Job Discussion Forums

[Aleksey]

Hi, everyone. Im currently teaching english in bangkok - been employed here for over a year.
Considering relocating to phnom penh as one of my options, around early April.
Im currently earning $1100 p/m here ( THBaht 40'000 ). Im looking to earn a bit more - at least 1500 but no more than 1700.
What are my chances of making that amount, teaching english full time in PP? I have a bachelors' , but no ESL certificate.
What devcnt schools are there.

Thanks in advance

[PattyFlipper]

The decent language schools and better private universities will require a TEFL certificate of some description (the top-end schools often specify a CELTA). The scene in Phnom Penh is a little different to Thailand, where a white face and a pulse are often all that is required. Khmer students tend to be a little more discerning, and are fairly dismissive of (i.e. will complain to management about) teachers who do not know their stuff. That said, there are plenty of bottom-end and quite a few mid-level places who will probably employ you, if they are desperate for a white face. Payment at these places ranges from about US$5 to US$7 per hour at the really crappy schools, and up to around $14 to $15 per hour at some of the better places. It usually depends on the type of course you are hired to teach. You will also be in competition with the local English teachers (TESOL is a popular subject for people to study in Cambodia, so there are plenty of them) who, unlike the Thais, are generally pretty good.

Almost everything in Phnom Penh is on a part-time, hourly-rate basis, with few schools or universities offering full-time contracts. Popular hours are early mornings, evenings, and weekends and it is not always easy to find work outside these times. $1500 a month is just about doable, but it may take a while to build up enough hours. Unless you can teach courses like academic writing or subjects other than English, you are looking at an hourly average of about $10 to $12, so you are going to have to find/put in quite a few hours to get your $1500 a month.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[khmerhit]

cambodia--try it and see