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Teaching English in Cambodia
Khmer English Schools and Universities Snap Up Native Speakers
� Bronwyn Sloan

Mar 16, 2009
Cambodia has literally hundreds of private schools, most specializing in English and seeking native speaking teachers, and many backpackers extend their stays this way.

There are a number of pluses for teaching in the kingdom. Work visas are available on arrival and can be renewed indefinitely without papers or letters of recommendation.

Private schools are present in every major center and most do not demand ESL or TEFL certificates or even references and proof of experience. However the standard the school demands has a direct impact on pay per hour. For instance, leading school Australian Center for Education (ACE) demands proof of qualifications and long hours of preparation and marking. In return it covers visas and pays some of the highest rates of any school (around 12-15USD per hour spent in the classroom).

Other popular schools for foreigners seeking work include Home of English and American School. American School in particular pays typically modestly � around $6 USD per hour � but offers regular hours and has a good business reputation.

American School is also amongst those which seek kindergarten level teachers, which requires little more than a talent for keeping very young children occupied. Females are preferred for these classes, and experience is usually secondary to performance.

Some of the large private universities such as Pannasastra and University of Cambodia hire foreign lecturers for very good money, although hours may vary. ELT, Singapore International and provincial network Australian Centre for Development are others which seek native speaking teachers but a good list of schools is available online in the Cambodia Yellow Pages.




Cambodian Society Reveres and Needs Teachers
After nearly years of civil war, Cambodia is only just rebuilding and needs qualified teachers and educators to build the capacity of a mainly very young population.

Cambodia's education system remains very poorly regulated, meaning problems with payment and sudden bankruptcy at less well known schools are risks and at the bottom end of the pay scale native speaking Western teachers may find themselves competing for jobs with African and Philippine applicants who often command lesser rates of pay.

As in other Asian nations like Hong Kong and Japan, some non-white native speakers have reported problems with management and students in a society where dark skin is too often viewed as inferior.

Overall, however, there are few professions more revered in Cambodian society than teaching and students will often open their hearts and homes to tutors, including them in picnics, weddings, celebrations and trips and giving them a unique insight into Khmer life a passing tourist could never hope to experience.

Cambodian History and Why it Needs Foreign Teachers
The infamous regime of the Khmer Rouge decimated the kingdom's middle class through its leader, Pol Pot's policy of eliminating the educated in a drive to turn the country into an agrarian utopia bereft of social classes, markets and even money.

The 1975-79 regime would even kill people if they wore glasses or nail polish, according to survivors, and after it was overthrown only a handful of educated people remained alive. The organization Documentation Center of Cambodia offers a wealth of information on that bloody period of the nation's history and is providing evidence for the current Khmer Rouge trial of a handful of surviving leaders.

Recently, Cambodia's economy has felt the heat of the global economic meltdown due to its heavy dependency on construction, tourism and garment manufacture, and some school are tightening their belts. But the sheer number of schools and Khmer's hunger for knowledge � especially languages � means there is always demand for teachers, and finding private work through advertisements in local newspapers is also an option.

Finding a Teaching Position in Cambodia
It is up to individuals to decide what rates of pay they believe they need to live and work happily. Some schools pay as little as $3 USD an hour but might still prove attractive to someone who wants closer contact with the culture more than financial rewards. Several non-government organizations and Christian groups seek completely volunteer teachers for work in the provinces but will often cover visas, food and accommodation.

Local website khmer440 is a teacher-orientated chat forum with a dedicated discussion area on teaching issues, where people keen to extend their stay in Cambodia through teaching may be able to pick up tips and contacts.

There is some demand for teachers in other languages besides English, notably French and Chinese, but most French-language schools request high levels of formal qualifications and there are so many native Chinese speakers already teaching that an outstanding level of aptitude is required.

Teaching in Cambodia can be a rewarding experience for backpackers and even more experienced scholars and is helping rebuild a country still on the mend after the Khmer Rouge.



The copyright of the article Teaching English in Cambodia in Teaching Abroad is owned by Bronwyn Sloan. Permission to republish Teaching English in Cambodia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.






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