Teach English in Russia – The Ultimate Guide

One thing you’ll probably notice right away is that there’s a pretty big generational divide in Russia when it comes to learning English. A lot of younger people are very enthusiastic to get that second lingo going, especially in the bigger cities, where many see Russia as a global and European state first and foremost. There’s not that same demand in lots of rural locations, but that’s as much down to the fact that less people live in, say, Siberia than in Moscow as it is to indifference to language learning generally.

But English skills seem to be becoming more and more important in the land that gave the world Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Back in 2003, an estimated 16% of people said they spoke or were learning in English. That almost doubled to a whopping 30% by 2015 and the trend is only set to continue. More pointedly, that still leaves 70% of the population – talk about an untapped market!

In addition to all that, Russia’s economy is highly globalized and energy centric. It’s the biggest oil and gas exporter on the planet and reigns over a whopping 30% of the world’s natural resources by some estimations. For would-be teachers, that means business English is a big potential, with earnings that can often outstrip traditional school and young-learner jobs.

There’s a real range of TEFL jobs up for grabs in Russia. Some are very similar to those on offer in other European destinations. Others are totally different and require a whole different skillset to boot.

• Private language schools – There’s no shortage of privately owned schools that teach English across Russia. Many will never hire native speakers, preferring to hire local Russian bilingual speakers that are generally more affordable. Others will see the benefit of hiring foreign TEFL teachers, as it lets them charge higher rates for courses and adds prestige. There’s often a much more businesslike atmosphere to the language schools in Russia compared to Central and Western Europe, and employee expectations are usually very high. Examples include the BKC in Moscow and English Connection in St Petersburg.
• Business English – Biz Eng is in exceptionally high demand in Russia’s larger cities. But that doesn’t just mean Moscow and SP. It also means gradually industrializing cities like Perm, Voronezh, and Tyumen. Work is usually spread between a number of businesses and requires the teacher to move between multiple places of work throughout the week.
• Au pair – One sort of TEFL job that’s very popular in Russia is an au pair. It’s a combination of a nanny and an English teacher that typically involves living in-house with a Russian family. Employers are usually relatively well-off Russians with busy lifestyles and young children. Pay is high for au pair positions but it’s likely that a TEFL certification on its own won’t be enough – you might also need a separate childcare diploma, a degree, and other professional qualifications.

It’s difficult to say what sort of hours you can expect to work when you teach English in Russia, mainly because business English and private-school schedules vary so much. That said, it’s normal for most to have something in the region of 20-30 hours each week, which can be topped up with private sessions.

Russian schools run from September to June each year, with a two-week break for Christmas and shorter, week-long breaks in the autumn and the spring. Lots of younger English learners will stop their private language tuition between June and August, but there’s a chance you can teach at Russian summer language camps then to keep your work a-rolling.