Country info and advice - Lithuania
The following comments are from teachers who have taught, or are currently teaching, in Lithuania. If you are a teacher and have some advice to share, please add it here.
Lithuania is a big mixed bag.
Some of the people are the lovliest people you will ever meet. But many
Lithuanian students are very demanding and are aware of those who just simply
come to chase people around. They love their grammar lessons and demand a lot of
it. Some of the schools are 'difficult' and have 'awkward' bosses, epecially in
Vilnius. If there are any problems, or if you get on the wrong side of bosses or
students, they will come down on you like a ton of bricks. I don't need to tell
you, but winters here last for months on end and temperatures can get as low as
-25.
You should make a point of
working only for SODRA (social security) working agreement. Don't sign any
author or individual practice contracts because then you do the same job but are
not paid in case of illness, holidays, you don't have working census and you
have to pay your own taxes.
The AMES school in the centre
of Vilnius was excellent and really professional. Lots of good day time work and
they even sent me to a resort in the country to teach an intensive course to
civil servants. Most enjoyable. I agree with the above mentioned advice, to be
careful of taxes and social insurance which are followed up by an officer at
your door if you don't pay. I had already paid the insurance so it was OK. There
was one DOS dragon who withdrew salary from me till I returned a small paperback
novel to the office. So watch out for them.
If your advice is about a specific school, please post it in our forum
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