The Forever Traveler: Teaching Abroad - Vietnam

By: Amanda Raquel Henri

Are you the type of person who gets stir crazy after being in the same place for an extended period? Have you always been interested in learning more about different people, places, and cultures? Do you love the idea of helping those in need? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then perhaps moving abroad is for you. I am Amanda, an American turned expat in Hanoi, Vietnam. In this article, I will tell you all the steps necessary to start your adventure abroad.?

While many countries offer various career opportunities, there is one line of work of which there is always a need. Teachers, specifically those who teach the English language, are in high demand all over the world. Most teaching positions have five basic requirements:?

• Clean criminal record
• Passport (typically one that does not expire for a minimum of 2 years)?
• Bachelor’s degree in any subject
• TEFL/TESOL certificate or a university degree in education
• Native or fluent level of English

Obtaining a TEFL/TESOL certificate is an easy “in” for people without teaching experience. The certification can cost anywhere from $500 which includes the 120 mandatory course hours, or certification at a university level that? may cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500. TEFL/TESOL certification is not required for anyone holding a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the field of education.?

Accepting A Job Offer: Things to Consider

Like in all positions, it is important to choose the job that best fits you. When considering teaching abroad, there are other questions to ask yourself:?

1. What style of teaching does this school mostly follow? Does it align with my teaching philosophy? The answer to these questions can be found by carefully analyzing the school’s website and social media pages. Additionally, you can go to Linked In and type the school’s name in the search bar. The results should provide a list of current employees. Connect with those employees. Ask questions about their experience at the school where you are considering teaching.?
2. What will be my monthly cost? (Rent- Electricity- Water- Phone- Internet- Transportatioresearch local, trusted taxi services or bus system cost prior to travel–Grab is a popular cab service in Asian regions)- Fitness- Groceries- Dining Out- Entertainment (television, film, music, sports, live performances; etc.)
3. Given the pay offer, will I be able to both live comfortably and save money?
4. What are some cultural norms or beliefs of the people there? Do the majority of their values align with mine?
5. How will I be treated as an expat? This is one of the top things that you should research. Google search for blogs or watch YouTube channels created by expats who have experienced living and working in the area that you are considering moving to.
6. What quality of education will my child or children receive if I decide to move abroad? How easy or difficult will it be for my dependent(s) to adjust to the new place?
7. What are the languages spoken? Do I have resources to help me learn at least the basics of those languages?

Required Documents for New Employer

Once you feel satisfied with the answers to all of the questions in the previous section of this article and have read carefully, and signed your job offer letter, you will be asked to provide certain documents to your soon-to-be employer. The types of documents required all depend on the place of which your workplace will be located. Required documents may include all or some of these:?

• Letter of reference from current:

1. Lead teacher or instructional clerk (anyone who works directly with you in a day-to-day basis)

Note: In lieu of lead teacher/instructional clerk, a letter of reference from a previous supervisor will suffice

2. Assistant Principal or other immediate supervisor

3. Principal or highest ranking supervisor??

• If you are under contract with most recent employer, verification of contract termination date or separation letter?
• Teaching Certificate for the US. State of your employment or TEFL/TESOL (notarized by U.S. Embassy in destination place)
• ?FBI Criminal Background Check (notarized by U.S. Embassy in destination place)
• ?Highest College Degree Certificate (notarized by U.S. Embassy in destination place)
• Transcripts from colleges or universities that you have attended (leave unopened, as an opened seal invalidates the transcripts from being considered, “official”. Ask employer if you can have college/university directly email the transcript to them)
• Colored Copy of all passport pages
• Colored Copy of secondary identification such as a driver's license or state identification card
• Health check report from international clinic in destination place (in sealed, stamped, envelope)

Prior to travel, it is important to ask your prospective employer if any of the documents requiring notarization can be done by a notary located within the United States. If the documents must be validated by an embassy abroad, it is recommended that as soon as you know the date of your flight to schedule the following appointments for within the first week after your arrival:??

1. U.S. Embassy of foreign country (appointments fill up quickly so schedule as soon as possible)
2. Health check with International Hospital (verify types of payments accepted)

Visa and Work Permit Steps

You will need a work permit or visa to teach abroad. Requirements depend on the region of which you are applying. My knowledge and experience of work permits and visa requirements is specific to Vietnam. If you are interested in learning more about mandates for other regions in Asia, you can visit Dej-Udom & Associates Attorneys-at-Law of Bangkok’s website (click on the flag on the top right of the page to change the language).

If traveling to Vietnam specifically, at your first airport in the US you will need to show your passport and visa. You can apply in advance for a 90-day E-visa by visiting the embassy’s website of your destination. For me, this website was that of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam.?

As a United States resident who has accepted a Vietnam on-site position, your workplace may give you a visa invitation letter to show at the US airport. A visa invitation letter voids the requirement of having to show a 90-day visa at both the U.S. airport and the airport abroad. Upon arrival in your destination country, you will be processed at their airport to obtain your 90-day visa.?

First, you must complete a visa application. To save time, I suggest printing the visa application from the embassy’s website and completing it prior to travel. Next, a visa processor will take your application, passport, visa invitation letter, and your payment. The processing fee in Vietnam for example, is currently $25 cash for a single entry visa. A multiple entry visa costs $50. They accept payments in US dollars or the currency of your destination. If you are considering a place other than Vietnam, be sure to go to that place’s embassy website for a list of fees and tender accepted.?

If you prefer to pay in the currency of your destination, most international airports that are located in the United States have a currency exchange booth or store. I recommend researching the current exchange rates and fees associated with currency exchange prior to choosing this option.

The amount of time that you will have to wait at the airport depends on how busy the airport is upon arrival. On a not so busy day, it can take anywhere from 30-45 minutes. Once your passport is returned, a page within it will have your 90-day visa. Next, you will present your passport and visa to a custom’s agent and go through a security checkpoint.?

After collecting your checked bags, it is suggested that you locate a phone store inside of the airport to obtain a SIM card. This will give you an international phone number. The SIM cards offered at the Vietnamese airports are only valid for 90-days. After you obtain your official work permit and extended stay visa, you will be able to go to a phone retailer and get a permanent SIM card and telephone number. If you are considering relocating to a place other than Vietnam, be sure to ask the phone kiosk or store employee the terms of obtaining a local number through them.

You Are In!

Now that you have officially entered your new home abroad, be sure to have a pocket translator on hand. Personally, I use Google Translate because not only does it translate spoken audio, it also has a feature of which you can take a photo of an unfamiliar text, and it will translate it to a language of your choosing.?

Your next week or two will consist of several appointments. First, you will go to your embassy appointment to get your documents notarized (if your employer did not allow it to be done in the US). It is important to have a copy of your appointment confirmation upon arrival at the embassy. You should also have the original and a copy of your documents–as the embassy will want to see the original, but will stamp the copy. To be on the safe side, I suggest not opening the criminal background check envelope until someone is there to witness you break the seal. Afterwards, you can ask them for a copy of it for your records. In Vietnam, the cost for notary services is $50 USD, but of course, check online for the cost of your specific embassy.?

You will also have a health check of which you will see a series of doctors, all with different specialties. Prepare to be at the international clinic for 2-3 hours–as it is a lengthy process. Do not eat anything the morning of your appointment because you will be given a blood test that requires fasting.?

The cost of your health check will vary based on location. As a reference, in Vietnam the average cost for a health check can range from 500,000 to 700,000 Vietnamese dong or $20 to $28 USD. Other "upscale" hospitals can cost up to 3,000,000 Vietnamese dong or $119 US. Do your research and choose wisely! Prior to making your appointment, verify the cost! Also, while some international hospitals accept US dollars, you should call ahead to confirm what currency your chosen hospital accepts.?

Once you have the embassy documents (received the same day of the appointment) and the health check results (received by mail within 5-7 business days), you will be asked to hand them over to your employer. Your employer will then submit the documents along with a work permit and extended visa application to the local immigration authority. In Vietnam that is, The Ministry of Public Security’s Vietnam Immigration Department or immigration divisions under provincial-level Public Security Departments of the localities where you are located.

Embrace Your New Life!

It is common for a change of country to make you feel a little homesick. Get ahead of that by joining expat groups on social media platforms such as Facebook. Some groups even offer group outings where you can connect in-person with people who remind you of back home.

Keep busy! A great way to do this is to practice the native language in your spare time. Rosetta Stone is a reputable platform for language learning lessons. However, if you prefer free services, you can search for YouTube videos. Do not be embarrassed to watch language lessons that are made for children. If you are learning a language for the first time, you may have to start at square one, just like we did as children.

Visit local markets and shops to pass the time. Take photos of unique finds, but be cautious around places of worship, places with religious symbols, or military or law enforcement stations. It is a huge rule in most places abroad to avoid taking photos of such locations. At the very minimum, violators may be fined.?

Be sure to research safety or crime reports of the area of which you plan to tour. If you are unsure of the level of safety where you are going, do not take the chance. If you usually carry a larger purse, I suggest instead wearing a smaller, secure fanny pack that can easily be covered with a shirt as you walk around the new environment.?

Remember to stick with it! Experiencing new cultures and different languages than what you are used to may cause a bit of anxiety. Do not worry, you got this! Remember, that with any new thing, it gets better with time. Think about the bottom line. You want to see a new place, you love adventure, and you are going to make a major impact in the lives of the students that you teach.?

Final Thoughts

If you are unsure where to start on your journey towards teaching abroad, you may visit theTEFL.org for a list of places where American expats are in high demand. You may also see available positions and apply for them at teachaway.com.?