Job Discussion Forums

[Shimokitazawa]

[mitsui]

Malaysia has the English Fellow program for Americans.
Malaysia wants it as English has gotten worse in the country.

[sigmoid]

I would NOT recommend Thailand to anybody for any thing right now. They're seriously on the verge economically, politically and socially. Going there to teach would be a very foolish mistake.

As for Lao PDR, with an estimated population of just 6 million and continued LDC (Least Developed Country) status, the market is tiny and opportunities for teaching are quite limited. If you have the background and skills, trying to find a job in the development industry would be a much better idea.

[kurtz]

Things seem to be getting harder in Asia; I for one aren't one of the " if you're really frugal and live like a local, you might be able to squirrel away 150 quid a month" set, but it seems a growing trend in SE Asia. One must be a bit lucky and network these days. I saw a great gig in Vietnam, but doing IELTS test prep isn't very stimulating.

As for Laos, I would keep it as a travel destination only. I was a bit disappointed with the place; a lot of the forest had been decimated, the locals were less than engaging and it had a fair number of arrogant European package tourists. I quite liked Luang Prabang; I realized it wasn't the " real" Laos, but if one just wants a simple vacation, it is a good spot, especially across the river. I have had two decades of crappy, cramped and torturous bus journeys and staying in dirty towns with poor accommodation - one gets a little older and what defines a good holiday changes as well. Not ready to join tbe oackage tour set for another 20 year I think though.

[EFL Educator]

YES things are getting harder especially in SE ASIA for Qualified EFL Instructors....seems to me Qualified EFL instructors are not wanted that much anymore...and I think the reasons are obvious by many!

[cb400]

Traffic in Laos: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-22/volunteers-save-lives-on-streets-of-vientiane/5910698

[EFL Educator]

Yes agreed TRAFFIC in Lao's capital is horrible...as is the case in Vietnam's megacities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh...if one really wants answers one not need to look any further...this is ALL the result of ultra Neo Capitalism. Freedom to do as one pleases without regard for his fellow man where selfishness and greed reign free...and where rules are made to be broken. Laos and Vietnam have a lot in common with this...now it's Yangon, Myanmar's turn!!!

[plumpy nut]

[MuscatGary]

[plumpy nut]

[kurtz]

[cb400]

I thought the article cited lack of education, drinking and driving, no policing and no real emergency services as the cause of many of those accidents.

Also car ownership has increased 40% in the last 2 years with most of those people have never driven a car or even a motorbike, jumping right into the Landcruiser with almost no motorized vehicle experience, it was really a given that this type of carnage on the roads was going to happen.

Its a shame really.

[cb400]

http://thediplomat.com/2014/12/the-growing-mekong-controversy/

Interesting article about the effects of Lao's dam projects are going to have on Vietnam and Cambodia. It seems clear that the Lao government is selling out to the Chinese and will become another province of the PRC, though the people and culture are closely related to the Thai people.

It is really messed up that 'man' can destroy so much of the environment around us for short term gain. Maybe the Chinese are realizing that they have caused so much damage to their environment that the clock is ticking for them and they will have to forcible expand to get clean air and water soon?

Even the Vietnamese are selling prime beach real-estate to the Chinese for them to build Chinese power plants in Vietnam!

[EFL Educator]

There is no doubt that the Chinese are the major investors in Laos. You can even see the Lao people learning to speak Chinese nowadays as their Chinese bosses insist on this..thus .teaching.English as a second language doesn't seem to be much of a priority there with the working class as is in neighbouring ASEAN countries like Vietnam and Myanmar.. Considering the fact that most Laotians are still very poor and have limited education there is really not much they can do to increase their prospects for work.

[steki47]