How to Teach English in Russia
What to Know About Teaching English at Russian Language Schools
Nov 15, 2009
All cultures are different, but Russia, in particular, has a plethora of English students who all have similar needs and demands. A teacher who has taught for years in Asia may find teaching Russian students more challenging. For example, Russian students have no problems talking in class; speaking is usually not a problem.
The communicative method of total immersion is currently the most popularly used method of teaching English at private schools in Russia. While Russians must learn English as part of their compulsory grade school education, it is taught in Russian.
When students take private lessons, they want to be taught by a native English speaker, and they want to be taught only in the English language.
Useful Tips When Teaching English Grammar to Russian Students
New teachers should be prepared to be challenged on grammatical issues. During their grammar school education, Russians learned English grammar first and foremost. While the communicative method integrates grammar into communicative activities, Russian students want to know all the rules. Teachers should know their grammar inside and out, and be prepared to answer complicated grammar questions.
The communicative method of training (CELTA, TESOL, TEFL, etc.) tells teachers that when they are asked a grammar question that they don't know, the proper response is one of the following:
- "We're not studying that today, but we'll study that later."
- "Good question – does anyone know the answer?"
These methods do not work well in Russia, where the culture of education demands that teachers know the answers to everything. One of the best ways of handling this situation is to explain that language is an art, not a science, and that the course is not a grammar course, but a course on English language integration.
Another way of dealing with this is to ask the student what the function is. For example, if a student asks, "How do I say this in the past perfect continuous?" the teacher can respond by asking, "What is the function of what you are trying to say? The name of the grammar point is irrelevant."
How to Handle Mixed-Level Groups
In any classroom, there are various levels of ability. In Russian classrooms, one of the best ways to deal with this is to separate students according to ability. Mixing higher-level students with lower-level students usually does not work well in a Russian classroom. Teachers should always have extra activities for the higher-level students.
Dealing With Phonology Issues With Russian Students
Because Russians have no "w" or "th" sounds in their alphabet, these two sounds are particularly difficult to teach.
One of the best ways of dealing with this is to give students tongue-twisters, and model the correct pronunciation constantly. Sample tongue-twisters for Russian English learners:
- The water in this river is really wild!
- That mouse has caught the bird in its mouth.
While teaching English in Russia can be a challenging experience, it can also be very rewarding. Russian students are immensely grateful to be learning English from a native speaker, and often go above and beyond in tackling the difficulties of learning a foreign language.
Learn more about Russian Culture and Etiquette.
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