Way to Russia Talk Lounge

BK4872 · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: Looking for work in Moscow

Hello everybody! I've really enjoyed reading this board the last couple of weeks- so I thought I'd join in the fun. My question is for anyone that can help- I'm looking to relocate to Moscow this year and I need to find work- I've been looking into teaching English but this seems like a scam- Any replies would be greatly appreciated!! Laughing

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

You can teach privately or hook up with expat teachers who have already tested the water. See Jobs and Lessons, there is a warning about some schools who scam teachers.

bryak · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:48 am Post subject:

Check out the bigger schools maybe - like BKC or LanguageLink - although if you're unqualified they probably won't hire you. My advice would be to take a english teaching course - TESOL, TEFL etc. They'll often help you find a legit job. My brother did such, teaching in China, and it worked out well for him, even though he's a sissy and had to come home halfway through his contract.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

Language Link may hire you without qualifications, but they will observe you in the classroom after providing a bit of training. Check out their programmes that are suitable for foreign teachers and provide support for accomodation, visa etc. They also have a work-study programme so you can teach and learn Russian at the same time. They pay is not that great, but it is one of the more established language schools.

init6 · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject:

I can vouch that teaching English is not a scam (not that there aren't scammers out there - I'd bet cash that there are). I don't do it personally (not really the teaching type) but I have several friends who do and my best friend in Moscow, a Swede, gets a decent paycheck BUT I don't think you can live well off of it.

If you're looking to stay, try to find a Western firm that's hiring in your specialty - they tend to pay extremely well. But I don't have a degree, so that's sort of "out" for me at the moment, but I love it here.

Don't come until spring, though. It's -30C during the day right now...

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

init6: Nice to hear from you again, El Casey. I am glad you're surviving that brutal weather we hear about on TV. Even on the "Today" show in the morning they showed Moscow and how cold it is over there. Here in New York it is unusually warm: high of 58F today (15C).

init6 · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Spice! Very Happy

Yeah, it's still bleeding COLD here. It's -17 today, but it's only supposed to be in the high -20s this week. Break out the short pants! I'll try to post more, but probably won't until I get internet in my room, which won't be until early February. Russian conveniences, and all that. Laughing

Derryman · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject:

Do a TEFL course from an agency like Via Lingua...or contact schools in Moscow and see i they offer any TEFL courses that you can do before you start teaching. There are plenty of schools in Moscow but like people have already said in this forum, it is a good idea to contact the bigger ones...

jwilliams · Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:45 pm Post subject:

Hello-

I would definitely avoid the Samantha School (see my other post). I had a good experience at Linguabusiness which is near the Kitai Gorod metro station. You can teach group lessons or individual classes.

Good luck!