|
Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
katezuniga
Joined: 19 Jul 2013 Posts: 2
|
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:09 am Post subject: Baby steps to Moscow |
|
|
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 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Sashadroogie

Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
|
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
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 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
katezuniga
Joined: 19 Jul 2013 Posts: 2
|
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Sashadroogie

Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
|
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|