PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Many students participating in InterUniversity Centre Canada’s Russian language and culture programs have been able to offset some of their expenses by teaching English part-time. The schools for which our participants have worked are all well known for professional-quality language training.

These schools operate in different ways. Some, for example, focus on practical conversational English, while others take a structured grammar-based approach making use of various workbooks.

The schools have branches located in various parts of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Wages range from 8 to 14$US per hour. This means that in an average 3 month semester, working 10-12 hours per week, you could expect to earn 960 to 1440$US.

You need not have any special qualifications, or experience in order to be hired to teach English. Most important is that you be a native speaker of English, who is at ease in speaking in front of groups.

We provide our students, who wish to teach English, with contact information for schools for which our students have worked in the past. You may wish to forward to the language schools your resume, highlighting any teaching, public service or speaking experience. However, our experience suggests that the schools prefer to hire people only after they have arrived in Russia. Also, while participants in our fall and winter programs have rarely had difficulties securing teaching positions, it has often been difficult for summer semester participants to find employment. Many Russians leave the cities in summer, and there is also a seasonal influx of native English speakers. So, we recommend that those interested in English teaching choose a semester other than the summer semester.

Many participants in our programs have stayed in Russia to teach English on a full time basis. Along with other alumni, who have done internships and directed research programs, they figure among the growing number of success stories that make our efforts worthwhile. Contracts for teaching English on a full time basis vary from school to school. Generally, they include shared accommodations in an apartment, visa support, airfare to Russia, and 550$ to 770$US per month.

** Note: InterUniversity Centre Canada cannot guarantee any teaching positions, since the decision whether or not to hire a teacher is made entirely by the language school.

CELTA CERTIFICATION

CELTA = Certificate in English for Language Teachers to Adults Available in Moscow through BKC / International House Recognized anywhere in the world and, together with the

experience of teaching English in Russia, offers a good chance of getting a high-paying position teaching English in Russia or another country. Certification cost is approximately US$1200.