Job Discussion Forums

Mr Magoo · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 16

I've been offered a teaching job in Burma. Does anyone have any experiences to offer about the rental costs, leisure time freedom etc?
I currently teach in Thailand, so I know about the teaching style, but I will have to consider the education as I have a 4 year old child who will need some schooling in Burma, too. Any stories? Thanks.

mandalayroad · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 115

First problem is going to be your child's education. There's only one international school in Rangoon, if that's where you're going, and it's incredibly expensive. You'll never be able to afford it on a teacher's salary so your child will have to go to a local Burmese language school and learn the local language. The schools are incredibly underfunded but at a young age might prove to be a formative learning experience for your child.

Next problem will be getting a work visa which can be dodgy at best. The rules are changing especially with the new constitution so it's hard to say. Traditionally you'd have to leave every six months to renew, unless you're from an ASEAN country or China. I'm assuming you're a westerner which makes your visa prospects bleak and frustrating.

But outside of that, Burma would be one of the best places to teach in SE Asia, if not the world. The people are wonderful, the food is great, the many cultures are rich and diverse, nice beaches, low crime rate, decent amount of freedom as long as you're not political, many locals speak some manner of English from being a vestige of the British empire, no McDonald's or western fast food chains, and, once again, the local food is amazing. If the country ever gets its act and laws together to accommodate western workers and the West drops its sanctions, Burma will become a very popular destination on the ESL teachers' map.

Tainan · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 120

You make it sound great--what are the opportunities like?

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

mandalayroad · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 115

I wouldn't put total stock in what western NGOs and governments say about Burma. Remember the Burmese military government doesn't play ball with the West but rather with China, India, Russia and ASEAN so they get slammed in return by the West. That's not to say the country doesn't have problems because it most certainly does, but in some cases they're no more serious that what you would find in Laos, Cambodia or even Vietnam. Heck, even Burma has an opposition party with offices around the country, and you won't find that in Vietnam.

That said, it's not a good place to bring a child for a number of reasons. First is education unless you don't mind your child going to a Burmese school and learning Burmese. On a teacher's salary, you won't be able to afford the private schools. As stated above, there are also health issues though they're not as bad as what western NGOs will tell you. For serious health issues you'd probably want to go to Singapore which is what most people do in southeast Asia no matter which ASEAN country you're in. I would trust doctors in Burma over the age of 35 years old to do work, even operations on me. Under that it gets dodgy because the medical schools nosedived from their very high British-legacy standards about a decade ago.

And, yes, Burma has a lot of corruption, though strangely the common people are extraordinarily generous and honest. It's only when dealing with the government that you'll face this issue.... but of course that makes it almost impossible for westerners to get work visas to teach in the country legally. It will be a fantastic place to teach if and when the Burmese government and the West can reach some sort of understanding for normal relations, and then Burma will develop and zip right past most of its neighbors. It's got all the right ingredients except for good relations with the West. Basically we just have to wait until the floodgates open... and rumblings from the Obama administration indicate a change in the US approach to Burma is at hand.

MADAMELEACH · Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Posts: 46 Location: WELLINGTON

Yes, and pigs will fly -if they don't do what they are supposed to do for the people.

Have to release Aung Su Ki or adopt new democratic policies and release all prisoners first -after they have got rid of the Junta then perhaps they can begin on the long road to 'Zip Past' the other Tiger economies.

Euell · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 4

I'm heading to Rangoon for a couple of days over Christmas. I'd like to know if anybody has any actual, recent experience teaching there. I know the country is poor, totalitarian and lacks many amenities not the least of which is proper health care. However, I'm a single guy and willing to take a chance. I'm wondering what kind of money you can make in Burma. How much is lodging, food, telephone, transportation, etc.? The visa situation, what have you. Any information would be appreciated. I already have my flight and tourist visa.

Euell · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 4

Well, I just got back from Rangoon. I can't speak about teaching opportunities but it's an interesting place to live. Unbelievably poor! Yet, incredible value if you have US Dollars or Euros. A 12oz. bottle of local whisky is $1.20. A full restaurant meal with beer is under $5.00. Street vendors sell food for under a dollar. Fresh squeezed fruit juice is a dime. A cheap hotel room with attached bathroom, a/c, fridge and the like is $10.00 per night while a really good business hotel is only $25.00! Having clothes made is aggravating since the tailor shops aren't set up the way they are in Bangkok or Saigon. However, if you find a translator and persist you can have silk shirts made for under $20.00 each.

On the downside the power cuts off several times per day. And I mean every day! There are so few tourists you draw attention just walking down the street. The Internet is incredibly slow and is heavily censored. There are no bank machines at all. You can't use any credit cards. Rangoon International Airport is modern and similar in size to Phnom Penh. But, there are a total of only 28 flights in and out all day!

The infrastructure is in truly grim condition. Walking on sidewalks that don't look like they've been repaired since the British left in 1947 is a real chore. Most people meander down the streets. Traffic drives on the right but by far the greatest number of cars are old, right-hand drive Japanese cars that have seen (much) better days.

I'd love to hear from somebody who has lived in Rangoon for any length of time and especially someone who has actually taught there. What are the visa requirements? Getting a tourist visa wasn't too tough but irritating. About $35.00 plus there is a $10.00 departure tax.

Also, half the Burmese people called their country Burma the other half Myanmar. Rangoon/Yangon the same.

BellaBrunei · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Brunei

Just wondering if anyone has taken littlies to Burma? Would like to see the country but not sure how safe it is? My impression is that street crime and the like is pretty unlikely to happen.....do any parents who have been/ are in Burma have any advice?

RDRD · Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 17

Another thing to consider is standards of cleanliness in food preparation. I lived in Mandalay for 3 mos with 12 other teachers and at least 10 of them got seriously ill even with the 2 clean meals we were given every day. It affected everyone's time there. As far as the health care system, it's laughable. If you sign with a school there they better have a clause in the contract saying they'll fly you to Bangkok in any type of medical emergency.