Viewing topic: Derzhavin

Has anyone heard of the Derzhavin Institute In St Petersburg? I am looking into their work study program where I will teach English and study Russian at the same time. Any opinions?
Here is the link: click on the "courses/prices" and then the "work/study" buttons.
http://www.derzhavin.com/rlpc/about.eng.php

Well, so far they seem OK. I am still in the, getting the 1 year Business visa stage, though. They say that they can get me enough work to cover the cost of Russian classes at their school but as they do not teach English at the school they sort of palm me out to other schools in the area that need teachers. They say that I should be able to pick up a few more hours of work from schools once i am in St Pete's. Hmm...it makes me wonder if i couldn't find ALL the teaching work on my own.....because you know I will probably be sharing my wages with them on the jobs they get me.

I know that it is probably not the best way to go but in my particular situation it might be a good way to break the ice for a while. The part that I need to change is the accommodations. It will be a homestay costing about $670 per month including breakfasts. I think that that is a bit steep and would rather find something else after I get there. It seems that I should be able to find something cheaper than that! ! The good thing is that, a homestay will help me learn Russian faster.

The school can only help me get a student visa so I have to get the invitation for a Business Visa on my own. So I am going to surf this site for info. See Ya!

All I really need help with is the Invitation. Way to Russia has a link for this but it will cost $200 flamin' bucks just for the Invite papers and i will still have the Visa to pay for. Hmmm.............

Poor Schnork!

A whole pile of forum posts and nobody's answering... gone a bit quiet round here again.

For both the visa question and about learning Russian, get in touch with Mike Sherman at American Language Master (.com) - he should be able to help with at least one of those.

Everything else going okay?

I think it is going OK. We'll see after I send in the paper work. The school you suggested has a link on the web site of the agency I am using to get the Invitation from. This agency in the same agency that the Derzhavin Institute uses. I checked it out but I can get Russian lessons cheaper at the Derzhavin. Anyway, i talked to the girl from Derzhavin last night and she sounds real nice......I mean real nice. So I am going to take the plunge and see what happens. Do a homestay for the first month until I can find a better deal. I have already seen a i or 2 on expat.

Hi. Yes. I don't work for them but I take Russian lessons there. It's a very friendly place and the quality of teaching and attention they give to their students is first class. I wouldn't hesitate to do business with them.
Good luck.

Hi rms455!

A slightly tardy reply to an old post- but good info nonetheless. (I am afraid that I know absolutely nothing about Derzhavin)

However, I note that your location is still being shown as "Not in Russia" and you are from "Eng-er-lund"...

Surely it must be a slightly longish bus ride to your classes...?

Again going back a long way - I have been in SPB for over 5 years now and pay about 2700 rubles (just over $100) for my one-year business invitation every year, about 340 rubles (15 bucks) for my mandatory AIDS test done in Russia and then about 250 euros (including 100 euros for 2 hour express processing in Helsinki) for my visa...

Other costs involved are less than $10 for the bus fare (one way) to Helsinki and then I splash out and pay 120 euros for 1 night in a hotel there...

Schnork: Are you here with us yet??!!

I paid less...

For what?....The lessons?... The invitation?.. The visa... The AIDS test?.... The bus ride?.. The hotel room? .....Or your granny's 90th birthday present??

Sorry - but a rather short and inconcise post, I thought, Sky007...

But of course, you can also find things for less - if you have the time and inclination...

Well, I will be arriving in St Petersburg on the 10th of October, to attend the Derzhavin Inst. So I will see you all there!