Job Discussion Forums

Thenewkidintown · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 7

Hello everyone,

I really need help making an educated descision on what school to work for in Moscow. So far I have heard from EF, Languagelinks, BBLC, Sunny School Plus, and Inlingua.

I just want to make sure that they are good in terms of honoring their contracts, pay what they say, and of course that I don't have any problems with the visa. I also want to know that I will be working with a good group of people if anyone can tell me that?

Thank you

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

In my humble opinion anybody who is looking to work in Russia with such a naive shopping list needs to be put to bed with a glass of warm milk.

What is the line from Zorba the Greek? Something like... "Life is trouble! Only death is not! To be really alive you must tighten your belt and go looking for trouble!"

Maybe that is a bit extreme, but Russia is no place for somebody who wants to be "treated fairly". It is a great place, but you must bring a spirit of adventure and (if I may misquote another author - Melville) look upon those "little bits of bad luck as mischievious hits from sly fate" like one of the sailors on the Pequod.

It's a nice place, but if you expect to be treated as you would be at home....maybe mo' bettah you stay dere bro!

Or in other words - If you're not of the mindset that thinks, "screw it all! I wanna walk down Tverskaya; get myself a mushroom blini; then go see the Tretyakoff, and to hell with the contract and all that stuff"... I recommend that you think again.

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

Perhaps the least bad of them all is Inlingua but even they will promise you things and not deliver them!As for the others,AVOID!
Another word of advice-any postings myself,BELS and Rusmeister on this site will give you the truth behind the recruitment ads.
If you have never been to Russia before and don't want to end up hating the place then DON'T go there and work for any of these outfits!
There are still some firms who pay well for experienced teachers but there are other hurdles such as finding affordable accomodation(harder than finding work!!)work permits, (not business visas as they are no longer any good for teachers due to new restrictions,) and the unavoidable fact that you need at least $2000-3000 of your own money in hand to tie you over until you get sorted out.
Sounds tough?You're not going to Disneyland or the French riviera,or even Barcelona and I guarantee Russia, and especially Moscow is enough to waken anyone up to reality!No country for old men,or inexperienced ones!

Thenewkidintown · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 7

One has to wonder why any of you even live in Moscow, you all sound so angry and bitter. Not to mention rude and presemptuous, considering none of you know me. I lived in Afghanistan for a year and a half so am not exactly naive about the world.

Also I am moving to Moscow with my husband who is a born Moscowvite. We have friends and family there. And well I haven't been yet I am always up for an adventure. I don't expect things to be perfect. But obviously, if I trusted everything I read I wouldn't be on here asking your opinions. So instead of giving me constructive advice I am getting insulted by people I have never met. If this is what the expats in Russia are like I am glad I have lots of Russian friends.

I would still appriciate to hear and REAL experiences not just rambling.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I'm not going to slam you for naivete, but I do wonder why you asked about visa support from a school if your spouse is Russian. I don't think you'd need school sponsorship of a visa in this case.

savage_zrak · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Providence, RI

Amen sister!
I am also getting aggravated with what I am reading.
I posted a question and got some bitter answer with no explanations whatsoever.
It seems like there are a lot of bitter people ( ex pats ).
I am also coming there to teach and live. I have lots of Russian friends ( not from Moscow ) and I speak Russian.
This site should have helpful information for newcomers...I didn't think I was signing up for a site where a bunch of disgruntled people come to complain.

Thenewkidintown · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 7

Spiral78 - Russia doesn't have "marriage visa" like in the UK, Canada, or US. I have to go in under a family visa (1 month), a business visa (180 days), or a teacher visa (1 year). Once we get settled we can apply for my temperary residency permit but that will take a long time to get. I also want to have a job of my own, to meet people and make some extra money. (Source - Russian consulate and Expats.ru)

Savage_zrak - Good to know I am not the only one who finds this bazare. I mean people are working and living there so it can't be the worst place in the world.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Have you had yer glass of warm milk and slept on this and you still want to go to Moscow and teach? OK then, watch and learn grasshopper.

If you have an international youth hostel card then you can find a dorm bed in an IYH hostel in Moscow for $20-25 a night if you look for it. Try www.hiusa.org Apparently the one at Sherstone gostinitza where I used to stay has gone out of the the business, but the other ones I saw just now on the web site look decent enough.

So you can get a 30 day visa and go over there and look for yourself - FIRST.

You can go and see the cathedrals at Suzdal, Vladimir and the rest of the Golden Ring so your trip won't be wasted should you find that Moscow isn't your cup of tea ..as so many have.

But then it probably isn't even necessary since you apparently are already an expert. In any case you can ask your Russian husband. I have taken the time to mention these things to you (who obviously are already quite informed) in the interest of the peanut gallery out there who might be misled into believing, that taking a job in Moscow is no different than a move to Yuma. ( I still feel badly about the kid from Glasgow who lasted all of 72 hours and left me the duffle full of EFL books she had packed along anticipating a long and fruitful career there, you see )

From the manner in which you take advice, I think you will have a very interesting time in Russia.

SunnyLee · Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Dear Savage Zrak

I can only assume that your last post was aimed at me, seeing as I was the only one who replied to you. Should you want more details about IPT, then PM me and I will be happy to discuss the school and their habit of asking about your religion and their disapproving glances if you are not a member of the one true faith. But if you think that this is too bitter, well, then go ahead and sign up. Does not matter to me. I don't even work there. Some of my friends did, but left. They were on the twisted side by the time they left, however....

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

If you have chalked the responses of local expats up to bitterness (incorrectly), it might help to understand that the tone of the initial post was of a person looking for assurances that there are no problems in Moscow, something that extended time in a place like Afghanistan (and/or having a native-born Russian spouse) should have cured. There are problems throughout the world, and a person may be deceived or cheated anywhere.

mdk is trying to point out that people who come brimming with optimism do sometimes run away screaming. Anyone at all can come as a tourist for a short period, but it is difficult to be a long-term expat. I personally witnessed several such melt-downs of hopeful expats, got the job and materials of one certified teacher who cut and ran within 3 weeks of arrival, and a close friend of mine with degrees in Russian only lasted a few months. (I still have sandals he left over 10 years later to remind me of that.) I do sympathize with your sentiment that we said things not knowing certain facts about you, but then, you didn't tell us - it would have modified our responses. By the same token, you should learn our credentials and experience before judging us to be "bitter old men" or whatever.

Thenewkidintown · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 7

I am not A: looking for assurances that there are no problems in Moscow. I have lived in many place and can tell you that there are problems everywhere.

Or B: brimming with optimism

ALL I WANT IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOLS!!!!

That is it. If you can't tell me then please respond to this post. I didn't ask specifics on Russia. I don't know how else to put this, but basically if you are all so wise it would be nice for me if you could impart some of you wisdom about the schools I mentioned. If I only last a week there that is my problem. I will deal with it. I can appriciate that you are all saying these things because you have either had bad experiences or have seen others have them but that is NOT what I am asking. If I wasn't concerned about the schools I won't be asking, would I?

Come you guys, some of you have either worked for or know people who worked for some of these schools?

savage_zrak · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Providence, RI

Guys Guys Guys,

Look, I am an American born Eastern European by both sides of my family. I was born in the USA, but spent many years in Yugoslavia, went to college in Croatia, have visited Russia many times.

Sunny Lee I was not referring to you....I was referring to all the negativity in general on this site.

I am an optimist...and I was optimistic while I was waiting in lines as a child, while I was yelled out by postal workers and bank workers...I know things aren't all shiney!

For me though..they are not shiney here in the USA......and generally speaking by reading your posts....it seems you guys hate it there and act as if everything sucks......if that is the case, LEAVE or get on some meds or something.

I just want information on prices, pay, school reputations etc.........

Sunny Lee......I don't know...perhaps you are right...but I have had no questions about religion...and if I do..perhaps I will have a problem..because I am nothing......pagan if anything.....

and I go on with NEWKID...I am also not looking for assurances...I want to know real prices, rent etc! school reps. that is it.
Peace people......and if you have info that will help me please let me know.

Perhaps I will have a drink with some of you guys in Moscow when I get there.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Had you taken the time to read the previous threads on the forum regarding the various schools - the extensive one on BKC springs to mind - I think you would have had your questions answered. All the schools we know of in Moscow fit that general mold.

Apparently that was too much trouble for you and you have gotten the response you received. It may have not been to your liking, but it was free, and more to the point (having read the other poster's responses) it was quite truthful and apropos. We have taken the time to answer you truthfully as we would have wished to been answered ourselves.

The extent of your gratitude is appreciated.

Thenewkidintown · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 7

mdk - I don't know about savage_zrak but I read through every post on here and on expat.ru and I did read the one on BKC, which is also one of the reasons I did not apply to them. I have seen a lot of comments about Language Links and EF, some good and some bad but most rather vague as to what the actual issues were. I have seen both positive and negative things about Inlingua as well. I see very little about Sunny School Plus and nothing about BBLC. I think we are both looking for a little more specific answers then, "all schools are bad". Obviously then are not all fantastic. I don't expect fantastic. I just want a visa and a bit of a pay check. I am not doing the to make the big bucks although some money would be nice. I think once I get my temporary residence I will be a bit more picky. Remember my husband will be working in his field and we aren't starving students, we aren't rich either but I am not in a position where I will be screwed if I don't get as much money as I aspected.

Personally my #1 concern is the visa. I want to be able to be there and not have to leave to get a new visa (this is advise I got from expat.ru) until I I have been able to get the residency.

I also here that some schools pay less then they say. Okay so how much less? If they promise $2500 what does that mean in realty? I have heard of some people not being refunded their flight and visa expenses. For me this isn't a deal breaker. Granted it would be nice but I am budgeting to have to pay for this myself just in case.

I also asked about the types of people that work in the schools. Not the owners, but the other teachers. I want to work with people I enjoy. I though maybe some of you might know people who work for these schools.

Personally I am not worried about accommodations because I have connections for this, although others might be.

I think what me and savage_zrak are looking for more details, not "it is terrible don't do it", but maybe more unbaised good and bad.