Job Discussion Forums

[gerberbaby]

Sain baitsgaana uu ta nar? Pardon me, this is my first post. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Mongolia's University of Film (Kino Urlagiin Deed Surguuli).

I contacted them about a listing on this site back in May, for an English teacher for a one-year contract. About 2 months later, in July, they started taking me through the hiring process. I have a Skype interview tomorrow. In the meantime, they gave me a large info packet which promises (direct quote):

● Round trip air transportation to Ulaanbaatar from your location
● Fully furnished apartment
● Apartment and amenities within walking distance of the school
● Transportation provided when necessary (Taxi/Car Service)
● Healthy and hearty lunch provided daily on school days
● Coffee and Snack breaks at KUDS coffee shop
● Additional grocery allowance (nutritious & sustainable)
● Bi-Monthly entertainment at one of the many theater, arts and cultural events of Mongolia
● Net Salary $2,200 per month US
● 38 hour work week (22 teaching hours)
● Total package equivalency over $50,000 per year US.
● Potential Personal Savings of $20,000 per year US.

They also mention that they had a two-year English program, which they have recently expanded to a four-year one. They have a close relationship with a high school, the Russian Joint School, and seem to have a combined faculty, which makes me wonder if I might end up teaching at the other school instead. The packet did not mention health insurance, so I'll be sure to ask tomorrow.

My background: I have a bachelor's in linguistics, but no ESL certificate. I lived in Mongolia for 3 years and speak Mongolian, but I was in the countryside, so I'm not always sure how things go in U.B.

One of my friends taught at another university for only $1200 a month, so he was impressed by the base salary. I don't know anyone affiliated with this school, unfortunately, so I hoped someone here might be familiar with them. Does anyone knows about the reliability or working conditions of the school? Are the terms good for U.B.? Thanks in advance!

[spiral78]

If it's a genuine offer, given your limited (though not bad) qualifications, I'd say it's a great package.

[EFL Educator]

That is an excellent TEFL salary and benefits package for East Asia...go for it and good luck!

[gerberbaby]

Thanks for the replies. The offer sounded very good but I wanted to be sure. The interview seemed to go very well, so now I'm just waiting. Since nobody's worked there, if I get the job I guess I'll have to let other people know what the work's like. Also, thanks to everyone who posted information in the various other Mongolia threads that I read through too.

[RustyShackleford]

Edit.

[plumpy nut]

Odd university. Sounds like something from the Old Soviet era.

[gerberbaby]

I was accepted to the job, and I received a copy of the contract today in email today.

The major points (round-trip ticket, salary, and apartment) are there.

My major concern is that it doesn't give a clear total for the number of work hours; and also it seems to not be paying me more for extra work, but rather deducting for salary for NOT teaching extra. Is this typical?

I'll post the contract below in a minute.

[gerberbaby]

First part of the contract:

I. The Contract is as follows

1. This contract regulates the work relationship between the employer and the employee
2. Determines mutual obligations and responsibilities of participants accepted in this contract

II. The teacher's obligations

Teacher is obligated to:
2.1 To respect and follow the legislative laws currently existing in Mongolia
2.2 Follow all the regulations and laws of the Mongolian - Russian joint school
2.3 Do not sign any contracts with other organizations during the contract
2.4 Visa expenses are paid by the employee
2.5 Do not give private lessons
2.6 To inform the school administration in the case of illness
2.7 To guarantee qualified language training according to the educational standards of Mongolia
2.8 To follow all the regulations of living in the teachers house, not to litter, to keep the school property in good condition
2.9 To have a plan for each class and extra classes, written according to the school template
2.10 Not to be late for classes and extra-classes
2.11 To keep the register in order to fill in correctly during the week
2.12 The teacher must have a daily lesson and show the administration each Friday
2.13 To check the students tests within two days since the testing day
2.14 To conduct 5 extra classes a day during the vacation
2.15 Teacher mustn't use any form of physical aggression towards students
2.16 To carry out the following duties:
- To conduct 20 classes of high-level
- To conduct 5 extra - curricular activities per term (competitions, Olympiads, conversational lessons, etc.)
- To render assistance to the administration and teachers in translating and drawing up necessary school documents.
- To assist the administration in the control of student's knowledge
- To participate in the students' preparation for the _______ Olympiads (district, city, state)
- To participate in the school activities for the teachers of _____ (meetings, the decade, demonstration classes, reports, concerts)

***

I'll post the "Employer's obligations" later. I don't like the teaching during vacation, or the lack of a clear time estimate for the "extra" activities

[gerberbaby]

Second part of the contract:

III. Employer's obligations

3.1 To provide a free separate apartment
3.2 To pay wages monthly T 2200 US net per month / 20 teaching hours per week
3.3 Round trip air transportation /international flight / to and from Ulaanbaatar Mongolia

IV. Responsibility of the participants

4.1 Health expenses are to be paid by the employee
4.2 Employer has the right to deduct the following sums from the wages under the following break of conditions:
a) To deduct 2% from the wages for absence of lesson plans
b) To deduct 4% from the wages for being late for classes and extra-classes
c) To deduct 3% from the wages for not filling in the register or incorrect filling in (not to fill in black ink, to write topics of lessons, not writing the correct date, for fixing the date)
d) To deduct 3% from the wages for not conducting extra-classes or extra curricular activities
e) To deduct 3% from the wages for not conducting classes for school administration or school stuff, not participating for the teachers of ____ and other activities held by the school.
f) To deduct 10% from the wages for breaking regulations of the teachers house, damaging or losing school property
g) To deduct 5% from the wages for not informing of his absent at work
h) To deduct 5% from the wages for not informing coming to work due cause. The teacher will pay flat rent of 20 dollars if or she does not come to work without due cause (serious reason)
i) To deduct 4% from not giving the report
j) To deduct 2% from not having a lesson plan
k) To deduct 4% for beginning the lessons not on time and for finishing early
l) Employer has the right to cancel the contract early under non-compliance of accepted obligations.

4.3 Under pre-term cancellation of the contract caused by not keeping the accepted obligations the employee must pay the flat rent of 500 am.dollars for each month lived.

This contract is concluded in 2 copies ________ 2015 year for the period 2015-2016 year and goes into effecct at the time of signing.

The participants' addresses

Principal's seal

Teacher's signature