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leroy
Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 49
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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Although there are teachers who earn more than $2000 a month, they are a small minority and are very experienced people who know the market well and have served their time at the Language Links and BKCs of the world. An even smaller minority may earn more than $3000 but believe me, they slog their guts out to get it.
The highest salary I have heard of for an EFL teacher on a contract(without management responsibilities) in Russia working a 30 academic hour week is $2700 net. Rare as hens' teeth though these jobs are, they do exist and if you imagine topping that up with a few private students who pay at least $50 an hour, then potentially you are onto a good wage, even by European standards. |
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kazachka
Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:49 am Post subject: |
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leroy wrote: |
Although there are teachers who earn more than $2000 a month, they are a small minority and are very experienced people who know the market well and have served their time at the Language Links and BKCs of the world. An even smaller minority may earn more than $3000 but believe me, they slog their guts out to get it.
The highest salary I have heard of for an EFL teacher on a contract(without management responsibilities) in Russia working a 30 academic hour week is $2700 net. Rare as hens' teeth though these jobs are, they do exist and if you imagine topping that up with a few private students who pay at least $50 an hour, then potentially you are onto a good wage, even by European standards. |
I won't lie, in Aug/Sept I had a period of slogging my guts out on most weekdays, but this was because I accepted a 6 -week intensive that added 20 hrs onto an already full load. I'd not stick to that schedule forever as I was pushing 50/academic hrs a week with all the stuff I was doing. I'm living more sanely now in the 35 hr /week range. I took the crazy schedule in Sept to get a little extra money for my trip to Chicago to see my mom and to run the marathon. There are schools in Moscow where one can earn 2000 ish a month on a 30 hr week. I can think of 2 that have plenty of work, but prefer experienced teachers. One requires a three-part interview and prospective teachers have to teach a mini lesson to the staff before being hired. Also,there are organizations that look for teachers to work with young children. These jobs pay extremely well. A friend of mine worked 10-6 each day (M-F)with a 10 and 2 yr.old and cleared 3000/month. I was offered one that paid in the 4 range but turned it down because it was in Mtishi and would have required me to move out there. I just spent nine long years in Alaska living where it was too isolated making fairly decent money but having no life due to the isolation and lack of much of anything to do. I saw the Mtishi thing as Fairbanks, Alaska all over again -good money but no life. Some things just aren't worth it. I prefer to make less but to be in Moscow where many aspects of my life are. OTOH, this would be a nice job for a small-town person with experience who does not have ties to Moscow. Believe me, I considered taking this job for a yr or two to save and buy a flat, but just couldn't bring myself to move out there. |
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pc-pocket
Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 218
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: |
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kazachka wrote: |
I'm living more sanely now in the 35 hr /week range. |
How can you teach 35 hours per week?
Where do you find the energy? How do you motivate your audience.
I am in China, teaching 6 hours and 40 minutes per week, also having to write 3 lectures and to correct an enormous amount of homework. However, 35 hours of teaching seams to me incomparable... |
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adavidwatson
Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 28 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:14 pm Post subject: Russia is how you handle it |
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There are western exectuives in Moscow and they live a very expensive life, but it's still more for the money than they would get in New York. The Elitny live an even more expensive life.
A ESL teacher really should not expect to live that life. A teacher doesn't live that life in the States either.
Most ordinary Russians entertain in their homes. If you have a circle of Russian friends expect to spend a lot of time drinking and eating in the kitchen. I've had some really great evenings that way.
The people most likey to befriend you are going to be your fellow teachers and some of the Russians who work there. After that is probably going to be your students. I had some cool roomates too, which makes for a more pleasant life.
ESL is basically a 2nd shift job for most of us, so you won't have much of a social life on week nights unless you have a steady.
Not all Russian girls are green card hunters. I would advise you avoid the bar girls. In my time they used to hang out at "The Boar House"
Some of the English language papers like "The Exile" and "The Russia Journal" give an idea about expenses in the restraunt reviews.
You sound fairly grounded so I think you'll do ok. |
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adavidwatson
Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 28 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject: Russia is how you handle it |
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There are western exectuives in Moscow and they live a very expensive life, but it's still more for the money than they would get in New York. The Elitny live an even more expensive life.
A ESL teacher really should not expect to live that life. A teacher doesn't live that life in the States either.
Most ordinary Russians entertain in their homes. If you have a circle of Russian friends expect to spend a lot of time drinking and eating in the kitchen. I've had some really great evenings that way.
The people most likey to befriend you are going to be your fellow teachers and some of the Russians who work there. After that is probably going to be your students. I had some cool roomates too, which makes for a more pleasant life.
ESL is basically a 2nd shift job for most of us, so you won't have much of a social life on week nights unless you have a steady.
Not all Russian girls are green card hunters. I would advise you avoid the bar girls. In my time they used to hang out at "The Boar House"
Some of the English language papers like "The Exile" and "The Russia Journal" give an idea about expenses in the restraunt reviews.
You sound fairly grounded so I think you'll do ok. |
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adavidwatson
Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 28 Location: USA
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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Oh one more thing to the originator of the thread. As a southerner I had a time getting used to the shoving on the metro. It's not personal. |
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Seeker of truth
Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 146
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject: Japan |
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Shoving on the metro? You should try living in Tokyo! |
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biffinbridge
Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years
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Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:51 am Post subject: $650 |
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$650 dollars a month in Moscow!!I say go,you'll have a great time....if all you want to eat are pierogi and beet soup. |
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canucktechie

Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 343 Location: Moscow
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Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Nonsense, I ate well for $150/month, and that includes such exotica as kiwi fruit and greenhouse lettuce. |
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zaneth
Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 545 Location: Between Russia and Germany
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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:58 am Post subject: |
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Hi Guys, been silent a while. Escaped to just over the border (no, not Byelorus) and am enjoying a well deserved rest.
As for Moscow:
Beetroot soup is wonderfully delicious, especially with sour cream (and your women friends won't be pathologically afraid of anything containing fat).
Definitely, hang out in kitchens with friends.
That said, the late night cafe scene on summer nights is absolutely wonderful. (I was lucky enough to have some wonderful friends who were footing the bill for my sorry freeloading a**. Thanks again, you know who you are.)
Food isn't the problem but housing definitely is. Major hassle and can be a real killer price wise.
Moscow is wonderful but is also a very huge city, very crowded, and can definitely wear you down. Metro is good but spending hours on it every day can take it out of you. That screaching sound, the crowds, the heat.
I've never seen Moscow as western standard expensive, but it definitely has it's down side. Don't worry about the social life. The things that will get you are the things you don't even know about yet.
Have fun. Don't get married too quickly. |
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zedington
Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 10
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Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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zaneth wrote: |
Don't worry about the social life. The things that will get you are the things you don't even know about yet. |
Out of curiosity...what would these things be? It seems wise to find out in advance  |
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zaneth
Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 545 Location: Between Russia and Germany
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:54 am Post subject: |
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oh, you know, trying to live with a Russian woman. Russian mothers in law. Russian attitudes toward child rearing. Russian subculture's attitudes towards logic, science and fatherhood. That sort of thing. Don't get married too soon. |
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zedington
Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 10
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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zaneth wrote: |
oh, you know, trying to live with a Russian woman. Russian mothers in law. Russian attitudes toward child rearing. Russian subculture's attitudes towards logic, science and fatherhood. That sort of thing. Don't get married too soon. |
Wow. I'm not even there yet, and you've got me married off. Clearly you've been conspiring with my mother  |
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mikejeffl
Joined: 27 May 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:42 am Post subject: |
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It's a small quibble, but the OP's contention that Dallas is one of the most expensive cities in America is just flat out stupid. |
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misteradventure
Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246
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Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:48 am Post subject: cost of living |
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While I can't speak for the cost of living in Russia or Moscow, I will say that I agree with the cost of living in Alaska. (Imagine paying $7USD for a large bottle of Minute Maid Orange Juice in a supermarket!)
Lifesytle is important as well.
My 2 kopeks. |
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