Job Discussion Forums

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:12 am Post subject:

Fair enough. But many Londoners also complain about exactly those things which you have mentioned. Any large city will generate complaints. Massive ones especially.

But, here's an extra viewpoint: how safe are the streets in London? And how does this compare to Moscow...?

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

I would also worry about other problems in Russia,especially if I was a journalist investigating corruption or had trouble with the police for any reason,even more so if I got locked-up anywhere or came up against anyone with 'connections!'
In London I wouldn't be afraid to go to the cops if I had to,while there most people try to avoid them!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:47 am Post subject:

The two seem to go hand in hand. No trouble on the streets here, from most groups, because the police are not really accountable to anyone. Certainly not to journalists. Leads to the usual abuses of power.

Yet totally absent here is anything equivalent to the danger of being approached by beggars or drug dealers on the streets of certain areas of London. No police around there to help out whatsoever. Perhaps afraid of being accused of racial profiling by the media.

Which situation is better or worse? Really hard to say on ethical grounds. But in terms of just getting on with your daily life, the Moscow way is usually less eventful.

teacheratlarge · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Japan

Amazing, and when was your last trip to London Sasha? I went again this last summer, didn't see much trouble. The last time was when all the looting was going on, but that is a few years back.

Moscow on the other hand, had a few bombed out areas ( no, I'm not kidding, literally rubble everywhere). Yes, and a few beggars as well.

And a legal taxi, did you find one yet? Granted with the cost of black cabs, I can't imagine you would grab one in London, but at least they are licensed.

To the OP, good luck. With the Ruble having taken a dive, don't expect to have much extra money, but if your main purpose is to just reunite with your GF, go for it. I am sure since you have studied in Russia before, it will be enjoyable to go back.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Common sense tells anyone that the economic situation in Russia is tough now(not for the first time by any means!)Consequently making money is going to be even harder so look elsewhere if this is your main motive?
I'm sure anyones Russian g/f/ will be even happier to see him than before under such circumstances.....I know of a Russian girl from Siberia who is a qualified English teacher and has finally moved to stay with a relative in a small town in Moscow district when she found a job offer there,after trying for months at home.She will earn the princely sum of around 14.000 roubles per MONTH and is also expected to give lessons in another town about 20 kms way a few days per week!!Without free accom. etc. she could not survive on this money,especially with todays food prices,yet there are plenty of people in the town who earn much less than her!
So ex-pats who are even on 50.000 per month plus accom. are well-off by comparison!!

Phillip Schofield · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Reasons to go there?

maqueen · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 28

If you are going to Moscow for ESL just give it up. You won't make any where near the money to be made elsewhere, will work like a dog and still be considered a pauper. For those thinking they are going there to play playboy definitely consider latter.

Fair terms:

Visa: $? Costs refunded upon arrival.

Airfare: $? One-way paid by school in advance.

A fully paid apartment in Garden ring: +$1000/half sharing with some dirty teaching deadbeat. Plus employer pays deposits, etc.

Metro card: $32 per month June '15.

What do your consider your time worth? A schedule could involve you waking up at 06:30 and getting home just before 21:00, with probably about 6 paid clock hours worked, 5 or 6 days a week. $10 x 30 = $300 or +86,000pyb (subject to currency fluctuations). I personally consider my time and skills worth minimum double that.

You ain't getting it. Period.

You'll be expected to front visa, flight, apartment costs and Metro card if you're lucky for salary above, which in actuality is 15/16 hour days, with a lot of walking, riding Metro and hanging around drinking coffees. Forget about dealing with "demanding/high-level" students...

As someone who throughly appreciates Russian culture and people, I don't teach to subsidize business or like being put in a position where I'm supposed to be the one doing all the giving for some sort of 'experience'. These people/business have money or at least act like they do and therefore should pay fair rates. I really could careless what a local 'makes'. It isn't my problem. You want professionals pay professional rates.

Go at your own peril.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

I regret to say that unless you are very lucky and have the qualifications and experience to get a lucrative teaching job with a prestige school which can still afford to pay well for foreign teachers,your 'Russian Experience' is likely to be the way the last posting suggest....
Most 'newbies' are totally unprepared for what Moscow is really like until the shock hits them!
1)Try not work split shifts unless you live next door to where you are working.
2)Try to teach at as few locations as possible...if you can get only one it is a good start and will avoid the agony of commuting.
3)Unless you have met the person who you are expected to share a flat with first and are sure you can get along,do your utmost to get a place for yourself.Rents have dropped considerably this year and the firm can afford it!
Having your own space is essential if you are going to survive the stress of living there,even more so with winter on the way etc.
4)If you succeed with points 1-3 above then remember that you are there for the experience and not to earn money....that takes a long time and involves building up a portfolio of private students who can still pay well if you are good enough for them...quite rightly,it's reserved mostly for the 'oldies' who have given 'blood ,sweat and tears' to build up their work in Moscow,even more so in these difficult times!

Phillip Schofield

Partizan · Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Posts: 61

Phillip Schofield · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: The unfortunate truth.....

To respond to Maruss' points...

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

This is a guy who is on the spot and very clued-up about the situation over there at present so I would treat his advice with great respect,only I would add that sharing with a nice Russian f. is of course the best outcome,although the downside is that you are unlikely to save any money!So decide which is your priority,the money or the pleasure!(And never give the first directly in exchange for the second,which is of course also very possible in Moscow!!)No more comments on that score now!

maqueen · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 28

[quote="Phillip Schofield"]

Phillip Schofield

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

The Moscow metro is often advertised as one of the worlds finest.....and in some ways it is,unless you have to use it at peak hours!So many 'newbies' get caught out by this and the split-shifts and had no idea of how large the city really is until they started their schedule which involves travelling around to teach at various locations.Although I often enjoyed the actual teaching,especially to adults, and met some really interesting people,I was often so mentally and physically tired that I struggled to keep my eyes open!
Six months of it made me feel as if I had done it for six years and in the coldest winter there for decades!
Be warned and also don't try spending heavy evenings out to drown it!!A fatal combination!