Job Discussion Forums

akaizer · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 6

Hi, I've been looking through alot of posts here and a lot of different comments about pay and life style. I've been teaching in Korea for three years (Not such an accomplishment anymore), and I have a degree with a TEFL cert.... now the reason I write.

I'm assuming I'm not the only poor travel/working kid out there, and many of you probably went through where I am now. My question is:

Is it really feasible to live/work in Russia/Ukraine/Belarus/Kazakhstan (Russian speaking countries) and send home $500 a month to tame the student loans?

I know it depends on how many privates you can wrangle, and what type of work scene you can find. I am willing to travel to Russia as I'll be in Europe for the summer, is it easier to find better opportunities while on the ground? (Stupid question, I know)

I don't want to live in a shack in Siberia, nor in a plushy pad in Petersburg. To be honest I would like to live in a modest city where I can learn Russian while I teach, any suggestions?

As well, is it difficult to transfer money from Russia/CIS countries? In Korea you only need a passport / id, anything weird needed in Russia? Perhaps a mafia friend and a bottle of (real) vodka help?>

Thanks for any help, Cheers, Allan

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

Hi Allan,
Yes, it is possible.
Russia, as you might know, is not super cheap these days. The math:
15,000 - loans
15,000 - rent (not to mention bills)
15,000-20,000 - to live life (food, transport, contingency, social life, etc) - I'm being conservative here.
=
45,000-50,000 rubles a month. There are jobs out there which pay that kind of cash (sometimes more), and there are some which offer accommodation. I think it's hard to count on private lessons, but you could make another 5-10K (perhaps more) rather easily doing that.
It's not hard to transfer smaller amounts of money (less than $5000).
Yes, it would be easier to be "on the ground", but I guess you knew that.
I'd say go for it, but choose a cheaper city than Moscow!
Good luck.

akaizer · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 6

Cool, that's great news to hear!
Any recommendations on some cities to visit? It would be nice to be within perhaps a 6-24 hour train ride from Moscow/st petes, no trans-trips (I'm gonna do that next month for the fun of it, not really a weekend excursion)

Also I put his question out somewhere else, but I'll put it out here to:

3 years Korean experience + BA + TESOL cert ( Oxford seminars)
Do I really need to get a CELTA? will it help enough to offset the $1500 I will pay for it?

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

I should add here that there are SOME jobs that pay up to 50K (no accommodation), I won't claim they are common, though. Just a caveat.
I personally think a CELTA is worth the cash, because no matter where you go it will be recognized.
I have seen teaching jobs advertised in Kazan. That would be a cool place to check out.
Good luck to you.

akaizer · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 6

Sounds good, I have been tossing the CELTA idea around for a while now. The status of it is definitely, I'll like try to take it this summer. I see Belarus seems like a cheap place to take it (course cost and living). Any other recommendations perhaps? Maybe Lviv in the Ukraine?
If I want a job in Russia should I take the CELTA in country??

Thanks for all your help !