Job Discussion Forums

[Bariko]

Firstly, hello! My name is Alex, and I'm new to these particular boards.

I was wondering what the odds are of me being able to find decent work anytime soon. If possible, I would prefer to teach adults. For context, I have a BA, a 140-hour TESL/TESOL/TEFL certificate with a focus on teaching TOEFL Preparation, 1.5-2 years experience in Asia (China and South Korea), two years of freelance ESL tutoring back in Canada (mostly European/Middle Eastern students in university), editing experience for a journalistic publication and maybe some other qualifications I'm forgetting.

When I began doing ESL, I hadn't thought about Russia, but I did study the language for two years in university (mostly lost to me, but I remember basics, and can read Cyrillic), and have a pretty strong love for the politics, history, literature, poetry, art and music. I've checked the job boards, and what other sites I can find, but I keep seeming to find schools that have mixed reviews at best. McSchools, I think they're called on here. I am hopefully trying to avoid those, as I am just ending a tenure at a McSchool in Korea (albeit not a bad franchise), and wish to avoid another if at all possible.

Any thoughts, advice, general notes I ought to keep in mind? Anything would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Sashadroogie]

Come to Russia! You sound ideal for the Motherland!

However, with regard to your background in editing, that won't help too much in teaching. Translation and proofing, perhaps, but not in a classroom. TOEFL prep, on the other hand is a big plus. Experience in Asia would not necessarily be of much value here, but your experience tutoring in Canada probably will be.

McSchools are indeed a mixed affair. While most of the poor comments about them are deserved, they still offer the best support system for teachers new to Russia. As ever, I'd still advise grinning and bearing a 9-month contract there and then branching out on your own.

Unless your Russian skills are higher then what you have intimated, then I would say that your first time here would be very challenging, if you came on your own to a small school. They are not really equipped to provide the level of care and support that newcomers typically need. Can be done, of course. But is it really worth it? Or any better than a Mac experience? Doubtful.

As for politics, music and art, literature and history, there simply is nowhere else to rival the richness of Russia. You simply have to come and see it for yourself.

Come to Russia, and join the party!

[Bariko]

Now I'm chuckling, because there are friends from that old Russian class (and Russia) who will call me Sasha until the day I die. I wish I knew how Alexander because Sasha/Shura.

Would my experience in Asia be less value because Russia is totally different? Because that would be rad. I'm sick of getting my face ripped off for not being good at teacher-centred, teach the book, hard deadline stuff.

With regards to the McSchools, is there one in particular that seems to be better? Or... less bad? And, in general, is it older students/adults? Or is it kindergarten/young kids?

[Sashadroogie]

There are many more enigma-wrapped riddles awaiting you, once you enter Paradise.

As for teaching, there are a few threads already on the main differences to be expected when teaching here, or Europe generally. In a nutshell though, learners here will expect to be given space to talk - so no teacher-centred lectures permitted. Doesn't mean the Silent Approach, as some class members can be very interested in various aspects of their teacher, his views, ideas etc. But forget the 'hey look at me, I'm a rock star' approach that seems to get more palpable the further east the classroom is. Also, be ready to help with grammar, especially what they will call 'the time system', i.e. tenses. Don't know your present perfect continuous from your passive voice? Get on it immediately.

Course books will be used in nearly all classroom situations. But what you do with it is usually down to you. Skip parts, adapt, augment - whatever. So long as the pacing schedule, which is linked to fees, is being followed and the learners learn something useful, nobody will really care how you treat the book. Just do not abandon it totally, no matter how much you may dislike it. The class paid for it, and so will expect to make some use of it.

As well as business classes and General classes for adults, McSchools deal with kiddies of all ages, from toddlers to early tweens : ) What proportion varies greatly from branch to branch. If you really cannot deal with 16-year-olds, for example, it is as well to be upfront about that and say so during the interview. And hope that somebody takes your preferences on board too - which is never certain.

As for which Maccer is the leastest worstest, very subjective. I usually say BKC, mainly because it has some sort of academic support. Depends if you think that will be something you need or not.

Now, Shura, there can be only one Sasha on these boards, so I am sure we can be droogies and agree to divide the diminutives equally, but exclusively, between us, eh? Otherwise anarchy would reign! And we cannot have our collective idyll disturbed...

[Bariko]

Thanks, Comrade, for all the information. From what I've read and heard, there is substantially more support for new teachers (I admit I'm new, private tutoring isn't the same) in Russia than in Asia. Also, I hate the teacher based lectures I've had to give, so that's reassuring.

Incidentally, I decided if I had to choose a MacSchool, I was leaning towards BKC. Academic support is excellent, since I don't plan on doing this for a year and leaving (the entire family is teachers). And I know a CELTA/DELTA will look better than my measly certificate in the eyes of the world. Plus, it claims to have more adults/older students, which is my jam. A nine-month contract with solid support, before being able to spread out elsewhere? I can hack that, easy.

And of course we can equally share the diminutives, Comrade Sasha! Equal sharing of common resources is the whole ideal of Paradise, no, tovarisch?

[expatella_girl]

[Bariko]

Hahaha, of course. Just a little fun.

[Sashadroogie]

Expatella_girl, whatever do you mean? Our new comrade, Shura, sounds like he has the right party spirit. No traces of Trotsyism or other deviations. Not sure about the place where you work, though. Sounds like it may have infiltrated by wreckers spreading anti-Soviet sentiment...