Job Discussion Forums

Red and white · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 63

Hi all,

Following the thread about BKC's problems, was interested in other people's experience of teaching in Moscow at the moment. Is there much work on offer? How are things in terms of attracting and retaining students?

Seems like a complex picture: some students dispensing with classes because of a lack of disposal income, others working harder to improve their skills and protect their jobs.

Has the increase in independent 'breakaway' schools leaving BKC (and possibly other chains) had any impact on job availabilty?

What's going on for you?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject:

Yes, disturbing news about BKC.

As for me, I have not really been affected by any crisis issues yet. Could be the bubble will burst later on, but so far I have never been so busy with private students

Red and white · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 63

Are these extra privates coming from the old established schools, or individuals looking to boost their skills and become more employable / less disposable?

I'm no longer directly in this market, just curious about how things are panning out - no competition, I promise!

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

Speaking to both ex-pats and Russians in recent weeks,all of them have said the situation in the country is on the downslide due to the economic recession internationally and also because in the case of Russia there has been chronic mis-management of resources and oil revenue due to corruption etc.Nobody there,or anywhere else, knows how bad it will get or how long it will last,but people are talking of years rather than months.Even Russians report that firms are reducing salaries and bonuses as a first step so BKC is no exception to the rule,the next one being of course redundancies!The rule is if you have money try to save it because rainy days are here and you never know what is round the corner....So if you are still doing well from private lessons now,don't get too blasie about it-I know several ex-pats who have been in Moscow a long time and were making serious money freelancing until a couple of months ago-some have already left and I know another is getting ready to move soon so the writing on the wall seems pretty clear?

kazachka · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska

How bad is it? I talked to HR and my former department head in Bilingual back in Wasilla last Friday. They are being very accomodating and letting me email all the paperwork to avoid tossing 100$ on the Fedex. Sometime between now and April they should know which grade levels will be opening up. They were very cool about the idea of taking me back. At this point, if they have a contract, I think I'd be completely retarded not to just take it. The salary at my so called job that was quite decent 6 months ago is now a freaking joke when you account for devaluation. I'm surviving only because I still have some good private students. Racing season starts in April so I'll have some weekend income again, but I have better things to do with my life at this time than eat the 40%paycut at work. I've been offered full time governess stuff but it's live-in and out the Rublevka. I'm waiting for a part time /evening governess thing like the one I so FOOLISHLY gave up during the visa crunch last yr. I'd be totally fine now if I were still at that job. That's about the only way I'll be able to stay here is to find a PT governess job again pegged in $ or euro otherwise Wasilla -here I come Crying or Very sad

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject:

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject:

Too right. Nothing to be taken for granted, now more than ever. I'm taking as many extra students now while the going is good.

Am in a dilemma about rates, though. Don't quite know how to charge the students nowadays - I'm thinking of switching to foreign currency again, as don't want to hike up ruble charge and scare away the clientele. What's other folks doing?

P.S. Where'd the other thread go about BKC? Was it deleted or am I just going blind?

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

It would seem so. You can still find the thread in Google cache by entering the thread title: Warning about BKC Moscow .

kazachka · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska

I have a student who wants to improve her English in hopes of getting a better job. Fees? I started quoting in dollars again back in October.

yorkshireterrier · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Budapest

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

see my p.m.