Job Discussion Forums

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

If anyone is feeling a bit fed up with their lot at the mo' and is in urgent need of being cheered up,please visit tefl.com and have a gawp at the ILS ad for Tallin, Estonia as it will make you feel sorry for others in greater need that yourself.Firstly, it's one of the longest I've ever seen,which is always a bad sign.Secondly, you can live there on a 25 hour week for the princely sum of 371 G.B.P. a month clearly a king's ransom in a European tourist hotspot.Finally while the school is good enough to provide accommodation it does point out however that it isn't "lavish" and will not include luxuries like "washing machines".Another hoot is the dress code ,which must include"shiny shoes".This ad has to be seen to be believed.Replace the "good local salary" for good local bit of theft it'd be more accurate.

Hector_Lector · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Posts: 548

It�s a long ad, it gives a lot of information and explains quite clearly that it doesn�t pay that well in relation to Western Europe.

However, if you read it carefully, it seems like a fairly good job.

greentea · Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 205

Your masochist side revealing itself, Mr Lector ?

Hector_Lector · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Posts: 548

Certainly not, Mr T.

However, it�s not that bad, is it? I�ve worked for less.

A little bit of white slave trading and drug smuggling on the side always helps you balance the books at the end of the month.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Has anyone ever been to a Baltic republic? I have - and it is my impression that ads like this are designed by honest and frank people who are expecting the same from their would-be employees.
Estonia is not overly expensive, the salary offered is relatively decent (though I have very few points of reference).
How much is English pounds 372? One pound is about RMB 20, is it? Well, your salary then is rather above the average Chinese salary.

zorro · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 12:09 pm Post subject:

pedantic people. Rolling Eyes

the ad made me NEVER want to teach in eastern europe.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

You don't get rich teaching in Eastern Europe. You're there for the culture.

ibasiram · Joined: 24 Mar 2003 Posts: 107

first of all, Zorro, if it's money you want, then stay at home. Generally you go abroad and teach English for the cultural experience..

I've been to the 3 Baltic capitals, and the best is Riga...the most bustling and most active..
i've also been in contact with ILS in Tallinn, and I really admire their honesty in what they say about their 'lavish' accommodation. There are not that many schools which would be as honest as that.

Also They were quite up front about the fact that you wouldn't really life that well off their salary..apparently they are there for your 'teacher development' and you are there to improve your teaching, not to get righ.. Personally I don't like such statements..why should teachers have to sacrifice their salary for so called 'teacher development'?? Can schools not cover both areas?

Ibasiram

zaneth · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 3:09 pm Post subject:

I dig Estonia. Last time I was there I was wondering if there might be some TEFL. I think I could live cheaply there, shop in the Russian market, room with a friend. The place has a great feel. I like the small country feel. People are international, the language is really interesting and different (Finno-Ugric group as I'm sure many of you know). I like the fact that they aren't at war with anyone and don't have a big opinion of themselves. I'm hiding out in Russia to escape America (well, partly) but there are a lot of the same problems here. I feel a lot freer and connected to the world in Estonia. And a dress-code would probably do me good.

In Estonia I can hang out with other Americans if I want to, but I don't have to. There's plenty of modern stuff about but the old-style country side isn't far away. Television (I know, I know, but sometimes I miss it) has German, Russian, English, Estonian. Seaside, amazing architecture. Scandinavia a stone's throw away. Not a bad place at all.

zorro · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 4:40 pm Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

Aramas · Posted: Sat May 15, 2004 3:05 am Post subject:

According to Planet Lonely, Estonia is one of the most expensive countries in the world in which to try to live cheaply - the only place I've seen that's more expensive is Tahiti.

waxwing · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China

This salary would be OK in Russia (accommodation is provided, right?), certainly for someone starting out, anyway.

In Estonia, I think Aramas is right, at least that's what I heard.

But Estonia is always going to be a more popular destination than Russia, so I suppose they can afford to be a tad more stingy. Maybe.

And one other thing: brevity may be the soul of wit, but not when it comes to TEFL job adverts! The longer the better! There was one for Kazakhstan or something, like: "native speaker. 2-3 years exp. contact:.." Rolling Eyes

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

What's all this bull about honesty in their ad and why are people talking about Estonia?I'm talking about living in the capital and not the country.It's a major tourist spot in a state that has just joined the EU....expect inflation.I lived in Eastern/Central Europe for quite a long time (6 years) and they're very good at squeezing money out of expats.Flats,taxis etc etc suddenly become more expensive so the good local salary usually goes nowhere.371GBP, (a month's salary), won't even fund half of the cost of your ticket back to the USA should your school mess you around.As for this honesty thing and comments like "if you're in it for the money go home",what a load of horse manure.You need money to have a certain standard of living.Below that line,frankly, you can scre_w the culture.Eating cabbage and pork is nice but not every day.Similarly,you can't see a country and it's culture in totality if you can't afford to travel around and stay in hotels etc.Hotels in that part of Europe are relatively expensive in real terms.Levis are more than you'd pay in the States,shoes,quality electrical goods likewise.Food like beer is cheap. Say you worked a nine month contract-you'd earn about US$6,000 that isn't even much in Vietnam.ILA Vietnam pay $1200 a month and that sure is a cheap country.I think the 371 GBP salary is even gross ,which makes it even more of an insult.I can't afford that kind of cultural experience anymore and if you never plan on having to teach in the Middle East to pay off the good times you had in Eastern Europe then don't spend long in Estonia etc unless you want to end up in the dark ages teaching people one step up in the evolutionary chain from the sand ape.My students jumped for joy about 9/11 and created a game called '9/11 man'.It was a take on 'hangman' but each time they guessed a letter incorrectly,the plane got nearer the patriot missile ,(and I cheered).If they guessed the word,the plane hit the twin towers (and they cheered).Life's funny like that.