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Teaching Programs: Saigon, Vietnam
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About Vietnam |
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“Vietnam is one of the most thriving, fastest-growing economies in the world, while simultaneously remaining home to some of Asia’s most beautiful mountains, beaches, and coastal islands. Mirroring the country as a whole, the Vietnamese people tend to be hard working and industrious, and at the same time strikingly friendly and optimistic.”
Most visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting: the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies tended by women in conical hats.
There are some divine beaches along the coast, while inland there are soaring mountains, some of which are cloaked by dense, misty forests. Vietnam also offers an opportunity to see a country of traditional charm and rare beauty rapidly opening up to the outside world.
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About Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) |
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Quality teachers are in high demand throughout Vietnam. Most assignments are available in and around Ho Chi Minh City. Given the low cost-of-living and the premium pay our Teachers typically receive, they are able to live very well – taking great apartments, going out regularly, traveling … and still setting aside savings!
Sometimes called “the New Orleans of Asia,” Ho Chi Minh City echoes its Western counterpart with its vibrant, wildly energetic combination of native heritage, French cultural influence, and Western capitalism. Still referred to as "Saigon" today, HCM City is the hub of financial activity and is the largest and most developed city in Vietnam. There you will witness a mix of the old and new where modern skyscrapers are juxtaposed with fading colonial buildings, Chinese-style pagodas, and historical landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office and the Reunification Hall.
Ho Chi Minh City has a vibrant nightlife with many local and Western bars and cafes concentrated in the city center. The city is also the culinary capital of Vietnam. You can sample a variety of foods ranging from Vietnamese regional specialties to international cuisine. The best Vietnamese, French, and Chinese restaurants in Vietnam are found in HCM City.
While working in Vietnam, you should absolutely tour the countryside and visit the beaches and islands. The landscape surrounding HCM City is lush with greenery, while wide sandy beaches and breath-taking islands are within easy drives.
Farther north, mountains and sea – often with little or nothing in between – dominate the landscape. The cool highlands conceal the Phong Nha caverns and the mind-boggling mountain passes of Ngang and Hai Van. The Red River Delta, where the ancient Viet people settled, is surrounded by yet more mountains scattered with grottos, waterfalls, mountain lakes, and diverse ethnic groups like the H'mong, Dao, and Hoa. Dien Bien Phu, Fansipan Mountain, and the uniquely lovely Halong Bay are sites not to be missed.
The south has two seasons: the wet (May to November, wettest from June to August) and the dry (December to April). During the wet season, there are heavy but short-lived downpours almost daily, usually in the afternoon. Wet season daily highs are around 31ºC / 88ºF. The dry season begins “cool” (in January the overnight lows are about 21ºC / 70ºF), though late February through May are the hottest months. Things cool down slightly when the wet season begins.
Being only 10.5º north of the equator and 5m-10m above sea level, Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate. Temperatures vary little with the seasons, averaging 26ºC / 79ºF in January and 28ºC / 82ºF in July. Average humidity is 80%, and annual rainfall averages 1979mm. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Ho Chi Minh City was 14ºC / 57ºF.
In the North, the rainy season ends in September, and there are four distinct seasons. Daily averages in Hanoi vary from around 20ºC / 68ºF in mid-winter to around 28ºC / 82ºF. in mid-summer. Top |
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Program Package |
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Our flagship Program in Vietnam has been designed to give you the skills and abilities to confidently live in Southeast Asia.
The goals of the program are to:
- Help you create a rewarding experience living in, working in, and learning about a new culture
- Teach you new skills
- Lead you toward the development of a wider, first-person perspective about the diversity of cultures and populations in a new and different part of the world
- To help you accomplish these goals, LanguageCorps provides extensive training and orientation, job placement, and ongoing logistical support.
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Airport pick-up and transportation to our Training Center. |
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One-week on-site orientation and Vietnamese language training |
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Internationally recognised four-week TEFL/TESOL course combining 90 hours of classroom-based work with 30 hours of Teaching Practice at a local community resource (hospital, police station, city hall, orphanage, immigration office, etc.) so your teaching time directly benefits the community. |
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Private accommodations during language course and TEFL training. |
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Guaranteed paid job placement after certification, in a paid teaching position, including as needed and requested: assistance with resumes, scheduling interviews, transportation to interviews, job selection, school contracts, and housing. |
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24/7 on-call support for the full length of your overseas adventure, to assist you with the myriad of issues that will arise in a new culture, such as housing, medical needs, banking questions, travel arrangements, etc. |
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All fees to obtain the initial visa and required background check, plus visa document preparation assistance including Ministry letters. |
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Medical insurance covering you from arrival in Vietnam to departure for home. |
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Pre-departure Information Package including country facts, packing suggestions, vaccination information, etc., and personal assistance with pre-departure details and questions. |
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“Stay In Touch” package that includes a personal, international cell phone with paid phone time, pre-programmed with the local coordinators number, as well as internet access at the Training Center or a local cafe. |
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Career oriented re-entry package to help market your international teaching experience and enhance your resume. |
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Not Included |
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Round-trip airfare to host country |
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Personal expenses (meals, entertainment, local transport, living expenses, and personal shopping) |
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Visa costs and fees beyond the initial visa provided |
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Prices & Dates |
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| Start Dates for 2006 |
Start Dates for 2007 |
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28th July |
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27th July |
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25th August |
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24th August |
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22nd September |
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21st September |
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20th October |
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19th October |
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All Inclusive Program Package = USD $4395.00 or GBP £2495.00
(Subject to current Exchange Rates)
Once your application has been accepted we will require a non-refundable deposit of GBP £280 or USD $500 to secure your placement. The remaining balance will then be due 8 weeks prior to the program start date.
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Job Placement |
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You will be placed in one of our schools in and around Ho Chi Minh City. Teaching Vietnamese students is a pleasure: most are highly motivated and trust that learning English will help them to create a brighter future.
An average workweek is usually 15-25 hours, including class time and preparation. Typical wages for teachers range from US$800-1200/month. Local housing costs are low (around $250-400/month for rent), while food and transport costs average $100-$200/month. Most teachers can earn enough to live very comfortably, enjoy local entertainment and restaurants and travel to local tourist spots — and many have money left over for savings!
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General |
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Meals:
You’ll never have to look very far for delicious, shockingly inexpensive Vietnamese or Western food in any major Vietnamese city.
Vietnamese food is always fresh: ingredients are purchased from the market the same morning. The abundant fresh fish, lobster, crabs, and cuttlefish will leave seafood fans dreading the return home.
Vegetarians rejoice in Vietnam, as well. Due to a strong Buddhist tradition, vegetarian food is widely available. Fresh vegetables and fruits are in abundant supply, as are vegetarian restaurants.
Among carnivores, fish, chicken, or pork dishes, served with cooked vegetables and rice, form a typical meal. The dishes themselves are rarely spicy, and are accompanied by a variety of condiments including chili sauce, fish sauce ('nuoc mam'), and soy sauce.
Expect to try “pho”, a type of rice noodle soup eaten for breakfast; “cha gio” (“nem”), deep-fried spring rolls; and “goi ngo sen”, a delicious salad made with lotus stems, shrimp, and peanuts.
Chopsticks are standard, especially with noodles or rice. Western utensils are nearly always available, however, and are commonly provided with international fare.
Participants are responsible for their own meals.
Clothing:
Light, comfortable, easy to launder clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton suits Vietnam. Good walking shoes and sandals that can be easily slipped off are recommended, as shoes are removed when entering temples and homes. No need to over pack, as high-quality clothes are strikingly cheap, while inexpensive laundry service is generally available wherever you go.
When working, Teachers are expected to adhere to the local working culture and ideas of professionalism. “Casually smart” attire means that women should cover their shoulders (sleeveless shirts are acceptable, but very thin straps or tank tops are not). No low-cut necklines or very short skirts. Bare midriffs must not be visible, even when lifting arms up. Open-toed shoes are acceptable. Men should wear long pants (not jeans), short- or long-sleeved shirt with a tie, and loafers or dress shoes. Sandals and tennis shoes are not acceptable when teaching. Long hair should be neatly tied into a ponytail.
Housing:
During training, Teacher Candidates stay in private hotel rooms or apartments located near the school building. Rooms typically have air-conditioning, a private bath, and are clean and nicely furnished.
During your paid internship, you will be responsible for your own housing.
After training, your coordinator or your host school will assist you in locating a local apartment or house near your hiring school. Typical apartments are small, but most are comfortable and stylish, with air conditioning and Western appliances. Houses usually have 3-4 bedrooms that you can share with roommates.
Communications:
Teachers are provided with a cell phone and pre-paid phone minutes to use for the duration of your training and teaching assignment. You will be given access to the Internet during training.
Internet access in Vietnam is fairly stable and reasonably fast. Most of our Partner Schools have Internet access available to teachers during school hours, and Internet cafés and kiosks are common in major Vietnamese cities. They usually charge about 6000 dong (40 US cents) per hour.
Things to See & Do:
Throughout your time abroad, we will arrange activities and cultural events - such as group dinners and visits to local attractions.
The Vietnam (American) War is a topic that still fascinates foreigners, and many of Ho Chi Minh City’s tourist attractions focus on this interest. In central Saigon, the most intriguing sites for war buffs include the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace.
If you’d rather pursue the topic of religion, be sure to check out the Giac Lam Pagoda, Jade Emperor Pagoda and Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. A day-long excursion to Tay Ninh is required to visit the incredible Caodai Great Temple. Another worthwhile excursion is to the One Pillar Pagoda.
Boat trips on the Saigon River are always a great way to take refuge from the urban pandemonium. Further afield, beach buffs are sure to appreciate either beauty of Mui Ne or the tranquility of Phu Quoc.
There are lots of day trip opportunities and fun things to do near Ho Chi Minh City. If you like waterparks, the city suburbs boast three! History buffs might enjoy the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Viet Cong's secret underground supply houses and passageways. Visitors can tour the tunnels, the war history museum and even get to fire M-16s or AK-47s. Can Gio, an island located where the Saigon river meets the sea, boasts a beach, a mangrove park with plenty of monkeys, as well as a market and temple.
Travel Resources:
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
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