Job Discussion Forums

[BA]

The question is simple- do I need a CELTA/TEFL?

-BA Economics
-MBA
-3 years of substitute teaching experience
-Experience as reading tutor
-8 working years in a Fortune-500 oil company (finance and logistics)

So.....do I need a CELTA/TEFL to teach in Russia?

Thank you!

BA

[Sashadroogie]

To get a visa - no.

To be in the running for job selection by most schools, and be effective in a classroom - yes.

[Shelby]

To get an extension to the visa after the first 90 days I needed the qualification plus apostille.

[coledavis]

It rather depends on what you have been teaching. If it is not teaching English as a foreign or second language, then I think training of some type is called for, as TEFL/TESOL requires some quite specific skills.

[Sashadroogie]

[Shelby]

It was on my CELTA and for a teaching visa. They weren't interested in the degree or Cert Ed. I know people who have got the extension with an online cert. It seems you just have to prove some kind of qualification.

[ecocks]

I have a BBA in Industrial Relations, MBA in Management, 13 years of university-level teaching of Business courses and taught for three years in a Southern California HS....AND a reputable TEFL.

My advice is to do the TEFL or CELTA. Even if you are a natural teacher, a reputable TEFL or CELTA course will give you the organizational structure, content information, teaching strategies and exposure to the field (from your teachers and wannabe classmates) that will be invaluable.

As mentioned in an above post, most schools will require it. There are exceptions, but certainly reputable ones will do so. Generally speaking, the online TEFL courses won't count for much so look for one with at least 100 classroom hours and 10 hours of observed and evaluated teaching.

Best of luck!

[Sashadroogie]

[Shelby]

The first two years I was here I was on a work visa and didn't need an apostille on anything. Then the school changed its status to become an Academy of Additional Education (or something like that). Now all teachers need a qualification (can be online in theory) plus apostille.

We also have to go through all kinds of medical tests - HIV, psychiatric, drugs and god only knows what else because there are children in the building. Even the cleaner has to do this! (Psychiatric tests in Russian can be fun!)

[Sashadroogie]

Yes, the teacher visas can be harder to effect, but then, with schools that teach children, this is understandable.

Still need some medical tests for the work visas. Yet, these can be managed easily enough with a little palm grease. Like so much else...

[Shelby]

I understand the logic behind the medical tests but the palm grease only works to a certain extent here. The teacher who faints at the sight of a needle escaped some of the tests but only because the ADOS (me) agreed to take them. They could only get an exemption for one person.

[Sashadroogie]

It might be different for security checks for kiddies teachers etc., but I have not had to have any medical tests done in years. In practice, I mean. Officially I have been tested for God knows what. Leprosy, black death, whatever. A few k keeps me away from all that.

[teacher X]

Well I'm confused with everything you guys had to go through. I have a full teacher's visa and all I needed to provide was a HIV test. Nothing else (well, apart from the obligatory invitation documents and other generic crap)

[Sashadroogie]

That is coz you iz special, Teacher X.

[BA]

I was afraid I would need to get a CELTA.

Thanks or your input, guys.