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Teaching English in Kazakhstan
Teachers' advice > Kazakhstan
teaching english in kazakhstan
"Kazaksthan is still not very open to the West or Western ways. English tends to
be taught by Kazakhs (badly) and it is generally thought that native speakers
aren't needed. The cost of living in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau is very high.
Make sure any ESL job includes a base salary of at least $30,000 paid outside
the country PLUS housing, utilities and local supplement and air fares (very
high). Ensure any ESL employer gets visas sorted out in advance or you won't get
into the country. Don't hand over your passport after arrival. Stick to a one
year contract only. Very strict on visas!
Kazakhstan is still very Soviet with lots of bureacracy and red tape. English is not widely
spoken anywhere and signs are all in Kazakh or Russian. It isn't a tourist destination
as yet and they are not geared up for it. Alcoholism is a major problem - supermarket shelves are
stacked with hundreds of different vodkas - the only thing apart from cigarettes
that is very cheap here. Winters are cold and miserable and summers hot and dry.
Avoid the police as you might be fined for just being foreign or not having your
passport handy."
Jodie, 02/11/07
"That advice is pretty gloomy! There are some great aspects to life here, too. You will never feel as
appreciated as you are made to feel by your students here. They are very respectful, and very interested
in people from other countries. In the bigger cities, people are very interested in the west and western
ways. Sometimes to a startling point (I've had three people in the last three days ask me if I could
either help them get to America or help them study English because they (or someone they know) want to
go to the west).
It is pretty hot in the summer and can be very cold in the winter, but the spring and fall months are
delightful. Plus, in Almaty, it is one of the few places in the world that has four healthy seasons.
It is very expensive, with Almaty being one of the most expensive cities in the world (literally).
And rental prices are also expensive. But, as a foreigner, you can also get a pretty good salary for
teaching. Probably much better than you can in the west in a public school!
But you do need to stay on top of things like visas and so on. And you need to be vigilant just like
you would be in any big city.
I would say come, if you are adventurous, and want to see a part of the world not many westerners have seen."
Chester, 15/07/08
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resources for kazakhstan
TEFL jobs in Asia
Travel information for Kazakhstan
Teaching in Asia Forum
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Central Asia Lonely Planet
This great travel guide provides practical travel information for Afghanistan,
giving detailed transport options, border crossings, and advice for getting
visas. Also gives in-depth coverage of eco-tourism and community-based tourism
options.
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