Job Discussion Forums

[Theresa]

There have been various teaching jobs advertised in these countries over the last 6 months. Has anyone actually worked there? Any info or insights would be greatly appreciated

[dreadnought]

I can tell you a little bit about Kyrgyzstan as I've been working here about a month now. Ethnically very diverse, good food, relaxed lifestyle, stunning scenery and very cheap.

I don't know much about the teaching scene as I'm working as a teacher trainer for a charitable organisation so I'm not really knowledgeable about the private school situation. However, there definitely are private schools and they do employ, though I don't know if they'd be rich enough to stump up for airfares. One of the bigger schools here has recently closed.

I've got a friend working in Kazakhstan in a similar position and she says Almaty (now the former capital) is quite a funky place. Azerbaijan, from the small snippets of info I've heard, is pretty grim, at least in the capital Baku.

I'd certainly recommend Kyrgyzstan, especially the capital Bishkek. Anywhere else I suspect would be a rather isolated and, unless you like going really native, worth avoiding. Outside the capital things are very provincial.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Greetings:

While we're on the subject of schools not in Russia: If anyone knows of any weblinks to schools in the C.I.S., I'd really appreciate it if you could post them here ... so I can add them to the links index.

At the moment, there are a few schools in Kiev on the index, but not nearly as many as I'd like - and no links for language schools in the other countries mentioned here on this thread.

International schools, language schools, universities & K-12s that employ native teachers, even recruiters ... any and all links would be appreciated very much.

Thanks in advance

Yours,
keNt

[dreadnought]

The private school I do a lot of my teacher training at is called Lingua School and the e-mail is: www.els.kyrnet.kg

Just for information, it's unlikely to take native speaker teachers as it's a Soros Foundation funded school and has a commitment to employing trained locals. However, people are willing to try, as it's an excellent place with a very progressive attitude towards teaching!

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Dear dreadnought:

Thanks very much for the link. This looks like a great place for someone who's interested in Kyrgyzstan. Even if they don't offer someone a fulltime teaching position, they'll certainly know who to recommend & who's hiring in the area. It's all about networking these days.

By the way - if you click on the link in your post, you end up on the Kyrgyzstan domain-server homepage.

Try this link without the www; it works fine: http://els.kyrnet.kg/

Bishkek is now on the map here at Dave's - I've just added your link to the SCHOOLS category of the master index. Thanks again, dreadnought.

Regards,
kENt

[Theresa]

Which school closed in Bishkek?

[maruss]

I know a French guy who was sent there in the forces-he confirmed all the good points mentioned about Bishkek,plus the fact that the girls are apparently not only stunningly beautiful with oriental/slavic combinations etc. but also available AND not bitches like some of those in Moscow and other Russian cities when it comes to foreign men etc,-in fact,he said quite a few guys married them and said it was like going to heaven as they make perfect wives!
But there were a lot of downsides to the place,especially poverty,petty-crime and drug-trafficking which is a major problem there,and outside Bishkek it can be very dodgy,especially for outsiders!And although the President,a guy called Akayev,was initially praised internationally for his liberal political attitudes and serious attempts to establish a market economy etc. things have rapidly back-tracked in recent years,like most of the other former S.U. republics in Central Asia.

[dreadnought]

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Privyet:

Speaking of the London School - I just added their link to the master index a few days ago.

Here it is: http://www.lsbishkek.elcat.kg/

[Steiner]

I worked in Kazakhstan for a summer back in '98. School I was at wouldn't have enough to pay for airfare, and I don't know if they have a website. I don't even know if it exists anymore. I had two friends who taught at a polytechnic uni for the summer, too. But like dreadnought, it was all through a charitable organization, so I don't have any info on actually getting a job, and if I did it would be five years out of date.

The students were great, people were very hospitable, and I enjoyed my time. I was in Karaganda, which is a 20 hour train ride from everywhere except Astana, the brand new capital. You'd want to be in Almaty if you go to KZ. I liked Almaty. One of the most beautiful churches I've been to is there, in Paniflov Park (I think, but I may have just made that last bit up). It was built, supposedly, entirely without nails.

As with the other Central Asian Republics, the president has screwed things up, last I heard. Nazerbayev has been in power since the country began. When I was there, it seemed that all the people of Russian ethnicity were getting out of the country. Everyone had family and friends that had left, and since I taught a few of my students have emigrated.

The Kazak language was gaining influence in education and government while Russian was losing ground, so that made the Russians uneasy. I detected a little tension between the two groups, but nothing like violent conflict. More like "I would never wear that shirt because that's the type of shirt Kazak guys are wearing now."

After Russian and Kazak, it seemed the most popular languages were English and Turkish. One student gave me two flags--one Kazakhstan, one Turkey.

I'd go back. I liked the country and the people. They were really very wonderful people.

[voodoochild]

I taught in Azerbaijan as I was offered a short 5 month contract there, great money flight payed, flat etc....I liked Baku, had a nice charm about the place , the rest of the country was grim ...lot of bad pollution outside Baku., oil fields etc.....really corrupt place too, I liked it.

[Theresa]

Well thats enough to encourage anyone Voodoo Child. Out of curiosity how much is 'great 'money?

[voodoochild]

about 2000US a month however it was because of the contract i was on most places there, eg British Council, wont offer that.

[viva]

I am curious as to how one goes about getting a teaching job in a Central Asian country (Uzbekistan specifically). Is it possible to find a job by searching websites, or is landing and searching in person a better option?

[travelingirl68]

Salemetzibay! Privet!
I taught at a university in Taldykorgan, Kazakstan for two years through the Peace Corps. I am guessing it would be difficult to get a paying, or decently paying position outside of Almaty, maybe in Astana. The economy has just not developed enough to afford the paying of foreign teachers, and there are P.C. volunteers in all major cities and many many small towns and remote villages. If you get the chance to go, I would highly recommend it - the country is beautiful, the people are wonderful, the lifestyle relaxed. It is very easy to live on $200 a month there (outside of the major cities), and possible to do so in Almaty for $3-400 a month.

It is true that many Russians fled the country in the early days of independence, but that tide seems to have slowed - and there are even stories of some returning to Kazakstan as they are ostracized for being "outsiders" in Russia.

I would try to locate some Peace Corps sites and contact people who are in country right now for more information. I can't speak for Uzbekistan, but I never met any EFL people in Kaz. All the ex-pats were oil, government or British Council.

Good Luck!