Ajarn Forum - Living and Teaching In Thailand - View Single Post

pawthoo · 12th May 2008, 13:25

Killing me softly, your memories would be jolted should you come back to Vientiane. I've only been here 6 years and some months but ...quite a lot is very different than you remember. In no particular order ...
ATMs on virtually every corner. (ANZ Bank work for you?) The old French Embassy medical staff have now set up a clinic with quite a lot of modern equip. You can visit as a walk in or buy various annual pre-paid plans and when you do visit after that the fee is nominal. Aussie clinic treats only "Commonwealth' patients.

The Aussie Club is now closed to all but Embassy staff and families. Quite an uproar from the expat community
to include open meetings w/the Ambassador all to no avail.

Foreigners not only own lot chak/moto sai but larger 4-wheeled vehicles as well. I've driven a Toyota Tiger for 5 years. Tax is 125% which can put vehicles in pretty high price range compared to LOS.

There are many, many disco's/clubs which stay open all hours dependent on how much they pay the local constabulary. They will not hesitate, however, especially with expats to stop you for offenses real and imagined to pad their meager salaries.

Jobs are available at several of the many schools now here. (Seems a new one goes up every week.)
Best gigs are Vientiane College, the Vientiane International School, and ours which will remain nameless. Usual
pay for 8-10 hours/week is from $10 to $15. Try 21st Century near That Luang, ACL next to the Mekong Hotel,
Lao-Singapore on Nong Bone Rd, Never mind the English speaking tuk tuk driver, just buy one of the '3 D' maps at any convenience store and look for the schools of English.

Best advice is to have certs, quals and experience. We don't take anyone without at least a CELTA or its
TESOL/TEFL equivilent. Neither will Vientiane College nor VIS.

In deference to the 'no name and shame' policy' I will recommend avoiding certain schools but will only do so
in a pm or in person.

Killing is still correct in that Lao is different. Much different than Thailand and it doesn't suit everyone. Please consider the regime, its history and be prepared for bureacracy, inefficiency, corruption and - outside Vientiane -
very low living and educational standards. I get NUOL graduates of 5 year programs in English who, when tested, have difficulty scoring above elementary. I have actually asked some applicants if we could speak in Lao as they are incoherent in English.

Cost of living is probably a little cheaper than LOS but going up steadily. Lots of new businesses and investment money coming in lately. Mining is huge and getting huger. We do one contract w/ a gold and copper mine with 650 students onsite. Other associated businesses are also clients for English Training.

Lastly, to agree in princlple with 'killing' make a visa run here, spend a few days, look around, knock on a few school doors and see if this is what you really want. Give me a heads up via pm and I'll give you my number. We can have coffee or a beer and I'll help as best I can. (No we don't have any vacancies at the moment. Waiting list.)

Hope that helps, good luck!

12th May 2008, 13:25	#5 (permalink)
pawthoo pawthoo is..... Established User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vientiane, Lao PDR Posts: 386 vCash: 500 Rep Power: 35	Re: Living/Teaching in Laos? Killing me softly, your memories would be jolted should you come back to Vientiane. I've only been here 6 years and some months but ...quite a lot is very different than you remember. In no particular order ... ATMs on virtually every corner. (ANZ Bank work for you?) The old French Embassy medical staff have now set up a clinic with quite a lot of modern equip. You can visit as a walk in or buy various annual pre-paid plans and when you do visit after that the fee is nominal. Aussie clinic treats only "Commonwealth' patients. The Aussie Club is now closed to all but Embassy staff and families. Quite an uproar from the expat community to include open meetings w/the Ambassador all to no avail. Foreigners not only own lot chak/moto sai but larger 4-wheeled vehicles as well. I've driven a Toyota Tiger for 5 years. Tax is 125% which can put vehicles in pretty high price range compared to LOS. There are many, many disco's/clubs which stay open all hours dependent on how much they pay the local constabulary. They will not hesitate, however, especially with expats to stop you for offenses real and imagined to pad their meager salaries. Jobs are available at several of the many schools now here. (Seems a new one goes up every week.) Best gigs are Vientiane College, the Vientiane International School, and ours which will remain nameless. Usual pay for 8-10 hours/week is from $10 to $15. Try 21st Century near That Luang, ACL next to the Mekong Hotel, Lao-Singapore on Nong Bone Rd, Never mind the English speaking tuk tuk driver, just buy one of the '3 D' maps at any convenience store and look for the schools of English. Best advice is to have certs, quals and experience. We don't take anyone without at least a CELTA or its TESOL/TEFL equivilent. Neither will Vientiane College nor VIS. In deference to the 'no name and shame' policy' I will recommend avoiding certain schools but will only do so in a pm or in person. Killing is still correct in that Lao is different. Much different than Thailand and it doesn't suit everyone. Please consider the regime, its history and be prepared for bureacracy, inefficiency, corruption and - outside Vientiane - very low living and educational standards. I get NUOL graduates of 5 year programs in English who, when tested, have difficulty scoring above elementary. I have actually asked some applicants if we could speak in Lao as they are incoherent in English. Cost of living is probably a little cheaper than LOS but going up steadily. Lots of new businesses and investment money coming in lately. Mining is huge and getting huger. We do one contract w/ a gold and copper mine with 650 students onsite. Other associated businesses are also clients for English Training. Lastly, to agree in princlple with 'killing' make a visa run here, spend a few days, look around, knock on a few school doors and see if this is what you really want. Give me a heads up via pm and I'll give you my number. We can have coffee or a beer and I'll help as best I can. (No we don't have any vacancies at the moment. Waiting list.) Hope that helps, good luck!