Job Discussion Forums

[CapitalSigma]

Hello all!

I'm a university student looking to take a year off before I finish my degree. I love teaching and I've taken a few classes in Russian, so it would be a dream to be able to teach English in Russia and pick up the local language on the way. Unfortunately, without a bachelor's degree, this seems nigh-impossible. My only formal teaching experience is my current summer-long SAT tutoring job. I'm also quite young -- I turn 19 in September -- and it seems that even most TEFL certification programs want you to be at least 20.

Do I have any kind of shot, or would I be better off saving my money on TEFL certification?

[Sashadroogie]

Dear CapitalSigma

I think it is great that you have an interest in Russia and the Russian language, and I hope that you will eventually be able to come over here and realise that dream. However, at risk of sounding negative, I would think carefully before you try to do so now.

This is not an easy country to come to and start teaching, at the best of times. And in your position, I truly feel that it would be a serious mistake to attempt to now. Teaching Russian students requires a lot of previous experience as they can be very demanding and so would not likely accept someone so young. As far as I know, the CELTA course on offer in BKC Moscow has an age requirement of 20-something, for that very reason.

Bear in mind also that Russia can be a very tough place to live generally, even for Russians, and naturally tougher for a foreigner. While I like living here now, I don't think I would have been able for it when I first started teaching, even at the ripe old age of 26. So, I'd recommend thinking about a different country to start your TEFL career.

In addition, though the visa laws here change very frequently, I am fairly sure that no employer can get you a work visa without a degree. Nor would they be prepared to try, I'd imagine.

On a somewhat brighter note, perhaps you could think about coming here as a student? A student visa may be easier to obtain, but I have next to no first-hand information on that. Then, once you are set up on campus etc., you may be able to work part-time in a local language school "on the black" as it were.

But in any case, it is a big step and not one to be taken lightly.

Best of luck.

Sasha

[Houston]

I know of at least one teacher who does not have a university degree, but still managed to get a job at BKC with a CELTA.

I think 19 is too young to teach here in Russia. I just don't think your students will take you seriously.

The youngest teachers I know here are 23, but most of the teachers are in their mid 20s and up.

[JohnLars]

---I know of at least one teacher who does not have a university degree, but still managed to get a job at BKC with a CELTA. ---


I hate to beat a thoroughly dead horse but..

I've heard a dozen conflicting reports here and elsewhere regarding teaching while having a CELTA but no college degree.

I'm in the same boat myself.. I am interested in moving to Russia, but no degree.

So... this one teacher with CELTA/no degree at BKC.. do you think this person has a legitimate visa for working in the RF or is working illegally?

I realize what SashaDroogie is saying here.. but it is quite difficult to get a full picture of what the real deal is. (welcome to russia i suppose heh)
example from LL site: --Applicants with relevant university diplomas (English, journalism, linguistics, etc.) and relevant EFL experience are eligible to waiver TEFL or TESOL qualifications.--

Nowhere do they state that a uni degree is required, they seem far more concerned with CELTA (which they state as qualifying one for employment)

thanks ~John

[maruss]

I would take Sashas advice as being pretty solid in many respects though,especially regarding age limits and the difficulties of living in Russia.We all know that the thousands of rules in Russia are broken every day and no doubt there are more than a few people there who have found jobs without having any of the specified qualifications but this is hardly a good way to start off a career in this field.
With CELTA or TESOL, and even more if you have some work experience most people could find some kind of work there?

[spiral78]

One issue I'm not sure people take into consideration:

sure, it may be that a teacher lacking some one requirement can find A job. But if that specific job doesn't work out, other options are severely limited.

I've seen this happen in other places: a teacher finds, for example, a school willing to overlook his/her lack of a proper certification. Then, the school (all-too-often) considers that teacher a good target for exploitation (where else is he/she gonna go?) and they end up with short pay and/or the worst schedules, the crappiest housing, etc. And it's difficult for a teacher in such a position to up stakes and find a 'better' situation.

[ancient_dweller]

go for it if you want it! there are risks everywhere!

[Grenouille]

I'd like to add to this discussion by saying that I am employed by BKC and do not have a degree, but do have a CELTA. My visa is the correct visa to legally teach English in Russia (prepodavatel 006). At this point in time, a degree is not required to be legally employed in this type of work.

However, I do agree that 19 is a little too young to come here to teach, but I know it has been done before by someone as young as this, and quite successfully too.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Sashadroogie]

Interesting to know. Actually, I was under the impression that teacher visas were a thing of the past, having been merged, as it were, with the general work permit. When did you get yours Grenouille? When will it expire? I ask because I used to have a teacher-specific visa too, but late last summer found that I needed to provide apostilled copies of my degree in order to apply for a general work permit, as (I was told) the special dispensations for teachers had been done away with.

Could have all changed again since then, of course. or reverted to a previous status quo.

[Grenouille]

Sashadroogie, it did change briefly last year, and some teachers were given a work visa, having apostilled documents etc (but no degree was required, apostilled CELTA or equivalent was all that was requested). This was only for a period of about 4-5 months (can't remember exactly how long), then suddenly it all changed back to the original prepodavatel visa as it was before, and is still like this today. My prepodavatel visa expires in August, and I think was valid for about 10 months (too lazy to check my passport for exact dates )

[Sashadroogie]

Even more interesting. My EFL quals were not required for my work visa at all. Just an apostilled copy of my degree. To be honest, I have not kept up with the ins and outs of more recent changes since getting my papers in order (in one way or other) but I genuinely had not heard of the return of the Teacher Visa. Ura!

[smithrn1983]

I'd be wary of coming over here without a degree, especially at your age. I have known a few teachers who had secured good positions without university degrees, but they all had TEFL certification of one sort or another, and significant work experience outside of EFL. Most of them managed large businesses, or owned their own smaller businesses.

My advice to the OP is to either come over as a student, or finish school, get a CELTA and then come over.

[ancient_dweller]

pay a visit for a few months and see where it gets you! Save a bit for a flight home just in case. It will be a blast all the same!

[JohnLars]

very helpful guys, thanks.

[CapitalSigma]

Ditto on the very helpful, thank you all.