Job Discussion Forums

[akeytboabyss]

Hi!

I'm a newly qualified English teacher looking for my first teaching job in Vietnam.

Looking through this forum I've seen some worrying things written about Apollo, Hanoi. However some of them are a few years old so I was wondering if anyone had any recent experience with the school?

Bearing in mind that I might not have the same expectations as a more seasoned teacher. Still, I'd rather not start my first teaching job in a new country with a badly run school.

So please let me know of your experiences with Apollo in Hanoi or any of their other locations.

Thanks a lot!

[BenE]

From my view I noticed that a lot of the old teachers left in large numbers last year right up to the academic managers. What you might find is that there's a large number of people who've not been there for a long time.

I don't know much else but I've noticed they're recruiting. Looking at the wages they offer you might be able to get better pay in some places though if you got a full time contract you'd have a stable job and good training for your first year.

I'm no longer in Vietnam so my information maybe out of date.

[akeytboabyss]

Thanks BenE.

The posts I read related to the episode you're talking about but they were dated 2006 (I think) so was hoping things had improved since then.

A stable job and good training is exactly what I'm looking for so that sounds positive (even if it might mean having to put up with a few jobsworths).

Thanks again.

[LettersAthruZ]

Can't say for Ha Noi, but a friend of mine used to work at their Hai Phong branch and quit about a year ago. He told me some things.....

.....I then went to a party of Hai Phong's Tay Community about seven months ago and met what replaced my friend at Apollo - Hai Phong.

Uhhhh.....let's just say that back-packers would have been OVER-qualified compared to two of the guys that I met who now teach at Apollo Hai Phong!

From what I had researched and what I remembered, Apollo used to be THEE, THEE gold standard in English as a Second Language in Viet Nam.

They didn't accept applications....they did not advertise teaching vacancies.....you were asked to teach at Apollo....

....from what people are telling me, those days are long gone!

[dutchiris]

Apollo used to be an enjoyable place to work but this was a few years ago. I enjoyed working at Apollo in HCMC when it was a small school that tended to employ ageing eccentrics. I understand those days are over but it is the same with all large ESL schools that are now about profit and efficiency at the expense of education and enjoyment. I imagine a year with any ESL school would give you the experience you want as it's a matter of endurance and survival rather than professional development. On second thoughts, a year at one of these schools could be described as professional development.

[just noel]

The statements above are accurate.

Apollo had new management come in about a 1 1/2 ago. Big problems with management, and many teacher left. Even long-term teachers left because of these problems. However....management was never changed.

Attendance at Apollo is dwindling. Appollo gets some fresh fish from the CELTA program it does because it promise the CELTA grads a job at Apollo upon completing o the CELTA certificate. Apollo throws whatever classes it has available (adults, teens), and the eventually has to sack them because of student complaints. (Yes, Hanoian students can be difficult, and picky.)

Apollo is not known for decent pay, and it's not known for treating people well.

Nevertheless, as mentioned, it's a place to get experience, and then move on to greener pastures in Hanoi or elsewhere.

[The Mad Hatter]

[baygioimdi]

the main problem with Apollo is the salary-hourly rate they offer to teachers.
in addition, the academic managers of apollo dont care about anything because they are on low salaries compared to other schools and they are all forced to teach a minimum of 10 hours per week which is substantial if you are resposible for all teachers and academic programmes at one of their centers.

I have a friend who is an academic manager in hanoi for apollo.
his salary is 1,800 usd before taxes and he has to teach 40 hours a month.they are basically paying him about a 1000 usd to run all of the programmes.this is nothig but a scandal. he took the job for experiece and will leave after one year-the standard for teachers and managers at apollo.gain experience and get out

they try to tell you that the salary is low but there are many opportunties for advancement which is rubbish.

as another poster stated-good for newbies-that includes academic managers.

finally the owners of apollo dont really care about the language centres anymore because of the new apollo university-of course they go through the motions to satisfy prudential vietnam one of their investors.

regarding apollo being a member of international house- yes that is true-many years ago they paid a lot of money to international house in london to become a memebr- big deal. in fact, this tells us more about international house-its a fact that apollo does not meet the same standards as international house london but pay them enough money and anyone can become a memeber. in addition, only one center in hanoi-the main office was assessed therfore i think the other apollo centers in hanoi and hcmc are not legally part of international house- this info comes from a recent director who left- not sure if its true.

[magistra]

My experience is out of date, but here it is for what it's worth.

I worked for Apollo in 2008, soon after they'd opened in Hai Phong at the Maritime University (and High School) site. They were thriving then and the atmosphere was quite exciting. Some staff had transferred from Hanoi, but several were recruited on short-term contracts and upgraded to one or two years, then left. The academic manager was very good and helpful although, in the end, teachers were pretty much left to their own devices. The pay was relatively good and there were prospects for getting inservice training (elsewhere). I replaced someone who went on a specialist course for teaching children.

The students were great but Apollo, though highly regarded, was viewed by locals as very expensive. Economic ups and downs would have affected them greatly, I would imagine.

There have obviously been some big changes since then. I haven't been back to Hai Phong or Apollo, but have been teaching in Hanoi.

Good luck if you go with Apollo. It sounds as if there have been big changes, but those changes are fairly widespread throughout the EFL community.

[slang_tang]

What about their accommodation?

I've applied for a summer position in Haiphong or Hanoi. They provide local accommodation for teachers. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it up to scratch?

[Brighton Blade]

Hey Slang_tang. I've also applied for a summer position. It'll be nice to have someone to talk about it with. Send me a pm with your email address if you'd like.

[beenthere96-2005]

[GemGem]

Hi, I have an interview for Apollo coming up for the Summer Job so it would be nice to speak to some potential peeps I may be meeting out there!

Am a bit concerned by all of the negative comments about Apollo above....I guess I thought as my first real EFL job after completing my CELTA, working for an International House organisation would be a good starting point? With the potential to get into other IH schools afterwards? Does anyone know if this is the case?

Thanks

[Oh My God]

[haller_79]