Facilitities: Hua Mark branch has 17 classrooms, fully air-conditioned and brightly lit. Each room is fitted with a whiteboard and CD player. There is a large teachers' lounge, separate from the administration area, in which teachers can prepare lessons, eat or just relax. It is equipped with a refrigerator, microwave oven, and computer for teachers use with free internet connection. We also have a “chill out” room, with a sofa-lounge set and various work stations for teachers who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the teachers' lounge. This area is ideally suited for teachers who want to prep for class or hold small group discussions. Teachers can also use this room during down time to listen to music, watch a video/ DVD or simply read a novel from the teachers' book exchange library. The atmosphere at AUA Hua Mark is relaxed, friendly and easy going with a staff willing to share ideas and teaching methods. A wide range of teaching materials and resources are also available for class use. We subscribe to two daily, English language newspapers.

Teaching: Teachers at Hua Mark come from all walks of life and various professional backgrounds. Most are from the US, Canada, England and Australia. Currently, all new teachers must have a bachelor's degree and a 120 hour certificate in teaching English as a foreign language. This is necessary in order to successfully process and obtain a one year work permit/ visa which is required to work in Thailand. We provide strong mentoring support for new teachers during their first two terms with AUA. An ongoing professional development program consisting of peer observations, self-study modules, workshops and seminars provides teachers with the opportunity to share ideas, techniques and knowledge which can be applied in the classroom. For those teachers who are interested in language school operations/ management, we provide hands on experience in the day to day running of a branch through various administrative positions. Normally, this would only occur after a teacher has been with AUA for at least one year.

Teachers at AUA Hua Mark are on the same pay scale as all Bangkok branches.  New teachers will start on 330 baht per hour which goes up to 360 baht per hour at the end of the first year. At the end of the second year, the pay rate goes up to 390 baht per hour. This is the top pay rate for weekday teaching. The Saturday pay rate is the same for all teachers at a flat 550 baht per hour. Most new teachers can expect a minimum of 20-30 contact hours per week (4-5 classes) plus 6 contact hours on Saturday (2 classes). As with all Bangkok branches, teachers who participate in our professional development program will receive an end of year payment of 40,000 baht.

Ramkamheang Area: Hua Mark is a busy university and residential district, situated in eastern Bangkok. The area has a young feel to it with a campus atmosphere. A lot of the local residents, and hence a lot of our students, are temporary Bangkok residents from up-country. There is an abundance of buses and taxis as well as a rapid boat service on the canal which provide easy access to the center of Bangkok. In addition, there are also many shopping malls and markets to choose from which are not patronized by tourists and thus offer Thai prices. Entertainment venues include plenty of movie theaters, reasonably priced restaurants, bars and beer gardens. Hua Mark also offers affordable living. Apartments can start for as little as 4,000 baht. For just over 5,000 baht it is possible to find an air-conditioned apartment with cable TV, a swimming pool and fitness room. All in all, Hua Mark is an inexpensive, vibrant and interesting place in which to live and work.

If you are interested in teaching at AUA Hua Mark, I encourage you to contact me directly at email address huamark@auathailand.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Robert Kibler
Branch Manager, AUA Hua Mark