Job Discussion Forums

oxfordstu · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 89 Location: Changchun, China

I think I am quite close to getting an offer from this school. It's an international school in Malaysia (close to the KL airport) and I believe they pay well. They offer housing and airfare package on a 2 year contract. I have another interview with them this week.

Does anyone know anything about this school? Their website does not provide much info. It is not an EFL position - I'd be teaching IB curriculum.

clsc · Joined: 15 Feb 2011 Posts: 7

The Cempaka group is actually quite a big money making education group in Malaysia. I think you'll be all right.

moonbear · Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 3 Location: Malaysia

Hi..... Did you get the job?

I worked for Cempaka (at a different campus) and I didn't like it. I am a certified teacher though so I am pickier about places I will work. I prefer teaching English language arts rather than the type of English taught in language centers or to adult learners.

If you are a certified teacher, you might not like Cempaka. It is a money-making machine. That is the goal.... it is not very academically focused. The focus is on the performing arts and all the extra activities they do. That stuff looks really good in brochures and on the website, so that's the focus. They are really great at marketing but the owners do not give the impression of being very knowledgeable about education. Education is at the bottom of their list of priorities.

If you are a TEFL teacher, Cempaka would be a good job to have for a few years. It would give you a different kind of experience and the pay is really good. Salaries start at around 8000 RM for foreign teachers and go up from there. You also get an apartment or housing allowance.

The money is not an issue. The salaries are good. But if you are a passionate educator, you will probably end up depressed. It is a sad place to work. Or maybe that was just my experience at the campus I was working at...... I hope CILC is better!

oxfordstu · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 89 Location: Changchun, China

I didn't get it, but I don't think I would have accepted an offer from them anyway. I had a video interview with the owner - she asked me some very specific questions about the IB program that I didn't have a prayer of answering since I'm only IB certified, not experienced. After I couldn't answer her 2 questions she ended the interview. She did not seem like a very nice person to work with, so I dodged a bullet there.

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

IB certified? What does that mean? I didn't know one could be "IB certified".

oxfordstu · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 89 Location: Changchun, China

moonbear · Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 3 Location: Malaysia

You absolutely dodged a bullet by not working there! Did you interview with Datin Frieda? She is a horrible person. She does not value her employees and if she does not like you, she will try to humiliate you in front of your peers. She runs the school like a dictator. I guess that's totally ok for her to do that, since she owns the school... but believe me, any good teacher would not want to work there.

I actually left the school without finishing the contract (along with a dozen other teachers this year) and I am happy to be out of there! It's really not a good place for expat teachers.