How to Teach English in St Petersburg, Russia
Located in northwest Russia on the Baltic Sea, St. Petersburg is known as the City of the Tsars, and has been called the most European city in Russia. Demand for teachers of English is high in Russia, as the burgeoning middle class views English as a status symbol and necessity to conduct business. If you desire to teach in St. Petersburg, you have several options to choose from. Russians value education, so a certification will go far as a teaching credential.
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Get certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). These two certifications are similar, with the former being used at U.K. language schools, whereas the latter is widely used by Americans. While it is possible to get a teaching position by simply being a native speaker of English, to get your foot in the door teaching English at institutions in St. Petersburg, you have many more options if you obtain teaching certification. Not only will the pay be higher, but in some schools and locations, you cannot teach without it. To become certified may require taking a 100-hour on-line or in-person certification course; upon completion, TEFL job placement services can help you find a teaching job, within one week to three months. The cost of these combined services may range from USD $1350 to $2100, as of March 2011; monthly salary may range from USD $800 to $1000. Many schools ask for at least a six-month commitment; others ask you to sign a one- or two-year contract.
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Stay with a Russian family in St. Petersburg and teach them English. For an intensive cultural experience, you may choose to participate in a homestay program where you live with a family from five to eight weeks, or nine to 12 weeks. During this time you might teach your host family English for 15 hours, Monday through Friday. You will observe the rules of the household while you manage your own expenses; as a teacher, you help the children with their English homework and devise educational games and lessons with the material provided for you. An extensive application process requires a physical examination, essays and letters of reference.
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Do an internship or a work-study program. For those who are just out of college or may not yet have teaching certification, some English teaching opportunities in St. Petersburg train teachers on the job. Through a nine-month academic internship, teachers receive two weeks of preliminary TEFL training prior to the start of teaching, and continue to gain instruction through seminars, feedback and assignments throughout the duration of the program. The position is paid, with a package of benefits and opportunities for salary increases. Another internship might place teachers in public or private secondary schools during the academic year and arrange housing for them.
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Teach at a nontraditional school. While universities, secondary schools, and language institutes are all potential venues for teachers of English in St. Petersburg, you can also choose to provide instruction at an atypical kind of school, such as a Christian school. The position lasts two years and a bachelor degree may be required. Schools vary in terms of desired qualifications and salary.
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