Teaching English in Vietnam: Jamie’s Story

Teaching English in Vietnam can be an exciting way to live abroad, gain classroom experience, and build a more fulfilling lifestyle. In this interview, Jamie shares her experience of leaving life in the Netherlands behind, completing a TEFL course, and starting a new chapter in Ho Chi Minh City.

Jamie’s experience of teaching English in Vietnam gives a clear picture of what it is really like to train, work, and live there.

PERSONAL PROFILE

What is your name, age and nationality?

My name is Jamie Jones and I’m 27 years old. I was born in Canada but I grew up in the Netherlands so I have the Dutch nationality at the moment.

What is your education level and background?

I have a Bachelors degree in Food and Nutrition but somehow I ended up working for a bank as a financial advisor ☺. Not exactly what I went to school for and I enjoyed it for a while but I also realised by working at the bank that I wanted to do something else with my life.

Have you travelled abroad previously, and if so where?

I’ve travelled a bit, so far I’ve visited 12 countries. If you live in Europe it’s fairly easy to travel within the continent. I’ve been to Spain, Italy, Hungary, France, Ireland and of course my neighbour countries Belgium and Germany (I actually did my groceries there because it was so close ☺).

My dad lives in Canada so I also go there once in a while and I did my internship to be a dietician there. I even thought about moving to Toronto for a while but the winters are way too cold for me.

Other than that I’ve been to Dubai, because my best friend lived there for a while. In 2015 I went backpacking for the first time. I went to Nicaragua and it was the first time I’ve slept in hostels, travelled around and stuff like that. That was an amazing trip and I think that’s when the travel bug really bit me. After that trip I knew for sure I wanted to experience living and working in another country.

What motivated you to teach English abroad?

I was looking for adventure. I couldn’t say I was unhappy at home because I wasn’t. I had an okay life with an okay job and lots of amazing friends. But I was definitely a little bored, craving something new. I worked more than 40 hours a week at the bank and I hardly had any time to do the things that I really wanted to do. Doing work that is meaningful and making a difference in a way has always been important to me and with working in the financial sector I didn’t feel like I was really doing that. \ I’ve always wanted to work abroad and somehow it just seemed that this was the time. I kind of felt that it was now or never. I didn’t have any real commitment at home that kept me from staying there. I didn’t have my own house, no kids, no permanent contract. So why not just go?

What did you want to achieve from teaching English abroad?

What I wanted to achieve was living a life that was more fulfilling to me and increasing my happiness. This is something that I can say that I’ve achieved and still working on every day that I’m here. At home going to work every day seemed like the biggest task ever, another long long day. Here I’m excited to go to work because I really love my job. Of course, teaching is pretty intense and you will be tired at the end of the day but it’s also a lot of fun and very fulfilling. Another thing that contributes to my happiness is that there is a much better balance between work and personal time. Full time here is about 20 hours a week so you still have more than enough free time to explore and do whatever it is that you would like to do while you’re in Vietnam.

Did you apply for the program with a friend or on your own?

I applied on my own. Very scary to me, moving to the other side of the world by myself but I did have a feeling this was something I had to do on my own. And so far I feel like this was the good choice.

Did you know anyone who had taught abroad before you?

Not really actually. Of course I did my research before coming here. I read quite a few blogs and watched vlogs from people living in Vietnam but I didn’t really know anyone in person who taught abroad. After I signed up for the course and put a post on Facebook someone I knew from high school contacted me that he actually taught in Vietnam a few years ago. That was really nice because he gave me lots of tips and shared his experiences with me.

What were some of your concerns before you began teaching abroad?

Oh boy, do you have a minute? I had lots of concerns, I was really nervous before leaving. I’ve never been to Asia before so I was concerned the culture shock was going to be huge. This didn’t turn out to be true at all though. To be fair I do think I’m a person that can adjust to new situations pretty easily, but Vietnam actually felt like home straight away. The people are so friendly and welcoming and the way they think about things is actually pretty similar to Western countries, they are pretty modern. The food is delicious and it’s so easy to get around here.

Another big concern was that I wouldn’t make any new friends. Also this wasn’t true. During the TEFL course you meet lots of new people who are all in the same boat. Everybody is far from home and that creates a special connection. During the TEFL course I made lots of new friends, two of them who are now my roommates actually.

TEFL PROGRAM INFORMATION

What made you decide to do a TEFL course and choose TEFL Heaven?

I decided to do a TEFL course because I wanted to gain experience in a real life classroom. I also liked the idea of having some sort of support system since I was moving all the way to the other end of the world. I looked into a few different companies and contacted a few of them. TEFL Heaven appealed to me most because they answer you so quick, that was a big plus to me. I had tons of questions and I feel like they go out of their way to help you and also that they really understand your situation.

To be honest I just think it’s a cool company. The whole story behind it, why Mike started the company, the fact that they donate to charity. I feel like everyone that works at TEFL Heaven is happy to work there, of course it’s a business so they have to make money but I feel like that’s not the only reason they’re there. They believe in what they do and truly look out for your best interest. For me that’s the reason that I picked TEFL Heaven over other TEFL companies.

What made you choose a face-to-face TEFL course over other options?

I had quite a few reasons to choose a face-to-face TEFL course over a course online. First of all, I had no teaching experience so I wanted to get some classroom experience before I actually started working. Without this experience I would have never been so confident in front of the classroom.

Another reason was that I wanted to meet new people in the country that I was going to be teaching. Doing the TEFL course is a great way to do this. You are with a group of people who are all in the same boat, everybody is far from home and you are sharing this experience together. It’s a great way to make friends.

Which TEFL program did you do?

I did the TEFL program in Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.

What did you enjoy about your TEFL course?

I enjoyed lots of things about the program. The things I probably enjoyed most were meeting new people and working together with my peers. I really liked that I got to meet so many people from all over the world. Everyone is so different but somehow you have sort of the same mindset, that’s something I thought was pretty cool.

I also loved the actual teaching and working with the kids. You get to teach all different age groups and it’s just so fun. The kids are really cute and they’re so interested in you.

How prepared did you feel for your teaching position?

After the course I felt pretty confident in standing in front of the class. Because during the course you gain so much experience with so many different age groups. It can be a bit intense at times but it does really prepare you for the actual teaching.

How long have you been teaching in Vietnam and how long do you plan to stay?

I started the course in November and after I finished I travelled for a little while. I started my job in February so I’ve been here for four months and actually working for about two months now. I don’t really have plan yet. As long as I’m enjoying myself I’m staying here.

How did you find a teaching English job in Vietnam?

With the program that I did you get a job guarantee. But even without that it’s not that hard to find a job. I actually found my own job. During the course you get a list of schools that are always hiring. I just applied to the ones that appealed to me, went on a few interviews and picked the one that felt right for me.

What type of school do you work at in Vietnam?

I work at a public high school. A foreign teachers work at a language centre but I chose to work at a public school because I like the cultural side of it. I work together with a lot of Vietnamese teachers which I really like. Also I have the weekends off, a big plus for me.

Besides working at the high school I do some tutoring on the side. I found this job on Facebook.

What does a typical teaching week in Vietnam look like?

I only have two full days a week, so most of my week is pretty chill. I tutor on Monday nights from 7:30 till 9:00. Tuesday and Wednesday I have short days and I only teach for a few hours. Thursday and Fridays are my most intense days. I start at 6:45 in the morning and work till 17:15 both days. These days are long but I have the weekends off. I also get enough breaks in between and we actually have a sleeping room at school. So when I’m tired I just take a nap in my lunch break, perfect!

What age group or range do you teach?

I teach grade 10 and 11, so my students are 15 to 16 years old.

What do you enjoy about teaching English in Vietnam?

I love their enthusiasm and how friendly they are. The Vietnamese kids are super cute and also very smart. Most of the kids are pretty motivated to learn English because a lot of them would like to study abroad. They are super interested in foreigners and are always asking me all kinds of questions.

How did you get your work visa?

I’ve only been here for a few months so I don’t have a working visa yet. I wanted to see how I liked the teaching before applying for a working visa. When you just start you will usually work on a tourist visa during your probation. After that most employers will assist you to get a work visa. Usually you will pay for this yourself (or pay half) and if you complete your year contract you will get the costs back as a bonus.

How did you find accommodation in Vietnam and what is it like?

There are tons of agents here who can help you find a home. Finding a place to live is not too hard in Ho Chi Minh. Some employers will even offer you housing. You kind of have to decide in what kind of place you want to live. I live together with my two roommates in a pretty luxurious apartment. It’s definitely the nicest place I’ve ever lived. We have a big swimming pool and a gym which I use a lot. Some of my friends live in a house share which is obviously cheaper so it really depends on what’s important to you. I use the gym and the pool a lot and I love living here so to me it’s worth the money. Also, in my own country I could never ever afford to live in a place like this so it’s kind of part of the experience to me ☺.

COUNTRY INSIGHT

What is it like living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?

Ho Chi Minh really is a city that never sleeps. The city is vibrant with endless possibilities. You will find everything you need here and for every budget. Street food is very cheap, where Western food will cost you a little more. It's easy and cheap to get around by Grab and Uber. The expat community is very big and you will meet teachers everywhere. Making friends is not that hard here if you put a little effort into it. Of course you will meet a lot of people through your job, but there are also tons of social clubs. Whether you like soccer, rock climbing or want to learn some Spanish, there's a club for everyone!

What are the monthly living costs in Vietnam?

Rent: $375, this is without electricity and water which would be about $5 per person a month. Internet is included.

Food: $120, this also really depends on what you eat. I love the street food which is super cheap, but I also really love sushi and to go to a nice restaurant on the weekend. I like to switch it up a bit. If you only eat Vietnamese food you will spend less and if you only eat Western food you will spend more than this.

Social life: $80, going out for drinks, to the movies, stuff like that.

Transportation: $60, If you get your own motorbike this will probably be a lot less. I’m too scared to drive (I don’t drive at home either) so I only use grab (the Asian Uber) and I go out quite a lot and also have to use Grab to get to work. If you choose a job close to where you live this will be way less.

Phone: $5, a phone plan here is super cheap. You can just go to the store and top your balance, your data here will honestly last you forever.

Other costs: $100, I’m slightly addicted to shopping (☺) and Vietnam has amazing clothing stores that are hard to resist so I’ll spend some money on clothes. Of course you will also need some household items and toiletries. I also love to get massages, facials, manicures and pedicures every once in a while.

Can you live comfortably teaching English in Vietnam?

Yes, I can definitely live comfortably on my salary and still save some money to take trips or go home. How much you spend here is really up to you. I like to save some money but I also want to enjoy myself when I’m here so I try to

ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE ENGLISH TEACHERS

What advice would you give someone thinking about teaching abroad, and would you recommend teaching English in Vietnam?

If you are thinking about teaching abroad I would definitely say, just do it! I’m pretty sure you won’t regret it. To me it’s an amazing experience, living here, working with the kids, the food (haha). Worst case scenario would be that you don’t like it but you can always go back home. At least you will know what it’s like and there will be no what ifs later. You are young, you are free and the whole world is at your feet so why not take advantage of it?

Teaching English in Vietnam offers far more than just a job. It gives you the chance to build a new life abroad, experience a different culture, and enjoy a lifestyle that can feel both meaningful and flexible. Jamie’s story gives a clear and honest picture of what to expect, from TEFL training and classroom life to salary, lifestyle, and everyday living in Vietnam.

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