Job Discussion Forums

[jasminesialkot]

I don't have CELTA, but I am doing some research, it can lead to a MA in TESOL, it's online. Right now, I want to work maybe, so I am thinking about maybe east asia or maybe Moscow. Now being of Pakistani descent, also a girl alone, are these issues or is it ok for me overall, speaking of racism etc? Will it be male of female doing the hiring if I decide to choose Russia? Thanks to all!!

[canucktechie]

Frankly as a non-white with no credentials you have two strikes against you. Actually it's difficult for anyone to get a job in Russia without a CELTA or equivalent, unless it's in one of the internship programs with LL or BKC which pay even less than their usual salary.

I would advise you to get the CELTA or forget Russia.

[rusmeister]

Agree with canucktechie. The local market is just not that strong, and as a non-white you might find regular harassment, esp by police, a part of your daily life.

[jasminesialkot]

Ok, I am trying to come to terms with this...... Whites and non whites, in Britain we don't have that at all. You might say- well Russia isn't Britain, and I get your point, but are Russians inherently racist? Maybe, I don't know, it's certainly given me a lot to think about. All I know is I look Pakistani and have my culture too, but I am British as anyone else, hope everyone gets that.
If a guy does the interview for me, I will be ok, I am surely certain of it. I got a job in Boots just like that, easy number 1!Now I sent me CV to a school, which is BKC and they are saying, "Come and do a CELTA and the charge is XXXX'. Only I don't need the CELTA, that's the honesty of it in my opinion as I speak English as a native speaker and I am a fun person actually, so if you are in my class, you going to enjoy it. That's the main thing which is the making of a good teacher- if you have the personality for it (which I do). I want at least 25,000 roubles, that's not even a lot. The police part, that's worrying. This is no good for me and I didn't expect that.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

If a guy does the interview for me, I will be ok, I am surely certain of it. I got a job in Boots just like that, easy number 1!

I'm sorry, but I don't know what Boots is. However, if I read you correctly, you're implying that you'll get a job in Russia because of your good looks. If that's the case, you might want to re-evaluate: Russia has a wealth of beautiful women and chances are you won't turn many heads (apart from being ethnically different).

Now I sent me CV to a school, which is BKC and they are saying, "Come and do a CELTA and the charge is XXXX'. Only I don't need the CELTA, that's the honesty of it in my opinion as I speak English as a native speaker and I am a fun person actually, so if you are in my class, you going to enjoy it.



That's the main thing which is the making of a good teacher- if you have the personality for it (which I do). I want at least 25,000 roubles, that's not even a lot. The police part, that's worrying. This is no good for me and I didn't expect that.

Um, best of luck with all THAT.

[rusmeister]

No, Russians are not "inherently racist". But there has been a huge influx of migrant workers, the bulk of which are illegal and they are largely darker-skinned people from the Caucuses and Asian republics, so the police tend to profile (you can shout unfair, but from their standpoint it is practical). If it's any comfort, they can use their powers unfairly against anybody. But if you look like you could be a central Asian or Azerbaijanian or whatever, your chances of getting stopped regularly are much higher.

[Zajko]

Is this a serious post or meant to be humorous (i.e. a troll)???

In the event of it being the former, comments like 'I don't need the CELTA, that's the honesty of it in my opinion as I speak English as a native speaker and I am a fun person actually, so if you are in my class, you going to enjoy it' give a fairly good answer to the question of why you (a) won't get a job here and (b) need a TEFL certificate.

Leaving aside the race issue (not that it's irrelevant, but others have summed it up pretty accurately already) does it not occur to you that most people pay hard-earned money to attend English classes in order to learn a language, rather than to be entertained by a 'fun person' (for which they can go to any bar/theatre/zoo a lot more cheaply)? Of course personality and fun are important but only if channeled in a way that actually produces a positive learning outcome for your students - a TEFL/CELTA might even teach you how to do that, you never know.

As for 'If a guy does the interview for me, I will be ok, I am surely certain of it. I got a job in Boots just like that' - all I can say is that says as much (or as little) about you as it does about the guy who inteviews for Boots. You might find your average EFL employer - male or female - a touch more professionally orientated - as you might find teaching English a little more intellectually demanding than stocking shelves with hairspray.

Of course, there are always exceptions...check out the TEFL blacklist of schools here and you might find someone with whom you're mutually compatible.

[oxi]

[canucktechie]

[jasminesialkot]

I am respecting all opinions here, that's number 1. Can you respect mine, too?
A case in point is the CELTA, why am I telling it is of limited value for me. For me personally, I know the grammar already. Methodology, I am learning it on the MA online that I have registered for.
About being a fun, likeable, hardworking person, if I think back to when I studied business studies in 6th form- there was a huge interest in customer satisfcation, which might not be realized by dowdy or boring teachers but by engaging and fun people. This is a basic condition, and lacking me MA, I am stressing that I may not be as academically qualified as you guys, but I can help a school and make it the kind of class students would like and enjoy learning in. Does this sound unprofessinal? Maybe so, I apologize. By the way, the jury remains out on CELTA, it's expensive, very short, inferior to me MA, basically it is entry level like working in Boots and I don't have the time to do it in any case. For every guy who is saying I should- there are three more saying, "Just go for it-you don't need it anyhow." I can do CELTA later, after some real experience. I will do it, but for now I want a job in a safe and supportive work environment.

[jasminesialkot]

Boots is the chemist's, (to answer that), it's big and we got customer service training, . I worked in Boots in Heathrow for 18 months. That is high profile work by the way as you are dealing with high class persons. And I was very effective as a salesperson. These are assets that I can apply in a school, I know it might be unconvincing but here's my starting point- me students are my customers. I want to assist, support, and I want to respect them. Anyhow, I am progressing with this BKC thing, we'll see. Teaching will be like sales, I am sure of it, if they like your face and manners, and wiling to learn also, (I don't know much about teaching, I am the first to admit it), then it will work out. How many British people are teaching, they were never even in a class before? Thousands, more maybe, but when it comes to me- then it's a problem, why is that, because of my ethnic background. By the way, I am British too, I live here also and I am proud of that.

[oxi]

Since I see you've asked similar questions about racism in a few different countries, my suggestions would be:-

Not Russia, but maybe some other CIS countries - I knew teachers of Indian descent in Kazakhstan who had very few racism problems (but not absolutely zero). People there were quite cosmopolitan, I thought.

Not India, lots of local teachers already well qualified and really good at the job, foreigners are often brought in as "the white face" rather than on teaching ability.

I don't really know about Thailand.

Maybe Hong Kong? I know quite a few Indian and Pakistani anglos teaching and none of them have talked of problems.... But the money is really bad with no qualifications.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Thank you for answering about Boots. I didn't know what that was, honestly.
You might be able to get a job here in Russia. However, be aware that Russians are quite demanding when it comes to academics; they expect to do homework and they also expect their teachers to do theirs. This isn't to say that you aren't capable (although your posts are suspect), but it is more demanding than stocking shelves at a retail branch.
The practical reasons for taking the CELTA (for example) are many. While I don't think it's essential for a fledgling teacher, I do think it'd be helpful in a number of areas.
Racism is more overt than in "western" societies, there's no doubt about it. Police may stop you more often, they may not. You might hear comments from ignorami on the subway. That being said, there's ignorance in every country and I, as a fellow non-white, find it no more threatening than other places I've been. Perhaps I've been lucky, however.
Good luck.

[jasminesialkot]

I find Russia worrying. I didn't feel that a few days ago. Overall, I am disapointed with it. It might not be the best thing for me afterall. I am now totally disillusion with it and at first I thought it would be easy to go there.

[phantombedwetter]