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Red and white
Joined: 30 Sep 2007
Posts: 63
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 Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:43 pm Post subject: Experiences of language schools in Russia - help needed! |
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Assistance sought:
I work for a newspaper which is preparing a piece about the EFL market in Moscow and what's good or bad about it at the moment.
I've got access to a lot of horror stories (some from my own experience of teaching here, others via forums) and would be interested in following up some of these.
But there seems to be a shortage of people bringing any good news about schools in Moscow - can anyone help with this? I'd rather not produce a piece which is entirely doom and gloom unless it's absolutely necessary.
I'm also interested in life outside of Moscow - how are things out in the provinces?
Feel free to contact me here, or via PM.
Many thanks! |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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There are plenty of jobs out in Siberia, but you have to do your own research and apply to the schools. They don't advertise. This favours experienced people, of course.
Conditions vary, in terms of whether or not the rent is subsidised, how much you earn etc. |
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evelopez
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:44 am Post subject: |
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No no no, coledavis - he's a reporter/former teacher asking if there are any teachers in RF who are having a POSITIVE experience.
I know a few people who work for a certain company (ahem) - who claim to be having positive experiences (or, at least, keeping their mouths shut if they're not).
I'll post this on my Facebook, but I doubt I'll hear anything back. |
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ate_the_paint
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:07 am Post subject: |
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| Actually, I quite like my job teaching in a Moscow suburb. My company (so far) has treated me fairly and my pay is good. I've read a lot of horror stories on here too but I've been pleasantly surprised to see that they don't apply to me. |
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Kilij-Arslan
Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Forget it. The Russian government has decided to kick out native speakers. As I said in another thread, even if you manage to jump through all their hoops to get the necessary work permit(and you may already not be eligible), any given time the government might decide to shake-down the language schools again and you'll find yourself being de facto deported. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:18 am Post subject: |
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This is the entry by Kilij-Arslan on another thread:
"I've been working in Russia for nearly years now. My advice to anyone interested- forget it. Even if somehow you manage to get past this shake-down, they can arbitrarily change the rules any time they feel like it- and I guarantee you they will. Don't dignify this pathetic, corrupt, worthless country with your time and money. If you must see Russia, do so as a tourist. Otherwise you'll regret it."
He's got into a paddy about Russia and wants to cast a slur upon it in any way he/she can.
Russia is not a worthless country and I think it highly likely that teachers will get back in. This is a temporary glitch, I'm sure. Do you really think that the legislators devise immigration rules just to get at native speaker English teachers? |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:57 am Post subject: |
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| Yip. I second Coledavis. Dunno what beef the poster with the Turkic sounding name has, but it is not a fair reflection of the whole country. |
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maruss
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Posts: 1145
Location: Cyprus
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| Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: I'll back Cole and Sasha on this point... |
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| Despite many of my negative postings,it is not right to be too 'black and white' about any country as there are always exceptions....take a look on this site under U.K. schools postings for example:few are positive there either! |
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Kilij-Arslan
Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:14 am Post subject: |
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| coledavis wrote: |
This is the entry by Kilij-Arslan on another thread:
"I've been working in Russia for nearly years now. My advice to anyone interested- forget it. Even if somehow you manage to get past this shake-down, they can arbitrarily change the rules any time they feel like it- and I guarantee you they will. Don't dignify this pathetic, corrupt, worthless country with your time and money. If you must see Russia, do so as a tourist. Otherwise you'll regret it."
He's got into a paddy about Russia and wants to cast a slur upon it in any way he/she can.
Russia is not a worthless country and I think it highly likely that teachers will get back in. This is a temporary glitch, I'm sure. Do you really think that the legislators devise immigration rules just to get at native speaker English teachers? |
Again, I am not trying to be a dick or anything, but I know what I am talking about. Again, I've been here for nearly four years, working for the same company(and in my opinion it is the best), and yet now because of a completely arbitrary and idiotic decision of bureaucrats, I have to give up my entire living situation just regardless of my qualifications and experience. This is no glitch. In fact the migration services' excuses are beyond ridiculous. They amount to the following:
1. They are doing this to benefit Russian workers. This reason is idiotic because the Russian government doesn't give a damn about Russian workers. Secondly, corporate clients specifically ask for native speakers. We have clients who are high level managers in companies which have large investment from the Russian state- and they specifically want native speakers.
2. The other reason given, according to Moscow news, was that there have been allegations of incitement to ethno-religious extremism in the classroom. I can't even begin to tell you what's wrong with that.
Yes, eventually language schools will be allowed to recruit foreigners again, but their quotas are going to be cut, which will lead to many problems, and you will have to jump through many hoops to get here. There is talk that you may need a four year degree in linguistics or teaching, in addition to your EFL certs. And as I tried to point out earlier- even IF you manage to jump through all those hoops, it is possible that another massive reform could pop up at any time, and you will find yourself facing de facto deportation overnight.
But if anyone is interested in getting jerked around, wasting time and money, by all means, give it a shot. |
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Zajko
Joined: 31 May 2007
Posts: 130
Location: No Fixed Address :)
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:00 am Post subject: |
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Seems rather odd that you've been working in what you describe as 'this pathetic, corrupt, worthless country' for four years. Why, given that attitude, does leaving even bother you?
Yes, Russian bureaucracy can be exasperating at times, and most of us who've worked there for any length of time have come up against the occasional 'issue' here and there - which can usually be circumvented somehow, given some local knowledge or an employer who's willing and has a few contacts. It's just the way things work here and part of the joy of living in Russia. You clearly aren't getting any joy out of that, so perhaps it's time to move on? |
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Kilij-Arslan
Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| Zajko wrote: |
Seems rather odd that you've been working in what you describe as 'this pathetic, corrupt, worthless country' for four years. Why, given that attitude, does leaving even bother you?
Yes, Russian bureaucracy can be exasperating at times, and most of us who've worked there for any length of time have come up against the occasional 'issue' here and there - which can usually be circumvented somehow, given some local knowledge or an employer who's willing and has a few contacts. It's just the way things work here and part of the joy of living in Russia. You clearly aren't getting any joy out of that, so perhaps it's time to move on? |
My description is rather generous. You would hear much worse from Russians. Like I said, it may be possible for some people to work here, but you will have to jump through many hoops and spend a lot of money, and even then they government can just change the laws on a whim. Apparently this isn't sinking in with most people here. |
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Zajko
Joined: 31 May 2007
Posts: 130
Location: No Fixed Address :)
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| A lot of Russians would certainly agree that there's corruption in the system here: there is in many - indeed most - countries around the world. I can honestly say, however, that in all the years I've spent working in Russia, I've never met a Russian who would've described the country in the virulent terms you have. I say again: if you find this country such an unpleasant place to live and work, why have you been here for 4 years? |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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| I second Zajko. |
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Kilij-Arslan
Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:04 am Post subject: |
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| Zajko wrote: |
| A lot of Russians would certainly agree that there's corruption in the system here: there is in many - indeed most - countries around the world. I can honestly say, however, that in all the years I've spent working in Russia, I've never met a Russian who would've described the country in the virulent terms you have. I say again: if you find this country such an unpleasant place to live and work, why have you been here for 4 years? |
What? You don't speak Russian or something? I get Russians complaining to me about the system and telling me they want to leave within ten minutes of meeting them sometimes, regardless of the situation. |
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Grenouille
Joined: 01 Oct 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| Kilij-Arslan wrote: |
| Zajko wrote: |
| I say again: if you find this country such an unpleasant place to live and work, why have you been here for 4 years? |
What? You don't speak Russian or something? I get Russians complaining to me about the system and telling me they want to leave within ten minutes of meeting them sometimes, regardless of the situation. |
Kilij-Arslan, the last few posts have been asking you a simple question that you are refusing to answer, or refusing to understand that it's been asked: Why do you stay here if it's such an unpleasant place to live?
Please answer this question as we are all curious how you can be so negative about a place and tell others not to come, yet you've been here for several years and continue to stay.
Why do you stay? |
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