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obsidian · 11-07-2008, 06:08 PM

more power to them if they are happy.

i'm not looking to piss on any parades.

just feel a need to be real is all.

Megahorn · 11-07-2008, 06:11 PM

Texpat is living around central Isaan right?

I spent a year there, all the high schools offered me that much - for those hours - cushy, cushy gigs. If you have a nice air-con office, fully wireless.

That's working in an EP (English Program)

It's normally advertised as 30K plus 2-3K housing allowance.

obsidian · 11-07-2008, 06:16 PM

isaan's a big place.

no doubt the english programs pay better.

but many schools are "mini ep's" or worse.

Texpat · 11-07-2008, 06:23 PM

Big is another relative term.
Isaan is 30,000 square km larger than England.

Comparing central Isaan (Korat) with the jungle I'm from is like comparing Los Angeles and Lincoln, Neb.

Ain't many/any 35K jobs here. Where's Gallowspole?

Megahorn · 11-07-2008, 07:20 PM

What town are you in? If that isn't a personal question. I was about 100 klicks from a big city.

colourful-era · 12-07-2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obsidian

always liked pp. but a few more words to your experience, colourful-era. would love to see a bit of compare and contrast with the thai tefl variation.

thanks for showing an interest

Compared with Bangkok the schools (ie: the private language schools) in Phnom Penh are much more basic and the general students' level of English lower.

Overall, there's a lot less work around here so you have to put a lot more effort into the job search - looking for work on the internet or even by telephone is fairly fruitless - pounding the streets and handing out cv/s is the best method - fortunately PP is quite small.

On a positive note the 'work permit' situation is great - you don't need one - just a few extra dollars to buy a 'business visa' - (which can be extended indefinitely in-county) - no need for a degree either.

Also I find the students here much less insular than their Thai counterparts and there's none of this nonsense about the monarchy and the temples that you get all the time in TL - a refreshing change really.

anyway, if anyone has any questions about Tefl-ing in Phnom Penh I'll be happy to answer them.

cheers.

Morgan Tsvangirai · 13-07-2008, 09:46 PM

^ thanks for the post.

obsidian/mo t.

colourful-era · 14-07-2008, 07:00 PM

no probs.

I know what you're saying about being bored in Thailand - I was bored rigid by the place and just had to leave - PP is far more fun and interesting in all sorts of ways.

fuck living in Thailand

killerbees · 14-07-2008, 07:51 PM

I do remember seeing some jobs a while back (though it must have been two years ago) in Isaan that were going for about 30-35K a month. One place in Udon Thani sounded quite nice, with a swimming pool and some other extras. Granted, I'd been working in hellholes with no fans, let alone no air-cons, so the thought of even an air-conditioned office was enough to excite me. What didn't excite me about the Udon school was I believe they wanted a two-year commitment. I could be wrong about that. Saw another good ad for a school in Mukdahan sometime in the last two years as well. I think they mentioned something in their ad about a "VIP bus to Pattaya." Good Lord, a funny thing to put in an ad. I wonder who they thought they'd get with that one? The idea of being able to jump across to Laos was enticing though. I'd love to live in Isaan but it's just too damn far from the waves. The food's great, however, the people are nice, and you probably don't bump into as many nobs as you do down on the islands or in Bangkok.

However... just because an ad looks good, it doesn't mean the school is good. That should not come as a shock to anyone who's worked in a school anywhere in Thailand, but is important to consider for those contemplating a career in the exciting and rewarding TEFL world.

I saw a thread on ajarn.com a few weeks' back taking the piss out of the latest advertisment for my old school... good stuff. Talked all about the lazy students, bad weather, etc. In that case, I'd say honesty is indeed the best policy. Place should be carpet-bombed.

colourful-era · 15-07-2008, 07:02 PM

what school was it?

killerbees · 15-07-2008, 08:19 PM

Is that cool to post the name of the school?

I was kind of waiting to speak ill of them until I received my letter of reference. As my old supervisor promised to mail it to me at the end of April, I think I might be waiting a long time.

It's a big government school in the Amphoe Muang of a southern province that starts with a "T" and ends with a "rang".

For your perusal...
Hilarious job ad - Ajarn Forum - Living and Teaching In Thailand

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11-07-2008, 06:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
obsidian I am in Jail Last Online: 21-01-2009 09:15 PM Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,361	more power to them if they are happy. i'm not looking to piss on any parades. just feel a need to be real is all.

11-07-2008, 06:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Megahorn I am in Jail Last Online: 06-05-2009 03:42 AM Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: in bed Posts: 515	Texpat is living around central Isaan right? I spent a year there, all the high schools offered me that much - for those hours - cushy, cushy gigs. If you have a nice air-con office, fully wireless. That's working in an EP (English Program) It's normally advertised as 30K plus 2-3K housing allowance.

11-07-2008, 06:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
obsidian I am in Jail Last Online: 21-01-2009 09:15 PM Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,361	isaan's a big place. no doubt the english programs pay better. but many schools are "mini ep's" or worse.

11-07-2008, 06:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Texpat ฝรั่งพูดมาก Last Online: 27-10-2009 11:55 PM Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nong Khai Posts: 12,491	Big is another relative term. Isaan is 30,000 square km larger than England. Comparing central Isaan (Korat) with the jungle I'm from is like comparing Los Angeles and Lincoln, Neb. Ain't many/any 35K jobs here. Where's Gallowspole?

11-07-2008, 07:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Megahorn I am in Jail Last Online: 06-05-2009 03:42 AM Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: in bed Posts: 515	What town are you in? If that isn't a personal question. I was about 100 klicks from a big city.

13-07-2008, 09:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Morgan Tsvangirai I am in Jail Last Online: 04-08-2008 06:22 PM Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 36	^ thanks for the post. obsidian/mo t.

14-07-2008, 07:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
colourful-era born of a jackal Last Online: 15-07-2008 07:05 PM Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phnom Penh Posts: 2,551	no probs. I know what you're saying about being bored in Thailand - I was bored rigid by the place and just had to leave - PP is far more fun and interesting in all sorts of ways. fuck living in Thailand

14-07-2008, 07:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
killerbees Betong Last Online: Today 09:09 AM Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: midlantic Posts: 727	I do remember seeing some jobs a while back (though it must have been two years ago) in Isaan that were going for about 30-35K a month. One place in Udon Thani sounded quite nice, with a swimming pool and some other extras. Granted, I'd been working in hellholes with no fans, let alone no air-cons, so the thought of even an air-conditioned office was enough to excite me. What didn't excite me about the Udon school was I believe they wanted a two-year commitment. I could be wrong about that. Saw another good ad for a school in Mukdahan sometime in the last two years as well. I think they mentioned something in their ad about a "VIP bus to Pattaya." Good Lord, a funny thing to put in an ad. I wonder who they thought they'd get with that one? The idea of being able to jump across to Laos was enticing though. I'd love to live in Isaan but it's just too damn far from the waves. The food's great, however, the people are nice, and you probably don't bump into as many nobs as you do down on the islands or in Bangkok. However... just because an ad looks good, it doesn't mean the school is good. That should not come as a shock to anyone who's worked in a school anywhere in Thailand, but is important to consider for those contemplating a career in the exciting and rewarding TEFL world. I saw a thread on ajarn.com a few weeks' back taking the piss out of the latest advertisment for my old school... good stuff. Talked all about the lazy students, bad weather, etc. In that case, I'd say honesty is indeed the best policy. Place should be carpet-bombed.

15-07-2008, 07:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
colourful-era born of a jackal Last Online: 15-07-2008 07:05 PM Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phnom Penh Posts: 2,551	what school was it?

15-07-2008, 08:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
killerbees Betong Last Online: Today 09:09 AM Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: midlantic Posts: 727	Is that cool to post the name of the school? I was kind of waiting to speak ill of them until I received my letter of reference. As my old supervisor promised to mail it to me at the end of April, I think I might be waiting a long time. It's a big government school in the Amphoe Muang of a southern province that starts with a "T" and ends with a "rang". For your perusal... Hilarious job ad - Ajarn Forum - Living and Teaching In Thailand

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