The TEFL Academy Level 5 Combined Course for Teaching in Vietnam
Im hoping to move to Vietnam at the end of the year to teach English there. It doesn't make sense for me to do a CELTA as it costs £1500 which I can't afford and im not sure what my future looks like right now im kind of just going to see what happens not planning to like build a career in this (though im not opposed, im just flexible). I know you technically only need 120 hours TEFL qualification and it can be online but comments on Reddit have been scaring me haha saying how its so competitive now etc.
I saw that the TEFL Academy is recommended on the wiki of this sub and its also a UK company which means I can get the qualification notarised in my country easily. They offer a 168 hour combined TEFL which gives you a qualification regulated by Ofqual and its basically 158 hours online (including some extra modules about teaching young learners) and then 10 hours peer-to-peer classroom practice. So I know that it is not actually CELTA equivalent because the 10 hours practice is peer-to-peer not with real students BUT since I don't actually need a CELTA im not too fussed. So its 158 hours online TEFL + 10 hours in person classroom practice.
I prefer this one to the 120 hours online + 20 hours in the classroom from TEFL org because I wanted the extra 'level 5' (even though i know thats just a UK thing) and additional hours of the 158 hour course, rather than just basic 120 hours, to maybe make me stand out a bit since I can only do a mostly online course?
So, does anyone have any advice about whether this would be a good option for someone looking to go teach English in Vietnam? Most likely in Hanoi. Sorry to ask but it's difficult to find information about the courses especially info that's not just from TEFL companies, like unbiased information is difficult to find. I have a first class bachelor's degree in Social and Political Sciences so I also meet that requirement.
TLDR: Is the TEFL Academy "Level 5" 168hrs Combined TEFL (158 hours online + 10 hours in person classroom practice) a good option for a native speaker with a degree but no teaching experience looking to move to Vietnam at the end of the year?