|
The Reviews 'n' Ratings ADANAC Language Center Opening it's doors in February 2000, this school is trying to fill a very interesting niche in the market. While they are an English school offering a full range of classes from general English through to test preparation courses, they are marketing their courses at foreign students, in addition to the locals. This means that their target market includes students from countries such as China and Indonesia. They want to attract these students along with Thai students in an effort that will give the school a real international flavour. In addition to this, they are also chasing some corporate contracts and have secured a few big name customers already. The school is very well equipped with a purpose built building which includes very nice modern facilities with a computer lab, video room with a number of separate videos and TVs, and even quality onsite accommodation for the international students. A nice touch in the classroom is the inclusion of recessed lighting immediately above the whiteboard and custom built tables for the placement of tape decks for listening activities. This all contributes to making the teacher's role that little bit more comfortable. I think they have an excellent concept. Whether it works or not, only time will tell. A lot of their marketing seems to hinge on the fact that what they offer is a lot cheaper than an alternative English course in one of the more traditional (and native English speaking) countries such as England, Australia or New Zealand. Students do not get the total immersion in an English speaking country but given that many foreign students studying in other countries just hang out in groups according to their nationality and predominantly speak their mother tongue, this is probably not a big issue. They have got some very well organised, knowledgeable and experienced folks working there already and this school looks like it could be a very god bet in the future. Still small now but when they get going, look out, they've got real ambition! They are not offering any full time contracts just yet but are paying 500 baht for 50 minute periods meaning that they are offering fair remuneration, commensurate for this position. They also have plans to begin a course in Thai language studies for foreigners but this is a little way off yet. Overall: Quality Establishment APM With this school mainly offering general English courses as opposed to test preparation (which is available but less popular), this is a good school to go to if you are new to teaching. It will help an inexperienced teacher looking to gain some valuable teaching experience before moving into a higher paid position. With AUA charging the lowest fees of any major English language school in Bangkok - less than 2,000 baht for a 30
hour course, the students are supposed to be a joy to teach. One of the major
downsides is that they use the Interchange series of workbooks - a series that is, in my opinion, really flat. On a very positive note, many of the Thais that you speak to in Bangkok who have excellent English but were not educated overseas, seem to have studied at AUA. Exactly why this is, I don't know. Sure it could be the fact that there are many good teachers there but I doubt it is that. I personally believe it is due to the pricing structure at AUA that allows someone to study many courses without paying through the roof. At any one time, AUA's main branch in Rajadamri Road has around 100 teachers so there are often openings for new teachers. They have a number of other branches in Bangkok and around the country. AUA is a real mix with some really good, qualified, experienced teachers but also some teachers who are in Thailand for all the wrong reasons. The school has a unique term system where classes are in six week blocks. After each six week block, the school has a break of one week until the next term starts. This allows teachers the opportunity to take off out of Bangkok and travel but it also means a week without pay. AUA usually recruit before each term starts and they are consistent advertisers in the Bangkok Post. There used to be a feeling that the administration / management was pretty much free of bullshit - they tell you straight - which would be nice and perhaps almost unique.....but as at October 2000 I have been inundated with emails saying that the complete opposite is true.
Classes are generally scheduled on a Monday-Friday basis with some classes on a Saturday. With a shock change of policy, teachers are now required to teach 20 Saturday mornings a year where as the old policy was that if you were a new teacher, you were expected to work Saturday mornings on either your first or second term only. (This is a good part of the reason for dropping this school's overall rating)
While they may or may not be free of BS with regard to teachers, it must be said that the administration staff at this school are a little unprofessional with regard to customers. The author of this page went there to investigate a Thai course at this school and the staff were totally unprofessional and simply had no idea on how to deal with someone making an inquiry. They were rude and unhelpful - whether their English language department is like this, I don't know but it doesn't bode well. They lost a very keen customer who went elsewhere and spent his money there. I gather that as an AUA teacher, you get a 50% discount off their "award winning" Thai course. Pass up the discount and go study somewhere decent like Union or Nisa. It should be noted that many people feel that I have under-rated this school as this school is genuinely straight with it's teachers. BUT, until they upgrade the premises (will never happen!), get rid of some of the unqualified teachers, lower the class numbers and perhaps raise the LOW rates of pay (220 - 305 baht per hour), the rating will stay as is. Still, quite a few teachers have said to me that "If you have some money of your own and just want a job to keep you busy, AUA is a great place to teach".
Note October 2000: Negative feedback is flooding in about this school. Lots of teachers leaving and the introduction of compulsory weekend work sees this school hit rock bottom - it is now rated a Sweatshop! The very managers who insist that staff must work Saturdays refuse to do Saturdays themselves.
The Australian Institute Of Languages is the Australian equivalent of the British Council. Probably the highest paying private language school in Bangkok, and with a salary band of 38,000 - 50,000 a month, this school can afford to be choosy. The contract is a nine month contract - NOT a year though they are working towards a 12 month contract. Of the three months where there is a gap in the contract, intensive Summer school programmes are operated meaning that there is still work available. Basically, if you don't have an RSA, it may be difficult to get a position here - and that has got to be a good thing! Austil will consider taking on people who have just completed the RSA - they like to get a balance of both experienced and fresh, enthusiastic teachers. This school is affiliated with the University of New South Wales and a lot of their resources are actually sourced from that institute in Australia. The school has two branches in Bangkok, one at the Vanit building on Petchaburi Road and
the other at Mahanakorn University which can be considered semi rural - it is a fair
distance from Central Bangkok. The school concentrates on preparation courses for students studying overseas such as IELTS and Academic English courses. A good bet for those teachers with an RSA who aren't content to see their meagre earnings
disappear each month. Some students that I know quite well who studied at one of the language schools that I worked at and also studied at AUSTIL made some very positive comments about the
quality of tuition at AUSTIL. Within their buildings they have microphones in all of the classrooms that allow the branch manager to listen in and hear what the class / teacher are doing / saying. There are regular checks to ensure that you are following the Berlitz way and you will be condemned if you are teaching using anything other than the fixed narrow minded and downright stupid Berlitz approach. Needless to say, this school is for unqualified teachers. This school is for those with no teaching qualifications and no desire to think about what they have to do. If this is you, it's probably your dream job.....sex tourists take note! Bits The school seems to be very sensibly managed and I like the fact that the school does not compel you to be on the premises if you are not teaching there. As long as you are adequately prepared and your lessons are to the standards that they expect, they allow you to prep off site. This school would be a sound bet if you are qualified with a bit of experience, like teaching Business English and importantly, are well presented as the work is outside on the premises of Thai corporates. The one major problem that this school has - that is endemic to all schools in Bangkok that offer in-company English courses is the travelling times. Teachers may be required to teach at three different locations in one day and some of the contracts that this company has are as far afield as Ayyuthya province! Having said all of this, they are committed to giving teachers agreeable contracts. Some teachers get time and a half for contracts that require excessive amounts of travel, such as the aforementioned Ayyuthya contract. If you don't like travelling, this school may not be for you, otherwise it's a good bet. Overall: Quality Establishment |