Job Discussion Forums

[GleasonHome]

CREF Moscow � Problems and positives

MageLarocque review of English First St Petersburg (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=69195) inspired me to write a parting review of CREF Moscow, but after reading student reviews (Anubistaima http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=68836&highlight=cancel+visa) of other schools, CREF is not the worst.

However, to work at CREF Moscow-English requires forewarning.

My wife and I had our first experience teaching TEFL in Russia at CREF and our students were the best in the world. They are hard-working (sixteen hours a day work and commute), worry about job security, have no social security to speak of and, like us, would rather spend that save for the inevitable rainy day. Though Moscovites wear a grim face in public, once we were past the �city face�, they became warm, welcoming and terribly worried that we may not have been �strong enough� for Moscow. We have met wonderful people, whom we expect to be our friends for the rest of our lives.

CREF (http://www.cref.ru/en/home/moscow) has a longish presence in Moscow, its Petit-CREF school on the Arbat is reportedly warm, supportive and friendly. The director of CREF�s French-language school is hardworking, well-organized, seems as fair as she can be, and appears to be collaping from exhaustion in the miserable physical plant at the CREF location in Chistiye Prudy.

CREF has been long and fitfully attempting to create an English program as successful as its French and Petit-CREF program. And the mismanagement and ineptitude of its English attempt in the Fall-Winter 2008-2009 has been awe-inspiring. It seems to be coming apart at the seams, as it should.

But, the problems have been of ineptitude and not malevolence. For us, it has been a bad TEFL experience, but my wife and I were not innocents, gave as good as we got, and had money to make our escape when the pathology of the English department penetrated our awareness.

On the other hand, the school pays wages on time. If the book-keeper makes a mistake, she corrects it quickly and professionally. One can ask for no more.

If anyone is considering working for the CREF English-language program, send me a PM with questions and I�ll provide the details off-line.

[txmsk]

Could you PM me and elaborate a bit? I am interested in finding a new school to work at in Moscow.

Thanks.

[JacobWinter]

Hey GleasonHome, can you email me details at [email protected]? Apparently I haven't posted enough times to send you a PM.

Thanks

[holoholo girl]

Hi Gleasonhome-

I hope your offer still stands to pm you for some more details about CREF

[gondwana66]

It's a pity their English school venture hasn't performed like the French version. Strange if it's the same people involved but beaurocracy is a nightmare and perhaps despite all the good efforts the weight of beaurocracy became overwhelming.
Did they have the right stamps? It's extremely important as you know

Gondwana :- A Kangaroo in Russia http://pangaea901.wordpress.com/

[seikaiwa]

Interesting! Thanks!

[Alegra]

Hi, Gleason Home,
Can you tell me why you and your wife left CREF?
Alegra

[petrolfire]

Why did you leave CREF? I have been offered a year contract there from September this year. Are they friendly at the school and is Moscow expensive?

Thanks for your help.

[spiral78]

World Cost of Living 2010: Luanda in oil-rich Angola is the world�s most expensive city for expatriates, according to the latest Cost of Living Survey from Mercer. Tokyo is in second position, with Ndjamena in Chad in third place. Moscow is in fourth position followed by Geneva in fifth while Karachi is ranked as the world�s least expensive city. The survey found that Luanda is three times as costly as Karachi. Dublin, Ireland got a 42nd ranking and Belfast is at 182.

http://www.finfacts.ie/costofliving.htm

Yes. Moscow is expensive. It was number one most expensive in the world for several years running.

[Sashadroogie]

...for ex-pats. But TEFLers aren't really what they mean by ex-pats when they report on cost of living in Moscow...

[spiral78]

True. What would the term be (other than EFL teachers, obviously)?
Sub-pats, perhaps??? Migrant workers? Pronoun pickers? Tense trekkers?

[ancient_dweller]

Well, I definitely agree TEFL teachers are not 'expats' per se.

Point proving, I am writing on this forum at nearly 22:00 Moscow time.

Find me a true expat who has time/energy to write on forums at this time on a Friday night in Moscow!

No doubt, I have a bit of the old homeland scotch to help me through my evening but nights are a rare occurence!

Cost of living is a *beep*.

In London, things you need are expensive, in Moscow things you don't need are expensive. Unfortunately nightclubs, cafes, clothes etc... are things you don't need. So, Moscow turns out to be pretty pricey. At the same time, food is reasonably priced. Meat is the same price as London - from the supermarkets that is.

Mind you, eating out is not too bad, I've managed it for 2 for 2500r with food and 1 or 2 drinks each - and my favourite area is Kitai Gorod (Kitai gorod does not mean china town btw - for you newbies - i learnt the embarrassing way).

As for CREF - never heard of it. But, if you've got some reasonable teaching ability and some bullshitting skills, then $3000 a month is yours. If you want the student life - join a mcshcool and get $1000 a month. but remember: in the grand scheme, tefl teaching is not a money spinner unless you start running a decent school...

good luck

[Sashadroogie]

[Sashadroogie]

Never worked for them, but the English on this page alone is peeving!

http://www.cref.ru/en/msk/courses/adult/english/

The ubiquitous misuse of the term 'manager' as well!

But they could be OK for someone just starting off in Moscow, I guess...

[ancient_dweller]

"Programs envisioning raped progress in a modern living language."

from the CREF website.

Brilliant