Cambodia's Angkor Wat is One of the Great Wonders of the World

Cambodia's Angkor Wat is one of the great wonders of the world.

Wandering temples with a double called 'Eldon'.

Angkor Wat is a huge medieval temple complex lost in the jungles of northern Cambodia, gradually being unearthed by archaeologists and overrun by tourists looking for mysteries.

The last available government figures show that 750,000 foreign visitors tour the jungle temples every year. Despite the crowds, Angkor Wat remains one of the great wonders of the world, an extraordinary experience well worth travelling around the globe to visit. It was where I met Eldon John.

"You know, you look very familiar," I said.

We were at the Riverside Guesthouse in the town of Siem Reap, a few miles from the entrance to Angkor. The guidebook said there was a crocodile farm on the river and a map showed it wasn't far from the guest house. I was thinking of going to look at some crocodiles.

"Everybody says I look familiar," he said. "That's not possible," I replied, sipping my beer, "but I must admit you certainly do look familiar."

"I work with Elton John," he said again with a slight smile. "I'm his body double. Elton's virtual twin."

"Pardon my ignorance," I replied, "but exactly what does a body double do?" "I stand in for him on stage if he thinks there's a security problem," he said. "I get to ride in the limo and wave at people. I sign autographs. That sort of thing."

"You're pulling my leg," I said. He pulled two photos out of his pocket. "One is Elton, the other is me," he said. I studied them. I couldn't tell who was who. He did look exactly like Elton John. It was really uncanny.

"I bet you have some interesting stories to tell. How often do you get mistaken for Sir Elton?

"About five times a day in the western world," he smiled, downing his beer. "Over here, maybe once a day." It's a strange feeling to wander the jungles of a strange country with someone who looks exactly like Elton John.

We visited the main temples at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, packed with tourists, including some westerners who looked at us in a strange way.

Then we rented a car to drive 37 kilometres deeper into the jungle to look at the temple of Bantey Srey and finally five kilometres further to the river and waterfall at Kbal Spean.

Here, long ago and for some mysterious reason, artists diverted the river and carved thousands of figures into the bedrock, then re-directed the river back over their carvings. It's the only underwater art museum in the world. Very strange.

We hired a longtail boat and drifted through the floating fishing villages scattered around the edge of the giant inland sea known as Tonle Sap.

To end the trip we visited the ghostly overgrown temple of Ta Phrom, where nature has been left to take its course and huge banyan trees dwarf the ancient ruins. Very mysterious.

"You know there's a lounge in Siem Reap called the Red Piano?" I said, sitting down to wipe sweat from my brow. "I have an idea."

The Red Piano is located right at the centre of Siem Reap. There is a huge photo of Angelina Jolie on the wall. Jolie starred in Lara Croft, Tomb Raider, shot at Ta Phrom.

The film crew partied at the Red Piano every night of the shoot, so now the bar is mentioned in all the tourist guides, and everybody comes to look at the famous photo of Jolie on the wall.

"Why don't we go down to the Red Piano," I said, "and sit down where people can see you, and then see what happens?"

"I know exactly what will happen," said Eldon, standing up. "Let's go."

We strolled over to the Red Piano and grabbed two chairs right by the front door. A man and woman walked through the front door and stopped to look around. "Here we go," said Eldon.

"My God!" burst out the man. "I can't believe it. Look Emily! Look who it is!"

The man strode forward, holding out his hand, his eyes bugging out of his head. His wife held back, too nervous to move.

"Hi, I'm Walter! We have all your albums!" gushed the man, pumping Eldon's hand like a piston. "Everybody in Atlanta is so grateful for the work that you've done in our community. We're such big fans of yours!"

"Thank you," said Eldon in his strong California accent.

"Pleased to meet you."

The waitress came by to take our order. "Is the owner here?" asked Eldon. He pulled out a red felt pen he kept in his breast pocket for such occasions, and autographed the back of a photo. 'Best wishes to the Red Piano,' he wrote. 'From Eldon John.'

Gert, the owner, was Belgian. Business was slack until the Jolie film, when things had subsequently exploded. He came to our table with a look of shock on his face, gazing down at the business card in wonder and then back up again. He burst into a wide grin.

"So pleasant to have you come to my bar," said Gert thrusting out his hand. "Welcome. I would ask you to play but we don't have a piano."

"That's okay," said Eldon, "I can't sing."

IF YOU GO

Siem Reap is a one-hour flight from the capital of Phnom Penh. Flights leave several times a day. A fast ferry across the Tonle Sap Lake takes 5 hours and cots $25. The bus takes 8 hours and costs $10-$15. There are many hotels in Siem Reap from which to choose.

Read more at http://www.canada.com/travel/Cambodia+Angkor+great+wonders+world/6228560/story.html

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Jobs for Former Teachers Abroad: the Appeal of being a “Retired” Educator Overseas

Jobs for Former Teachers Abroad: the Appeal of being a “Retired” Educator Overseas.

Whether you’re a former teacher or recently retired from the teaching field, the excitement of traveling to foreign countries and being immersed in a new culture can be a tempting prospect for many individuals. No matter if you are looking for the adventure of a lifetime or you simply miss the thrill of being a teacher, when it comes to jobs for former teachers and retired teaching professionals, LanguageCorps can point you to some amazing opportunities.

Here are a few of the biggest reasons why so many educators are looking to teach English abroad:

    Being a teacher or professor in the United States can be a very stressful and demanding career. If you decide to teach English abroad, the workload is a lot more manageable as you are only teaching one subject and schedules are very flexible. International education jobs are generally a lot less high-stress than teaching jobs in the American educational system.
    If you have always dreamed of traveling, this is the perfect opportunity for you.  Get paid to live in the country of your choice; you can teach English in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. With the flexibility of your teaching schedule, you are free to travel and explore new countries during your down time.
    Former teachers already have the training and experience needed to teach English abroad. After obtaining a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate, you will be more than prepared to take on the adventure of being an educator overseas.
    With the high demand for teaching professionals to teach English abroad, job security is generally not an issue. The availability of paid teaching positions remains high in all of our international locations.  Have the freedom to choose your schedule, teaching location, and contract.
    LanguageCorps teachers have the satisfaction of knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of their students and the economies of their host countries.

Teaching English abroad is a life-altering experience and a great way to learn about a new culture, meet new people, travel and explore!

Read more at http://www.languagecorps.com/blog/jobs-for-former-teachers-abroad-the-appeal-of-being-a-retired-educator-overseas/#more-343

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Five Ways Teaching English Abroad Can Help Any Career Path

Five Ways Teaching English Abroad Can Help Any Career Path.

“Why would I teach English abroad? I don’t even want to be a teacher!”

Madison Killen

To be fair, it’s a logical question. Yes, teaching english abroad is clearly an excellent opportunity for teachers, but what about the rest of us? Choosing to leave the country to teach probably sounds illogical to someone in medicine, business, law, or really anyone in any other field besides education. However, it turns out that teaching English abroad offers integral skills that can further any career. In an economy where–more and more– it is becoming necessary to differentiate yourself to employers, possessing these skills will fortify your arsenal.

#1 Learn a language

Although it isn’t necessary to know a foreign language to be an ESL teacher abroad, it is more than likely that you will return home having acquired proficiency in a new language. Knowing a language besides English opens up many doors and allows for increased performance in many fields. In the world of business, knowledge of another language is extremely helpful when it comes to expansion and understanding international markets. On paper or in person, knowing the language of those you are in business with demonstrates understanding and indicates respect. In the medical field, the benefits of knowing a language are concrete; sometimes a patient will not know English. Even if they do, having the ability to converse with a patient in her preferred language allows for a comfortable, trusting, and understanding atmosphere. In all fields, proficiency at another language differentiates you—you have a skill that most people will not.

#2 Cross-Cultural Understanding

The benefits of having a cross-cultural understanding are great. Like knowing another language, possessing sensitivity towards the nuances of another culture demonstrates respect and awareness. Being able to focalize on the perspective of someone outside of your own culture prevents misunderstanding and allows understanding of values and behaviors. Whether you are trying to understand the trends of an international market or meeting with foreign partners, being able to empathize with the unique viewpoint of a distinct culture will help you to communicate and understand clearly and considerately. Ultimately, developing a cross cultural understanding will enhance your awareness and broaden your perspective—skills necessary for upward movement in the working world.

#3 Communication and Problem Solving

Besides gaining the ability to communicate in other languages, you will substantially improve your communication skills back at home and in the workplace. Standing in front of a room of people and figuring out how best to explain something in a new language to them will solidify your public speaking and problem solving skills. The ability to effectively communicate is highly necessary in any job and is essential in leadership positions.

#4 Independence

A Motorcycle ride in Vietnam definitely teaches independence

Teaching English abroad requires a substantial amount of independence. Whether you have it before you go or acquire it while abroad, by the time you return you will have a solid sense of independence. Teaching programs often leave much up to the teacher, so you will hone your sense of initiative. Besides the actual teaching job, moving to a new country and establishing yourself in an entirely new culture takes a pretty sturdy sense of self-reliance–chances are high that you will be completely alone when you arrive in your new country.

Although this thought is intimidating, the rewards reaped skill-wise are worth it. Independence is beneficial in any career; strongly independent people will be able to make difficult decisions more easily and stand out from those less able to demonstrate ability and initiative.

#5 Resourcefulness and Adaptability

Statistics show that you are essentially guaranteed to change careers more than once in a lifetime these days. Because of this, it is extremely important to be adaptable, resourceful, and versatile when it comes to your career. Having the ability to adjust quickly to new sectors, and, once within a job, to be sensitive towards rapid change and make quick decisions, can help establish one as a valuable asset to an employer in any field. Teaching English abroad will inevitably give you these skills; being a successful teacher requires a keen sense of resource, especially in underdeveloped countries, and living abroad hones adaptability.

Inside and outside of the classroom, teaching abroad is a superb idea for anyone looking to gain marketable skills to help any career path!

Author Bio

Madison Killen is a writer for Go Teach Abroad. Her favorite place to travel abroad is Germany (she loves meat and cheese). She is thinking about teaching English abroad in the future somewhere far outside of her comfort zone.

Read more at http://www.languagecorps.com/blog/five-ways-teaching-english-abroad-can-help-any-career-path/#more-363

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HCM City to Set Primary School English Schedule

HCM City to set primary school English schedule.

Only on September 16 did primary schools receive word from the HCM City Education and Training Department requesting schools to prepare for universal English teaching program.

VnnNews – Only on September 16 did primary schools receive word from the HCM City Education and Training Department requesting schools to prepare for universal English teaching program. The department will not hold a meeting to discuss the plan until September 23.

Nguyen Ngoc Long, Headmaster of Hoa Binh Primary School, noted that the school has some basic equipment for English teaching, but lacks others like computers, TVs and cassettes or CDs. Long stressed that, besides qualified teaching staff, material facilities would play a very important role in the English teaching program.

According to Long, the biggest difficulty at his school is overcrowding. There are now 40 students in every class, while under current regulations state a class must not have more than 35. Too many students will lead to ineffective teaching.

According to Nguoi Lao Dong, most primary schools in the trial English program are facing difficulties. Some schools even say they don’t know how to begin.

Nguyen Thi Luong Thanh, Headmaster of Phan Dinh Phung Primary School, reported that his teachers attended an English teaching course organised by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). Still, English classes have yet to begin even though the new school year kicked off one month ago. Thanh pointed out that, since the document from the city’s education department has just arrived, only now can teachers begin drawing up plans for the program.

Nguyen Thi Huynh Thoa, Headmaster of Duoc Song Primary School, confirmed that the school’s material facilities and teaching staff have been ready. Now difficulties lie in deciding on teaching methods and organizational options.

The English program for primary school students clearly stipulates its standards and goals. MOET has developed a syllabus and released a guide for the program’s implementation.

MOET also encourages teachers to use other textbooks, if they believe they can bring more efficiency and effectiveness to their teaching.

The goal of the program is to have students reach the equivalent of the A1 level of European language standards when they finish primary school.

Some question if such a teaching program and required English standards will put pressure on students. Nguyen Thuy Phuong Truc, an English teacher at Nguyen Thuong Hien Primary School, responded “No.”

HCM City Education and Training Department on September 23 will chair a meeting of leaders from districts’ education sub-departments, English experts and headmasters of primary schools to discuss the program.

The city education department has requested that schools inform parents about the trial program. They also released the names of three textbooks that are slated to be used, namely Let’s Learn in English, Let’s Go, and Family Friends.

Read more at http://www.vnnnews.net/hcm-city-to-set-primary-school-english-schedule

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Teachers Must Be Trained Living Skills

Teachers must be trained living skills.

It is the first year that MOET decided schools have to operate classes to teach living skills preparation program for the academic year 2010-2011.

It is the first year that the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) decided schools have to operate classes to teach living skills preparation program for the academic year 2010-2011; however, it requires teachers to be trained with educational methodologies and certain knowledge.

Most schools lack professional teachers to take charge in such classes, so head teachers are assigned to do the job. There hasn’t in fact been a training course for teachers of these classes, especially young teachers.

Teachers in charge of such classes need to be trained to teach living skills, MOET has therefore launched a training course for over 700 teachers from 23 southern provinces in the beginning of the year. Some teachers said it is easy that schools offer extracurricular classes but MOET should verify the role of teachers and effective teaching methodologies.

Headmistress of Tran Khai Nguyen high-school, Nguyen Thi Yen Trinh, said MOET and the Department of Education and Training have just ordered schools t teach life skills among the students, but they didn’t give detailed plan. According to Ms. Trinh, young instructors themselves lack living skills; they are thus confused to bring living skills to the classroom and deal with complicated situation.

Managing board of Tran Khai Nguyen high-school has just invited several experts to provide teaching methodology training to head teachers.

After the course, literature teacher Dinh Thi My Hanh said through the course, teachers could design a lesson in which provide life skills to pupils. Meanwhile, teacher Bui Thi Ngoc Thoan, head teacher of class 11A2 said the training made teachers confident to offer extracurricular classes even in one hour through some forms like dramas, poetry or songs. During the classes, the students were taught to combine presentation and teamwork in different topics.

MOET has issued five documents to teach living skills through teaching subjects literature, biology, geography, lessons for citizenship education or outside lessons. However, students felt bored to receive life skills through main subjects but they showed their enthusiasm to learn living skills under other forms. Tran Khai Nguyen high-school’s 10 grader Dong Thuc said he learned how to resolve contradiction through discussion with friends after watching a drama in class.

Another problem has risen when implementing living skill teaching plan, which is financial problem. According to Tran Khac Huy from the Department of Education and Training, private owned institutes are eager to hold training courses to teachers and students meanwhile public schools are not due to financial difficulties.

Moreover, state-run facilities neglected to provide living skill class but focus on raising graduate number for maintaining its achievements.

Psychologist Vo Van Nam said teachers play an important role in training ethic and behavior of students, especially living skills.

Violence escalated among students and even among teachers who had insulting words to learners. Teachers also lack of living skills.

Mr. Nam said living skills can gradually develop through learning, apprehending and experiencing life. Accordingly schools and the education sector should work out long-term plans to each instructors.

Read more at http://www.vnnnews.net/teachers-must-be-trained-living-skills

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Vietnam Becoming Magnet for Expat Workers

Vietnam becoming magnet for expat workers.

The booming economy needs foreigners to plug skill gaps in many areas while locals, by and large, do not resent the higher wages the expats are paid.

Wishing to discover Vietnamese food and culture, Andre Bosia came to the country four years ago and found it a comfortable place to live. It was much more relaxed and generally very different from what he had imagined.

The French executive chef at the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi says: “Vietnam is a good place to live in. I can get a salary corresponding to my qualification and working hours. It is simple to integrate into the society since people are very friendly.”

He now wants to settle down here, especially after marrying a Vietnamese fashion designer.

Bosia is just one of many expats who want to live and work in Vietnam, where opportunities are aplenty.

Some 74,000 foreigners were working in Vietnam last year, well up on the 56,929 in 2010, according to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

They were from more than 60 countries and territories, with 58 percent coming from Asia and 28.5 percent from Europe.

Headhunters explain the jump in numbers by saying Vietnam is an emerging market that only opened up to foreign investment in the early 1990s, thus throwing up many job opportunities for foreigners now.

Given the shortage of local talent in certain technical and creative fields such as advertising and public relations, and professional training, foreigners are often hired to fill in the gaps.

Expats are also in business development and sales positions, especially in furniture and some service industries, where the clientele is mainly foreign.

“With the improvements in the legal system and investment environment, Vietnam attracts a large amount of foreign direct investment,” Nguyen Thi Van Anh, managing director of recruiting firm Navigos Search, says.

“That leads to an increase in demand for senior personnel. But local staffs have not met this demand, either in quality or numbers.

“This is a great opportunity for foreign personnel.”

To attract talent, many employers are willing to pay higher wages and improve the working environment, she says. When hiring senior foreign personnel, employers usually prefer people from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and other places in Asia and people from the US and Europe who have worked in Asia.

It is not just foreign experts and businesspeople who have the opportunity to earn a lot of money working in Vietnam. Even students can earn thousands of dollars a month.

Without an interview or test, Ben from Australia, a former student at the Hanoi National University, got an English teaching job at a language school in the capital. He also does private teaching.

“Vietnamese place a great emphasis on education and learning. Hence, there are plenty of teaching and training opportunities for Westerners, especially native English speakers,” he says.

Those with little teaching experience could be paid up to US$15 an hour, while those with significant technical or business experience could easily earn $20-25 an hour, Ben says.

“It is not hard to make $2,000-3,000 a month in Vietnam.

“I live a normal life with $1,500 in Australia. I am sure you can live much better with your $2,000 in Hanoi since it could be five times cheaper.”

For Graham Sutcliffe, an English conductor at the Vietnam National Opera Ballet, the most attractive aspect of working here is not the income but the people who share his passion for music and art. “Although their salary is low, they still follow music. They understand me, and that’s very nice for a conductor.”

Sutcliffe, who has lived in Vietnam for more than two decades, says life here has been improved a lot. “When I first came here, we didn’t see many cars or public transport. Everything now is much more comfortable in Vietnam. And of course, life has become a lot easier and better.”

However, it is very difficult to find jobs and make money in the arts, he says. “I am not satisfied with my income here. I have a low income. In art and culture, everybody is paid very little. For example, a musician in England can earn at least $3,000 a month, but here they don’t even earn $300.”

Welcomed by locals

Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises, says many foreign experts and businesspeople have come to Vietnam in recent years, and have helped train experts and managers in fields like insurance, auditing and banking.

Vietnamese can also learn about business and corporate management from expats working in foreign firms here, he points out.

“Thus, the contribution of foreign experts to Vietnam is very big. We should facilitate and encourage foreign talents to come to work in Vietnam, so that local people can learn from them,” Mai says.

Even locals, who are often paid lower than foreign staff working in an equivalent position, welcome expats.

Phan Lam, who worked for both local and foreign media companies before becoming a freelancer, says: “I prefer to work for a foreign company than a local one. The foreign companies have a more open working environment, and you are able to work without having to watch the others.

“With expat bosses, I concentrated on my job, focusing on results and performance.

“At local companies, besides working, you have to spend too much time in maintaining good relations with your bosses and colleagues, while at foreign companies, you can cut straight to the chase.”

He admits though that not all foreign bosses are perfect, mentioning his experience with a Japanese boss who required Vietnamese staff to work like the Japanese despite being paid local wages.

“It was a disaster in a small office of three people – five people quit in two years.”

Read more at http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20120210-vietnam-becoming-magnet-for-expat-workers.aspx

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Cambodia’s Impoverished Education System

Cambodia’s Impoverished Education System.

By Bill Costello

I recently traveled to Cambodia to research their education system. During my visit, I stopped by the campus of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the oldest and largest university in the nation, to talk to professors, administrators, and students. I also visited the Chroy Changvar Primary School in Phnom Penh where I observed students learning.

Cambodia’s education system has been significantly affected by three major events over the past century: French colonial rule, the reign of King Norodom Sihanouk, and the Khmer Rouge regime.

While Cambodia had been a French colony since 1863, the French colonial government did not institute an education system in the nation until 1917.

Accessible primarily by the elite, enrollment was sparse.

Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihanouk helped the nation gain independence from France in 1953. For the following two decades, Sihanouk’s government gradually improved the education system by expanding elementary and secondary education throughout the nation and by establishing higher learning institutions.

All the progress made under Sihanouk was reversed when the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975. Led by Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge deliberately destroyed Cambodia’s education system by discarding books, closing schools, and killing teachers. The irony is that Pol Pot was a teacher himself.

Pol Pot even converted one school, the Chao Ponhea Yat High School, into a prison and interrogation center called “Security Prison 21” (S-21). Over 14,000 people died there. Only seven people survived the prison when it was liberated in 1979.

Ever since the Khmer Rouge regime ended in 1979, Cambodia has been rebuilding its education system starting from the ground up. Three decades later, Cambodia’s education system still has a long way to go.

The most pervasive problems stem from the low wages teachers receive.

Because teachers’ salaries start from US$50 per month, teachers often have to supplement their income to survive. Many take second jobs that limit the amount of time available to prepare lesson plans and teach at school.

While public education is supposed to be free, many teachers charge their students informal fees for attending class. Daily bribes cost roughly US$0.20 per day. Thus, poorer students receive less of an education and often end up dropping out.

According to UNESCO, Cambodia only spends 1.6% of GDP on education. In contrast, governments around the world spend much more: East Asia and the Pacific (2.8%); Central Asia (2.8%); Central and Eastern Europe (4.2%); Latin America and the Caribbean (4.4%); sub-Saharan Africa (4.5%); the Arab States (4.9%); North America and Western Europe (5.6%).

At a time when much of Asia is on the rise, Cambodia is being left behind largely because its education system is unable to produce a skilled workforce.

To join the regional and international economies, Cambodia needs to significantly increase its budget for education. Until education becomes a top priority and teachers earn a decent wage, the Cambodian government will continue to deny its citizens the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Read more at http://www.educationnews.org/blogs/90829.html

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