Job Discussion Forums

canadka · Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Moscow

Deal all,

The school term has recently ended, and my former employers, a school called Integration XXI Century located in Strogino in northern Moscow, have docked $800 from my salary because I am not renewing my contract. If anyone is planning to work there and has questions please PM me.

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

After replying to an ad. a couple of years ago by this school,the woman in charge said they had found someone with' more experience' but would keep me under consideration in case of future vacancies etc.....I think they also have another school near Oktyabrskiy Polye if I am not mistaken?She was very vague about what salary they could offer too, but said she could give me a 'very nice appartment near the school' to live in rent free as part of the deal! The whole thing sounded a bit fishy, so it seems my doubts were confirmed!

Martin.

GF · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn

Sorry Martin, but I am the guy that got the job instead of you two years ago. My advantages were that I was already living in Moscow, I had 19 years' experience teaching children and teenagers, and I had already worked for several well-regarded schools in Moscow. Integration delivered on everything they had said they would. I got paid the $25/academic hour they had advertised (I averaged 40 hours a week) and the flat was the nicest I had during my 5 years in Moscow. It also had the added benefit of being a short walk from the school. Overall, it was a very good year for me.

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

Were you really earning $4000 per month??If so,congratulations because you deserve it with the experience you have!By comparison to you, my knowledge and work experience of teaching is minimal!This makes me wonder if I should really continue with the idea of working in Russia as it is the only kind of work usually available to foreigners there and consequently there is enormous competition from other people who are much younger than me and more highly qualified etc.They are also prepared to work for minimal wages just to get in at the beginning!
All the best and good luck with finding another job-I'd be glad to read your comments!

Martin.

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

If an academic hour is 45 or 50 minutes, that's even more than $4000 a month. That's incredible!

GF · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn

Yes, I really was earning that much and more because I had a part-time job at the House of Stankevich that paid the same (though they actually took out taxes). I do not work in Russia anymore because I didn't like the way things were going, especially for foreigners. I used all the money I earned to buy a flat in the center of Tallinn and now work here. It is a much friendlier city, the people are fantastic and I don't see myself leaving here anytime in the near future.

You can find well-paying work in Moscow, just not at the language schools. Private day schools are the way to go if you can get in to them. The problem is that it is better to be in Moscow already so they can speak to you 'live'. Too many schools have been burned by out-of-country cadidates who never showed up for their posts. If you are interested in Integration XXI Century, then PM the original poster of this thread because she has information about changes at the school since I left. The pay has been reduced quite a bit and the contract is not such a good deal any more.

Good luck to you!

BELS · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 402 Location: Moscow

I would still be concerned about the school which canadka was docked $800. We have one person showing concern about the schools reputation, and one person speaking highly of it. Who's to know that GF is not the director of the school, as it seems suspiciously too good to be true

GF · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn

That's enough of that BELS. PM canadka to find out if I am the director of Integration XXI Century or one of its former teachers (she actually knows me quite well). I am not ripping the school because I wasn't docked any of my pay and the school honored its contract with me to the letter. However, the director does have the habit of docking pay for real and imaginary offenses. Future candidates are forewarned.

Tyke · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 5 Location: UK

I recently applied for an ESL teaching post at XXI Century Integration school in Moscow which was advertised on TEFL.com at a monthly salary of 3000 Euros and a free flat. They expressed interest in me but in their reply the monthly salary with all the benefits that would entail - e.g. holiday pay (shocking!), was dropped in favour of 25 Euros an hour and the flat now became 500 Euros a month to be paid by the teacher. I.e. a totally different package to the one advertised in order to tempt a good response from quality candidates.

When I questioned this discrepancy I got a series of vitriolic and abusive e-mails from, who I guess, was the director of this institution. Must say I didn't take all of this without dishing a bit back!

Now if the management of the place are going to be so devious and aggressive with candidates prior to employment, what are they going to be like when they have you got you by the short and curlies over in Moscow?

My advice is to give these charlatans a wide birth if you have any self esteem at all.

Tyke · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 5 Location: UK

On doubting their salary claims:

"I'll send you the bill, the copy of the passport with the signature, but only (attention!) if the proof is valid you will have your balls cut, rabbit. No, you will cut them yourself, and before doing that you will suck my toes. Ready? You Brits are always like that - claiming others are liars and then suddenly disappearing in a bush."

Well he's got we Brits all worked out then. But toe-sucking?

Tyke