Viewing topic: Ufa School

Just received an unsolicited mail from a school in Ufa.

I didn't apply to them, but they found me solehow.

Dear Peter,
Sorry for the delay in replying to your letter since our office was on
summer holidays.
I received your letter and would be interested to appoint you as a
teacher in our school which happens to be in the centre of Ufa city which
has a population of one million and two hundred people to be exact.
We will provide our staff free accommodation with a furnished apartment
close to the school.
We will also be paying a salary of $ 400 to $600 according to the
experience and qualification of the teacher.
Please could you send copies of your certificates and passport so we
can start processing the invitation letter for your visa. But, if it is
easy for you to obtain a tourist visa, it would safe us the trouble
and time. This tourist visa" is valid for three months. So when you are
here and if we like your teaching and also if you are satisfied and
happy with our school, then we can extend your work visa" which will be
valid for a period of one year and sign the contract too.
The advantages you will have in Ufa city are many. We have a lot of
museums, parks, theatres, cinema-halls, restaurants and discotheques which
are not expensive. Our people are also very friendly and helpful.
Hoping to hear from you at the earliest.

Yours sincerely,

Evgeniya.


A couple of points
1. They cannot transfer a visitor's visa to a working visa
2. Working while having only a visitor's visa is illegal - and guess who pays the fines and suffers the consequences.
3. The salary is an insult.

This is another one to avoid.

Thanks for posting that.

Additionally, the last time I checked, tourist visas were given for 28 days, not three months.

Thought the letter was unsolisited, it doesn't sound like a bad deal.

Bobs, The average tourist visa is for 30 days for the States. It is possible to extend it there, though it is questionable as to whether or not they can change it to a working visa. I have been to this part of the country and even to the office in Ufa that issues invitations. I have found that if you know the right people anything is possible.

I have the first one year multi entry visa ever issued in Oktyabrsky. They said that couldn't be done either. US Visa offices will tell you that it is impossible to extend your visa while there too.

As for the salary, I would think that the only person that was insulted was you, that's not bad money in Ufa especially if they will put you up in an apartment. (Which wasn't mentioned, but I am sure is nogosible)

Will

Or 30 days, I have to remember too many numbers these days

It says accommodation is provided free, in which case the wage does look okay, though it may be insulting for someone used to earning a lot more!

I think it's a spam thing - one of the schools on here started spamming through PM in a desperate bid to fill a position. I got a complaint within minutes! The offer really was bad in that case though.

I didn't see the Apartment part. $400 and up with an apartment is darn good there the average local teachers salary in that part of the country is less than $200 a month.

Send me that address, I will check into it with some of the people I know there and try to learn more about the school. Also Albina is still here working for the summer and she know Ufa very well. maybe she knows about this school.

$400 is a low salary wherever it is and whatever the standard of living. Quoting an average local salary for local people does not justify this.

Accepting such a low salary only helps to maintain low salaries for TEFL teachers.

It may be that you can live locally for such a salary, but we also have commitments in our own countries. Imagine a recent graduate with student loans or debts to pay - they cannot do this with such a salary.

I suggest that your looking at the wrong business if you expecting to make money and With that attitude you probably won't make a good teacher.

The fact that they are paying the standard for teacher in their area and providing accomidations makes it a good offer, though it was unsolisted. Put the name of the school up so we all can see it and check into it. You may not want the job, but a serious teacher might.

Interesting that you presume to comment on my professional abilities Horseman.

I have been in TEFL for 15 years - 4 in various parts of Russia, - as well as 19 years in State schools, retiriing as Head of Faculty.

I seem to recall that you started in TEFL pretty much by accident in 2002 when you were looking for a Russian wife.

I hardly think that you are qualified to judge my abilities with that cursus.

LL and BKC pay $650 - 800 plus accomodation. Charles Abroad is offering $1200 in Tyumen. Even Linguamir in Samara (not so far from Ufa, and generally seen as being low payers) offers considerably more than $400 plus accomodation.

$1200 in Tyumen?! Wow! Will look into that and add the school to the directory, thanks!

Guys - Will - let's not get at each others throats, this isn't meant to be eslcafe! We need Bartley here!

As you said, this could be a good start for a fresh teacher, but for somebody in Bartley's position that kind of an 'offer' really is just taking the mickey. The job market is very polarised in EFL. All the above information is very useful.

Bartley's only just got here, and with 15 years' experience he'll know the market way better than you or I.

Bartley - big thanks for the information. Don't be offended by Will, he's got a very different angle on the whole situation.

Peace!

Yes Bob, to get at each other throats would be pointless and none productive.

But then again not to Reply would be Rude.

Bartley, Obviously I didn't know about your Years of experience, and It is nice to know that when I have that many year I can expect to make that kind of money. Seeing as how these points weren't mentioned in your first post on the subject and the fact that the school made you an unsolisited offer indecates that they didn't know either. Might be a good Idea to write them back and mention to them you qualifications. It might up the price.

Yes I am somewhat new to the teaching English thing in Russia and my reason for starting into the industry really didn't have anything to do with teaching. But apparently I have caught the bug. I tend to be a quick study at anything that I do and I try to learn as much about the subject as I can.

Given that I have some knowledge of the area (Ufa & Oktyabrsky) and I have an idea what the schools offer in these areas. I look at thing from the stand point of the smaller school and what they can afford. I am sure that you know that 90% of the teachers do not have those years of experience and that the $400 salary wouldn't hurt their feeling in the least. Just ask Merritt, he just took a job for $200 a month (Info in another post).

For you to tell everyone in your post that they shouldn't except that low of salary runs along the same lines of advice that I just got done writing an article about on the site here. I believe Bob named it "Bitting The Hand That Feed You"

I understand that you think the salary is insulting and maybe for the amount of experience you have it is. When I read the post I took it to show a certain amount of Arrogants, but had you simply said that the salary was low for a city that size, I probably wouldn't even have paid any attention to it.

I don't intend to piss you off and I deffer to you years of teaching, but again I look at the fact that most of the people that come to this site are not experienced and are looking to start out.

If you interested in making good money Diabala just told me of a job offer in Korea starting at $3000 a month. Might be right up your ally.

As for me I will stick with the smaller schools and see where life takes me.

Bob where the hell have you been,,, I have been trying to call for over a week.

Sorry, was in Stockholm last two weeks! Got back on Saturday. SMS you!

Folks - the site is here for everyone to enjoy, it is indeed more popular with newcomers but we really need a lot more experienced members like Bartley who are willing to share information, experience and advice - without them the site is really of little use to people who are starting out!

What (I hope) separates this site from other ESL forums is the positive atmosphere and a certain repsect and support for inexperienced teachers - it's a place where nobody looks down on anyone else.

That's one of the reasons I encourage people to post their own user pictures, so others remember that they are talking to a person, not a stream of digits in the ether. I don't like the anonymity of the web, or the atmosphere that it creates - it seems to encourage disrespect between people who would otherwise be perfectly civil face-to-face.

On an entirely different note and slightly off-topic, I soon hope to get some time to devote to promoting this site to schools again and getting more job vacancies lined up for you. I always appreciate your help in this.

Just recently Anna (Digdug) introduced a new member who's currently working in Kazakhstan. There will soon be a vacancy at his school and I hope to get it posted here for all you guys. He has already given the school a big thumbs up, so everything looks good!

Hi guys!

It's been a long while since I posted here... I'm qorking in Ufa right now (have been for the last month). Yes $400 is low, but $600 is not! The local salary for a newly qualified (Russian) teacher at a university is 2-3000r a month, so when the private schools are paying $600+ and an apartment ($300+ a month for a 1-room near to the centre), it's not a bad deal.

Anyway, Ufa's really quite a nice place and I'm settling in well. It's my first teaching post after CELTA in London and there's no big school facilities here!! We get by and people are learning English... The students are well motivated and the area is friendly in comparison to some of the bigger cities! Being English is a rarity, so one is the centre of bar attention for the first 30-minutes and then everyone lets you get on with life! Must say, I enjoy it more than SPb, but that's personal preference I guess - although 30r Marlboro Lights and 45r Stella (in an outside bar) is not bad!

If anyone knows anyone else from Ufa, feel free to give them my email (juddmartynhotmail.com).

Bye for now,

Martyn

Good to have you back mister!

Would also be great to get a review of the school you're at - after you've finished, of course, just in case they're still looking!

I have some friends (e- students) in Ufa, so will try to get you all connected.

Keep us posted!

Yes I agree $600 is a good deal in Ufa. I didn't know that the apartments were going that high there though. Last I heard $200 was common for one or two room apartment there. maybe a little off the beaten track though.

Albina is about to head home and back to University there in Ufa. From what she has been telling me there is no reason to worry about the low salary for the Russian teacher, they subidize it by taking payoff from the students that want to pass their classes without having to take the test five or six times. She says it is really bad there.

So even though they may only get paid 3000 rub a month they make more. I'll give her your e-address, I am sure that she will invite you to out some time, she is a sweet kid.

I am still waiting to find out if I have the house sold and then I will set the date for my trip. I hate this waiting game. I might be able to hook up with you sometime this fall.

Take care and good to see your back

Hi Bob
Actually I'm thinking of high-tailing it out of here.... really bad management, bad timetable and can't even give a lesson to more than 6 people at the school (have to travel 30-minutes to a college)! I'm starting to understand some of the compaints that I had read before!
Martyn

Hi Horseman
I'd heard this also... and yes, it is quite bad here! Nice place but a little behind the times! Give you an example... I went out the other night and ended up getting into a little fracas with some Russian men.... police turned up and decided that I was good for some cash. 2-hours at the cop-shop and I don't have my phone anymore! At least in SPb they were only interested in 200roubles and my McDonalds meal!
Martyn

Hey Martyn, keep in tough if you leave there. and as Bob suggested write something about the school and Ufa so others will have a heads up before going.

Bob and everyone in St Petes told me about things like that too. I have to say that I never had any problems in Oktyabrsky... I guess that's why I love it there. I am sure tht sooner or later I will run into some sort of ruckus myself, but I feel right at home there. Small town atmosphere. That and Guzel's husband is best friends with the chief of police there.

In hindsight, I was probably being a bit harsh on the school! They're trying hard but bottom line is that they just don't have many facilities. The school is relatively small but the number of puils is growing quite quickly. Also, it's a bit of a bad time since the other native speaker is on hols and another one doesn't arrive until later this month.

For more experienced teachers this is probably quite a good job since you have a fair amount of freedom and get to teach a range of different pupil types and materials. However, for a newbie like me it's tough!! 27 hours teaching 5 different materials plus 3 evenings a week off-site is gruelling. Add into that the fact that I got the short straw and have 3 early starts (0830) and 3 late finishes (2200) a week, plus a 2030 and a 2100 and you can imagine how I'm feeling at the end of every week!

To be fair, no-one ever promised me otherwise, but it could do with a bit more organising! Should never post when one is feeling down after the first month of something!! Lesson learnt!

Don't worry so much Martyn

Everything will work out. The trick is to go with the flow at the first. 27 hours isn't all that bad even if thye kinda split your shift. When I first went to Oktyabrsky I was so bored I stayed at the school all day with the two regular teachers. They worked 10 - 11 hours a day and some times 6 days a week. It still beats digging ditches doesn't it?

It took a while to get to know the city and to find other things to do. Although after hearing all the stories about getting into trouble I guess I was better off to stay out of the wrong places. I did find a nice little bar and made a few friends on my last trip. They take care of me very well and keep me out of trouble. One night I was told when to leave because there was going to be trouble that and I shouldn't be there.

It is just part of the adventure.

Very true indeed! I think that maybe I just got myself into that Catch 22 spiral..... when you can't seem to see the end of something! I'd love to help the school organise itself better, but that'd mean even more work! Hopefully we'll be able to be a bit more selective with the timetable when it gets busier, or, failing that, I've got a few interview lined up this week and one really interesting opportunity near Moscow!

When you're over, would love to hook up if possible

Martyn

Sounds like there's an opportunity there... make them an offer! Say you'll take on some DOS duties in return for a flat monthly rise? Would be great to get the details of that school sometime to add to the directory

What's the Moscow offer? Thinking of making a move somewhere myself. Plan to quit or semi-quit teaching and live off translating & advertising work. There's a lot more of that work available in Moscow. Means leaving Petersburg though... time will tell