as a modern and economically prosperous society, the need for widespread English fluency has taken on paramount importance. As a consequence, public and private schools alike now place a premium on teachers for whom English is a first language. Schools in the major cities can fill as many classes with children and adults eager to learn as they can find teachers to teach. So great is the unfulfilled d
emand that many schools will hire teachers with no teaching credential nor even a university degree, provided that they are native English speakers, although these tend to be the lowest paying positions with few or no benefits. Academic credentials are highly respected in Vietnam, as is actual teaching experience, and compensation packages tend to reflect these priorities. As a general rule, the opportunities in Vietnam stack up along these lines:
- A native English speaker with no university degree can get a teaching job by taking a 120-hour course in TESOL. The pay level will be 'self-supporting' or subsistence at Vietnam's relatively low cost of living, but not much more.
- With or without a University degree in any subject, a Native speaker holding a TESOL Certificate can easily earn enough to support his or herself and do a little traveling during time off.
Of course, pay scales are not equivalent to Western salaries, but when you account for the differences in living costs they can provide a very satisfactory quality of life. And all levels of teaching positions offer the same invaluable opportunities for professional growth, cultural enrichment, and relationship building. The differences in pay vary throughout the country, but a teacher can expect a salary of US$1500 to US$3000 per month depending on experience and accreditation. Check out the cost of living in Hanoi page: Cost of Living in Hanoi