BKC IH teachers

Testimonials

Benjamin Swale

I've worked for BKC-International House for around four months now. My time in Moscow will surely be one of the most memorable periods of my life, and a time that I am adamant I will always remember fondly. Moscow has been a thrilling place to live, work and play.

The teaching has been great and I feel that BKC is a good company to work for. It has certainly delivered on everything that it promised before I signed my contract. There have certainly been stressful times and times when I have felt drained of energy but it has all been worthwhile. I must emphasise that living and working here is not for everyone. At times the low light levels, the slush, the language barrier, the drabness, bureaucracy and sometimes long working days have got me down, but despite all these things I still love being here. Here are ten things I have liked about being here in Moscow in no particular order:

1. The amazing sights, museums, galleries etc. There's oh so much more than Red Square and the Kremlin (though I still get a thrill every time I walk through the Square)!!!
2. My students. I've had some brilliant classes and have had so much fun. It's always interesting to hear about their lives, their country and their views about various things.
3. The snowflakes on my eyelashes when it's snowing and the scrunch of fresh snow under my feet as I walk from my flat through the park to the metro in the morning. I still can't put my finger on it, but at times this place just seems to be so exotic (I must be crazy)!
4. The friends I have made. The BKC staff provides you with an instant circle of friends! We have so much in common! I've started to find some Russian friends too :)
5. Concerts. I've been to quite a few classical concerts now in some amazing venues, and the best part is that the tickets are so cheap (200-300 roubles) here.
6. The Russian Language. I have battled away trying to learn Russian since I arrived and am currently taking classes with BKC-Globus.
7. Skating. I bought a pair of skates and adopted skating as my weekly form of exercise at the beginning of the winter. I love skating at Gorky Park and watching all the young Russians having fun. I set myself the personal goal of being able to skate backwards before I leave!
8. The Metro. BKC supplied me with a metro card that I can use as much as I like. Moscow is a huge city so this has been invaluable for getting around the place. Some of the stations are mindblowingly decadent too; they really are sights in themselves. I must say I find the shoulder-to-shoulder journeys in the mornings a bit of drag though.
9. The job. There's always plenty to think about as every class is different. I'm always learning new grammar, new ways of teaching, about how we learn languages, about group dynamics etc. My ADOSes have been really supportive too.
10. Russian food. Unsurprisingly this is ideal for the local climate: warm, tasty and very satisfying. I do sometimes miss spicy food though :)

Chris Adams

I came to Moscow at the end of October to start my first teaching contract as a newly qualified teacher. I did very thorough research and chose BKC out of a handful of choices. I couldn't have been happier with my decision.

The staff here has been nothing but great given that my problems have been addressed quickly and efficiently. I also get the feeling that people actually care whether the teachers are happy or not, which is extremely important in my mind. The ADOS's have been very helpful as well. They're always willing to answer any questions or concerns about either teaching or just living in Moscow. Many of them have turned out to be not only my superiors but my friends as well. As far as classes go, I have quite a variety of levels and ages. My youngest class is Playway, which is an absolute beginner class with children aged 3 to 6 years. I was completely terrified of teaching this class at first but it has turned out to be my favourite. I also teach adults, teenagers, and 7 to 9 year olds. I teach these in two different schools and days can be long but I always reward myself with a night out on the weekends. There is a good group of teachers here and it's a nice change of pace to hang out with people from other countries. So far I'm the only Canadian in my group of friends and teachers are usually from the UK or America.

As for Moscow as a city, I think it's awesome. There's so much to do and see so I've never been bored with the exception of being at my flat on weekdays. I would advise to bring a laptop or buy a T.V. here so you can watch T.V. or DVD's. You'd be surprised how much you would use it. The choice of bars, clubs, and cafes to go to here is huge and other cities are just a train ride away (should you need to get out of Moscow the odd time for a change). Apart from petty theft, Moscow is just like any other major city. I have had a couple of bad experiences but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying my stay here. Friends are great moral support when you need it. And as for the weather, this year was the coldest winter in years. Being from Canada I have noticed that we share a similar climate so I wasn't too bothered. Of course there was the odd day where it was very, very cold, but it was always manageable. My roommate, on the other hand, found the weather to be a bit colder. He's from San Francisco, however. Nonetheless, Moscow is really beautiful in the winter.

All in all my experience for my first four months has lived up to all my expectations, and I haven't second-guessed my decision at all. If you are planning to work in Moscow as an ESL teacher, I highly recommend BKC.

Dan Genovese

Why I chose to live and teach in Russia:

As a teacher who has taught all over Europe, I must say that Moscow is the most exciting city I've been to. The golden-domed splendor of the Kremlin cathedrals, the mini-museums contained within each metro station, the bustle of city life and the liveliness of the people--there is never a boring moment in this Russian town. What's more, BKC has been reliable and accomodating, and has provided me with opportunities to develop my teaching career. Moscow, therefore, is a must-come for anyone interested in exploring the so-called "Wild Wild East."

Douglas Cardamone

After studying English and Russian Literature in California, I decided to work for BKC to improve my Russian and spend some time abroad before I start graduate school. Teaching has been a (mostly) wonderful experience, and I find it nice to have the opportunity to work with all age groups and levels. You have to work hard, but after the first month or two of learning the ropes, you can have an active social life. There are plenty of things to do, from theater and museums to all-night clubs and bars. I prefer the latter. Moscow is an interesting, vibrant city, but you better come with some street smarts if you want to be safe. If you don't expect nice living conditions, lots of spending money, and other luxuries, and you can handle the ridiculous cold, this job can be a marvelous experience. It has been for me. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions: dcardamone58@hotmail.com

Sarah Coyle

Hi! My name is Sarah and I've been working for BKC for six months. I'm the Senior Teacher for Very Young Learners and I work in Kropotkinskaya Playgroups, teaching children between 3-7 years old. If you're interested in teaching VYL or YL there are many opportunities for you here. New kids' classes begin all the time and we are always looking for lively, energetic and enthusiastic individuals to join the team! . Many of our teachers hadn't taught kids before they came here, so BKC is ideal whether you want to have a go for the first time or whether you are experienced. As for myself, I spent two years teaching kids in Japan before coming to Russia. People ask me all the time how Japanese and Russian children compare. Well, all I can say is, four year olds are four year olds, wherever they come from in the world.....! As for Moscow, it's all an experience....and despite the freezing weather, I can honestly say an enjoyable one. You will find cheap vodka, cool bars, great museums, famous sights, beautiful kids and many friends!

Sarah Whitehead

Moscow's a fabulous city to live and work in. Whatever you like doing, from dressing up for the Bolshoi to dancing with the buskers in the subways, it's all here. Take galleries for example, Moscow is swimming in them. One of the best, the New Trechakov, boasts one of the best collections of modern art and recently held an exhibition of Andy Warhol versus Russian pop art and, it has to be said, the Russian stuff was definitely more interesting: massive, mental collages with glitter aeroplanes and stuffed hearts alongside surreal plates of fish and eggs and satirical copies of Warhol classics. Even with the surcharge for being a foreigner the galleries are reasonably priced, you can spend all day trawling from one to another and still afford to go for a much needed pint afterwards.

Getting around from area to area in Moscow is surprisingly easy with the metro running till 1 in the morning and, if you miss the last one, you can always go back to the bar and wait till they start again at 5. As with any big city, of course, you have to be aware of street crime and keep your wits about you but no more than in, for example, London or Barcelona.

The cost of living here's such that it's entirely up to you how much you spend. You can go to ex-pat bars, watch international bands at large venues, join a gym and live from pay check to pay check or you can go to Russian bars and watch local bands, do sit-ups in your bedroom and find money left over to visit places outside Moscow or for a holiday in the sun after the long winter. And it is long! Having said that, the six month grudge fight you can have with snowballs and particularly tenacious friends makes stepping outside entertaining to say the least, and the snow brightens up the whole city magnificently making the Kremlin look like a ginger bread cake coated in icing that you just want to sink your teeth into.

In the summer cafe-culture appears on the streets in a big way with practically every cafe, bar and restaurant spilling out onto the pavement in the sun. Watching the fashion victims walking up the Old Arbat from the comfort of a terrace table with a drink in hand is one of the best summer pastimes. When we think of Moscow, although we tend to think only of winter, it really does have four seasons with the streets running like rivers with the thaw in the spring, the hot and dusty air of summer and the leaves littering the boulevards in the autumn. I love it!

Along with this fun, of course, you do have to work! A typical day at BKC involves teaching in the morning at one of the central schools (or maybe an In-company business class), staying there to plan for a few hours, going for lunch with some of the other teachers, then travelling out to one of the many satellite schools to teach a couple of classes and finishing at around nine o'clock. The hours might sound unsociable but most of the other teachers have a similar schedule so there's no shortage of people to hook up with once you've finished. With around 150 other teachers here and a policy of support and development, it's practically impossible to feel isolated from day one. You will be expected to do a fair amount of travelling but if you see it as time to catch up on your reading, learn your Russian vocab or do something else useful it won't get you down. As there's always plenty of experienced people on hand to help you shouldn't feel out of your depth, whether your question's about the present perfect or how to ask for tomatoes in a produkty!

Sheri Cavazos

I arrived in Moscow in September knowing three words in Russian, nyet (no), dah (yes) and vodka (vodka). Needless to say, I was an inexperienced traveler and this was to be my first stamp on my brand-spanking new passport. Although excitement and the desire for adventure overrode my anxiousness, I was still a bit apprehensive when landing at SHeremotevo Airport. Who was I going to meet? Where was I going? Would I be able to do anything without Russian Language? Did I accidentally bring anything illegal into the country? Would I end up in a seedy Russian prison with a man in a fur hat and a military jacket demanding that I sign my life away? All of these questions were running through my mind, when I saw it. My name, on a piece of paper. BKC representatives, met me at the airport with a car, money and the magical BKC packet which explained everything… perfect. No Russian prison for me. This is not the only reason I chose to "re-sign" my contract with BKC Moscow, but it has to be said that the administration and senior teachers at BKC go out of their way to make sure that the new arrivals are taken care of. There is a great support staff and always someone on duty 24 hours…just in case.