Job Discussion Forums

[BELS]

[mdk]

Moscow! Moscow! Moscow!

It is like the 3 sisters in Chekhov�s play. Everybody wants to go to Moscow. There are lots of nice places to live besides Moscow. Take some time and learn a little Russian. Then look around. Russia is a nice country if you spend a little time to find a good place and don�t go to places like Tyumen, for example.

I remember when I was living outside Moscow you could get a seat within 20 meters of the stage while a laureate violinist played Brahms� violin concerto. It cost me six dollars for these seats. Try to get that in Moscow. Hah! Good luck.

[canucktechie]

[maruss]

The sole reason that people are pouring into Moscow from outside is money of course, because that's where the jobs are!The cost of living in general has risen considerably everywhere in Russia during the last year or so but wages outside the capital are usually much lower!
As a result the place is bursting at the seams,the traffic is often at a standstill and the metro and buses are a nightmare throughout the day,rather than just in the rush-hour!The quality of life is consequently poorer for almost everybody,despite all the money which the capital boasts it is awash with!No wonder holidays abroad or even to quieter places nearby are all the rage because people are trying to save their sanity by escaping whenever they can.......Increased demand means increased prices for appartments etc and who can blame landlords for 'making hay while the sun shines!!'
Where will it all end?Who knows-in Russia, everything is possible!
I fully agree that there are much nicer-and mentally and physically healthier places- to live in Russia, but money makes the world go around, there, just as much as in other places!

[mdk]

[BELS]

On a discussian with my Russian students, caused by Market leader upper intermediate, there impression is that they are many great offers to get out of Moscow from those other cities and towns. Thatat they do realise thta due to the problem of Moscow having all the professionalism and talent etc, that they must entice those from Moscow with greater packages. Otherwise those other outside areas won't get the the required professional workforce that they want.

Therefore they are pressurised to make great package offers that exceeds what Moscow offers.

Great, will they do this for EFL teachers ?? Otherwise forget it , as I don't want to know. PERIOD!

[BELS]

They already make much better offers to teachers in the western oblast for example. Simply 25 km from the nearest moscow metro. And they offer free a minibus service at a convenient location in Moscow. The income is normally at least double the usual, and due to shortages normally negotiable to get much higher income. Unfortunately for some the high demand is for children and teenagers.

[maruss]

Bels is absolutely right(to give him credit,he usually is about everything to do with Russia!)-there are very well paid jobs out in Zhukovka and Rublevo etc. which usually involve teaching either kids, some of whom are very young, up to teenagers.They are either at private houses or in small groups at special schools for the upper income bracket families.This is an elitist area and their parents often have very big money!
Teaching children requires certain qualities of character and abilities,plus the correct training and a genuine interest and liking for them.It is certainly not a job to do just because it pays well.Maybe because of my age,I don't have either the patience or the rapport with them and stick to adults and older teenagers whenever I can.When I first went to Moscow to teach,I was given several state schools where I had about 8 academic hours per week in total,in addition to my adult groups and 1/1 at the firms office.This was not not what I expected after being interviewed in London and basically I went along with it as a gesture of goodwill for a few months,but would not opt to do it again.
Kids are very sensitive and not having the correct teacher at an early age can do them a lot of harm which may affect them permanently.So unless you are sure it's right for you,don't try it!There are plenty of firms who teach in-company and adult groups for people like us!

[mdk]

When I taught in Siberia I taught electrical engineering and physics students and like that. You couldn�t hurt them critters much and it was fun. MUCH more fun than little kids....especially little rich kids.

[BELS]

[mdk]

It�s not just the kids. I had teenagers in Moscow and generally enjoyed them. They were bright good kids.

But I taught them in the evening. After a full day at the Russian school. They were so pooped their eyes were literally rolling in their heads.

The university students were college age. With that group they had been through the regular Russian "English" course (Remember Tomsk was sealed off for over 70 years) I would start each class by going around and asking them to give me their name, city of origin, and career goal in English. When you get that deer in the headlights stare - you know you�ve got yer work cut out that semester.

I also taught students who were studying to be translators. Some of them were real whips and generally had good English skills.

But them rugrats can be a problem. Nothing like a smartass six year old to make you appreciate teenagers who are just pooped.

[anubistaima]

[BELS]

[BELS]

[anubistaima]