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Russian educational system was originally inherited from Soviet Union, without any significant changes. On the eve of the Russian Revolution Tsarist Russia was still a largely illiterate nation. The 1987 census had revealed that the literacy rate for the general population was 28.4%, the lowest of any European state. In the first period of Soviet Union from 1917-1962, which includes two world wars (World War I and World War II) Soviets achieved 100% literacy. The educational system of Russia produced world class mathematicians, physicists, linguists, musicians, the first artificial satellite and the first human in space, nuclear and thermonuclear weapons, and voracious readers, and so on within this period of about 40 years time. To understand the rational behind their successes, the world began to examine the basis of those high achievements.
Educational System of Russia
School years are divided into 3 sub-schools: primary, secondary and high.
School starts on September 1 and remains in session till the end of May, with June being the month of exams.
Russian children go to school at the age between 6 and 7. They attend school for 10 years and then finish it at 16 (or17). If one does not perform properly during the academic year and one's grades are below satisfactory, he or she can be forced to study the failed year again ("to be left for the second year" as it is said in Russia). They usually spend all the ten years in one building as all the three schools are in the same building. The school year is comprised of 4 terms with vacations in between: one week in November, two weeks in January, one week in the end of March and almost 3 months in summer (except for the time when students are busy with their exams). After 8th grade, which is compulsory for all citizens, a pupil obtains a Certificate of Incomplete Secondary Education. After that the pupil has to choose one of the following to complete his/her secondary education: he or she can choose either to continue his/her secondary education for two more years at Secondary school or to pursue an associate degree at a Community College. The latter variant usually takes more than two years. In these two cases they get Certificate of Secondary Education.
The school day normally starts at 8 o'clock in morning and finishes at 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Students come to school 5 days a week, some study on Saturdays. The period lasts 40-45 minutes with a 5 or 15 minute break in between. Students have four classes a day in the primary school, five or six in the secondary, six or seven if it is the senior high school.
Students are normally graded on the scale from 2 to 5, with "5" being the top grade. Each student has his or her personal book of records of academic achievements, or the "diary" (the word, a lot of students and teachers would call it), where the teacher would record the grades for the student after a test or an oral report.
High Education and Degrees (University) with duration of 4-6 years
There are three different degrees that are conferred by Russian universities
Postgraduate Education and Degrees
Education of all levels was free to anybody who can pass entrance exams and students were provided with scholarship and housing during Soviets. This was considered crucial, because in provided access to higher education to all skilled students, as opposed to those who can afford it. The downside of the system was that institution had to be funded entirely from the federal aid regional budgets. Therefore, after the collapse of Soviets, expenses on education took a big blow: institutions of Higher Education found themselves unable to provide adequate teacher salaries, student scholarships, and to maintain their facilities. To address the issue many state institutions started to open commercial positions along with free positions. Free positions are available for very limited numbers for extremely gifted students only. In 2004, of all first year students, 35% were paying for their education in state universities and 20% of all students were enrolled in private universities
Language Teaching Methods in Russia
A lesson of English in Russia (as well as of other subjects) will usually have the following features:
Living Conditions, Job Opportunities
It is not hard to find a job, even in big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. In small towns you will be hired on the spot. The pay is pretty generous according to local standards. Robert Leitch beliefs that still surrounded by a haze of myth and rumor from the days of the Iron Curtain and Ian Fleming, Russia remains high on the list of misunderstood countries. Foreign news coverage of carnage in the Moscow metro, terrorist attacks, and political corruption all bolster the country’s reputation for lawlessness and violence. Perhaps this explains why the demand for native EFL teachers so far exceeds supply. Most of the schools employ a mix of local and native-speaker teachers. Demand for the latter is so high that even mediocre teachers are often overloaded. You will find the websites of some of the country’s biggest chain schools: for example BKC International and English First . These schools provide an easy entry into Russia for teachers who are new to the country or even to teaching itself. They can provide visa support, accommodations, and sometimes even airfare reimbursement in return for signing a fixed-term contract. Some provide training and internships for inexperienced teachers. One ESL cafe forum member, Jon D. Ayres, has posted a number of articles on Escape Artist about his experiences in Russia. He describes how as a new teacher he quickly and successfully established himself as a freelancer with only an online TEFL qualification. Of all his advice, probably the most useful is "not to put all your eggs in one basket." Russia is not the easiest place for foreigners to work, but with a taste for adventure and some ambition, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Companies we can recommend working for include: 1) English First (send an email to recruitment@englishfirst.com for more info); and BKC International (email at recruit@bkc.ru ). These two companies also offer contracted work across Russia with the Russian equivalent of a middle-class salary in addition to such perks as visa support, travel reimbursement, and discounted Russian lessons. The final and potentially most profitable options are private lessons. Native speakers who take out ads in newspapers such as iz ruk v ruke which means from hand to hand (ads must be placed in Russian) or those, who find companies offering a position to teach employees can easily command $15-20 per hour and even upwards of $40-60 per hour if they are teaching a private group of employees. Others have had luck with ads in www.expat.ru , an online message-boards community for English speakers living in Moscow.
Essential Components of Russian Cuisine
Russia is mainly a northern country with long-lasting cold winter. The food should give them much energy and
warmth to survive during the winter time. So, the essential components of Russian cuisine are those, which provide
more carbohydrates and fat rather than proteins. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rarely used in food. So, the top
five components of a Russian meal are:
Also popular: cabbage, milk, sour cream, curds, mushrooms, lard, cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, berries, honey, sugar, salt, garlic, onions.
To cook, you will need vegetable oil, salt, and pepper.
Popular Russian beverages are:
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How Native English Speakers Can Be Better English Teachers in Russia by Radislav Millrood. "Native
speaking English language teachers are very much needed in Russia and in most cases they are met with traditional
Russian hospitality, get a decent pay according to Russian standards and receive good evaluations and references.
The hypothesis of this research was that the chief reason why native speakers of English fail as teachers in Russia
consists in their lack of knowledge about the Russian teaching culture."
Wikipedia – Soviet Education
This free encyclopedia has need information about educational system of USSR, which is the core of today’s Russian
Educational system as well as other 14 independent countries, after they dissolved from the USSR in 1992.
Transitions Abroad – Teaching English in
Russia
This website represents mainstream academic institutes and language chains. It recruits native speaker teachers
for Russian schools. The growing and prosperous middle class in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities egger to
master English for better business opportunities, they are very open to American English and Lifestyle.
Transitions Abroad – Susan
Griffin Biography
This article tells about Susan Griffin who traveled the world more than 25 years. She writes about world travel
and also about teaching English abroad as an editor for Transitions Abroad Magazine and has regularly updates.
Transitions
Abroad - Teaching English in Russia: Demand for English Teachers Exceeds Supply
Teaching English in Russia: Demand for English Teachers Exceeds Supply by Robert Leitch. This article is like
counseling for those who are interested in teaching in Russia. It has great deal of information about country’s political
and economic picture. It presents real information about working and living conditions for foreign teachers in Russia
and more…
Transitions
Abroad – Work in Russia: English. Teaching Jobs Are Easy to Find
"Work in Russia: English. Teaching Jobs Are Easy to Find" by Joshua Hartshorne.
In this article tells about other great opportunities in other Russian city (700,000 population), which is
Irkutsk. "You can find job without even looking" it is so asy. He has detailed information about
housing, pay and much more.
Transitions
Abroad - Teaching English in Russia at the American Home Language School
"Teaching English in Russia at the American Home Language School" by Charity Ryabinkin. This article
talks about working in hardcore Russian city Vladimir, where almost impossible to find a billboard written in
English. But any taxi driver can take you to the "American House" which is the name of the school
where the author of this article was teaching English. The American Home exists not only to provide its students
with high-quality English instruction but also to spice up the study of English with American colloquial speech,
cultural information, and humor. Author provides contacts for more information.
Transitions Abroad – Teaching English in Russia
"Teaching English in Russia" by Cade White: Author talks about his experiences living and working in
Russian small town (of 300.000 people) Volzhsky, near Vogograd. He found a job with very generous pay by local standards.
Author provides his E-mail for more information.
English First
The website gives you the following information for to live and work in Russia.
Teach Abroad
Are you ready to take this great offer? Live and work in St. Petersburg or in Moscow. It’s a one school year
(9 month) contract. It will start with this easy application process:
Serendipity-Russia. English & Culture
This is an English program initiated in the fall of 1992 primarily to generate income to help cover the cost
of operating the "American Home". Serendipity's English program has ...more than half of the
School's students have been studying at the "American Home for more than one semester." Also offers
Tours, English Schools and Learn Russian. If you are interested in tutoring and living with Russian family,
than this may be for you.
Teach English Abroad
If you are an English teacher, have you ever dreamed to live and work in Russia? If your answer is yes, this is
for you. You can experience a new culture and it will give you a valuable international experience for the future.
And the money is good too. Plus the cost of living is much chipper.
BKC-International House Moscow
Largest and most respected School of Foreign Languages in Russia and the CIS. As a member of the International
House World Organization this school offers job opportunities to language teachers in Russia. BKC is the most
popular one among Russian companies which has a forum for EFL teachers in Russia. It was supported
and assisted by British Council for years. Contact:
eslbase.com
TEFL jobs in Russia.
School Placement
Everything set up for you "to get the job of your dream."
Petroteach Project
The Petroteach Project is a not-for-profit project promoting linguistic and cultural exchange between native-speakers
of English and the city of St. Petersburg Provides help with visa and registration process, and assisting them in
securing accommodation through known channels at the cost of operation
Unbound
This is not just about teaching. This is:
Fast Track Teaching Jobs
Your job is waiting for you. Read about the offer. Seize the moment! ESL/EFL opportunities in Russia: 300 language
schools in Moscow alone.
British Council - Russia
On arrival in Russia you will join your British colleagues for the TEFL training course, some sightseeing and an
orientation to Russia. Due to the economic situation, it is rare to receive pocket money in Russia. You’ll be
working alongside GAP peers from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand in Russia. A prior knowledge of the language is
not necessary.
On acceptance of your placement you will be sent a comprehensive Briefing Pack. The situation in Novgorod is not
quite as easy as the larger cities, so it might be advisable to have a larger reserve of cash, which the GAP agent
can look after for you. It will be easier to exchange dollars than pounds. In any case notes should be newish and
not too crumpled.
Teach Overseas
Teaching in Russia is one of our most dynamic summer opportunities. Join a team working with middle school, high
school or college students in the larger St. Petersburg area and fall in love with the country, the people, the
culture. You can make a difference in Russian history through connecting with Russian youth this summer!
Teach Abroad
Choose one of 13 cities. Chelyabinsk, Moscow (Moskva), St. Petersburg–Russia. Teachers who are qualified in
teaching English as a foreign language and can also themselves provide accommodation (exceptionally with a
friend or neighbor) for individual students on a full-board home stay basis.
InterUniversity Centre Canada – English Teaching
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.
US Embassy
Almost five thousand American citizens live and work in Moscow and the rest of Russia. Many more thousands
visit every year. The vast majority of Americans find their stay in Russia, whether a few days or several years,
both rewarding and exciting. The Department of State, through its embassy in Moscow and
consulates
in St. Petersburg,
Yekaterinburg, and Vladivostok, provides a range of routine and
emergency services for Americans
who live in Russia or who are just visiting. For emergency services during that week, please call (495) 728-5000.
Teach Overseas – Summer Trips – Experience
the Summer of a Lifetime
Teaching in Russia is one of our most dynamic summer opportunities. Join a team working with middle school,
high school or college students in the larger St. Petersburg area and fall in love with the country, the
people, the culture. You can make a difference in Russian history through connecting with Russian youth this summer!
ESI's summer programs are popular with college students, teachers, retired people, and just about anyone
who can spare a couple of months to explore the world and make new friends. "I learned that the Russians
are wonderful people, at least the ones I came to know and love. They sacrifice their time and money to make
others a priority in their lives, with for no other motive than friendship, pure and simple."
Teaching English in Moscow, Russia
Short term jobs, courses and volunteer projects worldwide.
A Year Abroad in Russia
When planning the year abroad, students are often made to feel that their only real option is a language course
for foreigners; that anything else will be difficult to arrange or prohibitively expensive. This is not the case,
however, in the past students have done various jobs including teaching English, translation and various kinds of
charity work.
Berlitz - Russia
For more than a century, people from all around the world have looked to Berlitz for an effective, lasting,
and enjoyable learning experience. When it comes to learning to speak a new language or understanding the nuances
of another culture, no one is better prepared to help you reach your goals than Berlitz. Berlitz courses
feature an up-to-date curriculum based on years of teaching experience, plus authentic content delivered by
native-fluent instructors as well as through multi-media course materials. All their language courses feature
the proven Berlitz Method®, the most natural way of learning to speak a new language. For those who also
know Russian this website provides information in Russian too.
BKC-International House Moscow
BKC-International House Moscow is the largest and most respected School of Foreign Languages in Russia and the
CIS. As a member of the International House World Organization our school offers job opportunities to language
teachers in Russia.
Job Opportunities at SunnyPlus
Searching for a job? A native English speaker? Interested in teaching English? Ready for professional growth?
Sunny Plus welcomes teachers of English.
SICafe
This Job Information Journal contains a country-by-country collection of postings by teacher with overseas
experience. Some of them have very useful data for those who are planning to teach in Russia.
Language Link Russia
Each year, Language Link Russia is able to offer 200 jobs English foreign language teaching Polyglot
International Language Academy Block 5, 19 Novyasenevsky Prospect, Moscow 117593, Russia Tel: (095) 281-2860
Russia: Working in Moscow
Russia: Working in Moscow. Author: Phillip Donnelly. "I spent a year in Moscow and I thought I'd
write about my experience in case you're thinking of going there to teach at some time in the future. To begin with,
I'm pleased to say that my overall experience was a positive one. My job as interesting, the
school was supportive, and I never fell victim to the infamous Russian mafia that everyone had warned me about
before I came. Needless to say, it wasn’t all sweetness and light there, and in the rest of this letter I'll
try to describe both the good and the bad points…"
English
Teachers Needed in Language School
An American Home in Russia. English Teachers Needed in Language School By Charity Ryabinkin
Jobs Teaching English in Central and Eastern Europe
Jobs Teaching English in Central and Eastern Europe. New Stability and Continued Opportunities in
the CEE By Susan Griffith
"Few schools can afford to advertise and recruit teachers abroad, thus internet advertising is becoming
increasingly important. The most popular sites among Russian companies are
VisaRus - For Teaching English in Russia (which has a forum for EFL
teachers in Russia), TEFL.com, ESL Café
and Teach Abroad.”
American University in Yerevan, Armenia
Way to Russia
Russians like authentic beverages, like vodka or mors (a berry drink). Also, coffee and tea (with sugar
and lemon) are popular. Russia is mainly a northern country with long-lasting cold winter. The food should
give us much energy and warmth to survive during the winter time.
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Information shown on this website is the result of a collaborative effort by Dr. Rod E. Case and the EDS491/691 Special Topics in Teaching English
as a Second Language Class, Wintermester, 2007. |
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