My experience of Teacher’s Friend Vietnam is based on an hour long skype call and several follow up emails with Georgie Snape.

I am developing English language programmes based in Hai Phong and Georgie’s advice and input were key in connecting me with the right experts, front runners and people involved in best practice teaching English as an additional language in Vietnam.

Georgie was a great listener and responded quickly to my particular information needs as well as making all engagement with her an absolute pleasure. She is the sort of personality that engages at all levels and in appropriate ways. She is someone I could see having ongoing contact with for her knowledge of the local context, expertise in the huge English Language teaching industry in Vietnam and simply for the pleasure of enjoying her engaging personality.

Georgie is open to new ideas and motivated to facilitate people on their path here in Vietnam. Her advice has been relevant, valuable and appropriate to my needs. I recommend her highly as a first point of contact for all teachers planning to come to Vietnam to work or upon arrival, like myself.

She is the go-to person for advice on TEFL in Vietnam.

She is a great resource for contract review and negotiation and esl career advice. She reviewed my contract and terms and helped me secure a better offer: she also helped determine which city and neighborhood housing I should pick for housing.

She also knows a lot about how to get set up in Vietnam long term. She is well versed on relative area security, raising kids there and the international school situation.

Finally she is knowledgeable about the international school business in Vietnam. She knows how it works and what qualifications you need to get involved.

The one and only resource for Vietnam teachers. Highly recommended.

Moving to Vietnam to teach English is an adventure to say the least. Like all adventures, it has its good and bad days. Georgie was there for me, on both the good and the bad.

She was always there to support me and give me advice when I was freaking out about things- anything ranging from feeling home sick, to housing, to jobs, to just general anxious moments. That’s what makes Georgie’s service so invaluable: having someone who genuinely cares and will always help you out, like a real friend would!

It’s a good feeling knowing someone’s in your corner, especially someone as able and kind as Georgie. I highly recommend Teacher’s Friend to anyone thinking of moving to Vietnam.

I’m a Vietnamese American, and I chose Vietnam because I haven’t been here since I was born. I wanted to discover what’s the lifestyle here like and be able to do something I’ve always wanted to do: teach. I’ve had some ups and downs while being here, but that comes with any place a person lives. I’ve learned a lot while being here. Thank you Georgie for checking up on me and allowing me to ask many questions. It’s been a pleasure.

Georgie truly supported me through the greatest experience of my life. She was there like a friend and guided me to choose the school, home, TESOL program and city that was right for me. It was perfect for me to be able to make my own decisions and still have someone there to make sure I was doing what was best for me. She has a great understanding and love for Vietnam that is contagious! I wouldn’t recommend any other program. Go to Vietnam! And go with Georgie as your friend! It will change your life.

Moving to Vietnam from Canada to teach seemed daunting at the beginning but Teacher’s Friend truly made the transition so much easier.

Georgie made sure that I was fully prepared before I left for Vietnam, making sure I had everything in place (proper visa, documents etc) as well as provided me with all of the knowledge I would need for when I arrived.

Once I got to Hanoi, I started working almost instantly for an extremely credible company. I have now been in Vietnam for 5 months and Georgie continues to support me whenever I have any concerns. She is always ready to help, extremely positive, and kind!

Georgie truly has a unique service that offers security, peace of mind, and a friend who has your back through your transition into becoming a teacher. I would recommend TFV to anyone looking to teach in Vietnam!

“From the moment I started working with Georgie she exceeded all of my expectations. I was at a point in my life where I needed to make a lot of decisions about what I wanted from life, and after finishing my degree had various internships that I could have chosen, instead of coming to Vietnam.

Throughout this time Georgie didn’t put any pressure on me to come to a quick decision and was extremely patient throughout the lengthy process of waiting to hear back from the various internships which I had applied for.

She helped with all the logistics, from setting me up with interviews, to helping me find accommodation and sorting my visa.

Georgie was right when she stated on her website that not having a face to face TEFL would make finding work in Vietnam much harder. I began to panic about whether I would find a job, but Georgie constantly reassured me and restored my confidence. It wasn’t long before I had a job working in a great language centre.

I am delighted with the service that I received and in everything that was offered in the contract. I know that finding a job in Vietnam that is legal, legitimate, secure and reliable can be very difficult in Vietnam.

For the above reasons, as well as so many others, I recommend Teacher’s Friend with all my heart due to how easy Georgie made everything. Hanoi is crazy and hectic and relocating to a new country on your own is incredibly overwhelming, but with Georgie it was stress free and easy. Thank you so much Georgie, I couldn’t have done it without you! :) “

I researched on the internet until I was square-eyed and still was no clearer on how to actually go about making it happen – in fact, I was more confused; should I try and secure a job before I go? Should I just turn up and go from there? The more my questions boiled up, the more disillusioned and doubtful I felt.

One evening I was reading a travel blog and they mentioned ‘Teacher’s Friend.’ I went onto the website and I knew it was exactly what I needed. Georgie has been a key factor in my moving to Hanoi – from the beginning she was attentive, knowledgeable, calm and available. Any question I had, she had an answer – she also had answers to the questions I didn’t know yet to ask – such as how to properly prepare so that your arrival is as smooth as can be.

She helped me find a great job before I left and then guided me through the entire process. Recently she has helped me find an apartment that I love, and she’s checked in to make sure I’m settling OK and if she can do anything to help.

The service Georgie provides is a really special one – it is personal, human, understanding, as well as informed, efficient and reliable. If it wasn’t for her help and the confidence she inspires, I wouldn’t be in Vietnam – I’d still be trying to work out how to go about making a change.

With Georgie, I’ve felt accompanied on my solo adventure. You absolutely cannot beat the wisdom of experience that she generously shares. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

TFV helped me coordinate my visa, and collect the required documents to find a job and get a work permit. Many other teachers I come into contact with had no idea they needed these documents, so I feel very fortunate to have connected with TFV.

It was also helpful to know what to expect in terms of pay and hourly commitment to teach in Vietnam.

Can’t recommend TFV enough. Thanks Georgie!

From the moment I started interacting with Georgie from TFV, I felt like I was talking to a sister. She was just so friendly and understanding. You can tell she has only the purest intentions at heart. In this day and age there are only a handful of people and companies you can trust and I am so confident in saying that Georgie and her team are counted in that handful.
I really appreciated the questionnaires and the pack of tools and materials (lesson plans etc) she sent to make my stay here in Vietnam a heck load easier.

I had so many reservations about taking this step but Georgie was there to reassure me every step of the way. It’s almost like she knew what I was thinking at times because in a couple of her emails she would start them off by saying “Don’t panic..” which is something I am so prone to doing.
I can’t emphasize how helpful she’s been. There wasn’t anything she didn’t mention.

Thanks Georgie, you’re amazing!

I would definitely recommend Teacher’s Friend Vietnam to anyone interested in working in Vietnamese schools or language centres. This is the easiest and most reliable way to do it.

I also really appreciated receiving so many documents about life in Vietnam, Vietnamese students, etc. Don’t search any further, Georgie is the person you need to find a job!

“Myself and my boyfriend were able to travel both China and Thailand confidently knowing when we get to Hanoi, everything would run smoothly – which it certainly did!

After arriving in Hanoi, I have built up several jobs within 1 week and am now living more comfortably then back home. I originally thought I would be here for 6 months. However, after just 2 weeks, I signed up to 1 year contracts, knowing this is the place for me. I am also assured that in my time in Vietnam I can look for advice on anything with TFV and Georgie.

I now feel at home, and can save even more money to travel elsewhere than originally planned!”

Georgie was really helpful in making sure I felt prepared with what to experience. When it came time for me to search for a teaching job she not only set up a number of interviews for me but gave me information on different schools and her opinion about what would be a good choice.

I am very thankful of all that Georgie has helped me with. It was great to have someone to contact whenever I had any questions concerning my move and make sure I knew what to do when I got here. While I didn’t have any major problems once I arrived I trust that if there would have been an issue that Georgie would have been there to assist me. Even after I had lived in Vietnam for a while Georgie would contact me to check on how I was doing and make sure that everything was going alright.

Her customer service is to be admired. Thank you for everything. You not only assisted me but helped my mother feel more at ease with me moving so far away from home.

She helped make sure I had all the correct information and forms, and connected me with people in Hanoi so I had friends from the moment I first stepped foot in the country. One gal who Teacher’s Friend connected me with has remained one of my closest friends in Hanoi and frequently goes on weekend adventures with me, as well as just local outings to try another delicious dish.

I’m incredibly grateful for finding Teacher’s Friend and all the help Georgie did to get me to Vietnam in one, relatively calm, piece.

Knowing if I get really stuck I have someone I can call on has brought a lot of peace of mind and having someone to ask questions about anything Vietnam was really helpful.

At times the process of transitioning to a new country can be overwhelming and confusing, at these times I have been so thankful that I chose to engage Teacher’s Friend. They help take out a lot of the stress involved in the whole process. Obviously no agency can be miracle workers and you need to be flexible and open if you want to have a successful transition but I have never regretted my partnership with Teacher’s Friend.”

From the very beginning, I was a fussy client! I was previously teaching ESL in Shanghai, China and hoping to move to Vietnam to be with my girlfriend, who is a Vietnamese national. As I would be living with her, there were various parts of the service that I would not need to make use of. Also, having already experienced teaching ESL in China (where the ESL system has many similarities but also some differences to the system in Vietnam), as well as hoping to fit my teaching career around the life I wished to lead while living in Vietnam (i.e. teaching during typical office hours, specific age group, work permit etc.), I had various specific requirements that I wished to address when signing the contract.

The Director of TFV, Georgie, was extremely courteous in the service she provided to me. She was willing to kindly alter the terms and wording of the contract to accommodate my specific requirements, and then followed through on every word!

Within a week, a host of employers were contacting me to arrange interviews for jobs that were exactly the kind of role that I was looking.

If you are hoping to land an ESL teaching job in Vietnam before you arrive, or are already there but moving from one city to another and want a job ready in your new city before you arrive, you can trust TFV to help you, advise you and follow through on your contract.

Recommended!

It can be difficult to figure out where to start in Vietnam. Getting a good job is all about getting you foot in the door. Teacher’s Friend provides that foot in they door.

I taught part time and they helped me get nice classes that paid well with nice reliable employers, which can be difficult to find in Vietnam. I also found other classes from the contacts provided by Teacher’s Friend.

I highly recommend Teacher’s Friend, they were always there if I needed any support along the way and helped to point me in the right direction.

I wanted to teach in a university in Central Vietnam in the Spring Semester, 2015, and could not develop any interest despite my teaching in China a year ago. Possibly, my age (66) was a problem. I went to Vietnam in February thinking I would have better luck in person. Alex suggested I try volunteering in Ho Chi Minh City which I did.

One of the people Alex contacted to learn if he could help me was a university student in Danang. I told him my story, and he shared it with his professors. As a result, I visited Danang for an interview. After sharing information, my wife and I were offered teaching responsibilities at very good university pay for an academic year (and possibly longer if we are mutually satisfied with the outcome).

Learning who to contact at Vietnam universities and what they wanted was difficult for me to learn. I am confident that without Alex’s efforts, I would not enjoy this opportunity.

Hanoi is an amazing city; rich in culture, vibrancy and teaching opportunities. Finding the right opportunity, however, is not as simple as you might think.

My girlfriend and I both chose to move to Hanoi, hearing that there were so many teaching positions available. What we weren’t told is that quite a few of these positions are with untrustworthy employers. Finding TFV has made everything so much easier. We now have jobs at respectable, legitimate Language centers, live in a lovely apartment and feel like we are part of the city.

Alex (company owner) has been great with helping us find work. He has a vast network of language centers and schools that he works with, and helped us choose one that suited us best. He was also there to give interview advice and tips, and provide help with teaching specifically in Hanoi.

Although we didn’t take the full package (as we heard about the company once we had already gone through the grueling task of finding our apartment), our experience with TFV has been nothing but positive. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into the world of ESL teaching, then I can’t recommend Teacher’s Friend and Vietnam enough.