Job Discussion Forums

[uzbekpk]

Hi all,

So I've been job hunting from my home base in Australia for a week now, and I can't seem to find any information about teaching/finding work with Russian University English departments.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Do jobs for international job seekers exist? What are the conditions like? Remuneration? Visa support/Relocation?

I'll have my Masters in October (knock on wood) and I have 2 years experience (1yr in a University).

Is it worth my while pursuing this line of inquiry? I might well be under qualified.

[coledavis]

It depends on what your masters is in. A top linguistics university such as Irkutsk will demand a masters in Applied Linguistics. Others may accept a first degree that contains a linguistic element, or a masters in TESOL.

Do note, however, that universities pay a lot less than private language schools. In fact, university teachers there are desperately poorly paid. Having said that, if you can get a deal where you work there for a few hours, then you can make up your income with private work, if that's what turns you on.

Universities will generally offer visa support, or at least they will send the invitation. You may still have to pay for the visa itself at the Russian consulate in your own country.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Cole pretty much summed it up.
The four biggest unis in Vladivostok, I know for a fact, will basically hire any native speaker with a pulse and the ability to talk (sadly).
As a rule, in Russia:
Language schools = generally more working hours, but more money;
Uni work = fewer hours and a pittance in pay.
Whichever you choose, of course, depends on your priorities!
Good luck.

[travelNick]

You need the email address of the HOD. If you have a Masters in Applied Linguistics and some relevant experience you can earn just as much as working for a private language school, with better hours and no kids )

The area where you go is also a major factor too.

And also note that most universities do not carry out research in the sense you might be used to Aus.

But go for it! Russia rocks

[uzbekpk]

My Masters is Applied Linguistics (TESOL) from a reputable Aussie Uni, but I might keep looking around for Private Schools to apply to.

Trouble is, after 2 weeks of looking, the only places I have found to apply to seem to be so called McSchools.

I've also started thinking of delaying my trip to top up the ol' bank account.
I know that the major round of job offers goes out in September, but would there still be a chance of finding a good job around December/January? (And yes, I am aware of how cold it would be at that time. I believe in jumping in the deep end - sink or swim ).

[uzbekpk]

Double post - net glitch

[uzbekpk]

Ah, Travelnick. I just read your post carefully (I swear, I can usually read in English!! ). If you think it's possible to find a job that pairs livable pay with better conditions I shall continue my search. Searching for that needle in a haystack is much easier when the result may be potentially fruitful (and look better on my resume - I have a career to consider).

[maruss]

When I spoke to various staff at state schools where I taught some private lessons,I was appalled at how low their salaries were-some of them had senior jobs which would have earned them a very good living in many Western countries!Especially in Moscow,where the cost of living is notoriously high,they admitted to me that everyone effectively broke the law just to survive by taking on extra private work unofficially and many of them were continually stressed from the long hours they had to work,plus their home responsibilities if they were women.It was not at all uncommon to find a senior person earning an official salary of around $400 PER MONTH!!So knowing I was making at least 5 times that put me in perspective.Of course this is the major problem with Russia because state employees earn very low salaries(unlike here in Cyprus where many earn far too much,just like in Greece and the economy is going down the drain because of them!!)-the result is corruption at every level from the top downwards and the higher you go,the worse it is!!
At the end of the day,unless you are a specialist who is sent on a lucrative contract by a foreign company to work in Russia in return for a very high reward to compensate for what is regarded as a 'hardship' posting,you do not go there to earn big money and do it for the experience,especially in our kind of work........the main thing is to try to ensure that this experience will not be too negative,which is unfortunately so often the case for so many who try,as you can see from the postings on this forum.Also bear in mind that there are probably many others who do not post here about their experiences and just pack-up and leave!
There will be some people who will differ and say they are making very good money in places like Moscow and one or two who I know do post here,but bear in mind that they are usually people who have been there a long time and built up their own contacts and private students-this is clearly not the rule for most of us.Having said that though I certainly don't begrudge them it because for anyone,let alone a foreigner to endure living in a place like Moscow on a long term basis needs a lot of determination and stamina,not to mention an iron constitution and a very thick skin!I am speaking from experience...
So to conclude with,think very carefully why you want to go there before you make a decision-if you are not sure,then my honest advice is to think twice!

[coledavis]

One of us says that the pay at universities is as good as at private language schools, the others say otherwise. Before you leap joyfully at the former piece of advice, do some research. If you can find a university where you can get a good deal, go for it.

Here is an example: I know one teacher who is really pleased to have become my replacement at a small private school in a small town in Siberia. She is pleased to be earning "real money", twice the rate at which she has been paid at the university up the road.

Actually, I need to correct something I wrote. Not all of these so-called 'private' language schools are actually that. Some have become licensed (US licenced, I believe) educational establishments. This means that they are in fact non-profit. The senior staff pay themselves bigger salaries, of course, but money is supposed to be ploughed into the school and they have stricter rules to abide by.

Thinking more broadly: although these forums try to help, it is usually by providing generalisations. When it gets down to what sort of deal you can get, you need to look for yourself and see what there is for you, in your situation.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Ditto Cole's advice.

Finding a uni in Russia that will pay more than 30,000 rubles/month is an anomaly, in my experience.
Travelnick, were you referring to Vladivostok? If so, I've never heard of a native speaker making more than the aforementioned salary at a university. Most of them make less.
To compare, at the school where I'm currently academic director, our native speaking teachers make more than 30K with a comfortable schedule (17 academic hours/week).
At EF, where I used to work, I made a lot more than 30,000/month; however, my contract was for 144 academic hours/month Never again, I say to you!

Anyway, good luck!

[travelNick]

University deals are sometimes good - keep searching 30,000 plus free accommodation and access to oodles of private students is all good.

Jeff, yes I was refferring to Vladivostok.

[Zajko]

I walked into a couple of (linguistic) universities in Russia on spec to enquire about positions not long ago, while travelling in Siberia. In one, I was interviewed on the spot, in another the following day. In both I was extended an offer of employment from the next academic term. I have an MA in Applied Linguistics, without which they wouldn't/couldn't have considered me, however.

Salary not great: 25,000 RUR or so pcm + visa support - though this isn't generally the kind of position you're looking into purely for the money, I guess. I don't think these are the kind of jobs you're generally going to find advertised on Dave's or similar sites: you're going to need contacts or a willingness to go there and knock on some doors. Speaking some Russian will also help.

[uzbekpk]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will keep doing my homework and hopefully find the right position for me.

In the end, I suppose, I am only looking for a year away from Aus to improve my Russian and give me some experience operating in a foreign culture so that I can better understand the needs of my own students. Money isn't everything, right?

[jpvanderwerf2001]

travelnick is right: Private students, though sometimes flaky, can definitely supplement any salary you do end up getting.

Best of luck!

[maruss]

To be honest,here in Cyprus I reply entirely on private students because it is virtually impossible to get a salaried job as an E.F.L. teacher:there is a massive waiting list for appointments in government jobs which are only open to Cypriots who also speak native Greek as their first language anyway-consequently all the applicants work for private institutes in the meantime,either in legal or illegal ones or just give private lessons like I do in co-operation with one of the recognised institutes here,with other students coming to me from recommendation.Of course it's a very precarious way to earn money and certainly not enough to live on....if it were not for my wifes business I would not be living here at all,especially now the recession has started to hit many sectors of the economy.