Hello everyone,

Three years ago, a young girl messaged me seeking advice on whether she should pursue a Master’s degree in Taiwan after coming across my comment on Facebook. At the time, she was around 26 or 27 years old and held a stable job as an English teacher in Vietnam. Additionally, she was responsible for taking care of her grandparents at home. I’ve translated the advice I offered her from Vietnamese to English, which I’ll share with you all below.

“Hi T,

Choosing between studying abroad and studying in the country is indeed challenging when both options have equal strengths and weaknesses. For some, this decision could be life-changing, impacting not only the individual but also their family and society in some aspect. Because it’s crucial, I won’t dare to advise you on whether to go or not. Instead of relying on my own experience, I’ll analyze the strengths and weaknesses of studying abroad and at home. Lastly, I’ll discuss some suitable cases based on your circumstances.

Studying abroad may be the dream of many young people nowadays. The reasons can vary from seeking experience, and opportunities, settling down, or simply fulfilling personal interests (I know a girl studying in Germany for this reason XD). To narrow it down, let me share a bit about studying in Taiwan with you. Besides academic knowledge, you’ll have the chance to learn a new language—Mandarin Chinese, which is not difficult for someone like you (i.e. an English teacher) to master in two years (but not for me, I surrender QQ). Living conditions will be better as you’ll be in a civilized and wealthier country than Vietnam. After graduation, you’ll have many job opportunities here, and, as a bonus, after four years of work, you will be qualified the time to stay in Taiwan to apply for permanent residency. Concerning jobs in Taiwan, your salary could be several times higher than in Vietnam (e.g. back then, I earned about 7-10 million VND per month in Vietnam; here, my salary increased a lot). However, if you want to become a lecturer, you need to have a Ph.D degree. If you only want to be an English teacher here, it might be a bit challenging to find a job, but you can explore other job opportunities related to your field. One thing you must bear in mind is that the opportunity coming with a master’s degree abroad, in my opinion, may not be sufficient for you to secure a position as a university lecturer in Vietnam right now. In fact, most universities in Vietnam at the moment typically require lecturers who hold a Ph.D. degree. Fortunately, completing a master’s degree might increase your chances of pursuing a Ph.D. here, especially if you perform well during your master’s studies. However, keep in mind that studying abroad comes with its own set of pressures, and your determination to persevere may be tested. To give you a clearer picture, during my years abroad, I no longer had the luxury of enjoying coffee, socializing with friends, or attending parties or weddings for months. I could only use Vietnamese during phone calls at home on weekends, which was a significant loss for me while living abroad. Oh, and don’t forget about applying for government scholarships; any extra funds could be sent back to support your family.

As for pursuing a master’s degree in the home country, the reasons could be favorable conditions, familiarity with teachers, school, and academic environment. The tuition fee is lower than studying abroad. Moreover, you can maintain your current job and stay close to your family. With a master’s degree, you’ll have opportunities for career advancement, reaching positions like deputy head or head of a department, just like some of my former colleagues. However, studying domestically may not expose you to as much new knowledge, excellent teachers, or challenging problems that require more self-research. Also, will your English proficiency develop if you keep speaking Vietnamese all day? And will you be satisfied with a national Master’s degree? In conclusion, you need to answer why you want to pursue a master’s degree, and whether your current and future job requires it. Furthermore, you also need to consider whether your family conditions allow it and if your family supports you (or if you’ve convinced them to support you).

            To analyze your current situation, you currently have a fairly stable freelance job, which could be likened to your “brainchild” – a center for English language learning that you’ve nurtured. You’re also responsible for caring for your grandparents and yourself, and you prefer not to be away from your family for an extended period. I know two classmates from my university days in Da Nang who graduated with degrees in Education and Economics, respectively. They began by tutoring English at home, and now they’ve established an English and Chinese language center in Da Nang. Neither of them holds a master’s degree, and they’re happily married now. The implication here is that you could also seek out a companion to embark on this journey together, nurturing your shared aspirations.

However, in addition to teaching language skills, you also need to instill inspiration and passion in your students. Your experiences studying abroad and working in diverse cultural environments will enable you to excel in this role. That’s precisely why I pursued my education overseas – to contribute to the comprehensive development of knowledge and skills among Vietnam’s younger generation. The decision lies with you – are you willing to give yourself the opportunity, are you ready to exchange your youth? Only you can answer that. Whatever path you choose, I wish you all the best and success!

2021/8/25, Hai Phan”