Teaching English In Russia

Russia never seems to be featured on any Best Countries to Teach TEFL or Most Beautiful Countries in the World lists, but that may be because it’s largely misunderstood. Though it has had a fairly turbulent history, Russia is undoubtedly embracing the future and can be enjoyed as a destination with heaps of culture, lots of history and many interesting experiences.

Finding a TEFL job in Russia

Russia being such a big country and Russian being such a unique language, landing in Russia without a job is a daunting prospect. It’s actually advisable to find a job before jumping on a plane, so as to avoid an overwhelming start to your adventure. Luckily, there are loads of TEFL jobs advertised online and schools will happily interview you via Skype or at special recruitment drives in London or other big cities. Finding a job this way will also help with the relocation process, as many schools will offer you a package including reimbursement for your flights, shared accommodation or an accommodation allowance and assistance with your visa.

Teaching English in Russia

In Russia, it’s possible to find work as a teacher in a public school if you’re properly qualified (a Bed or PGCE or equivalent) but it’s much more common for foreign TEFL teachers to teach at private language schools. You might be paid a monthly salary or you might be paid an hourly wage. You might teach in one school or you might need to travel to different companies to teach in-house. If you are paid hourly and if you are required to travel, bear in mind that your hourly rate won’t cover your travelling time or costs – both of which can be considerable.

Though it’s possible to find a TEFL job in one of the many smaller towns or villages, the majority of jobs are to be found in Moscow and St Petersburg. Outside these towns, it’s beneficial to have a knowledge of Russian to be able to get around and mix with the locals. Remember, Russia is a massive country (it spans 9 time zones!) so before accepting a job in a smaller town, have a look where it is on the map to make sure it is as remote or as central as you’d like.

Living in Russia

Russia is not the cheapest country to live in. In fact, it’s become known as one of the most expensive countries in Europe – though that depends on where you live. Even though you’ll be earning a decent salary teaching English as a foreign language, your cost of living will be high. This will hopefully be dealt with my having your school sponsor your accommodation or at least give you an accommodation allowance. If you don’t have to worry about that cost, then you should be able to enjoy a high standard of living in this unique country.