I'm truly shocked. (No sarcasm)erictheking wrote:She had no idea what a CELTA was or who the company I'd just worked for were (a much better school than Wall Sa-teet). And while you may think of it as a good school, you're the first person I've heard say this. The usual things I hear are long hours, shit holidays and overbearing management. They are quite trendy though, so I can see the appeal to Thais.cambod wrote:Not calling u a liar, but i have trouble believing ur story. Wall Street Institute is a damn good school and is a multimillion dollar company with schools all over the globe. To think a director in Thailand didn't know what a CELTA was is really hard to believe.erictheking wrote:Sounds like Wall Street in Thailand. I was once between jobs after a slight disagreement with my DOS, and I went there for an interview ro see me through until something better turned up. No classrooms. No whiteboards. No textbooks. Oasis' latest album playing as you walk through the place. Glass cubicles with white minions writing on the panes with markers as 2 or 3 young Thais sat in admiration of the farang in a tie.oxbowlarry wrote:How about a school with no curriculum. Just with a computer with a big monitor.
The Thai interviewer sat me down and looked at my qualifications, before furrowing her brow: "what is a CELTA?", so I explained.
Next question: "do you miss your family?" to which I replied that I had lived in Asia for quite a while and we speak on the phone quite often. Things were really getting low now and she was most perturbed to hear that I could eat spicey food, and was apoplectic when I asksed how the students were able to learn grammar/reading etc without any source of input from the teacher; "they study for one hour with the headphones on and read magazines and then are ready for class. Your job is to talk to them."
Without doubt the weirdest interview I've ever had. I don't think we even shook hands as I left her office. Thailand: truly the shitpit of EFL.
If this story is true, i would think they asked u that just to see how u would describe ur experience with it.
Or we are talking about COMPLETELY different schools.
I think it had just opened this new branch in a shopping centre in Pinklao, so maybe there were reasons for the shocking interview. It was that bad, and this lady was certainly no director; her English gave me the impression that she was a trainee who'd been asked to stand in, and perhaps that might explain her failure to communicate that she wished me to expand on the demands of the CELTA. There wasn't one academic question during the whole interview.
It was ridiculous and, if I recall correctly, I was asked to attend an interview 3 times and it was only on the 3rd time that they had someone around who had remembered that I was due. On a fucking Saturday morning too.
Starting up a small English language school
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I suppose we can put it down to a bad day at the office, but I was as amazed as you are shocked. Despite the fact that they are advertised all over Bangkok, it was a truly amateurish gig from the moment I walked in the door (3 times, in fact). This would be 5 years ago now, but I've honestly never heard a good word said about them since then.cambod wrote:I'm truly shocked. (No sarcasm)erictheking wrote:She had no idea what a CELTA was or who the company I'd just worked for were (a much better school than Wall Sa-teet). And while you may think of it as a good school, you're the first person I've heard say this. The usual things I hear are long hours, shit holidays and overbearing management. They are quite trendy though, so I can see the appeal to Thais.cambod wrote:Not calling u a liar, but i have trouble believing ur story. Wall Street Institute is a damn good school and is a multimillion dollar company with schools all over the globe. To think a director in Thailand didn't know what a CELTA was is really hard to believe.erictheking wrote:Sounds like Wall Street in Thailand. I was once between jobs after a slight disagreement with my DOS, and I went there for an interview ro see me through until something better turned up. No classrooms. No whiteboards. No textbooks. Oasis' latest album playing as you walk through the place. Glass cubicles with white minions writing on the panes with markers as 2 or 3 young Thais sat in admiration of the farang in a tie.oxbowlarry wrote:How about a school with no curriculum. Just with a computer with a big monitor.
The Thai interviewer sat me down and looked at my qualifications, before furrowing her brow: "what is a CELTA?", so I explained.
Next question: "do you miss your family?" to which I replied that I had lived in Asia for quite a while and we speak on the phone quite often. Things were really getting low now and she was most perturbed to hear that I could eat spicey food, and was apoplectic when I asksed how the students were able to learn grammar/reading etc without any source of input from the teacher; "they study for one hour with the headphones on and read magazines and then are ready for class. Your job is to talk to them."
Without doubt the weirdest interview I've ever had. I don't think we even shook hands as I left her office. Thailand: truly the shitpit of EFL.
If this story is true, i would think they asked u that just to see how u would describe ur experience with it.
Or we are talking about COMPLETELY different schools.
I think it had just opened this new branch in a shopping centre in Pinklao, so maybe there were reasons for the shocking interview. It was that bad, and this lady was certainly no director; her English gave me the impression that she was a trainee who'd been asked to stand in, and perhaps that might explain her failure to communicate that she wished me to expand on the demands of the CELTA. There wasn't one academic question during the whole interview.
It was ridiculous and, if I recall correctly, I was asked to attend an interview 3 times and it was only on the 3rd time that they had someone around who had remembered that I was due. On a fucking Saturday morning too.
Knowing some of the quality teachers they have chosen to employ in Bangkok personally, I cannot help but think that you're right. The best thing about Wallstreet in Thailand is their marketing.erictheking wrote: I suppose we can put it down to a bad day at the office, but I was as amazed as you are shocked. Despite the fact that they are advertised all over Bangkok, it was a truly amateurish gig from the moment I walked in the door (3 times, in fact). This would be 5 years ago now, but I've honestly never heard a good word said about them since then.
Fair enough, but he definitely didn't interview with a DoS.Alex wrote:Knowing some of the quality teachers they have chosen to employ in Bangkok personally, I cannot help but think that you're right. The best thing about Wallstreet in Thailand is their marketing.erictheking wrote: I suppose we can put it down to a bad day at the office, but I was as amazed as you are shocked. Despite the fact that they are advertised all over Bangkok, it was a truly amateurish gig from the moment I walked in the door (3 times, in fact). This would be 5 years ago now, but I've honestly never heard a good word said about them since then.
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No, I'm pretty sure I didn't either.cambod wrote:Fair enough, but he definitely didn't interview with a DoS.Alex wrote:Knowing some of the quality teachers they have chosen to employ in Bangkok personally, I cannot help but think that you're right. The best thing about Wallstreet in Thailand is their marketing.erictheking wrote: I suppose we can put it down to a bad day at the office, but I was as amazed as you are shocked. Despite the fact that they are advertised all over Bangkok, it was a truly amateurish gig from the moment I walked in the door (3 times, in fact). This would be 5 years ago now, but I've honestly never heard a good word said about them since then.
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I've gone Bus Reg'n via Cambodian Ministry of Commerce (MOC) as a Sole Proprietor Company. Got there 17.15 yesterday and was nevertheless seen to immediately (Note - I did look the part with collar, tie, suit pants, polished shoes, haircut etc.). Step 1: Account balance to prove necessary balance of 4M KHR not required (I was ready with a bribe coz I don't have that kind of coin!). Step 2: Newspaper ad of intent to register not required. Step 3: Total combined costs of over $1100 quoted by one legal firm not required. The guy at MOC filled out the forms for me (activities: 1. School and 2. Publishing [English Movie Lesson Plans in a book, eventually]) and said total cost would be just $300.
Went back in today and signed the forms, paid $300 (no receipt, but) and was told I'd get a SMS with the Bus Reg No on Monday (when I will print business cards and stationery) and the Cert in a week.
Thus, the new English Movie Club Cambodia (EMCC) is ready to fling open its stylish ground floor doors (near Russian Market, i.e. Toul Thompoung II) very shortly. Anybody enthused about teaching a 3 hr lesson (inc. screening of a 90-100 minute feature film - your choice) on my 50" plasma is welcome to come and work for me. Don't worry, I have a Lesson Plan template for you to use but ability with PowerPoint is very desirable.
Remuneration; to be negotiated, but up to $100 paid for a top quality English Movie Lesson Plan pertaining to a popular movie that I gain publishing rights to (Normal rates for just teaching).
Teaching English via the movies: What could be more fun - and more relevant to conversational English improvement! Cheers to my new EMCC!
Went back in today and signed the forms, paid $300 (no receipt, but) and was told I'd get a SMS with the Bus Reg No on Monday (when I will print business cards and stationery) and the Cert in a week.
Thus, the new English Movie Club Cambodia (EMCC) is ready to fling open its stylish ground floor doors (near Russian Market, i.e. Toul Thompoung II) very shortly. Anybody enthused about teaching a 3 hr lesson (inc. screening of a 90-100 minute feature film - your choice) on my 50" plasma is welcome to come and work for me. Don't worry, I have a Lesson Plan template for you to use but ability with PowerPoint is very desirable.
Remuneration; to be negotiated, but up to $100 paid for a top quality English Movie Lesson Plan pertaining to a popular movie that I gain publishing rights to (Normal rates for just teaching).
Teaching English via the movies: What could be more fun - and more relevant to conversational English improvement! Cheers to my new EMCC!
"We are all of us in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the Starrs" - Misquoted from Oscar Wilde.
Good on you Canberra for having a go.
Not too many entrepreneurs or lateral thinkers amongst alleged teachers here.
Actually that is a universal trait of teachers methinks.
A bunch of bloody pedants all of them.
Not too many entrepreneurs or lateral thinkers amongst alleged teachers here.
Actually that is a universal trait of teachers methinks.
A bunch of bloody pedants all of them.
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Funnily enough, before it became a negative term, pedant actually meant "teacher".
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
Or amongst anyone, really.ken svay wrote:Good on you Canberra for having a go.
Not too many entrepreneurs or lateral thinkers amongst alleged teachers here.
Actually that is a universal trait of teachers methinks.
A bunch of bloody pedants all of them.
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I agree with ken Svay, well done.
It is good to see some lateral thinking and you do have a point of difference and will have until it is successful when it will be badly copied and you will be undercut.
I am however perturbed that you say you do not have 4 milion riel to put in a bank account, that is just $1,000.
Most business fail world wide and especially in Cambodia from being undercapitalised.
They spend all their money on the set up and do not leave enough to meet expenses whislt the business establishes.
Only rarely does a business open it's doors and have the customers and money flow in right away.
Good luck with the business!
Useful info an registering a company yourself; thanks for that and well done for doing it.
It is good to see some lateral thinking and you do have a point of difference and will have until it is successful when it will be badly copied and you will be undercut.
I am however perturbed that you say you do not have 4 milion riel to put in a bank account, that is just $1,000.
Most business fail world wide and especially in Cambodia from being undercapitalised.
They spend all their money on the set up and do not leave enough to meet expenses whislt the business establishes.
Only rarely does a business open it's doors and have the customers and money flow in right away.
Good luck with the business!
Useful info an registering a company yourself; thanks for that and well done for doing it.
Note to self: Must be nice to morons.
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Yeah, I know, I made a mistake re currency conversion: thought I needed $100K. Still a bit of a newbie, I guess, and thinking in terms of Thai baht (where most of my teaching experience was). Anyway, I am patenting the EMCC syllabus with MOC ($280) which will enable me to order any school offering a similar lesson to desist.
Meanwhile, my man at MOC says I can still be a Sole Proprietor Company and sell shares to the value of 49%. Interesting ...
Meanwhile, my man at MOC says I can still be a Sole Proprietor Company and sell shares to the value of 49%. Interesting ...
"We are all of us in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the Starrs" - Misquoted from Oscar Wilde.
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LOLCanberra wrote:Y Anyway, I am patenting the EMCC syllabus with MOC ($280) which will enable me to order any school offering a similar lesson to desist.
.
You really are wet behind the ears in regard to Cambodia if you think that will work.
Note to self: Must be nice to morons.
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Just saw your hughmungous fizziog on the back of a tuktuk!
I came, I argued, I'm out
That is a really cool idea. Maybe the film could also become interactive with the students involved in the future? Maybe? Great idea though. The information on starting a business was really helpful.
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