Job Discussion Forums

[hot_rock]

Anyone work(ed) at ACET? What's it like (broad question, sorry)

I have been looking for a part-time daytime/weekday work to supplement my eveings-and-wknds at VUS, and ended up being getting an interview for a full-time job with ACET.

Wouldn't mind keeping them both at the same time (will miss teaching the young kids, such a good laugh ... at times), would you recommend this? Think it'd be feasible? Or is ACET perhaps a good enough gig just for me to put all my eggs in one basket? I want to work 30 hours a week overall and am fully flexible.

Thanks for any advice.

[snollygoster]

I worked for ACET. At that time they were good apart from an eglomaniac "senior" teacher who wanted a say in everything. That person has left. Basically, good solid job, easy to get on with, but you need to know IELTS and how to teach it.

So when I worked there (3 years ago) it was pretty good, but I have heard whispers that their academic pride has taken a fall and they re not as academically proficient as they used to be.

For me at least, certainly a far cry from teaching (baby sitting) naughty kids. The students can actually carry on a real conversation with you.

There are branches in Hanoi and in HCMC- I understand they are quite different in their outlook.

[123Loto]

How much did they pay snollygoster? And how many hours did you teach?

[snollygoster]

For GE $20 hr, for IELTS $25- that was 3 years ago, and I have a lot of experience and good quals.

Hours? About 24 a week.
Presently I teach Business Eng and IELTS at a different place and get $30 hr and last week did 36 hrs.

[Buffalo Boy]

I worked at ACET in HCMC last year. I found it to be a pretty good place to work, and the pay was good. I got $25 per hour. I only worked there for about 8 months and was considered a "new " teacher the whole time. That meant I taught pre-int and intermediate students using Cutting Edge as a core text. There's a course guide and a lot of supplementary materials. The more experienced teachers teach Academic English using the schools own in house texts from Australia. Forget about teaching IELTS there, there's only a couple of teachers who do that. You teach the same class 4 hours per day for morning and afternoon classes and 2 hours for evening, so it's pretty intensive for the students. They almost all want to go overseas for study so they are quite motivated.

One thing about ACET is that a lot of the teachers have worked there for a long time and have lived in VN for a long time. I didn't make friends with any of the people there. Not to say that it's unfriendly, but they have their lives outside work, come in for their hours then leave. If you're new to teaching and a want a place that's sociable and where people will help you with lesson planning and so on it might not be the best.

I wasn't observed the whole time I was there and I think my standards slipped a bit.

The two staff responsible for getting work permits are very good and you will have no problems with that.

I worked 22-26 hours per week there. Everyone is on a part time contract so there's no paid holidays or sick leave.

I hope that helps.

[hot_rock]

Thanks buffalo boy, and others.

[chromium]

do they either pay for accomodation or help with finding a place? They don't mention that in their ad on TELF.com.

Also, is what you made there enough to live decently on, if not even save some?

Thank you

[1st Sgt Welsh]