Any Information On Teaching In Cambodia?

[heybruce]

I apologize if this is too far off topic, but this is the best place I can think of to ask for information. Things are really slow at my school now, and I'm feeling like I'm in a rut anyhow, so I'm considering relocating. I visited Cambodia in 2001 and I was told schools were desperate for English teachers. However today I can't find anything at the standard English teaching job sites, and a Google search on "teach english cambodia jobs" only turned up sites that look like scams--"Send us money and we'll guarantee you a job" deals. I'm thinking of a one or two week job-hunt vacation to Cambodia, but would like a little information in advance. Any suggestions?

By the way, I'm a college graduate with TEFL certification and about 18 months teaching experience at a private school. I'm not a highly experienced teacher, but I am legitimate.

Thanks for any help.

[dgwooster]

When I was on my way through Cambodia 9 months ago I met a distinguished-looking Cambodian at the top of Phnom Penh hill (there's a temple there). When I mentioned I was a teacher, he told me he used to be a Khmer Rough (and then took pains to reassure me he'd never killed anyone..) and went on to explain how he now spends his days going around to the French and American Embassies trying to find grants for his schools to teach English & French. When I asked him the wages for teachers, he pretty much scoffed and told me he couldn't come close to matching Thailand for wages. Which gave me the impression it's mostly volunteering at the moment. Hope this helps.

[Murrayh]

There are plenty of teaching opportunities in Cambodia for English teachers.

Best to turn up and drop off your CV at the better schools.

The rate of pay is usually around the $10 to $12 range.

ACE are the highest paying school but rather selective on who they hire.

Better teachers will often be offered contracts, but rarely up front.

And if you are serious about finding a decent teaching job be persistant as teachers seem to be constantly coming and going.

Feel free to PM me for any information you require on teaching in Cambodia.

I own an English Language School for children in Phnom Penh.

Cheers Murray.

[agordon]

cambodia is much poorer country, I would imagine most of the public schools rely on foreign volutneers for teaching positions.

[heybruce]

There are plenty of teaching opportunities in Cambodia for English teachers.

Best to turn up and drop off your CV at the better schools.

The rate of pay is usually around the $10 to $12 range.

ACE are the highest paying school but rather selective on who they hire.

Better teachers will often be offered contracts, but rarely up front.

And if you are serious about finding a decent teaching job be persistant as teachers seem to be constantly coming and going.

Feel free to PM me for any information you require on teaching in Cambodia.

I own an English Language School for children in Phnom Penh.

Cheers Murray.

Thanks for the info. It seems like the situation is similar to Thailand, though the pay is better than what is typically offered in Chiang Mai. I was hoping ot find a private school that primarily teaches adults, I do better with them than with children. It looks like I may have to go to Phnom Penh, find out where the ex-pats hang out and ask some questions.

[Scott]

I would guess that there are a number of 'volunteers' that really love children are on the run from the law. I know of a couple of suspicious teachers who recently relocated to Cambodia.

I am sure the majority are good, upstanding people, though.

[Rumpole]

I would guess that there are a number of 'volunteers' that really love children

And if they get up to their tricks in Cambodia nowadays, they will likely (and quite rightly) see the inside of a jail cell pretty quickly - particularly if they are Western males. Things have changed quite dramatically in the Khmer Kingdom in the last couple of years or so. Pedophiles are not only most decidedly unwelcome here, with the number of Western NGOs looking to increase their funding via high-profile prosecutions of caucasion offenders, said offenders would probably have a better chance of remaining undetected in their home countries or certain other places in the region.

Lots of misconceptions on this thread from people who obviously have little knowledge of the current situation in Cambodia. The country may be poorer and less developed than Thailand, however, prior to the recent meltdown on the world financial markets, it had the second fastest growing economy in the region after the Peoples' Republic of China. Teaching here can often be better remunerated than Thailand, particularly if one is able to offer subjects such as advanced writing, EAP, or substantive courses like business, management, finance, law, economics IT, et al. These are usually taught in English at the universities and other post-secondary institutions. It is comparatively easy to teach only adults or young adults, if that is your preference. As far as I am aware, there are no barang teachers in the government school system, volunteers or otherwise. Phnom Penh can be a congenial place to live, with a good selection of bars, restaurants, and cafes; and supermarkets which are fairly well-stocked with Western comforts. Outside Phnom Penh, it would be much more difficult to scrape a living as a teacher. I would think that Siem Riep, Siahanoukville, and Battambang are about the only towns where it might be possible - but the pickings will be exceedingly slim. Long term visas are a breeze to obtain and there is currently no requirement for a work permit (though there are occasional mutterings that such a system may be introduced). The local populace is generally refreshingly free of the rabid nationalism and xenophobia which so often obtains in Thailand. Foreigners are able to own and operate SMEs (no local shareholders, partners, or agents required), and may work in their own business in any capacity.

Cambodia isn't for everyone, but it does have a certain charm and offers a very different 'vibe' to Thailand.

Edited October 12, 2008 by Rumpole

[Scott]

Rumpole: Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. A number of people have found out the hard way about the tolerance for a lot of behavior. That said, there was plenty of legal fodder who showed up there and got their 15 minutes of fame (or 15 years in jail).

Cambodia certainly does have its charms and although I haven't been there for a while, I liked the people.

Still had a bit of a wild west feel to it then.