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Cardinal Synn
Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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Double post - whoops
Last edited by Cardinal Synn on Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:39 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Cardinal Synn
Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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Old Lion wrote: |
OK,
I taught in UA. YES if you dont know russian you are set back,...be prepared to be overcharged at cafes, and TAXIS ..yes taxis are the worse!! if you get a taxi get one with a meter gage or they will over price you. Not knowing Russian sets one back alot..i speak fair Russia..know around 700 words and can place then in sentences, but it set me back..i could only imagine one who knows only basic..you cant really travel and you pretty much need baby sitted to go anywhere beyound school-home-stores.
As for the AEC, I'd say pass on UA...apt here are more they they are in the USA..and for an old Soviet craphole. In kiev for a flat one could rent in downtown Atlanta for 450 USd a month with nice repair..Kiev a old roach infested old 50 year old ugly flat. will run 400-700 USD..why I dont know when the ave monthly wage is 600USD a month in Kiev..
You'll be left with about 500-700 spending bucks a month if you room up with someone...
Also apt they charge 500 a month rent are considered good..your views include overflowing dumpsters, drunks sorting through them,all grey..ugly apts all around..a lift-elevator like something out of a horror flick...neighbors playing load misc and constantly hearing car alarms going off outside...Your apt will have 1 bedroom, with old ugly furnature the owner used 15 years ago...the bathroom will have some old tub and sink..with ugly brown tile...the kitchen has some load 30 year old fridge..and older stove...If this apt was in Atlanta it would rent for 50 bucks a month..Kiev-Dnipro-Kharkov...around 300-800 a month..go figure... |
I know this is an old post, but when exactly did you teach in Ukraine? Taxis with meters? That was a long time ago!
Sounds like you were here a while back. Also sounds like you didn't like the place. |
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lstamsos
Joined: 14 Nov 2008 Posts: 3
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:37 am Post subject: Money Issues. Really? |
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After being home for awhile, I still can't understand how some of the people were barely able to live off of what they made a AEC.
I worked at AEC for 8 months and within that time, I made much more than I was making in the U.S. After the cost of living, I had plenty of money to go out to eat on a regular basis, travel carefree to other countries each break, and still made it out of the country with a $3000 profit. I wasn't living extravagantly, however I wasn't pinching kopeks either.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. Just what were you doing with your money? I could understand if you had to support a family or something but just being single? Sometimes after working 12 hour days, I wish I had decided to stay. |
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kc4real
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 27 Location: VA, USA
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Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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I agree about the money, I work here at AEC now, I think people are crazy saying you can't live on the money here!!!
The only reason i can give is that some people drink a lot, really a lot, and are impulsive with their money!!!
But honestly life is much less stressful here then in the USA, and i never worry about money, instead i am able to plan what I will do with what ever money I save. When i get paid i just through my money in a dresser and it slowly piles up!
I love working here it's great!!! |
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Fred_Garvin
Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 7
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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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Here's a few things to think about when you consider AEC.
First, user jonpernick is a recruiter. I heard mentioned that someone thought he was the owner. He is a recruiter, plain and simple. And he is paid a commission for each teacher he hires. He's not in Ukraine, he's in Kosovo.
Second, the rent they charge you is often equal to the rent they pay for the apartment. So, when they charge ONE teacher 1600 UAH for a flat, it's usually the cost of the flat. But when they have 2 teachers in the flat, they are making 1600 UAH.
Third, much of your "salary" is based on bonuses. The bonus system has been changed a number of times, and they look for every excuse NOT to pay your bonuses. "Oh, the moon was blue on Tuesday, No bonuses this month"
Fourth, they do not have permission from the Ukraine Job Center, or any other branch of the government to hire foreign workers. Each and every Native English Teacher working for AEC in Ukraine is illegal. With the exception of those who are permanent residents.
Fifth, the "letter" they will give you to take to a Ukraine consulate in another country to get a visa isn't worth the paper it's printed on. In every case, the latter has been rejected. Why? Because it's not the correct format of letter and they don't have permission to hire you in the first place. In the end you will have to get a standard tourist visa or private invitation visa. Which means you will still have to make more than 1 trip out of the country during your 1 year contract with AEC.
Sixth, in addition to working illegally, you are also living illegally. Under Ukraine law it is the responsibility of the company to register you with OVIR. But, in order for them to do this they have to have legal permission to hire you in the first place. (see note four)
Seventh, they will tell you it is your own responsibility to register with OVIR. you cannot register with OVIR unless you have a valid employment contract from a company with legal permission to hire foreign workers.
While they do have a good program, from the students point of view, most of it is ripped off from other teaching books, and their treatment of Native English Teachers leaves a LOT to be desired.
User jonpernick once said he was scrapping the bottom of the barrel and was having a hard time finding teachers. But the attitude in the Kiev office is that Native English Teachers are a dime a dozen. An easily replaced commodity.
And their turn over of staff tends to prove this. |
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