TEFL Internships

[DesertRT]

I am looking at registering for a TEFL Internship in Vietnam, I was wondering if anyone had completed a internship or had any experience with TEFL internships that could provide some feedback on what they are like? I have no prior teaching experience so thought the internship route may be most suitable for me. Also if anyone knows who the best provider is, I was looking at internships with the companies below:

http://www.theteflacademy.com/internships/vietnam

http://www.tefl.org.uk/tefl-internships/vietnam/

http://www.i-to-i.com/teaching-internships/vietnam

Any thoughts or advice would be great!

[Briona]

Hi there,

When it comes to TEFL, 'internship' is just a more attractive way of saying 'cheap labour'. The average salary for an EFL teacher in Vietnam is US$1,500-2,000; as an intern you'd be working the same number of hours as those teachers, doing exactly the same job and earning a paltry US$700. And to add insult to injury, you'd have to pay for the 'privilege'.

I honestly have no idea why anyone signs up for these things. My advice would be to research a few schools in Vietnam and apply off your own back. For advice from people actually working in Vietnam, check out the Vietnam forum on Dave's ESL Café (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=14).

Briona

[DesertRT]

Thanks for the reply and information Briona, my thinking was as this would be my first experience being a EFL teacher abroad the internship would be a good way of starting off. Everything is sorted out for you in advance, you have a orientation week, emergency contacts etc. Just more of a safety net while gaining confidence, then after completing the internship if its something I enjoyed and wanted to continue with I could find my own job and I would feel more comfortable in doing so.