With the booming trend of learning and teaching English in Vietnam, along with the consecutive establishment of foreign language centers, the demand for qualified English teachers has never decreased. You might need this article about the most commonly-required teaching qualifications in Vietnam, so that you can be well-prepared for a potential job offer from a local institutions.
Compared to previous years, now you only need to have good English skills with a degree in English teaching to become a qualified teacher. However there are so many information about training programs for teacher nowadays on the Internet, making it difficult for learners to choose a program that suits their individual needs. The following summary of most prevalent qualifications in teaching English will hopefully help you with taking up the right course for your career.
1. The Teacher Knowledge Test (TKT – Teacher Knowledge) Teaching Qualification:
This is a new certification from Cambridge ESOL starting in 2005. This certificate is suitable for teachers of elementary, secondary and tertiary levels but with little teaching experience or owning any international teaching qualifications. This certificate is especially suitable for teachers who do not speak native English and have an intermediate level of English proficiency. The exam is easy to take because it is in the form of multiple choice.
2.Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA – Certificate in Teaching English to Adults):
The CELTA is a quality certificate for those with little to no teaching experience. This certificate opens up many exciting opportunities in English language teaching. Those who do not speak English as a native but qualified enough to teach English at a variety of levels are eligible to take this test.
3.Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language):
A unique method of teaching to people whose native language is not English, the student’s goal is to use English to serve work or study to know. This certificate is new and has flexible features in teaching English abroad or in a country where its native language is English. However, this program has a wider range of topics, but less in depth. The TEFL course is sometimes not compatible with some curriculum.
4. Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL – Teaching English as a Second Language):
The TESL course is designed to help teachers / teachers of English for native speakers or people living in countries whose mother tongue is English. English is used in the context of office, commercial and administrative communication in many countries where several language groups coexist. For example: Nigeria, Kenya, India, India. Suitable position: A supportive language teacher for students in English-native schools or as an instructor at a Private Language school.
5. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL – Teaching English to speakers of other languages):
Often has the same meaning as TEFL, but it is also used to describe the job of teaching English to people living in an English-speaking country but English is not their mother tongue. Examples are refugees or first-generation immigrants. In the UK, English courses for other language speakers provide students with a certain level of English to help them integrate into the cultural, working and educational environment of native speakers.
Hope the above information will make it easier for you to decide which type of teaching qualification is the best fit for your career. Stay tuned for more useful posts about teaching in Vietnam!
Good luck!