Job Discussion Forums

mayumi_kaneyuki · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 12

As a former member of BKC HR admin I can advise you to send another e-mail to recruitment office once you�ve completed your training course. The thing is that BKC doesn't consider an applicant without CELTA. Moreover the situation changes rapidly (about every 3-6 months), and OctoberSkies is right - you'd better keep in touch with your employer by e-mail, because even this post of mine will be out of date soon.

Unfortunately the visa rules change too fast, and employers' contracts depend on them.
The procedure of getting workers' quota and work permit in Moscow government requires lots of paperwork from employer. Though the situation with teachers' visas is slightly easier.

Nexus is right as well; it's an employer who gets an invitation letter for a teacher.
The procedure in the Consulate is still the same, but you are advised to apply in the country of origin to avoid long waiting period and higher fees.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:37 pm Post subject:

The thing is that BKC doesn't consider an applicant without CELTA.

Ha! Since when?

druzyek · Joined: 14 Sep 2010 Posts: 8

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:25 am Post subject:

No, not answering e-mails is usually more to do with having to go to a birthday party celebration on the floor above recruitment, and just not bothering to reply to anybody after the dizzying effects of sovietskoe shampanskoe, CELTA or no.

cheekygal · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 1987 Location: China, Zhuhai

If you are interested working elsewhere, try New Planet. nplanet.ru
I used to work for BKC-Piter, but they left BKC organization and established a new school. I won't vouch on how they treat teachers but it is an option! Smile

cbrredrider1 · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 15 Location: USA

I worked for BKC for three years. I left them between my 1st and 2nd contract and the Podolsk school begged me to come back. I did so only after the admin that caused me trouble was fired. I learned after that the problem was not necessarily the admin. Check out my blog and look for other blogs too.

http://bkc-ih-moscow-sucks.blogspot.com/

As for some of the questions on here regarding documents needed it can change a little. Last year the Russian government stopped all work visas and companies had to re-apply. Some of the posts talked about visa runs to Kiev or some other place. If you are asked to do this it is because you only have a business visa. If you are getting paid by a Russian company on anything other than a work visa, unless you are a Diplomat, you are working there illegally. You will get in trouble not the school if you are caught.
My understanding is BKC got their quota of work visas from the government back and they are allowed to hire from abroad again. There are still problems with this school though. I suggest you read my blog and find other blogs. They are real people who had real problems.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

While not gainsaying what has already been said, I think it reasonable to say that their administration is very poor. Applications can be delayed for months not because of ill will but because they've mislaid the email.

Houston · Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 44

The longest part of my work permit was waiting for the invitation letter. Everything else has been smooth sailing.

Keep in mind that there are a few horror stories on this forum, but the reality on the ground in Moscow is that there are about two hundred BKC teachers who haven't experienced the issues that some people have.

cbrredrider1 · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 15 Location: USA

I disagree. There are a lot of teachers there but they are not happy. They understand that if they complain they will have more trouble. Only the ones that stand up to try to improve how teachers are treated get more trouble than they can handle. I was a great teacher for 3 years who was loved and requested by more students. But When I refused to work there illegally after the government took away the schools work visa quota, they made my life a living hell. Including sending someone to my flat to intimidate me. They have no trouble violating any laws or basic human rights. What this school is capable of is despicable and people need to know what they are getting into.

VladJR87 · Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 87 Location: Moscow RU

I cannot help but notice that everyone who has a problem with BKC-IH happened to be their best teacher...

Nexus · Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 189 Location: Moscow

cbrredrider1 · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 15 Location: USA

I didn't say I was the best. I said I was great. I was the highest paid in the small town where I worked. They begged me to come back when I refused to renew my contract 2 years ago. I was told by local admins that I was the most requested teacher in the small town I worked in. I wasn't a great teacher because of my extensive knowledge of English. In fact it was a weak point for me. My life experience and my ability to energize a class is what made me great. The schools attitude towards me at the end was because I refused to stay and work illegally. They told all the teachers at a meeting to lie to the police if stopped and do not tell them you work for BKC. Because our visas were only business visas not work visas. So who would get in trouble if a problem arose? BKC? No, I would have! And who could I call for help? No one, because I was not allowed to tell the police I was working and sponsored by BKC. All the teachers were offered a package to leave if they didn't want to stay and work on a business visa. I took them up on the offer and then I was kicked to the curb. It was the most terrifying experience of my life. Read my blog I posted in on of my other posts.

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

As long as you suit their purpose and do not make any trouble,Russian employers seem o.k. and some many even pay you quite well-for as long as they need you!
But query anything,try to make changes,even if you are sure they will benefit everyone or start complaining and you will soon see another side to them!
In my case I was completely ignored and the director acted as if I no longer existed,although many have fared far worse,as Eve Lopez discovered at BKC....
She won her case and very deservedly but few people are as determined as her.
Maybe we should try to see the wider picture about Russia,where many of the basic human rights we take for granted in the west either do not exist or are ignored and circumvented by one of the most corrupt regimes in the developed world?

cbrredrider1 · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 15 Location: USA

I spoke with Eve about this once. I too won some money from BKC because I had them by the short hairs. They violated so many laws I had them in a position where they had to compromise. Eve went the route of a lawyer with similar results. I wish everyone could see that the only way to get companies to treat people fair is to not let the get away with crap. Have the moxie to stand up for what is right. Where would this world be today if there weren't people to stand up for their rights?

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

An extreme,but by no means unique case is that of Sergei Magnitsky and Bill Browder at Hermitage Capital:if you have about one hour to spare and a good broadband connection go to the site:justiceforsergei.com
There are English subtitles for the Russian dialogue sections and I recommend this film to everyone who wants to know the truth about how Russia is run and by what kind of people!
Maybe we all need to take this into perspective when we make our complaints based on much more trivial things??