Job Discussion Forums

[Ripley]

Hey

I got offered a job in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, with a company called Santis. Has anyone had experiences with, or does anyone know anything about this company? I am also curious about what life is like in Ulaanbaatar

Thanks

[Larry Paradine]

Hi Ripley. I've just sent you a pm, but I'm not sure you'll get it, because when I checked my "sentbox" it wasn't there; it's in my "outbox" which indicates a transmission problem. If you don't get my message, please pm me. Thanks. Larry.

[bjorn]

At one stage I thought about giving Santis a go (they advertised quite heavily awhile ago), but then read various horror stories on this forum. If you haven't done a search already, I'm sure you'll find loads of info on here. No first hand experience myself though, so I guess I can't judge.

[Goldilox]

It is dangerous, as well as full of lies. Check this out: their notorious 100 percent teacher turnover rate is about once every 2 or 3 months, not once a year! If you look at their web site - NONE of the westerners is there now! Miserable little bunch of liars. Enough said.

[had3151]

I really need to know more about your experiences. Have you actually worked for Santis? What specifics are your accusations based on? It is important for me to find out more. Thxs dah3151

[Goldilox]

Here's the deal!

Better than worry about the opinion and the difficult "experiences" of someone whom you don't know (I am just an ESL teacher) - there are so many fakes here on the board, who knows - go to the horse's mouth! Maybe you are trying to spin for Santis for all I know, since you want to know my experiences and don't present a format for discussion - remember this is a specific discussion thread

You check with the Embassy. IMMEDIATELY they will tell you of the danger. THEY have a thick dossier of complaints on Santis, and have helped people from the west with visas, proper documentation, and to get out safely! And have no fear about "being held in Mongolia" without papers. Puuuhleeze!

Santis tells big lies. There is NO close relationship with the British embassy other than the fact that some of the girls at Santis get invited to the British Embassy for drinks at an occasional Friday afternoon mixer at the embassy. Wink wink...

I am glad you are concerned about the quality there! I should have been more concerned before I went there too. Check it out with the embassy, Santis is dangerous. Don't take the mere word of a simple ESL teacher!

[had3151]

I am not spinning for Santis.

I was offered a job there and has seriously considered accepting hen I read the discussions herein. I was deeply alarmed ever since and just wanted to hear more on specifics not generalization.

I will be traveling from NA and it is a long ways to go looking for trouble when my intentions are good and my life at home is reasonably comfortable.

I will take your advise and check with the American Embassy there.

Many thxs

[lmbeharry]

Did you see this thread?

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=51691

I live in UB, and I firmly believe that Santis' negative reputation is based on truth. I applied there in April 2006 and through the application process they lied. They cost me $300 in fines because I believed Orgilmaa (Director) when she told me "not to worry" about my teaching visa. I actually taught there for a week (they never paid me). It went like this. I told them that I teach with audio-visual and that I needed to scan pages from the book to use with the video projector. So, there I am busting my buns to access the scanner to do some productive work. Wouldn't ya know it, the entire senior staff goes to lunch and locks up the scanner. What the hell! Do they want me to underperform?

Anyway, when they return they open the admin office so I can get to the scanner and I am madly scanning so I can teach my class. Orgilmaa's (not too bright - to put it mildly) English husband tells me to get out and that I was looking at his computer to find his valuable trade and business secrets. I was tremendously happy that I spent only three days there...

Don't waste your time with them. They are unprofessional, unreliable, and likely Sadists, to boot!

Try Engram (www.engram.mn - I designed the site) if you want an ESL job in UB Mongolia!

lmb

[had3151]

Well! That's too bad. So far I can only say that the person I've dealt with at Santis has been very polite and accommodating (answered all my queries). That said I'll be too far away from home to to take such chances. There are just too many unfavorable things said online. I'll be foolish not to pay attention.

Thank you

[lmbeharry]

I always forget to make this point in these threads about Santis school.

Bear in mind that Korea has a population of nearly 50 million, so it is completely logical that they should recruit English teachers abroad (likewise Japan, Thailand, Philippines etc).

Mongolia, on the other hand, has a total population of under 3 million. And UB has a population of about 1.75 million. Take into account that there is a plethora of Peace Corps volunteers in Mongolia, and various other expatriates who are or had been working with various social service agencies and NGO's.

Ask yourself the obvious question: WHY WOULD SANTIS BE RECRUITING ABROAD???

Obviously the Western English/speaking/teaching expat population in Ulaanbaatar has no regard for the school.

My final advice to anyone outside of Mongolia replying to a Santis posting: If local expats in Mongolia refuse to work for them, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND ENERGY flying out to Mongolia for a malfunctioning and corrupt company...

lmb

[had3151]

You have stated some very good points, which are worth listening to.

however i have a question - 'The plethora of Peace Corps volunteers in Mongolia, and various other expatriates who are or had been working with various social service agencies and NGO's' must have specified visas. Just how easy is it for them to work with other organizations i.e. teach in the local schools, without jeopardizing their original contracts and visas privileges?

Well! Thanks I respect all the advise you have shared herein.

[lmbeharry]

I lot of people fall in love with the Country. At Elite School, for instance, two of the instructors from 2005-2006 had been ex-Peace corps. They had decided to stay on, and I imagine the school petitioned the government for their working papers. They left Elite School after that one contract year. The Mongolian teachers at Elite told me that these two ex-Peace corps people went on to The American School.

Other ex-pats "marry into" a Mongolian family. Some ex-Pats have opened their own English language schools, etc.

I hope this answers your question.

lmb

[had3151]

Wow! That's interesting. I hope to get into a school there so that I can also experience UB lifestyle.

Many thanks.

Wish me luck!

[lmbeharry]

I wish you the best of luck. And please take this advice: Make sure you have a contract and an entry letter before coming to Mongolia. This is not a country that will welcome you unless a Mongolian sponsors you. For your first tour you need (should have) a local sponsor to begin and have a semblance of a normal life. Otherwise, they will put you through hell.

Lyndon

[had3151]

I am planning on having a multiple entry visa. I will definitely let you know what my plans are should I decide to come.

Many thanks.

PS I like your new profile picture. So happy you removed the other one.