Job Discussion Forums

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

I'd like to teach English on Sakhalin for three reasons:
- There's a big Korean population there, so I could experience Russia and still be somewhat in my comfort zone (I speak Korean, graduated from a Korean school, and lived in the ROK for about four years).
- It's bound to be cheaper than Moscow.
- The competition to teach there is probably pretty low since it's a remote island.

The problem is, I don't know how to find a job there. There are very few postings on Dave's for Russia, and the few that exist are usually for Moscow.

How do I find an English-teaching job on Sakhalin? Is there some huge Russia job board somewhere that I don't know about?

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

I'd like to teach English on Sakhalin for three reasons:
- There's a big Korean population there, so I could experience Russia and still be somewhat in my comfort zone (I speak Korean, graduated from a Korean school, and lived in the ROK for about four years).

I don't know much about that.

- It's bound to be cheaper than Moscow.

I'm not so sure about that. From what I hear, Sakhalin is pretty dear. My wife has been there and says it's nearly the same price as Vladivostok, where I live. Moscow is only a touch more expensive than Vlad, of this I'm sure.

- The competition to teach there is probably pretty low since it's a remote island.

Keep in mind that there is only one school of note (that I'm aware of)in Sakhalin, English First. That being the case, it's likely more difficult to get a teaching job since they are far and few between.
There may be other, smaller, schools there, but I haven't heard about them.

The problem is, I don't know how to find a job there. There are very few postings on Dave's for Russia, and the few that exist are usually for Moscow.

As I said, English First is the only school I'm aware of in Sakhalin; therefore you might want to check out their web site (there's a site for the Sakhalin EF).
There are, of course, a number of oil corporate entities there; perhaps it's possible to get some kind of gig with them?

How do I find an English-teaching job on Sakhalin? Is there some huge Russia job board somewhere that I don't know about?

There's no huge board you don't know about. There simply aren't many teaching jobs to be had in Sakhalin.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

There are a great number of Moscow experts on this forum; unfortunately I am not one of them, sorry!
However, my guess is that $1200 will allow you to barely squeeze by in an expensive city like Moscow--especially if you have to pay for your rent.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

E.F. is one of what we call the 'Mac-Donald' schools on this site and has the additional disadvantage of using terrible text-books which are notorious world-wide!The other two firms which we all love to hate and deride in Moscow are well-known and you can discover for yourself who they are by looking through the various postings!You will also read a lot of other useful information about going to live and work in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia.The biggest problem in Moscow is finding affordable accomodation nowadays but even if it is included in the deal,no way is $1200 per month adequate to get by properly on nowadays with Moscow prices.Make it $2000 to be worth considering....If you do allow yourself to be conned into accepting a job for that kind of money.you will not only quickly regret it and try to find alternative work but also end up using your own funds to subsidise your monthly expenses!!
Take stock of the situation:what can you offer and what experience do you have?How well can you put yourself over when you negotiate with a potential employer?If you are persuasive and have self confidence in your abilities there are several decent companies in Moscow who will offer you a far better deal than any of the Mac firms!But you have to give in order to get and that means probably buying your airticket and other initial expenses.The firm will provide you with a legal work permit-if they won't, forget it!I have given a couple of leads to various people like yourself recently or you can p.m. me for more advice.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

With Russia,,you should NEVER, repeat Never take anything for granted-if something sounds even slightly dodgy ,it almost cetainly is-and probably worse than you imagine!!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I can speak for the teaching opps on Sakhalin a bit. I've about 60 past students from the region, and I've stayed in touch with them over the past five years.

The big need for English in the region is for work with oil companies. Exxon Mobile, for example, run a language school in Sak. to give their potential staff the basics, then the students are sent to the US or Canada for both technical and language training.

The Exxon/Shell/etc. schools on Sakhalin hire highly-qualified and experienced teachers - a newbie wouldn't be considered. Thus, a large part of the need for English lessons is filled by these company schools, which obviously limits the market for private or franchise language schools.