Are you thinking of teaching in Russia? Here are our top 10 reasons to live and teach there!
Russia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for teachers – with many unique and fascinating places, and excellent opportunities within international schools, cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg are attracting teachers from all over the globe.
1) Many good international schools in Russia offer great salary packages and benefits.
This is often an important factor when deciding where to teach overseas. Cost of living in Russia can be high and, so, you’ll need a good salary to live comfortably.
It’s a good idea to make sure that some of the salary is paid in an oversees currency like GBP, Euro or USD.
In Moscow, specifically, accommodation can be very expensive. The schools we work with work closely with local landlords to find you the best accommodation at the best price.
It’s important to have good quality health insurance and we make sure that the schools we work with offer this. These are just some of the examples of how the schools make settling into Russia easier for you.
2) Vibrant and dynamic culture.
The Bolshoi Theatre is one of Moscow’s main sights and is a must-see experience. Being home to the Bolshoi ballet, it holds great tradition in Russian performing arts.
Russia also has a deep and varied literary tradition, which the readers amongst you may wish to explore. From Alexander Pushkin to Ivan Turgenev, there is something for everyone’s imagination.
Moscow’s underground stations have to be seen to be believed, many are like Art museums, which you can visit, for free everyday!
3) Trying new things; a different type of cuisine.
The great part of teaching overseas is the chance to broaden your horizons and try something new. While different from Western culture, the food in Russia can be wholesome and hearty. Okroshka, Khinkali and Bliny are all worth a try. There is also the familiar Beef Stroganoff to try in its home country.
St Petersburg has a secret claim to being Russia’s gastronomical capital. In summer, the city offers ‘gourmet days’ where restaurants citywide offer festive 3-5 dish set meals for a good price. In Moscow, the summer ‘Taste of Moscow’ festival will show all the food the city has to offer. Moscow also has a very international restaurant scene represented by many of the worlds top restaurants.
4) Opportunities to progress and develop as a teacher.
TIC works closely with schools in Russia that offer teachers good quality and regular continuous professional development. Many of the schools offer this in–house but some also invite external speakers or CPD providers into their schools.
5) State of the art facilities.
The international schools we work with in Moscow and other parts of Russia have excellent teaching facilities. All of them have a strong commitment to technology with well-equipped classrooms.
We work with some new schools which have impressive swimming pools, theatres, fully equipped spacious classrooms, music studios, and science labs. Some even have specialist-teaching environments, which optimize learning with integrated technology.
6) Discover wildlife.
Why not experience one of Russia’s wildlife safaris during your free time? Being the largest country in the world, Russia hosts an incredible variety of ecosystems and associated wildlife. Its forests cover 70% of the country; making up a third of all temperate forest on Earth.
The Russian Far East is particularly biodiverse, with carnivores including the Eurasian lynx, Siberian tiger, Amur leopard and Asian black bears.
7) Breath-taking landscapes.
Russia occupies one tenth of all land on earth. The country has around 100,000 rivers, including some of the longest and most powerful in the world. It also has many lakes, including Lake Baikal, which contains more water than any other lake on Earth.
8) Why not discover some of Russia’s history?
Take a cultural trip to the Smolny Cathedral in St Petersburg. One of the most beautiful churches in Russia, it rises majestically from its waterside location on the banks of the Neva River.
For a tour of Russia’s heritage, why not check out the State History Museum in Moscow. It holds the largest collection of the history of Russia from ancient times to the end of the XIX century.
9) The opportunity to learn a new language.
While living and teaching in Russia, you will naturally pick up words and phrases. But why not go one step further and take some language classes? Russian is one of the most spoken languages in the world, with it being the official language of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and is spoken in Israel, the Balkans, Ukraine, Armenia and the USA. It will also help you to expand your social circle when living and teaching there.
10) Finally, don't just take out word for it!
Take a look at our YouTube video of two teachers we helped place at the British International School of Moscow a few years ago. They explain what its really like teaching in Russia! Check it out here.
Would you like to teach in Russia?
Check out our vacancies today:
CAS Coordinator, Extended Essay Coordinator (+TOK)
MYP / DP Performing Arts Teacher
DP Computer Science/ MYP Digital Design Teacher
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Leisha Jones
IBDP Psychology Teacher
Design Technology Teacher