Job Discussion Forums

Fresno2003 · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Unites States

I applied for a job at the EF English First Batam school and I would like to hear from current or former teachers that taught there.

What are the good and bad things about that school?

Does this school have a websight and if so what is its web address?

What is life like in Batam?

Can you travel cheaply to the other islands in Indonesia from there, and what is the Indonesian Ferry service like?

Is there any other Language Schools beside EF in Batam?[/b]

ngantuk · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Indonesia

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

Don't know the EF 'school' but Batam is a bit of a dump. It's somewhere where Singaporeans go to do all the things that are illegal in Singapore. As such, there are zillions of ferries to Sing every day, but before you get too excited remember that to go there requires an Exit Re-entry Permit (ERP) which you have to pay for, plus a nasty tax called the Fiskal of 500 000Rp per trip out.

Travel to the rest of Indonesia is easy due to lots of domestic flights through Batam, but on an EF salary I wouldn't make ambitious plans.

Fresno2003 · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Unites States

Thanks for the information I will definitely avoid EF and Batam

jhemmila · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 49 Location: Batam, Indonesia

I got an offer from them, 6.8jt, which is ok for 1st year at EF, but I've done my time. If you're going to work at Batam, make sure you have a few exit visas guaranted, or work on a business visa, so you can come and go to Sing, Malaysia, Thailand as you please.

I was there for a weekend, nightlife isn't great, no white women, lots of old bules who work on the oil rigs engineering, etc. Nongsa Beach is ok, but there is a lot of oil pollution that sticks to your feet and ruins your towels. You pick up the seashells and they are covered in a black glob of goo.

Nevertheless, I will be working there come June, not for EF, but another English school. It's a bit more expensive than other places in Indo, but I'll be making a bit more, and it should be fun!

wannaBguru · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 110

Actually, if you live and work in Batam, you get a special KITAS, or stamp, that exempts you from paying the departure tax. working for ef, u might have enough money to take the ferry over a couple of times a month, but you can only wander around singapore and drool at all the things your meager salary wont allow u to buy.

jhemmila........... if u are planning to work for Real English......... Big, Big Mistake.

jhemmila is right, there isnt much nightlife. also people will be yelling at you all day .......... ojek mister ojek...... or people in their personal cars will yell out the window........ taxi mister taxi. there are no meters and u have to nego the price for everywhere u go. the ojek and taxi drivers are very aggressive. you need a walkman and a good set of headphones just to survive. Most of the singaporeans and malaysians stopped going to batam when they banned gambling 3.5 years ago and the economy still hasnt recovered.

good luck there

tukangojek · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: bogor

JUST AVOID BATAM. IT'S MANAGED BY SAME OWNER AS EF PAMULANG. THE GOOD THING ABOUT BATAM IS IT'S CLOSE TO SINGAPORE BUT YOU JUST CANNOT AFFORD SHOPPING WITH THE SALARY OFFERED. SOUTH JAKARTA IS THE BEST. TRY EF PENDOK INDAH. GOOD LUCK IN FINDING GOOD & DECENT JOB!

reality · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 105

Where are the meeting points in Batam for Teachers?. I guess the main bars in Batam are out, because they charge more than bars in Blok M.

So where is an affordable meeting point?

jaksamania · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:21 am Post subject:

Not as much as in Jakarta for sure. Most bars are filled by Singaporean, Malaysian or event Korean and there is nothing as cheap and exciting than Jalan Jaksa or event Kemang. Just can't think why would anyone go to Batam?.. building a factory or shipyard with your TESOL diploma Smile

jhemmila · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 49 Location: Batam, Indonesia

I was only there for a weekend, but NED, the Nagoya Entertaiment Distict seemed to be the place. Reminiscent of Blok M, but with mostly older Aussies and Brits coming off the oil rigs.

Kebo · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 26

Batam has some outdoor spots with decent food and bevs that are cheap.
Nightclubs and Pubs are fairly pricey.
Not my favourite town but..."Okay lah"
For expat spots, our bar. Last Pub. Red Cock (as a previous poster stated. mostly oil expats, sexpats, and singaporeans up for a cheap romp)

Good Luck

jhemmila · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 49 Location: Batam, Indonesia

I just saw in the Jakarta Post today that Batam just had a huge oil spill, with a picture on the front page of a father and sons scooping up buckets of crude that washed on shore. Pretty sad sight, and some research shows that this is a fairly common occurrence there.

ngantuk · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Indonesia

The group is a joke. They make EF Swara look good. Keep clear of these clowns......