Job Discussion Forums

JessInRussia · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 36

I started my career in teaching at one of the more well-known schools; one of those with a fixed contract, fixed salary, fixed conditions and all that. This last year saw me change to a smaller school, relatively unknown outside the city. After having already had one sour experience in my short time, I was sceptical and unsure, to say the least.

However, they have been fantastic. I would never have found them if I wasn't in Russia - their website is in Russian and I'm not that proficient yet. And they're not so small - they have ample facilities, hundreds of clients and much respect in the city. They have looked after me in every way possible. I'm so impressed with the quality (school) and quantity (salary!) that I'm returning for another year. And they're advertising for another teacher right now.

But was I lucky, or are these unknown (and sometimes smaller) schools the better choice between the fixed-contract schools? Or, as a third option, should one go it alone and have students arrive at your house (or travel to theirs) and up your price?

I think this is a topic many young teachers want to know a lot more about from those who have the experience.

Jess
Ekaterinburg

PS: The poll will run for 30 days and then I'll post the results.

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

I'd say you were lucky. Results vary considerably. In any event, most of these guys keep most of what they rake in and give you a % (a 3rd, perhaps) and don't do all that much in terms of support. The ones that DO provide real support pay peanuts.

As I said in another post, there is little incentive for the companies and schools to pay, support and retain good teachers, and there is enough of a supply of inexperienced younger folk, students and adventurers, that they can present to the students as a (gasp!) native speaker. Most people can't tell the difference between a good teacher and a bad one, and most students and teachers don't stick around long enough to justify the higher expense of getting and retaining the good ones. How many here would refuse work for less than 25K?
I will. But most college/grad students and Indiana Jones types won't, and the schools know that. So they offer 10, or even 15K, and act like they're doing you a favor.