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Baby steps to Moscow

 
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katezuniga



Joined: 19 Jul 2013
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:09 am    Post subject: Baby steps to Moscow Reply with quote

Hi all,

I've spent some time noodling around these forums, looking for info, following folks that I've developed a liking for (I'll admit I have my favorites;) and though I could spend some more time and perhaps answer my own questions, I'd prefer to go ahead and put myself out there...

My goal is to teach English in Moscow. I have no prior teaching experience, but I have a degree in Linguistics and Russian from UC Berkeley.

From what I can tell, it's feasible to enroll in a Celta course in Moscow (with BKC for instance), and jump my career in ESL off from there. Is this a reasonable expectation? If this is the case, can anyone provide advice on timing the course so that I can maximize teaching opportunities upon completion? And if not, any recommendations for how to best and most efficiently get to a point where I can support myself teaching English in Moscow... keeping in mind that my current occupation in San Francisco is not conducive to being put on hold for a month long intensive course... ?

I don't anticipate being financially ready for this change for a year or even two, but I'd really love to get a plan of attack together- and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

Xo
k
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome to the boards!

Yes, your ideas sound perfectly reasonable. Doing a Celta with BKC would be an excellent start to TEFLing in Moscow. And with your background in Russian and linguistics, I'd imagine you'd find it very enjoyable.

About timing, you should probably plan to finish the course around end of August or start of September, as this is when most schools kick off their new academic year and hire new teachers. They still hire throughout the year, but this is the peak, with new year/Jan being second place.

Visa issues are something to watch out for. To attend a Celta in Russia, you would probably enter Russia on a three-month tourist or business visa. This may or may not be possible to convert into a work visa inside Russia by your new employer. If not, you'll have the added expense of an embassy trip abroad once more in order to apply for your papers. And who knows what those procedures will entail in a year's time.

You might consider a stint with BKC itself immediately after your Celta. They'd be better placed to sort out work documents etc. than a smaller school would. But see other threads for the downside to working there...

Anyway, whatever you do, make sure you leave aside enough money for an emergency fund. E.g. plane ticket home, or whatever. Do not come over and leave yourself exposed to the vagaries of the local EFL market in the hope that it will all work out first go. Sorry for stating the obvious - you most likely already know this.

Best of luck to you,

Sasha
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katezuniga



Joined: 19 Jul 2013
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you Sasha- very helpful to know I'm generally headed in the right direction.

Any suggestions for other celta programs to consider in Moscow? Or other resources to use? The relative all inclusiveness of BKC's program is rather appealng, but I don't want to overlook other options that may be more suitable to me in other respects.
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As far as I am aware, only BKC offers the Celta in Moscow. Could be wrong about that, though. Other Russian cities offer it too, I think, but I am hazy on the details. From what I can see, only BKC offers anything decent in terms of proper training in Moscow. Forget internship programmes in other chain schools - rubbish terms and conditions and all for an internal certificate only. There are also crappy online courses, but they are even worse than internment, ahem! internships.

Not sure if any of that helps. I'd say stick to your original plan. Good luck.
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