Job Discussion Forums

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

I am looking to teach ESL in Russia. I taught ESL in Korea once before,but I am looking to get some information on Russia.
First, has anyone heard of the following companies and how is their record on placing teachers? Language Link and English First.
Second,What pay, (non-tax for Americans) benefits,living quarters,flight(roundtrip),vacation ,hours and in general how close are the schools to the living quarters.
I would appreciate any assistance in answering the following questions.
Very Happy

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I think you'll find that the benefits in terms of flights and accomodations and etc will be very different from what's offered in Korea.

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

smithrn1983 · Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 320 Location: Moscow

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

smithrn1983 · Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 320 Location: Moscow

The McSchools are driven more by profit than by education, and so they will try to squeeze every penny out of you that they can. The pay is in salary form, so if you have less than 28 hrs per week, you still make the same amount of money, but they're almost definitely going to give you 28 hrs to earn more money for themselves while still paying you the same amount.

I've never heard of a foreigner teaching independently at a state school here, so I can't really tell you much about the conditions. I can tell you that state teacher salaries in this part of the world are terrible. You'd be much better off working at a McSchool, and it's possible they can give you kids classes, and maybe even some hours teaching in a state school. Teaching these classes will reduce the number of split shifts you work, and cut down on your travel time as well.

As for the salary, the $1000 a month is tax-free. You can make more money in Russia, but schools that pay more want experienced teachers, and unfortunately, experience in Korea usually doesn't count. The expectations from both the students and the school are simply too different. More broadly, experience in one part of the world (say Europe) often does not count for much in another (say Asia).

On a related note, what sort of teaching qualifications do you have?

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

Working in the state schools in Russia is nigh impossible: 1) They probably won't/can't get you a work visa; and 2) The pay at those schools is atrocious (somewhere in the 5000-8000 ruble range; just about enough to pay for 1/2 your rent). I have spent quite a lot of time inside the state schools here, and I can assure you that unless you're a philanthropist of some kind you don't want to spend 25 hours a week in one.
Your best bet is to find a language school with guaranteed hours and salary, then supplement that money with privates on the side.
The biggest cost here is accommodation, so if you find a job with accommodation thrown in, that's half the battle.
Good luck.

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

[quote="smithrn1983"]The McSchools are driven more by profit than by education, and so they will try to squeeze every penny out of you that they can. The pay is in salary form, so if you have less than 28 hrs per week, you still make the same amount of money, but they're almost definitely going to give you 28 hrs to earn more money for themselves while still paying you the same amount.

I've never heard of a foreigner teaching independently at a state school here, so I can't really tell you much about the conditions. I can tell you that state teacher salaries in this part of the world are terrible. You'd be much better off working at a McSchool, and it's possible they can give you kids classes, and maybe even some hours teaching in a state school. Teaching these classes will reduce the number of split shifts you work, and cut down on your travel time as well.

As for the salary, the $1000 a month is tax-free. You can make more money in Russia, but schools that pay more want experienced teachers, and unfortunately, experience in Korea usually doesn't count. The expectations from both the students and the school are simply too different. More broadly, experience in one part of the world (say Europe) often does not count for much in another (say Asia).

On a related note, what sort of teaching qualifications do you have?[/quote]
I taught ESL for one year in Korea and I have 9 years experience as a teacher. I also helped other teachers in ESOL classes. I do not have TESL certor a teaching endorsement.

smithrn1983 · Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 320 Location: Moscow

With nine years experience as a teacher, you might be able to find a position in an international school. They're hard to find, but if you can get one, they generally pay better than anything else.

Re: accommodation, the language schools will provide it free of charge. If you find a better hourly paid position they won't, but you should be making enough to pay your own way. Utilities are normally included in the rent here, and deposits vary.

zeke0606 · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject: what

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have been in Russia since 1999, but never in Moscow or Petersburg. I will refrain from giving advice about those two cities and leave that to the folks that do live there.
I was in Togliatti from 1999 to 2001 and Ufa from 2003 and still live here. I do know IF you can find a school outside of the two main cities, you will live better and much cheaper. A salary of $500 to $1000 USD goes quite a bit further than in the main cities. In 2003 I was paid $500 and had a free apartment and I needed a safe deposit box for all the cash I had. And I was not chintzy with myself.
I still like Ufa and have many friends and I'm just about the only American that lives here - I think!
Best of Luck!

expat979 · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

I'm sorry for bumping this post back up, but I had to share my giggles at this last one - $500/mo and needed a safety deposit box?! Even if you literally spent nothing all year long, never went anywhere, did anything, ate anything, that's only $6000 a YEAR - and you needed a safety deposit box for ALL that cash? I'm guessing because the bank it was attached to didn't have a bankomat or otherwise normal banking account. Lordy, lordy...

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Your comment merely reveals an inability to view a set amount of money in relative terms. I made not much more than that when I was in Russia but, on top of free accommodation, considered myself very well-paid. The point is how far the money goes in the country you are living in, not in the land of the dollar itself. If you want to earn a western salary, you probably need to stay in the west..

expat979 · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

OK, I understand your point, but I'll just say one thing and leave it at that: even the term "relative terms" has to have limits.

But your reply at least allows me acknowledge that my first reaction to that post got kind of lost by focusing on dollar amounts in my reply. The first thing that struck me was the use of a safety deposit box - it seems like a rather strange way to store your money. I mean, if you're going to move your money out from under your mattress and to a bank, why not a normal banking account? Granted, I've only ever changed trains in Ufa, not walked around or gotten a feel, but it seemed like all the normal infrastructure was present and accounted for. Presumably this person didn't have any family jewels to tuck away, or important documents that didn't have duplicates back in his/her home country. I don't know, it just seemed very peculiar and um, hoity-toity? To talk about using deposit boxes for your cash, I mean.

Maybe I've watched too many movies though - do lots of people on this site use safety deposit boxes? It wouldn't be the first time I'm the odd one out Smile

zeke0606 · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:12 am Post subject: What?

expat979 -
your first response was answered by coledavis in an appropriate manner and that poster has always posted very well thought out and true articles.
However, your second posting, is so egocentric and one sided. You may have been in Russia, however you have learned nothing. It seems to me that you are bigoted and of those Americans that are entitled to the worlds bounty without thought about the native peoples of the world that you so proudly strut among.
Whatever I keep in my safe box is not really any of your business - you are acting as an old nosy woman. And whatever banking activities that I am accustomed to doing here in Russia is, also, none of your business.
Typical American know it all!!