Job Discussion Forums

[Nicolas]

Hey-
I have been teaching kindergarten in China for the past year. Before that I taught in Russia for a summer (and LOVED it) and before that taught ESL in the states at a community college. I have not completed any of the TEFL certificates and I do NOT have a Uni degree (I am actually a year away from getting it- was hoping to take the remaining classes at a Russian University).

Can I show up and find a job?
Am I qualified enough to get a job?
Is it possible to find an inexpensive University in one of the bigger cities (I can speak a decent amount of Russian)?

Living in Hangzhou, China, I have met lots of students from the states who attend Uni very cheaply and then make a lot of money on the side as tutors. I also know people who simply show up in China and find a good job within a week or two� It seems so easy.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Nic

[canucktechie]

I do think the lack of a certificate may pose a problem, but if you have experience you might have a chance. Never say never as they say.

BKC is always advertising for new teachers, so you might want to go on a "fishing" expedition with them and see what happens. If BKC doesn't want you ...well... you're probably not very employable !

I wouldn't go to Russia in the flesh just to look for work, it's too expensive.

Universities in Russia are cheap and they attract a lot of 3rd world students. You might consider enrolling in university and teaching privates as an alternative to getting a "real" job.

[zaneth]

In a word - yes. Whether you will enjoy yourself I can't vouch for, but the honest answer is yes. Not having credentials will be a problem of course, but if you can teach, and you're there on the spot so the school doesnt' have to go through all the rigamarole of inviting you, you'll have a chance.

[bobs12]

<start_of_shameless_plug>

Try getting in touch with some of the schools listed on my site

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[canucktechie]

[Nicolas]

Thanks for all your advice.

I am going to be in Russia over the summer on a 3 month work visa. I am looking into Universities now in both Moscow and St Petersburg. So I will be near Moscow/St Petes in mid to late August.

I know ESL jobs are a dime in dozen in China and last time I was in Russia I had a friend of mine (whom I have since lost contact)who got a job on the spot and he did not have a Uni degree either.

I was just wondering how difficult it was to find a job. I would prefer something more stable than being a tutor, but anything is fine.

bob12- Thanks for the website, I registed and will look over the schools this weekend.

What are the hours like in Russia? In China I work about 3-4 hours a day.
If you dont mind, what is a decent hourly salary?
I make about 750 USD a month in China. I dont expect to make that in Russia, just looking for a roof over my head and enough to hopefully not dip into my savings.

Thanks again

[Bryant777]

Hello Nicholas:

I'm heading to St. Petersburg this May for my in sevice certification with Benedict ( shurugs ). I can have some info then about teaching in St. P. I've been volunteering ESL here in Pittsburg since 2002. I have a friend in Germany that I'll visit untill September when openings start.

I also found Bob's web site is a big help,

feel free to PM me,

Have a nice weekend,

Brian

[Confederate]

One of the best ways to find work teaching here in Moscow or St. Petersburg is check out all the listings for the various language schools listed in the online yellow pages for the Russian city you are interested in working in. You do not have to be even in Russia to check out the online phone books and yellow pages.

A lot of the schools not only have their phone numbers, addresses, but also email addresses and web pages. Before you leave to come here, it wouldn't hurt to check out the online yellow pages llistings for the various schools. You have to beware though, a lot of these schools are not what they seem to represent to be. So never sign a contract if I were you. Just last week I saw an ad for a school famous for mailing out millions of spam email to people with email addresses here in Moscow, now this school is trying to claim that it is a part of the United States Embassy Moscow.

But check out the online yellow pages for various cities you are interested in working in, that is how I found three jobs, one of the schools I have been teaching at for almost 20 months and still teach wit this school. The pay is not the best, but the extras the school provides makes up for it, paid holidays, a free week trip to Yalta for a language educators convention, so sometimes good things can ge found by checking something as simple a ss phone books.
GA Confederate

[Bryant777]

Thanks GA Confederate:

I'll take your advise on the job search. We have several language schools here in Pittsburgh, my overall plan is to gain teaching experience then look into earning my MA. I've found St. Petersburg Times a help too.

I was at Ft. Benning, GA 87-88 and 90 getting my jump wings and was a member of the 27th VA. ( a C.W. re-inactment unit ) for a year.

Rebel Yell !

How have you found Moscow ?

Sincerely,

Brian

[BELS]

Why bother working for a school for a pittance, Demand for native speaking teachers is high in Moscow. Do it yourself privately, a minimum of $30 an academic hr one to one. Get a class, rent an office, or a class in a school say 10 students @ $10.00 an academic hour = $100 an academic hour. why let some money making machines get rich, when you can do it yourself

[BELS]

You will need a good russian native friend, to assist with the negotiations etc. I couldnt do it without my russian wife, my personal assistant sbhe calls herself. Good personal assistant are the backbones of many a good foreign company in Russia, we cant do without them