| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
eihpos
Joined: 14 Dec 2008
Posts: 331
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject: The London School Kyrgystan |
 |
|
Hi,
I am looking for advice from anyone who has worked here recently or is working here now. I've read what's on the board, just hoped for some updated information.
I thought it sounded like an interesting place to go - even though I can't actually pronounce Kyrgystan - but the person who answered my application sounds a bit desperate and they are always advertising.
How did you find it - management, students, accommodation, money etc? I'd also like to save a bit (and I'm probably going to the wrong place for that) but can you save ANYTHING?
Thanks! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
TeachtheFuture
Joined: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Location: BKK, Thailand
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:56 pm Post subject: The London School Bishkek |
|
|
Hello,
First post here it goes...I have been in correspondence with the director and I am wondering if anyone has any updated information on the school (I viewed the thread that was very old). I see this thread did not receive any replies, but I am pretty much asking the same questions as the original poster. I know that the salary that I would receive would likely be a lot less than what I could make in another country. I am intrigued with Bishkek because it is off the beaten path and not a likely destination for most people seeking to teach English abroad. I have read different people's accounts of going to The London School to learn Russian and all had positive things to say. I found no accounts of teachers who had taught there in the past.
Thank you in advance for any information! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Probably just nobody here has taught there.
All I can tell you is they are real and next door to the hotel where I had breakfast brunch one day.
Good luck! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeachtheFuture
Joined: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Location: BKK, Thailand
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Yeah I kind of figured that when no one had replied on this thread previously. Kyrgyzstan probably is not on peoples' lists of potential destinations for teaching English. I have found a couple of blogs that were written by teachers who had taught there in the past. They have been very helpful. I am also going to ask the school if I would be able to communicate with a current teacher or two. Thank you for your reply! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Just a suggestion but I would be sure you are allowed to take private students without jeopardizing your contract. They probably won't like it but make the usual assurances that you won't poach existing students and that you won't actually work for another school and they should accept it.
You will need some extra income over the salary they pat if you want any sort of life at all. Things are a bit expensive in Bishkek. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeachtheFuture
Joined: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Location: BKK, Thailand
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| That is a great suggestion and tip about Bishkek. If I were to go, I would be going for the experience and adventure. I know that I could go anywhere else in the world and make significantly more money, but there is something about going to a place off the beaten path like Bishkek that appeals to me. Thank you for your replies. They have been very helpful. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Partizan
Joined: 11 Jan 2013
Posts: 61
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ecocks wrote: |
Just a suggestion but I would be sure you are allowed to take private students without jeopardizing your contract. They probably won't like it but make the usual assurances that you won't poach existing students and that you won't actually work for another school and they should accept it.
You will need some extra income over the salary they pat if you want any sort of life at all. Things are a bit expensive in Bishkek. |
Things are not that expensive in Bishkek.
See here - http://www.expatistan.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Qaaolchoura
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 539
Location: 21 miles from the Syrian border
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
They seem to be more expensive than my city, one of the most expensive in Turkey outside of Istanbul and Ankara. However given that most expats work at the private universities and live in student housing in a significantly cheaper part of the city than I live, it's possible that the cost of living in my city is thus understated.
That said, I make considerably more than what most ads I've seen for Kygyz and Tajikstan pay for English teachers, so it's quite reasonable to assume that it will be difficult to make mends meet if the wages are commensurate with those I've usually seen for Kyrgyzstan (and Tajikstan, which seems to be similar pay-wise).
~Q |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Partizan wrote: |
| ecocks wrote: |
Just a suggestion but I would be sure you are allowed to take private students without jeopardizing your contract. They probably won't like it but make the usual assurances that you won't poach existing students and that you won't actually work for another school and they should accept it.
You will need some extra income over the salary they pat if you want any sort of life at all. Things are a bit expensive in Bishkek. |
Things are not that expensive in Bishkek.
See here - http://www.expatistan.com/ |
Not my understanding but by all means look into it and draw your own conclusions. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeachtheFuture
Joined: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Location: BKK, Thailand
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
Through the research I have done there are things that are insanely expensive (i.e. jeans, shoes, western brands of clothing) and some things that are very cheap. Thankfully the school provides accommodation so I will not need to worry about rent. I see my biggest potential expense being a cell phone. I am the kind of person that like to be immersed in the culture I am living in so I see myself going to the market more than a grocery store. Thank you both for your input!
I have a Skype interview with the school tomorrow (Thursday) so I am hoping that goes well and I can continue moving forward in the process.
Could either of you provide any input on the city of Bishkek. Are the locals typically welcoming of foreigners? What are some things you did while in Bishkek that you enjoyed? Is it relatively easy to get around the city? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| TeachtheFuture wrote: |
Through the research I have done there are things that are insanely expensive (i.e. jeans, shoes, western brands of clothing) and some things that are very cheap. Thankfully the school provides accommodation so I will not need to worry about rent. I see my biggest potential expense being a cell phone. I am the kind of person that like to be immersed in the culture I am living in so I see myself going to the market more than a grocery store. Thank you both for your input!
I have a Skype interview with the school tomorrow (Thursday) so I am hoping that goes well and I can continue moving forward in the process.
Could either of you provide any input on the city of Bishkek. Are the locals typically welcoming of foreigners? What are some things you did while in Bishkek that you enjoyed? Is it relatively easy to get around the city? |
I found the city to be about normal for the CIS. The people were okay but did not strike me as open as in Azerbaijan nor quite as curious as people in Ukraine or Kazakhstan. It's the only place where I ever had a problem exchanging money. They were scared to death that there was a small bloodstain on an otherwise perfect $100 bill. Was in Almaty a few days later and nobody even appeared to notice it.
I was there on vacation so stayed in a hotel, two different ones in fact. Higher cost than Ukraine and unimpressive overall. Beautiful scenery though. I love those backdrop mountains.
As for costs, certainly you can go to a country where the average income is $300 and you can survive on a salary of $600 by living like a local. You won't eat as much meat as you might have been used to back home, you'll limit yourself to a simple hot tea when you go out with friends and you'll eat more starch than you probably did back home. Lots of us strike a happy medium between the locals and the elite. I have friends in the Peace Corps who live like locals and as long as you understand what you're getting into then hey, it's your lifestyle. I have a friend there who owns a medium up-scale restaurant. They (local wife, two children) live off of expats (80%) and the elite locals (20%). The bill there would run about $12-15 for a modest meal without alcohol, $20-25 if you are a big eater. However, alcohol is a big part of their bills. Among the US State Department personnel it is considered a hardship posting. (BTW, they are building a new Embassy to house the expanding staff.)
On the other hand, we found a small cafe a couple of blocks down from the hotel and had a meal for two for about $14. You'll decide what you must have and what you can live without. Western clothing is expensive, cheap stuff from China, Bangladesh and Pakistan is in the markets. The cab to the border (outside of own) ran about $12 for the 2 of us.
Getting around was easy enough for us, we used cabs and walked a lot. Bicycles are popular and I thought one hotel had a great idea in providing bicycles for registered guests. They had a dozen or so parked in a hallway for guest use. The town is mostly flat and easy cycling and traffic was nothing like I am used to from Kyiv or Baku. Like most CIS/FSU cities there is an Operahouse, gardens, some cafes (if you want to pay for them). It is not a rich country or city though. If I lived there I would be relying on myself to make my lifestyle. The locals I met were mostly those who were around the expats - Embassy employees, friends of the base personnel, etc.
Best of luck with the interview! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeachtheFuture
Joined: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Location: BKK, Thailand
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thank you for the great information. It is one thing to read about Bishkek online, but to hear it from someone who has been there is great. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ecocks
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 899
Location: Gdansk, Poland
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| TeachtheFuture wrote: |
| Thank you for the great information. It is one thing to read about Bishkek online, but to hear it from someone who has been there is great. |
My time there was very short but if it helps and makes you feel a bit better then great.
Couple of other things then. There are some places in the country you might want to steer clear of over to the west. Some folks aren't happy with the way they drew the border and they confiscated 500+ weapons from a village of 300-odd folks while I was there.
You know there is the big American/Coalition military airbase outside of town? There are some Americans around from that facility but most seem to stay on base. Also some civilians work in some tech support positions and there is an NGO community there as well. Other than that you won't find much of an expat community unless you begin hanging at the couple of bars and restaurants they frequent. That's cost-prohibitive for teachers I think.
If you go. My advice is to plug into the NGO community and maybe look for the missionary crowd. They live closer to the people but remember they are outsiders. They could also be a good source of referrals if you take in a few private students. There are also Peace Corps and some other educational types there but not a large group by any means.
It is not very modern. Mostly the architecture is Soviet-era but not so many of those massive high-rise housing blocks as Kyiv or some other places. Oh, they get real mountain-climbing expeditions staging through the city during the summer as they head for the mountain ranges. You have some 24,000+ peaks over that way.
I would also ask if they have any other native-speaker teachers you might talk to via Skype. Ask about housing and lifestyle interests.
Hope that helps. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeachtheFuture
Joined: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Location: BKK, Thailand
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
You post helps a great deal. Through my research I have read about the border disputes and the places to avoid. More likely if I teach there I would visit Kazakhstan and stay away from the borders with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. That is a great tip to try and tie into the NGO expat crowd because as you said it is small, but I am not surprised by this. We will see how my interview goes and then I will start asking about speaking with current teachers and getting into the real nitty gritty of the position. Both you have provided great information.
Thank you for your reply! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Partizan
Joined: 11 Jan 2013
Posts: 61
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| TeachtheFuture wrote: |
You post helps a great deal. Through my research I have read about the border disputes and the places to avoid. More likely if I teach there I would visit Kazakhstan and stay away from the borders with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. That is a great tip to try and tie into the NGO expat crowd because as you said it is small, but I am not surprised by this. We will see how my interview goes and then I will start asking about speaking with current teachers and getting into the real nitty gritty of the position. Both you have provided great information.
Thank you for your reply! |
It all depends on what personal savings you have to. I was offered $US850 p.m. which is not bad in a country where the average monthly salary is a quarter of that. With accommodation and flights covered as long as everything else rather cheap (except Western brand clothes) you will live very well. You can also if you like supplement your income with private tuition.
The travel advice you were given is correct. Stay away from the Ferghana Valley. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
