Job Discussion Forums

[matt_lafontaine]

Hello,

I'm a recent graduate from the US who is planning on getting the CELTA certification this summer. I'm interested in getting work teaching English in Russia, and I'm _not_ limited to Moscow / St. Pete. I've lived in Moscow, traveled extensively throughout the Caucases, and have an interest in seeing more of both European Russia and Siberia. If anyone has advice or information they could pass along WRT getting work in most all locations in Russia then let me know, it would be very appreciated!

Regards,
Matt LaFontaine

[scot47]

"very appreciated" ?

A prize for any EFL teacher who can explain why this is not colloquial English ! (Something they do not teach you on those cert courses BUT the kind of question you get in the real world of TEFL !!)

[Snegurochka]

What about Omsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk or Vladivostock? Were you looking for smaller towns, or what? It might help if we knew some of your preferences. Much appreciated, if you could provide a couple. Russia is pretty big, you know.

[matt_lafontaine]

Although I don't know too much about Omsk, Tomsk, or Novosibirsk, I wouldn't be opposed to working and living there. I've heard Novosibirsk is a pretty vibrant city, and that's what I'm most looking for is a place with some kind of arts / entertainment scene.

If this gives you some idea of my preferences, I don't expect the 1000+ theatres of Moscow or anything like that but I would like somewhere I can go to a decent theatre and/or concert once or twice a week as well as any other cultural venues (a city with a good university always helps). I'm not too terribly concerned about the weather of the place either; I can handle cold just fine.

I'm not too sure about Vladivostok, as I have heard a lot of conflicting opinions about the city. Some say it's in complete economic and social shambles and while that's perhaps not too far from the rest of Russia I wonder about the relative quality of life there. But I've also heard that the city is making strides towards improving itself and things are really looking up. It's also a plus being so close to China and Japan, places where I have some friends living. But in that vein I prefer to be a bit closer to European Russia so I can travel there on holidays and such.

I'm not opposed to smaller cities / regions, but I don't want to be completely removed from civilization. I've found people from the parts of Russia I have travelled through to be quite friendly and welcoming and I assume other parts of the country are like that as well, so I don't want to be stuck in a place where I can't make some acquaintences outside of work.

Maybe I'm asking for too much here I'm certainly able to compromise on a few things as well, so don't hesitate to suggest areas strong in some things but lacking in others. I know everywhere can't be Moscow / St. Pete. Does this help at all in giving you some idea of what I'm looking for?

- Matt

[Zolushka]

Hello Mr L! A while ago there was a job opening in Rostov-on-Don and they offered something like 90 rubles an hour. The position was advertised on this very website. Didn't you see it? Now, Rostov-on-Don is a good-size town, with plenty of cultural things to do. And it is not so cold there! Language Link offers vacancies in Krasnoyarsk, which is in the middle of Siberia. I know they have loads of cultural activities there. But it is a little far from European Russia. By the way, have you applied to anyone yet?

[matt_lafontaine]

Zolushka,

Unfortunately I haven't applied anywhere yet, as my situation is a bit difficult. I'm planning on getting the CELTA certification this summer and trying to get work for the coming academic year. The problem is simply $$$ - I just graduated university in December and I've got to work and save the money to take the course before I can think of doing anything else.

I know that schedule is a time crunch and will leave me with fewer job opportunities, but I don't know that I should apply without already having some sort of training; how do EFL employers respond to people who have all the necessary prerequisites for teaching (university degree, teaching experience, experience learning a language, enthusiasm, ability/desire to live abroad) except for training and experience in TEFL specifically?

Will my application be considered the same as others if I'm making the statement "I will have a CELTA certificate before the teaching position begins even though I don't have it now?" Because it seems to me that any serious school would say "Sure, how do we know that?" and I don't particularly want a job with a school that doesn't require prior training, as I don't expect the working conditions or pay to measure up, and I wouldn't feel comfortable just going in cold either.

Thanks for your comments, and if you have any other leads to places I might apply I'd appreciate it a lot!

- Matt

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Dear Matt,

I hate to jump into the middle of this thread uninvited, but please BE CAREFUL about even considering Russia as a "first" EFL experience.

There are just too many reasons to list here... as to why this is so, but let me at least comment on the previous poster's reference to a job in Rostov-On-Don that pays 90 Rubles an hour. If this is the correct figure, (90 Rubles per hour) then...it is a definite "PASS".

Matt: 90 Rubles per hour = less than $US 3 per hour. Even if you worked 30 hours per week, which is a lot, you'd be earning 2,700 Rubles per week, times 4 weeks per month...you can do the math. With that kind of deal, you'd be earning LESS than $400 per month, and that is a SLAVE LABOR wage, even in Russia. Forget about it. On that meager wage, you'd have enough $$$ to put food on the table, but just barely.

There *are* some decent schools here in Russia, but there are also many that routinely take advantage of ESL newcomers. Just be careful and do your homework before signing ANYTHING. And remember the exchange rate when evaluating the seriousness of ANY and ALL offers you might get. That exchange rate is currently: US$ 1 = 31.8 Rubles **CORRECTION/UPDATE** ---- As of February 24th, the exchange rate is now US$1 = 31.29 Rubles.

Final tip: Any offer in Russia today that pays less than $US 500 per month (with PRIVATE housing included) is NOT A GOOD OFFER. I've been here almost 2 years now; I understand the cost-of-living, and I am by no means extravagant.

Write again with any specific questions you can think of, and I'll try to help. In the meantime, keep checking the job-offered boards here at Dave's, as well as the tefl.com website. And remember that most schools in Russia hire the bulk of their teaching staff for the FALL semester. Now is *not* a really good time to be job hunting. Things will pick up again this spring and summer, in terms of job offers.

Warm wishes,

Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Linguamir
Samara, Russia
29 January 2003

[matt_lafontaine]

Kent,

Thanks for the advice - I had the pleasure of living three months in Russia at the end of 2001, a great time to be travelling in the world

Based on those three months I definately wouldn't consider a 90-ruble-an-hour position unless housing, food, and a full wardrobe were included, if you catch my meaning

I was able to live on about $750 a month, paying for housing, meals, and a fair amount of travel, and I plan on coming to my first job with a few bucks saved up so I don't have to worry about running out of cash. As a self-supporting student in the US I've definately learned how to live frugally as well, so I feel confident I can get along wherever, as long as the salary isn't ridiculously low.

Do you have any advice as to good schools in Russia or former Soviet republics to which I should consider applying?

- Matt

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Dear Matt,

Do I have any advice on good schools...? Well..... no. Not really. I've been working for the same school for almost 2 years now, so I do not have any *first-hand* experience working at other schools.

Of course, there is a lot of second-hand, "heard it from so and so" information out there, but I don't play that game. Opinions about these language schools are just too subjective... too personal... and too biased, based on one's own personality, expectations and previous experiences, as well as on the "real" conditions and management of any given school.

In plain English, I TEND NOT TO TRUST ANYTHING ANYONE TELLS ME about a particular language school, *especially* when that information is second-hand. Fact is, schools often change character, like the fuzzy caterpillar that blossoms into the beautiful butterfly. Of course, the opposite can happen too. Managers come and go, schools *do* get better or worse, and staff often have personal 'quirks' and idiosyncracies which affect their judgement, and so on...

I would suggest, if you haven't already done so, to read ALL of the posts about Russia on the Job Information Journal here at Dave's. There are some good tips, candid suggestions, warnings about "bad" schools...and even a few good contacts and email addresses for you to find in there. That should keep you busy until Spring, when the job offers begin to reappear again.

In the meantime, I'll be happy to help you in evaluating the terms of any job offers you might receive, or to answer any specific questions you have. Good luck, Matt

Warm regards,

Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Linguamir
Samara, Russia
30 January 2003

[Brooks]

I taught in Irkutsk from 97 to 98. I lost my job because the ruble really fell. I was going to come back for a second year, but my university couldn`t afford to pay me the salary which we had agreed on. I was going to get $1100 a month.
I could have come back but the salary would have been $200 a month, with no airfare provided.
I knew a Brit who worked at the university and he managed to make $900 a month or so but he worked all the time, even on Sundays.

I had an offer at a university in Novosibirsk, and I saw jobs for Chita (just north of Mongolia) and in Vladivostock with English First.

Brooks

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi Brooks,

Yep...I dream about $1100 per month in Russia. As we say down on the farm in Pennsylvania, "them days are gone, ain't?"

These days, salaries at the private language schools are running from roughly $350 per month on the low end...up to maybe $800 per month on the high end. The median salary, if there is such a thing, is $550 per month, flat included.

DOS's are usually the ones earning the high-end bucks these days, but that's not too surprising since they have to shovel the "dirt" all day long and explain to the new recruits why the hot water, the internet, the copier and the elevator aren't working.

Life in Russia. It's not just a job; it's an adventure!

Take care,
Kent

[Zolushka]

$1100 a month! Did it come with a flat and all the perks such as an airfare and visa? By the way, how many hours did one have to work a week? If that's one's net earning, then it's not bad at all. I knew a teacher who was getting $3000 a month in Moscow. And of course, he worked ALL the time, weekends included. Everything depends on what you are looking for: support from Russian admin with less cash a month and not too much travelling; or more dosh in return for 'freelancing' around town that comes with a lot of travelling thrown in. There are private schools and boarding schools that offer big bucks if you are willing to go to smaller towns.
St Petersburg has too many small schools and they all pay about the same. Hourly rate is definitely worse than Moscow. Yes, it is a lovely place if you don't mind the weather. Pushkin is not a bad place either and it's not that far from St Petersburg. Well, Matt, the world is your oyster. So take your pick!

[Brooks]

I had a good job in Irkutsk.
I had a free flat, had my airfare paid for, and I got $1000 a month.
I didn`t get paid on time. I tended to be paid 2-3 weeks late.
I even got free breakfasts and lunches, 5 days a week.

I taught university students but I did have to teach children as well for a time since two Americans quit and one was fired.
I also taught professors as well. They paid me under the table. They didn`t have to do that, but it was a nice gesture on their part.

During the summer of 1998, I studied Russian a lot and I had improved, but then I got an e-mail at the end of August stating that I couldn`t come back because the ruble was weak.

I would like to come back someday, but now I work in Japan, where I make more than three times my wage in Russia.

Lake Baikal is a nice place to visit.

[The_Prodiigy]

Why has this particular thread been re-vived ?
This is quite old.

[potabavich]