As we get closer to the last quarter of 2022, we are finally seeing the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Borders are opening again and fewer people are wearing masks. More importantly, people go back to the office and students go back to the classroom. While some people liked working from home, hardly anyone liked studying at home. A big part of school is the community aspect, and that is completely lost when classes are done via Zoom. Then school is all about memorizing facts and practicing math equations. Children cannot laugh and enjoy, and when people cannot enjoy some happiness, it is very difficult to study hard. There has to be a balance, otherwise people get depressed.
In Vietnam, English language classes have become more important with the rapid growth of the economy and many companies require employees to be fluent in English and Vietnamese. Therefore, schools import foreign teachers of English to teach these English language classes. The teachers come from countries where English is their native language, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. But since the shutdown began in 2019, many of these teachers have had to go home because they lost their jobs or wanted to be with their families. But now that everything is back to normal, many schools are looking for qualified teachers.
How to become a teacher in Vietnam
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So the requirements to Teaching English in Vietnam are as good as you need to have a bachelor’s degree. In addition, it helps to be a native speaker and also have experience or a TEFL certificate. If you have that, you will be eligible for most job openings, but remember that many people apply for these jobs, so there are a number of things that will set you apart.
Being a good communicator and listener
As a teacher, your job is to break something your students have never heard of into something simple. If you teach English or even Mathematics, many things may seem very abstract to your students, but if you relate those things to real life things they know and understand, it might make more sense and you will see their grades improve. It’s also just as important to listen to your students, they may have a little problem that you don’t understand, but if you understand them better, you can be a better teacher.
Know how to collaborate
As a teacher you have to be a team player. In Vietnam, teachers have Vietnamese teaching assistants who can help with translations for students. You also have colleagues to work with when planning assignments and trips, and being able to work as a team is vital.
Have empathy and patience
You have to understand that people and their lives are all so vastly different. Your English test isn’t the only thing that student is thinking about right now, they could be having trouble at home or something else. Problems at home can also affect their behavior at school. As a teacher, it is important to try to understand why, rather than get angry, and then do your best to help the situation and enrich the students’ lives.
How do you apply for a job?
So now that you know what is expected of a good English teacher, you can start the application process. The best thing to do when you apply teaching jobs in Vietnam is to emphasize your strengths. If your native language is English, make sure it appears high on your resume. The same if you have a higher education or experience in prestigious schools. You also want to share something about your personality and energy. A tip is to either write a cover letter telling your story or record an introductory video about yourself and why you want to become a teacher in Vietnam.
