What's the story with ACE?! Supposedly the best?!

[vladimir]

i've been spending 18 months teaching students like that, it's possible but not easy .

Agree, it's very difficult. Especially when they put her in a class with 6 other students of widely varying skills at different levels.I had the flash cards etc., made sure she had a fair Khmer-English,English-Khmer dictionary and really tried, but we were only given an hour a week.It's virtually impossible, and once you add a lack of commitment and fear of losing face...

[xtreme]

Any IELTS course book is going to be aimed at students who are already in reach of a band 6 (approximately).

In Cambodia, typically where are the Band 5s? High school junior/seniors? College year 1, 2, 3, 4, etc?

[niceoldgeezer]

An earlier contributor claimed that those who are recruited to ACE must meet at least one of the following criteria:

* to be Australian [or perhaps a New Zealander]

* to be female

* to be young

One will do but two is better and three is best of all.

As for CELTA certification, does anyone check on which are issued
in London [by International House, for example] band those which are
issued in exchange for hard cash in Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong or
on Khaosarn Road in Bangkok?

[cambod]

An earlier contributor claimed that those who are recruited to ACE must meet at least one of the following criteria:

* to be Australian [or perhaps a New Zealander]

* to be female

* to be young

One will do but two is better and three is best of all.

As for CELTA certification, does anyone check on which are issued
in London [by International House, for example] band those which are
issued in exchange for hard cash in Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong or
on Khaosarn Road in Bangkok?

Typically, u only need 2 things to get a job at ACE.

1. A degree (in anything)

2. A celta (specifically)

So, they will choose someone fresh out of college that just took a 4-week celta with NO work/teaching experience in their life over someone with a degree in English, 5 years teaching in decent schools, but only has a good tefl certificate instead of an actual celta...

I'm referring to native speakers, and have no idea about their local hires...

[Uncle Monty]

You'd have thought the Director of Studies would be overseeing the materials being used for all levels and it surprises me that some of the lower level materials are being written by locals.

IELTS is a fantastic testing system for its intended purpose - to assess a non native's ability to embark on an academic/general training course abroad in the medium of English. However, to crowbar it into a means of deciding whether a local can teach English is ludicrous.

Any IELTS course book is going to be aimed at students who are already in reach of a band 6 (approximately). I think they should use some of the excellent CESOL preparation books for the lower levels, such as those intended for KET (Key English Test) and PET (Preliminary English Test).

Dengchao, why not arrange a meeting with the Director of Studies for an explanation? He/she might not be aware what's going on.

Agreed, but they have been producing IELTS text books aimed at 4.5-5.5 band range for ages.

[kinglear#1]

Uncle, it's a great thing that they are producing their own textbooks aimed at the mid-range band students, but judging from the OP's comments/observations, it seems that some of the materials for the lower levels are not up to the mark.

For xtreme, I don't think there is a direct correlation between IELTS and high-school/college years' programmes as IELTS was designed with only one purpose in mind - to assess ability to pursue tertiary study in the medium of English. Here, though, are the band descriptors:

http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/fin ... lts-scores

[Uncle Monty]

Uncle, it's a great thing that they are producing their own textbooks aimed at the mid-range band students, but judging from the OP's comments/observations, it seems that some of the materials for the lower levels are not up to the mark.

For xtreme, I don't think there is a direct correlation between IELTS and high-school/college years' programmes as IELTS was designed with only one purpose in mind - to assess ability to pursue tertiary study in the medium of English. Here, though, are the band descriptors:

http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/fin ... lts-scores

""They" meant the publishing companies not ACE, but their original IELTS prep courses in the early 90s required the teachers to produce their own materials.

[SunSan]

I only know one person who did the 4 year course there, hoping to have it easier to get into tourism.

Her English was as bad when she graduated as when she began. Unbelievable!

[Dengchao]

One tactic might be to check to see if a school is using a recognized IELTS textbook like Cambridge?
From the examples given here, some of these other books written by non-native speakers are apparently useless.

Refer to the author's name for an instant answer to that matey.

[Dengchao]

I will do mate; just as soon as she leaves his class; as in a week or so.

[Dengchao]

Got an apology by proxy today (K440 power and freedom of speech laws, got to love it), so I've deleted a name. Shall organise a meeting with the DOS after my wife finishes her studies, of course it would be more professional if s/he contacted me to arrange this.

Of course, I won't be demanding that anyone be sacked... because at the end of the day, this is pretty trivial really... even more trivial is that I'm just feeling a little let-down by a place that has my country's name incorporated into its own.

I hope they don't take this as me implying anything about grade changing (up or down- I just want the honest mark), but I believe ACE has built its reputation here on giving out real grades. Correct?

[vladimir]

correct.
However, any building needs maintenance after completion.

[vladimir]

This from eslcafe.com for more info/claims on/by ACE:

Principal Position in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Posted By: Australian Centre for Education (ACE) <socheat.ou@idp.com>
Date: Tuesday, 13 March 2012, at 11:18 a.m.

Australian Centre for Education (ACE)

Vacancy Announcement

Position: Principal
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Deadline 20 April 2012
Experience: 3 years in an ELT management role

1. Description
IDP Education established the Australian Centre for Education (ACE) in 1992, prior to the establishment or entry of almost all other ELT providers in Cambodia. The school has maintained consistent good leadership and management throughout its first 20 years.

ACE is Cambodia’s leading English language school. ACE is the only school in Cambodia accredited by NEAS (Australia’s leading ELT accreditation agency), and is contracted by both the Australian and New Zealand Governments to provide pre-departure training for scholarship awardees.

As IDP’s ELT arm within Cambodia, ACE has been central to the establishment and growth of the CamTESOL conference, one of Asia’s leading TESOL conferences. The CamTESOL conference grew out of ACE’s active professional development program for teaching staff.

ACE has a population of roughly 7 000 students, mainly part-time. The school has three campuses, two in Phnom Penh the capital, and one in Siem Reap, in the north of the country. ACE’s programs are: Children’s Program, Young Learners’ Program, General English Program, English for Academic Purposes and IELTS Preparation.

The school is known for its benchmarked standards. Teaching staff must demonstrate verifiable minimum qualifications and participate in a teacher observation program. Students must reach minimum and independently verifiable proficiency standards to graduate from the General English and English for Academic Purposes programs. The school has many local and international sponsors of training and has an excellent track record for standardised high quality reporting to sponsors and donors on academic progress.

The prospective Principal of ACE is expected to maintain the good name of the school with all stakeholders, and its profile as a serious educational institution that delivers results. ACE’s graduates include the most senior of Cambodia’s Ministry Officials and the position requires considerable representative duties.

The Opportunity:
The role of ACE Principal is to lead the growth and development of ACE in Cambodia. The Principal is responsible to the Country Director of IDP Education (Cambodia) and within a matrix structure, for functional purposes to the Regional ELT Manager. The Principal is the focal point within ACE for all human resource, academic, financial and other matters.

Duties:
• Recruit appropriately qualified and experienced staff for the efficient operation of the centres. Seek relevant approval for any senior appointments or new positions related to any re-structure

• Manage relevant teaching programs, including the adherence to agreed syllabus and curriculum materials

• Ensure quality systems are implemented consistently throughout ACE, including academic consultation, professional development and skills transfer, performance review

• Ensure quality of processes e.g. for student counseling, program delivery, assessment, evaluation

• Prepare business plans and budgets for approval by both the Country Director and Regional ELT Manager and once agreed, implement those business plans in accordance with the approved budgets

• Market ACE, ensuring brand integrity, and prepare and submit proposals for training for key sponsors

• Liaise with key sponsors, notably AusAID and New Zealand Aid Program, regarding implementation of contract requirements and seek appropriate opportunities to grow the business with these sponsors

• Represent the school as a high profile Australian education institution and a leading member of the Australian and international business communities in Cambodia

2. Qualifications:
The applicant should demonstrate a balance of business acumen, management ability and content knowledge.

The appointee must:
• Be a graduate with relevant post-graduate qualifications, preferably in TESOL/Applied Linguistics

• Demonstrate extensive academic experience including in EAP/ESP programs (preferably in a developing country) and curriculum and materials development

• Have superior staff management skills in a range of contexts

• Demonstrate a sound working knowledge of resources and resource allocation

• Demonstrate commercial orientation, including with a proven track record

Qualities:
The appointee should demonstrate superior capacity to:

• Lead a geographically disparate team towards agreed goals

• Balance quality as well as commercial objectives

• Inspire staff to contribute above average outputs on an ongoing basis

• Focus on academic outcomes

• Grow the school

• Work closely and constructively with the Country Director, Regional ELT Manager, and with other administrators in the school and ensure a team spirit among all staff, both academic and support

• Represent the school in a way that enhances its reputation and wins business

• Commit to the school for the duration of the contract

Date and Length of Appointment:
The successful applicant will be required to take up duty in July 2012 for a three year period.

3. Compensation

• Salary US$60,000 to US$72,000 per annum + generous performance incentive
• Up to US$1 500 allowance towards one-way inbound flight to Cambodia
• Coverage at “super” level in the school’s chosen health insurance scheme

4. Company/Organisation

• Address: c/o IDP Education (Cambodia), #657, Kampuchea Krom Blvd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Tel: 855 23 881 017
• Fax: 855 23 881 020
• Contact Person: Mr Socheat Ou, IDP Deputy Office Manager (socheat.ou@idp.com)

[cambod]

WoW, that is quite a package!

[horace]

now you know why they charge so much!