Job Discussion Forums

Mideatoo · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:24 am Post subject: Salaries...

Average salary here in China is 8000RMB, approximately 986U$ or 800Euros. (Apartment included)

You can only survive in Europe with 800Euro, unless you live in a pueblo lost en la Mancha Spain....

So how do you guys do it in Russia?

steven_gerrard · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 155

I don't know what the average salary is in Russia- I know schools that pay $600 + flat, I know freelancers who can earn $3000 in a good month and I know teachers who have well-paid contracts, do freelance on top and earn a packet (well, in tefl terms anyway). You don't say anything about the number of hours you teach or the conditions, so it's hard to compare really.

I don't know if 800 Euro is a good salary in China but I do know it wouldn't be enough to attract me there- I'd rather go to Baghdad. You'd probably say that about Moscow so we're all happy.

canucktechie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 343 Location: Moscow

It costs about $150/month to eat a western-style diet in Moscow (no, not in restaurants). Anything above this is discretionary spending. Many, many people in Moscow get by on less than what a teacher at BKC/LL earns.

Whether you think the salary paid by the schools is worth it is up to you, but you can certainly live on it.

mongrelcat · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 232

i'm considering applying to BKC Moscow and i see the salary is $650 month plus flat.

you say "western style diet..." is it fairly easy to find food other than hamburgers etc.? i'm a vegetarian in Turkey and i truly can't take it here anymore. The only good thing is that i've lost a lot of poundage....

and what about BKC? rumours, innuendos, recommendations, anyone?

canucktechie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 343 Location: Moscow

The supermarkets in Moscow have pretty much the same selection as in Western countries. By "western diet" I mean eating lots of fresh vegs and fruit instead of living on potatoes and cabbage. If you are a vegetarian you should have no problems at all, vegan may be more difficult - I'm neither so I'm no authority on this topic.

Low-budget eating out is pretty much McD's and shawrma, can't recall if I've even seen a falafel stand so you might not be eating out much.

A great deal has been written in this forum on BKC, I will just say that the academic people (senior and junior) are generally pleasant and helpful, while the admin staff range from good to incompetent. Most problems with BKC seem to arise with the latter. BKC is a "business first" school so try not to buck this - you won't win.

A lot depends on luck at BKC - you might get a bad (split) timetable and/or unruly YL's. Or you might not.

Mideatoo · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

steven_gerrard · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 155

Not bad for a non native speaker, I suppose.

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

It's run as a business-exactly!I would advise people to keep this in mind and in your case, ask some questions BEFORE accepting anything such as:
Where will you be living in relation to your work etc?And make sure you get a place for yourself only which has all the necessary equipment and is not a slum in a terrible run-down area in the south -east!!-in winter Moscow is COLD and bleak,especially if you have been used to living in Turkey etc!It will definitely not be fun if you have to leave early in the morning and come home late at night in the snow etc. because you have been given a 'split-schedule' and have not chance to go home in between!
And this is not good money at all to live in Moscow nowadays- of course there are people earning even less there, but what quality of life do they have???Ask as many questions as you can BEFORE you make plans to go, not after you arrive and be warned,it's not an easy place to live in, even for someone who knows it quite well like I do, let alone a newcomer!
Good luck!

canucktechie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 343 Location: Moscow

Re the previous post - I have lived in SE Moscow (Vykhino) and while it's not Beverly Hills it's not the South Bronx either. It's ordinary working people just getting by like you and me.

As has been discussed in other threads, if you are applying for an ordinary teacher's position with BKC or LL there is essentially nothing to negotiate. Take a good hard look at what's being offered and decide if it's your cup of tea. If Russia suits you, you can move up to something more lucrative later as sg suggests.

I have also worked in China and while I had much more disposable income there, I prefer Russia because I can actually do many things I enjoy rather than just watching DVD's and eating and drinking, and I feel a little less like someone from outer space.

zaneth · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:44 am Post subject:

I wouldn't let vegetarianism stop you from coming to Russia. Nice variety of grains. Cabbage and carrots and apples make good staple foods. Nuts and dried fruits easily available. Fresh herbs, onions, garlic. All of this in any small town. I have to look around a little bit for lentils but they're available.

In Moscow there's at least one good vegetarian restaurant that also has groceries. They have a nice selection of spices and things like vegetarian (gluten-based) sausages as well as tofu products, soy mayonaisse (not that I personally recommend it), and of course, amazing sweets. Also a variety of good quality, refrigerated oils.

I was recently shown a vietnamese market that had amazing vegetables and little fiery peppers. Not for the squeamish, though. They have some excellent vegetarian ingredients but they're also busily hacking up live fish on the sidewalk.