By: Sarah
Aww Faye, you certainly have the credentials to be a TEFL teacher, just need some confidence! Teaching in Vietnam will certainly give you that- some of my classes had 40 or more students. Sometimes I had to use a microphone!
The salary seemed enough I guess because food is so crazy cheap, and a beer cost about 10p, plus I had brought savings with me. Vietnam is a very different country, and I did suffer with some culture shock. I'd suggest having a look at programs in Europe, maybe Summer School to just have a go at it? You won't regret the internship though, that's for sure. You may decide not to go home after! Thank you for your kind words Faye. Let me know if you decide to go! By: Faye
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for your response. I am lacking confidence with regards to the teaching to be honest, I have a degree in Education Studies and have volunteered in Africa teaching but it's been 5 years since I graduated and volunteered and I've just worked in corporate office jobs since so I am really drawn towards the security blanket of the internship to start me off and give me some confidence and TEFL experience. I have also never done any solo travelling before.
I will continue to research but I am really interested in the benefits of the internship and your comments have really helped. I'm at a point where I'm ready to leave my job and go for it which is scary but also exciting.
As you say you didn't feel like you were being paid less, were you on a comfortable enough salary on the internship?
I'm so glad I found your website! I really love your posts :)
Faye By: Sarah
Hi Faye, thank you! I'm glad it helped you out. Whether or not you should go with an organisation or just head out there solo depends on your past experiences, and your self-confidence and gumption! I think the internship is great for anyone lacking both teaching and travel experience. If you've travelled a lot, you won't like being constrained- they choose where you live, the apartment, the school, etc. If you've dreamed of living in Hanoi, they might just put you down in Ho Chi Minh City. In this case, I would say look online at TEFL.com and search for jobs.
I personally didn't feel like I was being paid less, but then again I wasn't paying rent. Going alone would give you more freedom to choose which age group is better suited to you, too. Then again, if you aren't sure then it doesn't matter. It was lovely having 'instant friends', we even met in Dubai waiting for the connecting flight! However, since then I've independently found work in parts of Europe and Asia and never had a problem meeting people and making friends-- however, you might find that going alone you'll have to actually learn the language in order to get by, whereas in a huge group of foreigners you'll tend to just click together.
I took the internship because I didn't have a degree and I needed a 'foot in the door' so to speak. If you CAN find independent work, I'd probably suggest going for it. At the end of the day, all the organisation is doing is acting as a 3rd party- you have a contract with them, they have a contract with the school. Going alone just cuts them out, so what will you lose? Well, not that much. Most schools offer benefits such as free accommodation, or at least help finding it, there may well be existing teachers at the school (very likely) so there's some instant friends, most schools offer free airport pick up (I've always been picked up in all my positions), and my bosses have been very helpful e.g taking me to hospital when I've been unwell, giving me extra support, organising free language lessons, etc. On the other hand, if the school turns out to be a disaster, you're on your own, whereas if you go with the organization you simply send them an email, and they'll either call up the school for a resolution or move you from it immediately and into a new set up. The same goes for problems with accommodation, colleagues, etc.
Do let me know what you decide!
Sarah By: Faye
Hi Sarah, this is a great and really helpful read. I'm currently considering doing the exact same internship you did as I am new to TEFL and feel it is a good way in and has the comfort of going with others which might make up for the lower pay. In your opinion is it worth it or would you recommend just trying to find a TEFL job in Vietnam for more money instead?
Thanks,
Faye By: Sarah
Oh that's great news! If you need any extra help, <a href="http://expatoftheworld.com/tefl-teaching-english-abroad-start/">I wrote a very long piece all about TEFL you can find here.</a> Where would you like to teach?! By: rosa
I loved this! I am researching about traveling and teaching abroad once I get my certification and this definitely has helped me with my decision. I love your blog! By: TEFL Teaching English Abroad- Where Do I Start?
[…] option is to look at TEFL internship programs BUT be very careful as there are many scams out there, so be sure to research thoroughly before […] By: The End of the School Contract, Saying Goodbye & Looking Forwards
[…] different. Vietnam was the first place I’d ever taught English in, and as it was part of an Internship program, there wasn’t nearly as much stress. I was only teaching kinda elementary learners and the […] By: Sarah
Hello Syifa! Wow- thank you for a wonderful comment this morning!
I admire your decision to travel and volunteer- just make sure you volunteer in an area you're really passionate about, and have the much needed skills or experience to help the project move forwards. Paying for your room and food is acceptable, especially in deprived areas, but an in-depth search could find you some volunteering opportunities where room and food is provided in <em>exchange</em> for volunteering: check out a site called workaway, it's perfect for someone wanting short-term volunteering projects while travelling around, especially in Europe where you can get around easily via the euro-rail.
Thanks again for your comment, and have an exceptional time on your adventures!
- Love Sarah By: Anissa Syifa Adriana
Hi Sarah!
What a lovely post yet interesting to read!
I have come to the decision that next year or the following year I will be traveling and try to live nomads while volunteering. However, I was puzzled with the idea of volunteerism as not so many of bloggers write about the paid volunteer experiences, not to mention the pro and cons. So reading your blog has helped me realize that not all volunteerism fits and is good for you. Paying that huge amount of money while volunteering gives your certainty and security as they will provide your basic amenities and help you out with the unexpected occurrence. However, having read your post, I realize that not all the money that we paid really goes to the needed ones.
So, again, thanks for such truthful writing. Enjoy Maldives!
Love,
Syifa