Job Discussion Forums

Kajabba · Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 1

Hey, I may be offered my first ESL job in Aktau, Kazakstan.

This is not Atryau, which I've read damning things about here, but it is an oil city.

I'm guessing that the town is a bit humdrum, but would love to hear of any experiences of the city though from you lovely people.

The job is teaching business english, more or less, to adults in the oil industry. It pays $1300 per month. In the company, there's apparantly only 1 other foreign teacher in the company, and a few local teachers.

I'm 22-- I'm not wild, but I do want to enjoy my year.
Are there nice places to chill, like parks/cafes?
Is there any accessible scenic nature?
Will I make friends easily? Find things to do?

Should I go for it?

Thanks.

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

You can read quite a few postings on this site about working in Kazakhstan,which is basically a country that makes its rules up as it goes along and the people who have power decide when and if they apply!
I do not know this city personally to give you any specific advice so unless you get some feedback from other users of this site the best thing would be to try to contact the other foreign teacher whom you say works for the firm whom have offered you a job and try to get some in-depth info. BEFORE you make a decision whether to go or not.Also bear in mind that even that person may,or may not want to tell you the truth for a number of reasons so basically its a gamble,like many situations in this life!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject:

Heh heh! Thought you were describing Russia there for a second, mate!

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

Especially if you have read Medvedyevs speech yesterday!!Question is,WHEN are all these changes going to start????-and who is going to implement them???

slaqdog · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 211

I worked in Atyrau for 9 months:
It's a hardship post.
There's nowhere to go there's nothing to do
the c****y food is b****y expensive
The natives are hostile and aggressive
The pollution is terrible and the weather appalling
The mud is incredible thick sticky when it rains
and it gets down to minus 20 in winter
the only places to drink are expensive hotels and expat bars
full of oily workers and fat wh��s
the flights are incredibly expensive
and full up at xmas-oil companies buy em
You are lucky to be paid on time
the companies relationship to the tructh is distant at best
its so dull fishing sounds like fun
I liked it;but I am a masochist
I visited Aktau and it was really nice;
Beautiful sunsets a nice beach, a nice town
some problems with pollution/contamination so swimming is not advised
Not so cold in winter-flights to Istanbul and Almaty(great city!)
The capital Astana is also worth a visit
The wasteland around Aktau is impressive in its desolation and there are some interesting Sufi ruins there

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

The last post is like an ee cummings poem. Laughing

zeke0606 · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:25 am Post subject:

Kajabba -

Was the offer from Caspian Training Group LLP? They called me and offered me the bum's rush - no contract and no other information and be there yesterday --- "We really need you!"
Two different women called - yes called and left no email trail - and both talked so fast with two different unknown accents (at least to me) and never told me the location, but did mention in passing the same salary....

If you have gotten the same treatment as I have from them and read some of the other posts about Kazakhstan as I have, you might want to consider a bit more normal country to start in. I have been an international English teacher longer than you are old --- not that I know much, but I do have some experience in dealing with this type of hustle.

See a contract first!

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And even more luck and well wishes if you decide to go there......................

Zeke

sg9015 · Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Saigon

If you want to go to Kazakhstan, I could put you in touch with a language college that were great employers. They paid about $15 USD per hour but lots of opportunities to teach. I had to turn alot of work away. They are in Astana which although expensive, is a reasonable city to live in. Yes its cold but fantastic. I really miss it. I never had any problems with them in the year that I worked for them.

The Kazakhs I know were warm, inviting and welcoming. Probably some of the best people I have met on my travels. Please don't think Borat. It is nothing like that.

eltie · Joined: 06 Dec 2009 Posts: 8

I just got offered a job with Caspian Training Group, straight out of CELTA class as well, same stuff - we need you right away, etc. So what are the problems with this school? As long as I don't send them any money, or original documents, am I free from scams? What other type of scams should I look out for? At some point I'll have to give them my passport number, is there any danger in this? I'm happy to work hard to get a year or two teaching under my belt, as long as my health / safety isn't compromised. Thanks for any feedback, I'm new to this and don't want to pass up what seems like a good opportunity, but don't want to get scammed either.

zeke0606 · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:16 am Post subject: what

eltie --

I can tell you to use your own intuition - does it 'feel' good or what?

In almost 25 years of teaching ESL in and outside of my home country (where is it again?) I have found that some of my choices were spot on and others were the every opposite and very scary! I have a MSc, veteran of Vietnam and I'm the same size as a NFL linebacker - so scary is not really in my vocabulary.

I managed to have the entire return air fare in my pocket --- just in case! And in a few places that I went to teach, that return air fare was REALLY handy!

Happy New Year and very good luck!

Zeke

slaqdog · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 211

and the return airfare from Kaz is A LOT! Check out the Air Astana website to give you some idea of how much it can be.
Important question is regarding the visa-what kind of visa are you expected to get?
Medical Insurance?
Is there any information on the web about this operation?
Aktau is a nice town so maybe worth the risk.

the dakota kid · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 44

Here are few things I have learned in the last few months:

The contracts are always subject to change...nuff said
To be legit and legal, you will need a WORK visa, not a business visa. Without this you can't open a bank account or do quite a few other things.
You will need to register with your oblast/city...if you have the wrong visa, good luck
Medical insurance is not as common as you may think in KZ. Medical care is practically free and is to be avoided (so the natives here have told me)
Flights out are $$$, but flights from Baku are cheap and plentiful. The flight from Aktau to Baku is not that bad, about 200 USD. That may be a good option.

tdk

eltie · Joined: 06 Dec 2009 Posts: 8

Thanks everybody, I decided not to take the job. Lots of red flags and just didn't feel comfortable. I couldn't find anyone who worked there in two different chatrooms, and didn't feel right with their people. During the interview she said they'd give me free Russian lessons; when I asked them to put in in writing she said it's $10 per hour. The contract states that it can be cancelled at any time for any or no reason. And, they wanted me to go there without a visa and they'd take care of the visa - at the Kazakh airport after I arrived. The last straw was when I asked, when does the contract start, and she answered, tomorrow.

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

Good move not taking that; it sounds shady to say the least. *Sigh* Only in TEFL...

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

Anything that sounds dodgy almost certainly is,especially in the field of E.S.L. jobs and even more so in a place like Kazakhstan where rules are made to be broken and are every minute!