Job Discussion Forums

[beck's]

Maybe you experienced Cambodia hands can help me. I am 57 with about a million years of teaching experience (or so it sometimes seems like that), mostly in Canada but also in Korea and China. I have a B.A. a B.Ed, an M.A. and an M.Ed.

My wife has a B.Sc. and a TESOL certificate with many years experience as a T.A. and as a teacher in Korea and China. She is also 57.

We are thinking of teaching in a Cambodian university for the 2010-2011 academic year.

How easy is it to get jobs at Cambodian universities?

Can we get jobs on the internet/via email without going to Cambodia?

When is a good time to start applying?

Many thanks.

[PattyFlipper]

I posted information in this thread,

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=67753&highlight=universities

which I think answers many of your questions. The situation remains pretty much the same.

You can try setting up a few interviews by email beforehand (good luck with that) but as I said in the above thread, virtually the only way to find work in Cambodia is by turning up and knocking on doors. Terms or semesters seem to be something of an elastic or even non-existent concept. Most of the 'universities' run pretty much the whole year round, just like language schools. Teachers come and go, so you will probably be able to pick up something. You should however avoid the Khmer New Year period around the middle of April.

You need to be aware that the term "university" should be interpreted very loosely in Cambodia (anyone with the $10,000 licence fee can open one). Apart from the handful of government institutions (which rarely employ foreigners) and three or four of the private ones, the majority of the 80 or so degree-granting institutions are run, often quite literally, as family businesses; some of which operate out of dilapidated Chinese shophouses.

It is very unlikely that you will be able to secure a full-time position at one particular college. It will be a question of building up sufficient hours to generate an income you can live on. Even if you obtain enough hours to keep you exclusively occupied at one place, you will still be remunerated at the hourly part-time rate, with no other allowances or benefits. Advanced degrees and experience may not make much difference (unless you get lucky), as the name of the game in Cambodia is contacts. If you are able to offer substantive subjects such as business, management, IT etc. or even skills like academic writing, this will make you more attractive and get you a better hourly rate than teaching regular EFL courses.

[beck's]

Many thanks for your reply, PattyFlipper.

Do you have a list of the universities in PP or do you know where such a list exists?

How long do you think it would take us to get jobs that we could live on?

What sort of budget should we have to tide us over until we are more-or-less fully employed?

What is the expat life like in Cambodia for someone our age? What I mean is is there a social life apart from 20 something backpackers and the bar scene.

Thanks again.

[PattyFlipper]

Compiling and maintaining an up to date list of all the universities in PP is something of a logistical nightmare as, due to the lax licencing and accreditation regulations, new places spring up every week with wild abandon, while existing ones close, split and merge. Apart from this one:

http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/list_data/c-nw.html#Cambodia

the only other comprehensive list on the internet is the Yellow Pages:

http://www.yellowpages-cambodia.com/Education/

Neither listing is completely up to date though. Another possibility may be to visit the Ministry of Education when you arrive in Phnom Penh. If they actually have such a list, I'm sure someone will let you have a copy.

I really can't advise you on living and start-up costs as there are so many variables involved, including the kind of lifestyle you aspire to, and how long it takes you to build up enough teaching hours. As a single person, who likes his comforts, I was spending between $1200 to $1500 a month all in. Sometimes a little more than the higher figure and occasionally a little less than the lower one. As in many other parts of the world, the cost of food has increased dramatically over the last year or so. In addition, although you can get pretty well anything you may want to buy in Phnom Penh (though you may have to shop around), virtually everything is imported from other countries in the region. I would say living costs are about the same as in a large coastal Chinese city, though international food and Western booze can be substantially cheaper than China.

Due to the laissez-faire business environment, the relaxed visa regulations, and the large number of international NGOs, Phnom Penh attracts a fairly diverse expat crowd from around the globe. On the whole they are more welcoming and less cliquey than their counterparts in some parts of Asia. To an extent, expat socializing does tend to centre around the bars and restaurants, though many of the former follow the French cafe tradition of serving food, coffee etc in addition to alcohol, so you don't have to be an inveterate boozer to participate (I'm not). There are a few churches and clubs and societies, so if you are a little pro-active, you shouldn't have any problem in finding your social niche. Easier than most places in China, IMO. The Khmers are also pretty laid-back and friendly towards foreigners - particularly Westerners - though the usual Asian caveats apply.

I re-read your original post, and it has just registered that you have an M.Ed. You should definitely not limit your horizons to run-of-the-mill TEFL. Tout yourself around the education faculties and I am sure you will be able to pick up more lucrative work teaching educational methodology courses, for which there is quite a demand in Cambodia. It may take a while to build up enough hours, however.

Good luck. I'm sure you and your wife will enjoy Phnom Penh.

[khmerhit]

i tried to get a job at the uni but i couldnt make the right contacts, and that takes some time. its like any uni but more so, cuz its asia dude--extremely opaque!! you would do better at the international skools imho, with a degree like that. but go--just do it--have fun--and good luck...




























C A M B O D I A

try it and see

[beck's]

Thanks a lot K. and PF. I really appreciate your taking the time to reply.

Maybe I should look at the international schools or the ed faculties. Not sure what to do at this point but it's early days. I work best with university aged kids.

We are also thinking of VN. The market for teachers there seems to be more organized, maybe easier to get jobs before arriving.

Do you think our ages would be a negative factor in gaining employment in Cambodia?

[khmerhit]

no, age should not be an issus, as the need far outstrips the demand; its just that some owners and mosts sts are rather fickle and demanding of their teachers, for some reason, or they were when i was there in the 90s.
(im talking about the run of the mill english skools, not the unis). there were lots of guys and a few gals in their late forties, late fifties, sixties even, who were teaching. im sure that is still the case. its all very ad hoc with a steady turnover, so its a question of cobbling together enuff hours here and there.

there are 2 internat skools-- northridge and something else, i cant recal, but you have to go thru the regular channels for these, ie the job fairs in london and boston

there is a uni called pannasastra, too

and the brit council are there under another name, i think

im told that living there is not as laid-back as it used to be, but really you never know until yure on the ground, right?

[dee123]

Hello Patty,

Your information is very good thank you. Who teaches the educational methodology courses? Is it done through the universities and/or does the government have professional development courses for schoo teachers?

[PattyFlipper]

I believe much of the teacher training is done by the government institutions, which, as I said earlier, are reluctant to employ foreigners. However, some of the private universities also offer education degrees, and TESOL training and methodology courses are popular options with Khmer students.

While Cambodian universities are not exactly bastions of academic excellence, they can be quite receptive to ideas and suggestions for starting new courses and programmes; so you may be able to talk them into offering classes in your area of speciality. Particularly true if you already have a foot in the door with them.