Job Discussion Forums

[Catie]

Hi, all -

After 8 years of working as an EFL teacher in various countries, I returned to university for a 2-year course last autumn. For the first time in ages, I am faced with finding summer work.

I have a four-month break from the beginning of May to the end of August, and I'd like to spend it working in Moscow. Can anyone comment on the likelihood of being able to find enough work in Moscow to create a reasonable schedule (i.e. 20 hours-ish/week)? And how goofy are the visa regulations these days? Would it be possible to come in on a tourist visa and find work, or would that be a major stumbling block? One last question - what is the going hourly wage in Moscow?

Any and all advice is most welcome.

Thanks,
Catie

[canucktechie]

Sure you can come in and look for work on a tourist visa, but you're going to have to leave the country and get a business visa for the rest of your stay. Tourist visas are good for 30 days at most and cannot be extended or modified. It will cost you less just to come in on a business visa in the first place, although of course you will be out more money if you cannot find work and leave.

The going rate for off-contract work at the schools is $15/hour or so, for private teaching it's around $30/hour.

Summer is the slow period for teaching in Moscow and contract teachers at the big schools tend to be under hours, so it's less likely that they'll be taking on off-contract people. Still you never know.

You might want to check out http://www.expat.ru/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5.

Personally I would not try this unless I had a free place to stay in Moscow. At any rate it won't cost you anything to contact the schools and see if they have anything to offer.

[steven_gerrard]

$30 an hour the going rate for private work? I would say at least that for newbies and much more for experienced, qualified teachers.

Mind you, there's not much work in the Summer in Moscow, not much at all. You may get some work in the kids camps in Mosow Region and beyond but that may be your lot.

[adavidwatson]

BKC Runs language camp outside of Moscow. I worked with a few off contract teachers there.