Job Discussion Forums

[supertraveller]

Just a quick question. I have read some of the posts on this branch and it seems to me that bkc and langlink are not good schools to work for. Is that so? And if so, why? I am a very experienced teacher, 3 years, and a certified cambridge examiner with ielts experience. How do i get a good job in russia, say st petersburg? Any help would be appreciated. Does anyone know of any good small schools? Take care.

[canucktechie]

I would not say that BKC is "bad school", period. There are many very very good academic people at BKC, and because of the International House membership there are development programs for teachers and opportunities for internal IH transfers to places where jobs are hard to find (like Spain).

The downside is that BKC is very money-oriented and some (not all) of the managers leave a lot to be desired. As a result you may get things like awful split shifts and failure to deal with non-performing / problem YL's.

The good thing about BKC/LL is that they deal with housing and red tape themselves, which are major hassles in Russia. There is really no practical alternative for a new teacher, although you may be able to do better with some digging.

[BK4872]

I am currently in negotiations for a position- unfortunately I have no TEFL experience and this seems to be the best way to get started. I have been asked to give an explanation of why I want to teach English in Russia, of course I do have my own reasons ( which are valid ones) but I'm afraid they will not like them. I have been honest with them and they asked for further clarification. This is one of my only shots at teaching without a TEFL certificate and I really want to teach in Russia. Any suggestions about what THEY want to hear from me?? I know this sounds really bad, but trust me I am committed to this and will represent the TEFL community well. I just can't seem to get my foot in the door. Thanks for any advice!

[steven_gerrard]

BK -the person who is responsible for recruitment at Language Link is probably reading this thread now, it would be naive to think otherwise. I shouldn't think asking others for advice about what LL "want to hear" will stand you in very good stead.

Give an honest answer. Why do you actually want to come to Russia? Language Link recruiters are not stupid- they realise unqualified teachers who apply for their internship don't want to come to Russia for the love of teaching -if they did they'd have a CELTA or equiv.

The LL internship is basically an understanding between the school -who need cheap teachers -and the intern, who wants to be in Russia. They'll sort out all the paperwork and red tape, provide you with somewhere to live, give you a little bit of training and some spending money. In return, you'll do your job to the best of your abilities. It's a good deal for young, unqualified people who want to be in Russia.

[BK4872]

Steve,
Thanks for the reply, I have been honest with them and I will continue to be- I can only hope that it will be good enough to secure the position. Thanks again!

[jacquelinekerouac]

Common sense tells you to tell a job recruiter what he/she wants to hear, but in terms of Language Link, don't tell them what they want to hear. In fact, don't talk to them. Whatever your reasons are for wanting to go to Russian, subvert them to avoiding Language Link. (LL recruiter, if you're reading this as someone else suggested you might be, get a new job. If you can be bought at any price, you will be.) I had a horrible experience with LL this past fall, one that ultimately made me pack up and leave Russia. I'm not a quitter, but I felt like I was running for my life to get out of LL. 99% of my problems there were connected to the local director (Irkutsk--Baikal Link), but they were so extreme and the upper management in Moscow was so apathetic to do anything about them that I now have no scruples about trashing them 62 ways to Sunday on this forum. They will take advantage of you. They will fool you into thinking that because they've been around for a while, they are trustworthy. But they're not trustworthy, and they're not ethical. RUN from LL. As fast as you can.

[steven_gerrard]

Language Link in Russia is a franchise -the schools out of Moscow and the Moscow area are owned and controlled solely by Russians. Moscow have no sway over them at all -they are a total law unto themselves. I would also advise staying well away from Language Link out of Moscow. The conditions are largely crap and owners know this so they squeeze every last drop out of you before you inevitably leave.

It sometimes worked out for the male teachers who were new to Russia and didn't mind working like a dog for kopeks as the amount of female attention they got, very probably for the first time in their lives, more than made up for it. However, in my entire time at Language Link, whenever a female teacher was sent out to some godforsaken Siberian backwater (or even further), it never worked out.

I'm not excusing the management of LL in any way for this. I personally believe that Moscow Language Link should make it very clear to prospective teachers who want to go to the provinces that they will not be working for Language Link proper but for some mad mare who has no respect for any of her employees, who thinks she owns you.