29 Nov Celebrating Teachers’ Day in Vietnam

Did you know that November 20^th is Teachers’ Day in Vietnam? Yes, that’s right, in Vietnam there’s a whole day set aside each year for students to give thanks to their hard-working teachers and shower them with adoration. Although there’s an International Teachers’ Day on October 5^th, it isn’t really celebrated in the UK, so I think I definitely picked the right country to start teaching in! Here’s a look at our first Teachers’ Day in Vietnam.

2018 and 2019 teaching opportunities in Hanoi – the language centre we used to work for in Hanoi is now recruiting teachers for 2018 and 2019. If you’re a native English speaker with a degree and TEFL qualification, contact us now and we can put you in touch with the director for an interview.

If you’re heading to Vietnam then you’ll probably need an invitation letter for your Visa On Arrival, we recommend Vietnam Visa as they provide a professional, efficient and transparent service.

Happy Teachers’ Day!

As we found out, Vietnamese Teachers’ Day is a big deal. Shops stock cards for the occasion and students spend hours making elaborate posters, composing poems and writing articles to express appreciation for their teachers and there’s a competition to decide which class has created the most beautiful display.  The language centre provided each of our classes with a tree poster and individual paper petals which the students could write messages on before sticking them to the tree. “Happy Teachers’ Day,” “Thank you Teacher,” and “I love English,” were some of the messages our kids left for us.

On the week of the big day itself we were informed that we’d get the day-off school, a welcome surprise, even though it would mean we’d miss out on a day’s pay. To our astonishment, throughout the week we were presented with cards and envelopes of cash from the teachers in one of our schools; several classes even gave us gifts of a notebook and pen, tie, scarf and cufflinks for Andrew and a huge bouquet of flowers. I was serenaded with a special Vietnamese song by one of my classes and best of all, we received a few hand-made cards from some of our students, one of whom wrote me a lovely poem.

Like Mothers’ and Fathers’ day in the UK, shops get in on the action. Special Teachers’ Day cakes are sold and our favourite bakery was giving away free drinks for teachers on the 20^th November. On the day itself there are no formal lessons but students put on a display to honour their teachers with special dances and songs. As I’ve now found out, over 100 countries in the world have a dedicated Teachers’ Day and it’s a great way to honour the vital contribution teachers make to a society. I know plenty of teachers in the UK who’d welcome a bit more appreciation for the work they do!

Are you looking for a TEFL course? TEFL UK are offering our readers discounts on their online and in-house, fully accredited courses, you could save nearly £30! If you want to take advantage of this great offer then send us a message using our contact form (include your name and ‘TEFL UK’ as the subject) and we’ll get you the following discounts:

120hr Advanced Interactive TEFL Program, our price – £90 (usually £99)

150hr TEFL Masters Program, our price – £150 (usually £179)

70hr Intensive Teaching Business English Program, our price – £79 (usually £89)

TEFL UK Accredited 20hr Teaching Practicum, our price – £129 (usually £149)

Want to teach in Vietnam?

Would you love to teach in Vietnam but feel too overwhelmed to take the leap? Then we’d recommend contacting Teacher’s Friend Vietnam. This small, independent company is run by real teachers who have actually lived and worked in the country. Georgie and her team will help you find jobs with reputable schools that will provide you with a work permit, excellent resources, ongoing training and a great salary. They’ll also help you find an apartment, get a visa, find a motorbike, meet other like-minded people and offer support throughout your time in Vietnam.

Teacher’s Friend offers packages for teaching in Hanoi, HCMC and smaller cities and the countryside. If you’re interested and are a native English speaker with a Bachelor’s degree, clean police check and a practical TEFL certification of at least 120 hours (or are willing to obtain one), contact Teacher’s Friend to get started. Georgie is kindly offering our readers a 10% discount on packages, just use the code TFV01 when you contact them.

Find out more about teaching English abroad in these posts:

• Teaching English in Vietnam: Pay, Visas and Finding a Job
• What’s it Actually like to Teach in Vietnam?
• Why Take a TEFL Course?
• How we Chose Where to Teach in Asia
• Survival Tips and Resources for New TEFL Teachers
• How Much Money can you Earn from Teaching in Vietnam?
• TEFL Advice from a Non-Native English Teacher

Is there a Teachers’ Day in your country?