Viewing topic: Help please

Hi there, my name is Jeff and I'm a Canadian citizen with a bachelor of arts degree and some other certifications that have had some emphasis on business English but no teaching experience or foreign teaching certifcation

I would love to teach in Russia and I'm very motivated to do so but I am pretty clueless about everything really. I have done some research in the living aspects and what I would need etc and what type of opportunities are available for the business-minded.

At the same time, I have no idea where to even start. I have heard some horror stories about particular schools and I would also like to give myself the best opportunity to make the most money I can.

I believe I am aware of the bare realities but some guidance in anything and everything would really be appreciated especially in relation to the most cost and time effective way to make this upcoming school year.

Hi Jeff,

I'm not turning your questions away, but I would first advise a lengthy trawl through the forums here, paying particular attention to the latest posts, especially regarding the visa situation.

<shameless plug>I think the e-book guide might help answer a lot of questions (link at the top of the page)</shameless plug>

Just bear in mind that the section in it about visas is out of date. An update will be forthcoming this Autumn, but all the rest, coupled with reading the forums here, should give you a clear enough picture as to what you can expect.

Do at least trawl the forums and then fire some specific questions at us

And, of course, welcome to the site!

My apologies for being one of "those" guys.

I wasn't aware exactly how comprehensive your site was. Still , I'm sure I will have a million questions. This is a great place, and people like you should be commended for the help that you give to others. I'm sure that a lot of people who want to teach abroad like me are often very nervous and don't want to make mistakes, so we're especially hard to deal with.

That happens But I occasionally get beers and meals out of it, and now and again someone buys The Book, or just expresses their appreciation, which is reward in itself So I appreciate your appreciation

The site is here exactly for the reasons you're using it right now - I went through a pile of sh*t when I started out over here, and started the site largely to give people the option of following others' advice and avoiding pitfalls.

Hi too, Jeff,

The usual good advice from bobs12, methinks....

But if you do manage to negotiate the rather tricky, long-term visa situation and finally arrive and stay here in Russia - Then... Hey!! It's FUN!!!

A million questions might take just a while.... There's already a lot of answers to FAQs in the forums - as you now seem to have already found out... Then you can come back to us with any specific, still-unanswered questions you may have...

Thanks again for the heads up guys. I am sifting through the mountain of info here and otherwise. I like to do my homework to be sure and it is nice to have so much in one place!

By the way bobs- If I ever find myself in St Petersburg you definitely will have a drink on me

I am trying to decide which of the two major cities I want to apply to. I think from some of the things I'm reading you guys definitely have a strong opinion in that regard!

Thanks again for the heads up guys. I am sifting through the mountain of info here and otherwise. I like to do my homework to be sure and it is nice to have so much in one place!

By the way bobs- If I ever find myself in St Petersburg you definitely will have a drink on me

I am trying to decide which of the two major cities I want to apply to. I think from some of the things I'm reading you guys definitely have a strong opinion in that regard!

Regarding which city to work in - yep, we're opinionated bastards

Each to their own, as they say, but I think that only mentally sick people really enjoy living and working in Moscow. St. Petersburg is on a slippery slope to the same level, but at least for the moment rush hour doesn't start so early that you can't avoid it.

Get researching, <hint>get buying the guide</hint> and then fire those questions our way

Bobs,
I thought you start this site to help get your more free beers!?!
<a.ref chuckle chuckle>

Anyway...

Listen to Bobs here: he really does know what he's talking about.


and Robert....HI
you'll have to email me...they've got me making robots and doing calculations over here constantly and I get very little time.
And I'd like to know why you don't already have your visa section re-written.

Sky!!!!!!

Free beers are few on the ground here. Robots? Build a Mars rover? Shit, sounds like fun.

You need to come back out and visit. It's so much more fun now than before you left. Wait, no, it isn't

There still isn't enough *reliable* info to rewrite the visa section. But funny you should say that, I was just speaking to someone to day about it, and we might have a brand new visa section on the site in August

Hop to it!

Sounds like a good idea anyway.

Visas are such a pain in the ass there.


I'm not sure when we're headed back out. Governments are slow getting crap done...and this one isn't horrid, but I'm still impatient.

We were looking at New Year, but I suspect it will be longer than that now.

As for robots...I'll have to tell you more about my current work sometime when it's much farther along. Might have a link to play with it later too...but it's gonna take from now to December to get it up. (We're starting this project this week.)

But...I do look forward to visiting.