Job Discussion Forums

[jpvanderwerf2001]

midwest-magpie,
People have a wide range of working experiences with EF, a company I taught in for four years.
During my time, I can't say that it was the worst working situation in the world. Could it have been better? Certainly, on some levels. However, I have worked at worse schools. I was paid on time. They honored my contract. Yeah, I disagreed with some management decisions, and couldn't abide with EF's somewhat horrific curriculum, but otherwise I felt pretty comfortable.
What I mean to say is that EF is pretty hit-and-miss. Try to get in contact with ex-teachers from that very school, and ask them what it's like to work there. You might find that it's ok.
Good luck!

[AussieMatt]

Just thought I'd add my input. I think the worse thing a school can do is either breach a significant clause in the contract, or simply not pay you.

So while I can sympathize with you about the numerous contract breaches on their behalf, I can't really spare a thought for your personal issues in Russia that weren't work related. As another mentioned, teaching English as an expat is really the lowest form of skilled labor, and you certainly can't expect them to kiss your backside like they would for a high-skilled, expat profession such as in engineering or medicine. English teachers come and go with a high turnover. In a tourist location such as St. Petersburg, you're just another addition to the long list. In contrast, you'd expect a very small list of engineers or doctors entering Russia.

Keep in mind that in many countries, particularly in Latin America and Europe, they're not interested in providing any support for settling in. They expect you to have secured your own accommodation, have a firm grasp of the language, and to apply for the position in same manner you would in your own country. Of course to be fair, you'd expect more from a chain school. However I think in a location such as Russia, you should consider any personal support as a privilege, not an obligation.

Why not think with the Golden Rule? Requiring medicine for arthritis may be a necessity for you. But for those who a struggling to keep their franchise afloat, it's like another little chore that's getting in the way of things, and which may have been avoided by hiring another foreigner.

Some things I can't really sympathize about:
1.) I'm not sure how the application process works at EF, but before I can obtain a Korean visa, I must have already cited and signed the contract in advance. At the very least, you should have obtained a sample contract.
1.) Why on Earth would they cover transport costs? It's your responsibility to check that in the contract first.
2.) You don't need to speak the language to buy something. You point. I've been living in Korea for 1.5 years and pointing hasn't failed.
3.) Why would you not want a mobile phone in place like Russia? That's a very unwise thing to think with the abundance of corrupt cops, looking to extort bribes from naive foreigners.
4.) You had problems paying for your accommodation, and yet again you're placing the responsibility on EF. In my opinion, these are small problems that they shouldn't have to deal with.
5.) Again, I'm not familiar with the intricacies of obtaining a work visa in Russia. But I will never fly to a city such as Novosibirsk, just to be told I have to go to somewhere like Germany to obtain the right documents. It's a complete waste of cash, and defeats the purpose of the Russian adventure.
6.) I never hand my passport to anyone other than Government departments or to my own embassy. If they want to obtain official documents, they had better ask me to travel with them. Imagine what you land yourself in if they refuse to return it?