Job Discussion Forums

[saint57]

What is your salary?

What is the least amount that a new teacher should accept?

Does your school include free housing as a benefit?

Did you get free airfare?

Do you have a work permit? What were the requirements?

How many hours do you work each week?

What city do you live in?

What are the names of some language schools that hire native speakers?

[Worldly]

Why has saint57's request for information been ignored?

Is it possible those already employed in Malaysia want to keep the place to themselves, and/or avoid competition?

Is demand for teachers falling in Malaysia?

I'd like to consider Malaysia as a future work destination, but reliable information is in limited quantities.

[saint57]

Hey Worldly,

I'm currently in Malaysia. I put that up to gather basic information for everyone. The problem is that there really aren't many language institutes that hire native speakers.

Some people have contacted me and I have tried to help them based on what I could find on the Internet. One poster was eager to come here, but once he saw the offer, he decided to pass.

There are only three posters here that are in Malaysia:

- Myself
- Micropiglet
- Sandy McIvor

Anyone else please speak up!

When I came over here I was planning on finding part-time work at a language school. I've been too busy to even bother looking, but I don't get the feeling there are many opportunities out there that pay enough to make it worth my time.

I've never been to the Philippines, but from what I can gather, it's very similar to Malaysia. There are many locals who can teach English. There is no Philippines forum either.

[Worldly]

[globalnomad2]

Perhaps because it is possible to earn real money in Singapore, even without a university job. I knew someone who taught business English to corporations and did quite well there. In Malaysia, there are EFL jobs for native speakers with MA degrees, at such institutions as the Islamic International University and some of the government univs. They probably pay about $US1000 a month, maybe $1200. That's about the top of the scale in Malaysia. And Malaysia is not particularly cheap. Cars cost two or three times as much as in Western countries, supermarkets are unimpressive and not cheap, but rent is very reasonable.

The Philippines pays probably far less. It's useful only for teachers who don't need to save money and are happy to live on the economy, hand to foot.

[been_there]

Hey, don't count me out.

I think the reason Malaysia is so underrepresented is because most of the jobs are filled by CfBT through a contract with the CDC. There are few private language schools, and plenty of Chinese-Malay are raised bilingual and speak English well enough to teach. Or you could try the BC in KL, I think they were hiring a while back, but you know they ACTUALLY CHECK REFERENCES!!!

As for the salary questions, I would sharply differentiate between KL and the rest of the country (with the possible exception of Johor baru, which I'd lump in with KL. Untill the floods came, that is.). Outside KL, costs of living are cut almost in half, as is demand for English. Inside KL, a good hustler could probably make enough money to fly to Bangkok for the tri-montly visa run.

[Worldly]

[go with the flow]

What is your salary? 3000RM per month

What is the least amount that a new teacher should accept? dunno, but I wouldn't go much lower. You can easily live on 3000 depending on what you want to do.

Does your school include free housing as a benefit? yes for summer school; no for year-longers

Did you get free airfare? yes (at end of contract up to $1000 US - for us, after three months that is quite a good deal)

Do you have a work permit? What were the requirements? No - apparently it takes a while to get one (or so the school says)

How many hours do you work each week? 23

What city do you live in? just outside kuala lumpur

What are the names of some language schools that hire native speakers? International House, Cyberjaya (although the school does have some problems - I'd try for a short 3 to 6 month contract.)

Cheers

[EFL Teacher SA]

Hi there 'go with the flow'

Just read your post and assume you're based at IH, Cyberjaya. I have a few questions which I hope you won't mind answering.

1. You say the school has problems.... I'm interested to know what type of problems?

2. Also, what are the teachers accommodation like? I believe its furnished apartments in Kelana Jaya.

3. You say you don't have a work permit. Does the school not arrange this for you upon arrival?

4. What is the transport system like from the teachers accommodation to school? and how long does one need to travel each day to and from school?

Any other info on IH Malaysia would be welcomed.

Thanks so much.

[leonconnelly]

I have been here for five and half years and worked for three schools. I have contacts in most of the language schools and a few in the colleges. A lot of the private colleges have their own language department for English.

I can answer most of the questions raised but will do so in a public forum. If you want to know about a particular employer send me a private message.

This is an amazing country to live in and the range of students you get to teach is amazing. The biggest hassle is the money. Most schools are owned by business people, not educators, so they have their eye on the money not the true teaching.

If you use the US dollar as the benchmark, Malaysia, China, Thailand and Vietnam all pay about the same. But the cost of living in Malaysia is about double of the others. The scotch that costs me RM 25 in KL per shot, cost me RM12 in Bangkok and RM 6 in Hat Yia.

But Malaysia is the best place to be. The lifestyle is great. You may not make as much as money here as in places, but be honest with your self. You didn't get into teaching to get rich, you did it to educate others.