Job Discussion Forums

[thailandreb]

I have read a lot on some websites and these boards about teachers "freelancing" with private lessons. I'm wondering the legality of this. I taught in South Korea for a year and they were very strict with the visa policies over there. Anyone caught teaching anywhere except with the contract they signed (and the work visa that came with it) was immediately fired and deported. I take it Russia is much more lenient. I guess my question is if you land a full-time teaching gig, which secures your visa, do they even care if you do more work on the side?

I have a 40-hour (20 in person and 20 online) TEFL-TESOL certificate, along with my bachelor's. Do you think it would be worth it to get the CELTA or could I get a decent job with what I already have?

Thanks for any info, I am excited to pursue teaching in Russia!

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Hi there,

First, most schools in Russia don't care if you have private lessons, in my experience. Most of my Russian colleagues have private students to supplement their incomes, and I've found it no different for native speakers. However, schools will get very upset if teachers A) steal students for private lessons (it happens), and/or B) let private teaching get in the way of your contractual commitments.
I have never heard of Russian authorities do anything to people teaching privately; of course, this doesn't mean this is impossible. I've found that it's quite common for teachers of all levels here to give private tutorials for cash. Heck, most workers in Russia are working for cash at their first jobs!

Regarding your qualifications: It really depends on which city you end up teaching in. From what I know, Moscow is more competitive; schools probably have higher standards. Outside of the Moscow (and perhaps St Petersburg? I honestly don't know), you will find your current qualifications enough to get a decent enough job.

Good luck.

[Sashadroogie]

Ditto what JP said. Teach as many privates as you want, but don't let it affect your official job. Most of your school salary will be 'black money' anyway, so teaching on the side is hardly worse. No danger from authorities whatsoever, in all the time I've been here at least.

Re the CELTA, hard to say. I'd be inclined to advise getting it, but then I may be just old-fashioned. For one thing, teaching Russian students will be vastly different from teaching Korean students, which I think is your main experience, correct? The difference is, I am reliably informed, that most hogwan classes are mainly 'speaking classes', whereas in Russia teachers are expected to teach all four skills and grammar and vocabulary. Grammar is not shifted to the 'local teacher' to teach in L1. Russians expect lessons to be very 'structured', in the sense of having a clear plan, and having lots of grammar structure too, and are not in the least bit shy and retiring in saying so, unlike the Koreans I have taught.

If you feel you can already give lessons like this, then you could probably skip the CELTA. Plenty of schools won't care if you have it or not. But, and I do not want to sound dismissive or negative here, I have rarely seen teachers whose experience was mainly in Korea successfully make the transition to Russia. The differences took them by surprise and they weren't prepared for the Igors and Svetlanas demanding an answer to various 'hard' grammar questions and were taken quite aback when the students argued with them. E.g. "Teacher, what's the difference between 'he advised me to do it' and 'he advised doing it'?

In any case, best of luck to you.

[ancient_dweller]

the fact that you are asking such questions suggests to me that you are not ready for the transition to Russia yet

You think USA = freedom. No, Russia = freedom.

[thailandreb]

thanks for the replies, they are much appreciated!

@ancient_dweller, Probably won't be really ready until I get there and find out certain things you can not just be told and understand. I have lived and worked abroad for 7 years (not only Korea), and spent considerable time in 5 continents. So not like i'm a rookie living in new places. I'm sure that will help.

@sasha, that is actually good news to me, because in Korea sometimes I felt like myself and the other foreigners were more mascots than teachers. I am halfway through a master's in elementary education, have been a substitute teacher in Illinois the past 2 years, and have learned a lot about making lesson plans and classroom management in my master's courses. So I think I have likely learned more in my master's courses than I would in a CELTA, but would like to obtain one for my resume, and would likely learn even more valuable stuff from it.

There was actually a Korean teacher who worked with us, who frequently asked all the foreigners questions such as that, so at least I have some practice with those questions

@jpv, thanks.... I was mostly wondering the legality of it; the culture there doesn't seem to be as strict and rules-obsessed as Korea. Which is a good thing. It would be great to have the option of supplementing your income, especially since from what i've seen Russia pays considerably less than some other countries.

Thanks again, all!

[smithrn1983]

[thailandreb]

@smith, thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

I was looking more at salary than hourly wages. The reason I said Russia (seems to, from what i've seen) pays considerably less is that from what i've seen (again, i've only started looking in Russia) most Russia-based jobs offer between US$1,000 to 1,500 a month, while countries like Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and even China pay 2,000 or more, and the Middle East pays far more still. Also, unlike most countries in Asia and the Middle East, it doesn't seem like most Russian jobs pay for your housing. Taxes there also seem considerably higher.

I'm not looking for highest paying job, at this point. So that doesn't matter as much. But wow, 30 bucks an hour seems pretty good!! Hopefully I will hit one of those jobs!

[Sashadroogie]

As has been written here many a time, most newcomers to Russia (Moscow, at least) usually start off in the large chain-schools - English First, IH-BKC, Language Link. These schools pay the lowest salaries, but throw in accommodation, after a fashion. Higher-paying companies don't often seem to hire from abroad. They don't need to take that risk when they can find so many teachers already in the country with proven local experience.

So, again, don't want to seem like a Cassandra, but do not be too disappointed if you can't find a high-payer for your first time in Russia. But after you get the lay of the land, you'll see there there is indeed gold in them thar hills. But most of that dosh will come from private students, so don't let the rates of pay you see on the 'net skew your perception.

Good luck.

[ancient_dweller]

[thailandreb]

@sasha... that sounds quite good, and reasonable as well. Thanks again for the info, it is much appreciated.

I think i'm going to go for my CELTA before I look for a job in Russia. There's a CELTA class in Denver in September and October, and my brother lives around there so I can likely hang with him for a month and get my certificate. It will undoubtedly be worth more than my 40-hour TEFL/TESOL, and hopefully will enable me to teach adults (something i've always wanted to do).

@ancient.... yeah you guessed it. I was a total vegabond in my earlier days. Spent a god portion of that time just backpacking, but I lived in Thailand, Korea, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia and was able to teach in 3 of those places.

Funny thing is I returned to the USA almost 3 years ago, primarily to settle down and establish myself, only to find that there are not any jobs here (at least in the teaching profession), and I really miss living abroad anyway. But I really would like to find a long-term thing rather than just traveling from here to there like I used to do.

[Sashadroogie]

I think the CELTA is a good idea. In terms of preparing you for giving lessons, it will be certainly worth getting. You'll find it quite different in a lot of respects from your MA in education, I'd imagine.

Perhaps you should consider the IH-BKC CELTA programme? It is pretty effective as an intro to teaching Russian students, and to living in Russia also, with the bonus that you might, if you're lucky (or unlucky!) get a job with the main school if you do well. Price is much the same, I think. But accommodation (basic!) is an added cost. Might not fit into your plans timing-wise. Here's the link for you to have a look at:

http://www.bkcih-moscow.com/training_n/celta

[druzyek]

[ancient_dweller]

definitely recommend the moscow celta!

[thailandreb]

@druzyek.... thx, that might be a good idea. I do have to check that ASAP

@ancient_dweller... aren't all the CELTAs following the same curriculum? I have heard that unlike the hoardes of TEFL and TESOL classes available by hundreds of institutions, the CELTAS are looked upon so highly partially because they all follow the same, Cambridge-endorsed curriculum. So if that's the case, would it matter where you get the CELTA? The only thing I can think of is they add a few extra items like how to get acclimated to Russian culture/Russian students, etc.

[smithrn1983]

The curriculum of all CELTA courses is the same, and each course is audited by an outside examiner. The difference is the students you will have, and the connections you gain through the course. If you plan to work in Russia, doing the course in Russia makes sense. You will be teaching Russian students, and so will be more familiar with their needs when you complete the course. Also, the trainers often have connections to local schools, making their references more meaningful to potential employers. BKC does occasionally offer full-time contracts to recent CELTA graduates as well. The only downside is that you might have to return to your home country to get your work visa. The laws regarding this last point change often, and I'm not sure what the current status is.