Help Me Fly to Vietnam to Teach English!

Drew DeVine Start Date: Nov 11, 2016 - End Date: Mar 10, 2017
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

My Travel Story

by: Drew DeVine Start Date: Nov 11, 2016 - End Date: Mar 10, 2017
I promise, I was planning to do this even before Trump was elected...

I've decided that, rather than apply to PhD programs, now would be a good time for me to start working. I think the best option for me would be to work as an English teacher in Vietnam. Why?

1. If you plan to save money as an English teacher in a foreign country, Vietnam is now a better option than South Korea. English teachers are capable of saving $500-$1500 a month after their living expenses depending on how much they are willing to work. Optimistically I could pay off my student loans in two years. But even being able to pay them off in five years would be amazing.

2. The work-life balance in Vietnam for English teachers is excellent. Some teachers save as much as $1000 a month over their living expenses while working under 30 hours a week. This would allow me the free time to learn valuable skills or start creative projects which would allow me to return to the United States with experience which would go further here than my current work experience allows me to go. I could teach myself web design, SEO, and other skills that would give me the "years of experience" freelancing that I need to apply to such jobs in the US.

3. In addition to being a good "between" job, I'm also interested in teaching overseas as a long-term career. After paying off debt in Vietnam, I think I would be happy living in other countries such as Thailand or Cambodia where you can't save as much or pay off as much debt teaching English, but you can still live like a king.

4. There's a great program in Vietnam called Ninja Teacher which gives you a competitive teacher's certificate, introduces you to other English teachers, provides accomodation while you get in-class training for your first month, and orients you in Saigon. You can find out more about Ninja Teacher here, but my understanding after months of research is that this is the best way to start teaching English in Vietnam:
http://ninjateacher.com/ 

The problem is, I don't have a job here and haven't had much luck in getting one. Even the basest jobs. Right now I'm doing odd freelance work where I can pick it up and minimizing my expenses. But at this rate it will take me quite awhile to save up enough to go to Vietnam, even if I were to fly over without a certificate or accomodation. 

Anything you could do to help me with my expenses for safe travel and simply getting set up in Vietnam would be greatly appreciated!
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam