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Working in small towns
Solnechnogorsk
About the Sun City
Testimonials
Pictures of the school
Sightseeing of the area
About the Sun City
Solnechnogorsk (laterally Sun City) is about 65 km from Moscow (1.5 hours by bus or by train from the capital). The city is an administrative center of the same name District with population approximately 60 000. It is situated on the Moscow-Saint Petersburg highway, and on the coast of the big lake called Senezh, which is very popular and famous for its clean medicinal water and fishing industry.
It received a town status and was renamed Solnechnogorsk in 1938. The city has got a metal constructions factory, glass-works, sports fishing business, holiday homes, sports centers, children summer camps, ski lodges.
There is a museum of local lore in the town. Not far from Solnechnogorsk an estate of Shakhmatovo is situated. This estate belongs to well-known poet of the "Russian Culture Silver Age" Alexander Blok. The poet, considered the greatest of the Russian symbolists, was probably the most gifted lyrical poet that Russia produced since Alexander Pushkin.
The Moscow region is in many ways the heartland of Russia, with a subtly changing landscape crossed by many winding rivers that typifies the provincial scene that's so dear to Russian hearths and has been immortalized by so many artists, writers and composers. The city is not far from Klin where the famous Russian composer Piotr Tchaikovsky lived.
Solnechnogorsk is a quiet town with 3 lovely orthodox churches and a few 18/19th century parks. The buildings of the city's centre, notable for its late classicism, were basically built in the second part of the 19th century.
Testimonials
Dale Kiehl
A close, almost family-like atmosphere is what best describes BKC-Solnechnogorsk school. From the first moment of my arrival in Russia, the staff of BKC did everything possible to make me feel comfortable and at-home.
Natalie Alymova
The school itself is almost in the center only about seven-ten minutes walk in a nice area near the lake. The staff room has a very good resource library (books, charts, readers, resource files for different levels). It is considered to be one of the best resource libraries among all BKC schools. Also the school is perfectly equipped: there is a computer, a photocopier to make your teaching process easier for you and enjoyable for your students, a fax machine. Apart from that we have installed Internet and E-mail. It is accessible any time you want to connect to the World Wide Web in order you wouldn't feel isolated in Russia. For our students we have E-mail pen pals
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A close, almost family-like atmosphere is what best describes BKC-Solnechnogorsk school. From the first moment of my arrival in Russia, the staff of BKC did everything possible to make me feel comfortable and at-home. The warmth of genuine and incomparable Russian hospitality has stayed with me for the 6 months I have been teaching here and I am sure the fond memories will last lifetime. A medium-size town of not more than 50,000-60,000 residents, Solnechnogorsk has more in common with a small village. There are the typical soviet-style apartment blocks, but what makes Solnechnogorsk inviting are the lanes of traditional wooden houses, stands of white-barked birch and pine trees. There is a fairly large lake - lake Senezh - where one can go boating, fishing, swimming or ice skating and sailing. There are many small markets and cafes and a couple of outdoor markets with a good selection of fresh produce, household necessities and clothing. The BKC school in Solnechnogorsk is located on the premises of an evening school where other classes are regularly held. English classes are small-to-medium sized with between 4-to-12 students, ranging in age from children to adults. Students are divided into groups from beginners and elementary to advanced. The classrooms are well apportioned with traditional blackboards and desks for pairs of students. The main office is also well equipped. There is a copy machine and there are video, audio and computer equipment, including Internet. Solnechnogorsk has one of the best stocked libraries of the BKC satellite schools, with textbooks, cassettes, videos and games. Most important, however, is the fact that the administration and other teachers are always available for help, advice or moral support. Teaching in Solnechnogorsk offers a unique opportunity to work with a small, serious and dedicated group of English teachers in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship which one rarely finds in a large city. Everything is within walking distance and classes are held in one location. The town is quiet and sleepy, but if you get a yen for the city-life, Moscow is only 90 minutes away by bus or train.
Dale Kiehl
April 2004
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If you are a prospective teacher and want to make an informed decision about coming and working in our school in Russia here is some advice for you from your colleague. The school itself is almost in the center only about seven-ten minutes walk in a nice area near the lake. The classrooms are quite big. You can arrange desks the way you want. The staff room has a very good resource library (books, charts, readers, resource files for different levels). It is considered to be one of the best resource libraries among all BKC schools. Also the school is perfectly equipped: there is a computer, a photocopier to make your teaching process easier for you and enjoyable for your students, a fax machine. Apart from that we have installed Internet and E-mail. It is accessible any time you want to connect to the World Wide Web in order you wouldn't feel isolated in Russia. For our students we have E-mail pen pals. We have teamed up with a school in the States and Spain and now exchange e-mails on a regular basis. The classes on both sides are extremely motivated by this idea of e-mail communication and it has been successful so far. It can be useful for your classes as well. Besides there is a computer course (four levels) which can be used for motivated teenagers and adults. Apart from that there is a video with a good collection of videocassettes for different levels accompanied by supplementary material for your lessons.
As far as your students are concerned they are young, motivated and friendly. The administration staff is positive, friendly and helpful. The classes are usually in the evening from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock. Solnechnogorsk is a provincial town. There isn't much entertainment though there are some good restaurants and cafes. But Moscow isn't too far. It takes only one hour by train or by bus to get there. So if you want to combine the life in the capital with the life "in the province" this is the place for you to go!
Natalie Alymova
April 2004
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