Way to Russia Talk Lounge

rchamberlain

jwilliams, you probably remember me as I also worked at Samantha in 2000/2001. I can't quite believe that you dislike Helen, the director of the school, so much that you are writing about it here seven years later! And I don't agree with what you say about Helen. You are being very unfair to spread such negative comments about her and the school.

Back in 2000/2001, I worked at Samantha for one year and I was very happy with the school. I then went to work in London for a few years before returning to Samantha School in November 2005. I've been working at the school since then. So, I have a lot of experience of the Samantha school and the most up-to-date knowledge of it - I'm working there now too!!

I remember that back in 2000, jwilliams worked for Samantha from September to about January 2001 (maybe she left straight after Christmas, I'm not sure now). I don't know what she has to complain about. Helen, the director of the school, even set jwilliams up with a very nice flat right in the centre of Moscow - at metro Mayakovskaya. I've no idea why jwilliams and Helen fell out (I've forgotten now), but I suppose this can sometimes happen. But this is no reason to start slurring the good name of the school!! When jwilliams left in 2001, the other teachers and I continued to work at Samantha and we were all very happy there. Indeed, that was why I was willing to return to work at the school at the end of 2005.

On this forum all sorts of nonsense has been written about Helen and the Samantha School. I feel I should respond to at least some of it:

1. Mediashark makes the assertion that Samantha school is "badly run by a spiteful and unprofessional woman who has a history of not paying teachers, sending them home (after providing visa support) just because she didn't like them"!!! This is not true at all. And, anyway, isn't the mediator supposed to 'mediate' and show at least some semblance of objectivity, rather than lead an attack on an individual and a school?!

- I want to confirm that Helen, the director of Samantha School, is very trustworthy and pays promptly at the end of every month!!! In total, I have worked at Samantha school for three years and Helen has always paid me and the other teachers on time. I trust Helen completely on this.

2. Ridiculous allegations about the visa!!!

- Oh dear, what is jwilliams complaining about here?! She probably only had a 3-month tourist visa when she first came out to Russia. This is a typical situation. Of course, Samantha school had to get it changed. How else was she going to stay out in Russia to work at the school?

- Jwilliams gives the impression that Helen, the director of Samantha school, has some kind of cunning plan to entrap unsuspecting English teachers!! This is not true at all!! I also have to give my passport to Helen for her to organise my 12-month business visa. I'm very glad that Helen does this for me! Obviously, if I choose to leave the school, then the school is officially required to revoke the visa. This is hardly surprising! But, what's the big deal about visas anyway? In jwilliams' case, she left the school and obviously had to get a new visa. This is not exactly a very difficult thing to do. There are many ways of getting a visa to work in Moscow. Why all the panic and upset from jwilliams?!

3. Ruperthodges claims that Helen 'hates the kids'!! This is utter nonsense. Helen is very popular with the parents and children of Samantha school. They all have a lot of respect for her and are very grateful to her for having created such a good school.

4. Poor old Bongo78 having to wear a Santa costume. How I wept when I read his sorry tale about Helen 'having him by the balls' (that's a quote from him!) and bullying him into dressing up as Santa for the Christmas concert!! Smile

Samantha school is for children, aged 6 upwards. Obviously, as a teacher at such a school, you have try and make things fun for the children! What's so traumatic about wearing a Santa costume? The children at the school would be upset if there was no Santa at the concert! Someone has to do it! And anyway, Bongo78 was certainly asked to be Santa at a concert which takes place during class time, so he was being paid for it!!

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

to each thier own...and people certainly have a right to thier own opinions

rchamberlain · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject:

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

rchamberlain · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:14 am Post subject:

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

Hmmm...well perhaps Mediashark will notice this thread...which BTW hasn't seen much activity as of late. But too your comments and opinions I am sure will merit value on the school and speak well to those who are interested in teaching English. Even me...I get criticized all the time on this forum from a few of the members...but too there are many here who know me for who I am. Ans so let those who disagrree with me have thier opinions...makes no difference to me. And I use this as an example for Helen and the Samantha School...let those who take interest decide for themselves. As for Mediashark I talk to her daily and will pass word to her with regards to the posts.

apage · Just Starting Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I am currently teaching at Samantha School and would happily recommend it to anyone who wants to teach English to children in Russia.
I have had no problems receiving my pay, negotiating hours or getting my visa.
Helen has been more than helpful since the day I arrived and it is upsetting to see one woman's personality abused like this, especially by people who haven't even met her. It seems that people are much less ready to believe her side of the story simply because she is Russian. If you dislike and distrust Russians so much, then Russia's probably not the best place for you to come and work anyway.
I have worked in several places in Russia and elsewhere and would rank Samantha School as one of the better places to work if you are really interested in teaching.
Employment conditions in Russia clearly differ from those in 'the West' but the conditions at Samantha are MUCH better than anywhere else I have worked in Russia.
I think Helen was perfectly justified in coming on the site and defending herself and, whether it's affecting her business or not, she is perfectly within her rights to be upset at the personal nature of the abuse. I would be horrified if it were me.
As for the visa saga, it is unfair to complain about employment conditions on one hand but expect to be allowed to stay illegally on a visa for a place where you no longer work.
Employers do have the right to fire people, to make demands on their employees and, yes, they even might get a little stressed sometimes (I have never seen a school with no stress). They are trying to run a business and their principle responsibility is to their customers: the children and their parents, and not simply to ensure their teachers spend a nice year 'experiencing' Russia (although having said this, from my experience, Helen IS concerned that her staff are enjoying their time here).

When I applied for the post at Samantha, Helen put me in touch with several of the current teachers. I spoke to them before accepting the position and would invite anyone else considering working at Samantha to do the same so they can make their own mind up. I would be happy to speak to anyone about working there.

jwilliams I'm sorry you had a bad experience. However if you're still upset about it now in 2007 hopefully that means you haven't had any worse experiences since and you're a lucky girl Very Happy

I hope you're working somewhere you enjoy now.

krasatulya · VIP Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 568

It's an interesting phenomenon that no one posts their good experiences regarding the Samantha school until there is a negative comment, then they seem to come out of the woodwork Think

rchamberlain · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:47 am Post subject:

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

well said Apage...and we wish you continued success with your employment there at Samantha School. Honestly this thread died down for a few months and nothing negative had been posted since...well a while ago. So I am sure things are back to normal. Anyways good luck to the school...and to everyone with trying to learn English. After all English is fast becoming the number one language spoken throughout the world...pretty amazing!

yorbcbud · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:25 am Post subject:

WayToRussia · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:40 am Post subject:

Check out the new Guide to Teaching in Russia, which we put online as a part of the new Expat Guide to Russia.

Expat Guide to Russia
Teaching in Russia

yorbcbud · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:05 am Post subject:

I don't know, Dmitry, if you wrote this or not, but I like this quote,

rchamberlain · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:15 pm Post subject:

jwilliams · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:27 am Post subject:

rchamberlain:

I remember you as well and I am surprised to see that you are accusing me of "slurring" the Samantha School. I am just sharing my experience, which happened to be negative. You don't seem to have all the facts right about my experience at the school, but since it happened to me and not to you, I can't really expect you to know all the details.

I'm glad to hear that you are doing well at the Samantha School. I hope in your future posts that you do not continue to paint me in a negative light, as I remember you and your wife fondly.

Cheers, and good luck to you!