TEFL Graduate

Working in another country and being able to immerse myself in the culture has been one of the greatest experiences of my life! Vietnam is one the friendliest places I've ever been too! I highly recommend it for anyone considering moving here!

I first became interested in teaching English as a foreign language when I overheard people talking about their experiences of doing so at a party while I was at University. I asked them where they had been, one said they had spent a year in South Korea, the other in China. I had always wanted to see Asia, but never considered that working there would be option. From there I began looking more seriously into teaching English as a foreign language, it seemed to me a great opportunity to travel and work, seeing parts of the world I had always wanted to see, while earning money to keep me going, and learning some valuable workplace skills while I was at it. I contacted Carlos after finishing my TEFL qualification, who aided me in not only deciding where I wanted to go, but in getting my foot in the door and getting me to interview stages too. He gave me advice on my options, and was sincere regarding the benefits and downfalls of teaching and living in various places around the world, such as contract lengths, salaries, and the cost of living. All this information was invaluable in deciding where I wanted to go next, Vietnam. Upon gaining a job with APAX English, a major language centre in Vietnam, I flew from Heathrow and arrived on a hot late summer evening, and began my taxi ride through the bustling streets of Hanoi. I stayed here for two weeks while I trained, which was a great advantage of the company, to have comprehensive training and feedback before I started to teach. All the while, I was able to get out and about in Hanoi and enjoy the sights, culture, food, food, food, and more food. I gained a position in a rural province of Vietnam, in the North, centered around a city called Phu Ly. Here I was able to experience a rather more authentic taste of Vietnam, away from the backpacker hotspot of Hanoi. I made many Vietnamese friends, and began teaching some of the friendliest, most enthusiastic, and fun-loving kids I had ever met. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of teaching there. After two months off the beaten track, however, I began pining for a chance of the big-city life. APAX made this extremely simlpeand easy, and were professional throughout the transfer process. I packed up my bags three weeks after initially expressing interest of a transfer to Hanoi, and off I went. Since arriving back in Hanoi I am really enjoying the change, and am settling into my new centre. Slowly, but surely, remembering the Kids' names once again. It really is astounding how many Elsa's there can be in once class. In all, coming to Vietnam has been one of the best decisions of my life. The quality of life you can have out here as a young British graduate is incomparable to that back home. There is no job at home where I could work 18 hours a week, with free (absolutely stunning) accommodation in the capital city, eat out 3 times a day (I honestly haven't cooked here yet, and I don't plan on it, the food is too good), and still have money left from my salary at the end of the month to send back home at the end of the month. Especially not a job as enjoyable as teaching Kids anyway. My advice is that if you are thinking that this may be something you would like to do, do it. Get the ball rolling as soon as you can. Your only regret is that you hadn't done it earlier. And if you do come out to Vietnam and are from the UK, please bring some crumpets. I've been dying for a crumpet for months. Its about the only food I can't find out here. You'll make a fellow Brit very happy. Good Luck!

I spoke to a guy by the name of Carlos who helped me get the job. He was responsive and supportive throughout the whole recruitment process. I must admit this is the best company I've worked for. This company (that I'm working) cares about us, we have work events and there is a lot of opportunity for growth. They are patient and there is training and no lesson plans. What I also like about my current company is that are open-minded and they treat everyone fairly. Cost of living in Vietnam is very low, so you can save enough money and do everything that you have always wanted to do. The company that I work for is actually one of the highest paying companies in Vietnam, honestly, anyone would be lucky to get this job. I highly recommend TEFL Graduate because they work with the best companies and they also care about their applicants. Honestly speaking, I have nothing bad to say about TEFL Graduate.