Teaching English in Russia - Interviews.

Students
Question: "What do you expect from a good English teacher?"
Semyon: Native speaker who know how to explain grammar.
Irina: Someone who can use different methodologies in lessons, for example music or articles.
Alexei: He must be patient and confident.

Question: "How much are you willing to pay for a lesson?"
Students declined to answer this question, on the basis that it could compromise their ability to negotiate lesson prices. All said they would pay a lot more for a native speaker. I have heard prices ranging from 500-2500RUR per hour.

Question: "How do you usually find English lessons in Moscow?"
Elena: Foreign teachers usually more fun than Russian teachers. I have more practice when I start dating my teacher!
Arkady: Sometimes I learn that what my Russian teacher told me is wrong. Is better to have native speaker, but sometimes I donÕt understand her when she speaks quickly.
Tatyana: Sometimes it is difficult to speak in front of native speaker because I am nervous, but if the lesson is interesting, I forget I am nervous.

Teachers
Question: "How do you find teaching experience in Russia?"
Matt: The students are generally great. The schools are sometimes difficult to deal with.
Dave: If you can put up with your school, the students can be a real laugh.
Jane: Teenagers are the same everywhere ø sometimes you want to strangle them, and sometimes they just make you laugh. You need to keep your sense of humour.

Question: "What do you think is the best way to start as a language teacher here?"
Matt: Having a contract is reassuring. Some people wonÕt work without one, but I know others who wonÕt work on contract. I think they all agree that starting with one gives you security.
Dave: The big schools donÕt pay much, but they give you a good social network and introduction to the place.
Jane: If youÕre not here to make a fortune, a language school can be fun and good experience.

Question: "How are Russian students different to students in other countries?"
Matt: WeÕre not supposed to date students, but the women in this countryÉ
Dave: More opinionated and likely to say something offensive or ignorant, like the radio was invented by a Russian.
Jane: Both sexes can be sexist, which can make it hard to concentrate sometimes. They can appear quite cold at first, but after a while they can become very close to you. Kind of the opposite to, say, East Asian students, who are polite from the start, but never really let you get close to them.