VIETNAM TEACHING INTERNSHIP January 2016 Guide
Contents 1. Introduction to ELC s Vietnam Teaching Internship 2. Internship application process 3. Pre-departure information 4. Orientation week 5. Your teaching placement 6. Visa/work permit information 7. Living and working in Vietnam
1 Teach in Vietnam Internship with ELC ELC Teach in Vietnam Internship offers first-time TEFL teachers the chance to live and explore one of Asia s most culturally diverse countries, earning US $800 every month during your five-month teaching placement. Embarking on your first TEFL experience can be a daunting process, but it needn t be as ELC s experienced team will guide you through all the pre-departure steps ensuring you are fully prepared. Furthermore, with a network of fellow international interns and in-country support from ELC, you can be secure in the knowledge there will be plenty of friendly faces to turn to whilst on your teaching placement. Sign up today and begin your 140-hour Premier TEFL course with TEFL Org UK, the UK s highest accredited TEFL provider. Qualify with an internationally recognised TEFL certificate, sought after by worldwide TEFL employers and schools.
2 How to apply for the teaching internship Before you apply, be sure that you meet the requirements for all applicants - 20-35 years of age upon arrival in Vietnam University degree (minimum Bachelors level in any field) UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa or European passport holder. Be able to complete the 140-hour Premier TEFL Course before arrival in Vietnam Be willing to commit to the full five-month teaching internship If you meet these requirements then you can immediately begin applying to the Vietnam internship. Internship application process Step 1 Call TEFL Org UK +44 (0) 1349 800600 to sign up to the Vietnam Teaching Internship Step 3 You will be asked to give a placement preference. These cannot be guaranteed unfortunately. You will have the option to choose between being placed in a Kindergarten Primary school High school University No preference Step 2 Once TEFL Org UK have confirmed your application, ELC will email requesting the following: Photo Passport Degree Police check Application letter Signed terms and conditions Step 4 ELC will send you documents to a number of Vietnam placement schools. ELC will send you an acceptance letter by email. This will be sent only after you have received a job offer from your chosen school. This can take up to 2 weeks after submitting your application.
3 Pre-departure Information Flights You should book your outgoing flight to arrive in your destination city (Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh) on the 9th of January 2016. Airport pick-up and accommodation until the end of your teaching contract are included as part of the internship. If you wish to arrive earlier, ELC can assist you with accommodation and airport pick-up upon request for an extra fee. If you are arriving more than 5 days before, you must inform ELC Return Flight You will be expected to teach to the end of your placement. Your Vietnamese working visa will remain valid for a further 10 days, after which you will be required to leave the country. You will most likely want to continue Visa/Work Permit Work permits vary from province to province and dictate which process you must follow to obtain a working visa. ELC and the partner school will apply for these documents on your behalf. travelling Vietnam, in this instance you will See section 6 for more information. need to exit and re-enter the country on a tourist visa (Cambodia or Laos will be the closest boarders to do this). If you wish to leave immediately after your placement you should allow yourself 48 hours to return to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh.
Vaccinations Prior to leaving for Vietnam, it is a good idea to visit your doctor to discuss vaccinations. The ideal time for this is 4 to 6 weeks prior to your departure date. Recommended routine vaccinations for Vietnam: Tetanus MMR Polio Varicella (chickenpox) Individuals may require additional vaccinations, dependent on their age and medical conditions, including: Hepatitis A Rabies Hepatitis B Japanese Encephalitis Typhoid Malaria Influenza 4 Orientation Week Travelling to your school after orientation Depending where your school is you will either travel by bus, train or air from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. The school will cover your travel fees, but you may have to pay for excess luggage if it exceeds the limits. Your orientation will either take place in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh depending where your teaching placement is located. Designed to ease you in to Vietnamese life, you will meet fellow interns in your placement area as well as members of the ELC support team. Your accommodation during the week will be covered, as too will your meals. As you get to know fellow interns, you will also take part in Vietnamese lessons, take a tour of your destination city, and generally get a feel for the Vietnamese way of life.
5 Teaching Placement Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Locations ELC will place you at a school across Vietnam, from the south (Ho Chi Minh and Mekong Delta) to the north (Hanoi and Haiphong). You may be in a built-up urban area, or somewhere more rural. You will be placed with at least one other placement intern or in the countryside, usually in groups. You may not teach at the same school with other interns, but you will share accommodation. ELC cannot take specific location requests.
Age groups During the application you can indicate a preference for age of students you would like to teach. However, there is no guarantee applicants will get their first preference. 4 to 6 years old 6 to 11 years old 12 to 18 years old 18 and over Intern duties Teach English to a range of classes at one or more schools for up to 20 hours per week OR as an assistant to an English teacher. General classroom administration (taking attendance, marking homework, reporting grades etc.) Preparation of teaching materials and lessons Attending meetings as required Participating in after-school events and cultural events The total time these duties could take up to is 35 hours per week. You are always encouraged to become involved in other school activities, such as music or sport lessons. School expectations It s normally expected of interns that they will plan and conduct their own lessons. However, you may in some cases need to liaise with fellow teachers and/or follow a school curriculum. It s important to remain professional throughout your placement, contributing fully to the life of the school.
6 Visa and Work Permit Visa ELC will arrange a business visa for all interns. Sponsored by your school, you will enter on a three-month working visa that will be eligible for a further three-month extension in-country. All visa information is sent to the interns directly by email. It s their responsibility to ensure all information provided is correct. Work Permit A work permit is vital to ensure you can legally work in Vietnam. Interns need both a visa and work permit. The school is responsible for applying for a work permit for the intern. In order to apply for a work permit, the applicant must submit: university degree certificate TEFL certificate clean police check health check certificate 8 passport-sized photographs six months remaining on your passport from date of entry into Vietnam
7 Living in Vietnam Food Vietnam s vibrant and exotic culture is reflected in its food. The main dish is a rice noodle soup called Pho, often served as a breakfast dish with beef, chicken or eggs in a clear broth. As you may expect, some Vietnamese foods may be alien to westerners (snake, frog and even dog) but there is usually always a choice that you ll enjoy. Shopping Vietnam is extremely inexpensive especially if you shop at the local markets. Bartering a price is common practice, and if you get into the spirit it can actually be quite fun. Money Vietnam s legal currency is the Dong. The current exchange rate it 1 = 34,000 Dong. Being a largely cash-based society, there ll be little use for debit or credit cards, except for getting Face and etiquette As a visitor to Vietnam (as well as other Asian countries) you should be familiar will the concept of face which refers to a person maintaining a good outward image, via appearance, dignity and reputation. The best way ensure you don t lose face is to treat everyone with respect, not causing public embarrassment to anyone. cash from ATM machines.
How to apply Call our TEFL Experts on 01349 800 600 (Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm) who will guide you through the booking process and ensure all your questions are answered. TEFL Org UK, 16-17 High Street, Dingwall, IV15 9RU We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information but details are subject to change. For the latest information please visit www.tefl.org.uk t. 01349 800 600 e. info@tefl.org.uk