Job Discussion Forums

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

Yes, I'm also interested to know which schools are gladly taking non-native speakers with these credentials.

Most of the jobs I see advertised demand that you are a native speaker. Most require some experience. Many want CELTA/TEFL

Companies pay an arm and a leg to get native speakers and I just can't comprehend why they would want to spend large sums on visas etc for non-natives who don't meet the necessary criteria when they will get native speakers applying. Also, they don't pay natives that much as it is these days, so imagine what they are going to offer a non-native...

Please keep us updated as to your situation Jeff, as I am sure it will be informative to future readers of the thread.

If Russia doesn't work out, China will.

Jeff19 · Joined: 23 Jun 2015 Posts: 24

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

Well, that's what they tell you. In the world of EFL they will say a lot of things when rejecting people for jobs. I don't have a CELTA and I didn't have a problem getting a job in Russia.

I would imagine your g/f's MA and experience should count for something, if it were simply down to qualifications.

If it really is only because she doesn't have a CELTA, why not get one? It only takes a month. Or will these places accept online TEFL? (which is what I have) You will soon find out if the CELTA is the real issue or not by asking these questions. For my first job in China my boss told me he would get my visa invitation as long as I passed an online TEFL whilst he began processing my paperwork. I finished the TEFL in a few weeks and it was no problem.

From reading msgs on this board I know native speakers with TEFL/CELTA sometimes have problems getting jobs in desirable locations. I would certainly do a lot of research on a company that offers you work to make sure you are not going to get screwed down the line - i.e not receive the proper visa, get paid on time etc.

I wish you all the best and I am sorry if I have come across as negative towards you working in Russia. My wife is a non-native speaker (from Russia) and has found really good jobs in China. The only reason I am a little skeptical about you teaching in Russia is that I have never met a non-native teaching English here - but that is not to say it doesn't happen, it's just my experience. And for a school to hire 2 non-natives together may also be problematic.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 8:30 pm Post subject:

The bigger chain schools do accept non-native speakers. What they advertise and what they do may not always tally. Apply to them all anyway. Most of the smaller schools will accept non-natives too. Schools like:

Tom's House

English Unlimited

IPT

Speak Up

Wall Street

Windsor

Yes, you may be unlucky, and get rejected by some, or the majority of them. But one of them will accept you.

However, I still wonder about your girlfriend's master's. BKC does not have a Celta-only policy. They'll accept Trinity, or other TEFL equivalents. But the cert must include observed teaching practice with real language learners. And it must be EFL - not English literature.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 8:31 pm Post subject:

Deats, I am currently working in a school with about 5 or 6 non-natives. They exist! Trust me Very Happy

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

I do believe you Sasha, which is why I said it is just my experience. I just don't think it's the norm, given the choice. Especially to hire 2 together for a smaller school would probably mean having 0 natives at all.

Whilst I agree non-natives can be just as good, and sometimes better than a native, there is use for native speakers within a school. There are certain things natives bring to the table that non-natives don't - although the opposite can also be true.

Out of interest, how many foreigners work at your school Sasha? And where do you work (school, not city - I know you are in the worker's paradise) Wink

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:17 pm Post subject:

It is my own school, actually. It's called 'University of Syntactic Socialist Repetitors'. Has a nice ring to it, I think.

However, unless you have an advanced degree in Dialectical Materialism, don't waste your time applying...

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

As luck should have it...

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:21 pm Post subject:

Trotskyites don't make it past probation, though...

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:24 pm Post subject:

Antisocial elements get sent out to my branches in the east. Amenities are more meagre there...

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:29 am Post subject:

Very high staff retention rate...

Jeff19 · Joined: 23 Jun 2015 Posts: 24

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:11 pm Post subject:

You're very welcome. Here's a website with a list of more school's contacts. Though, please note, I am not saying all these places are good to work for. Some are rubbish, but some of them accept, or have accepted, non-natives. (IPT is the pits, though, grrr hiss boo.)

http://www.eslbase.com/schools/russia

Re the masters - you'll really need to sell any teaching practice your girlfriend did on it. Was it with real learners? Was it EFL? Was there proper observation feedback? This is what schools want to know. This translates as 'Can she actually teach EFL classes?' Otherwise, you'll just get the usual boilerplate rejection letter from BKC. This isn't even a school with very high standards to begin with, so it looks like you need to present yourselves differently.

Jeff19 · Joined: 23 Jun 2015 Posts: 24