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Advanced TEFL Course: St. Petersburg, Russia
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About Russia |
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Straddling two continents and 11 time zones, the Russian Federation is the largest country on earth, nearly twice the size of the United States of America. Russia is a country of vast landscapes, vibrant life, beautiful contrasts, and interesting people.
Taking up an immense space of 9000 kilometres from west to east and 5000 from north to south, it is home to people of many different nationalities and customs. Travellers will encounter a country of enormous diversity and vitality, with cultural treasures and historical monuments, great imperial cities and glittering cathedrals.
Churchill's 'riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' remains an apt description of Russia; it has for many years been a land of mystery and intrigue to Westerners and most outsiders have only a hazy idea of its realities.
For hundreds of years, depending on the direction of political winds, Russia has been an enigma, a friend, or an enemy of the West. A composite of the extravagant glories of old Russia and the drab legacies of the Soviet era, it's a country that both befuddles and beguiles.
It was for many years, one of the hardest countries to visit. Today Russia is far more accessible. As Russia moves forward into the 21st century, it leaves behind a turbulent history of tyranny and a crippled economy: from Ivan the Terrible to Peter the Great, from the fall of the tsars to the dictatorship of the Soviet government. Today it is a nation embracing its newfound freedom and future potential, whilst enjoying a renewal of the rich cultural heritage of its past.
This is a land of snow and deadly winters, but also of rivers that meander across meadows and a midsummer sun that never sets. Its people, in the words of a Russian proverb, 'love to suffer', yet they also love to party and can be disarmingly generous and hospitable.
Russia is often called a "bridge" between Europe and Asia, both geographically and sociologically. From the ancient times up to now, Russia has been changing and re-shaping itself, its boundaries, its culture. The reality is that culturally Russia has always been oriented towards the West and the recent influx of western lifestyle has created subcultures similar to those found in any other major country opened to the information from the outside world. Nevertheless, Russians have managed to retain a certain degree of intrinsic qualities of the national character that you won't find anywhere else.
There has never been time in the Russian history, when it was still or calm, always there would be something like a revolution, an economy crisis, a war, as if to make life less predictable, and, perhaps, more interesting too. It is a miraculous country and still mysterious to many foreigners, with many cultural and historic treasures, unspoiled nature; and industrious, bright and hospitable people.
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About St Petersburg |
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Russia's second city, St Petersburg, is Europe at its most gracious. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 to be his "window on Europe", St Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook. It was planned and built with the help of leading architects from all over the world, and the result is an eclectic blend of European and traditional Russian styles.
The city is spread over 42 islands in the delta of the River Neva and has been dubbed the Venice of the North for its palace-lined waterways. St. Petersburg reminds some visitors of Rome, others of Paris, still others of Venice, Vienna or Amsterdam. Few cities can offer so many stunning attractions and intriguing moods as St. Petersburg - City of the Tsars. It is a city that remains one of Europe's most beautiful; where Moscow intimidates, St Petersburg enchants.
This elegant city is not just famous for its rich history but also for its rich Russian culture. St. Petersburg is the birthplace of Russian literature and the home city of great musicians and ballet dancers. Officially proclaimed the "Cultural Capital of Russia" it is a place where you need weeks just to see all its major landmarks, and the city hosts annual art exhibits, music and film festivals.
Although the phenomenon known as the "White Nights" is not unique to St Petersburg, in no other northern city have they received such poetic and literary acclaim. Caused by St. Petersburg's very northerly geographical location, from late May to early July the nights are bright and become curiously indistinguishable from day.
Whether you are walking along one of the Venice of the North's many picturesque canals or the wide Neva River during a dreamy white night, taking in the world-renowned ballet at the Mariinsky Theater on a magical winter evening, enjoying an early autumn afternoon in one the city's outstanding suburban parks, or delighting in the world-class art collection at the Hermitage Museum, you are sure to appreciate the unique beauty and rich culture of the city on the Neva.
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The TEFL School |
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Moderating Body: CELS (Centre for English Language Studies) UK
Certificate: International Standard Cert.TESOL
Affiliations: Via Lingua, IATEFL, The World TEFL School (WTS)
Conveniently located in the heart of the city, our approved Training Centre is renowned for effective teaching methods and a dedication to providing students with every opportunity to achieve success in the TEFL profession. Founded in 1991, the school quickly established itself as one of the largest non-state owned schools of foreign languages in the Northwest of Russia.
Now the biggest and most popular Language School in the city, the experienced staff develop good relationships with each student – class sizes are kept small to ensure that each trainee's individual requirements receive personal attention from the Course Trainers. A full-time Welfare officer is also available to ensure all students adapt well to the environment. As the centre is housed within a language school, trainees have a good opportunity to see the way a language school operates, and to meet and talk with experienced teachers working in the industry.
As the cost of living is considerably lower in St Petersburg than in other major European cities, the Centre is able to offer the course at a very competitive price. Savings made on items such as accommodation, food, drink and entertainment over the 4-week term are additional benefits of attending the course in St Petersburg. Trainees studying in St Petersburg have the opportunity to experience the feeling and atmosphere of living and working abroad. As the Centre is housed at the Benedict School trainees have a good opportunity to see the way a language school operates, and to meet and talk with experienced teachers actually working in the industry. It is easy to find a job on the spot at the Benedict School, or you could be placed in the country of your interest (more than one hundred schools available).
Click Here For Course Summary and Overview
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Accommodation |
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Following acceptance of your enrolment application, your TEFL school will assist you in arranging suitable accommodation that is within your budget. You are assured that accommodation booked through the school will be clean, comfortable and secure. Alternatively, you are free to arrange your own accommodation for the duration of your course. Costs range between 200-400 Euros per month.
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Getting Here & Visas |
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Air
There are daily flights to Moscow from all major European capitals and New York, as well as from Hong Kong and other Asian travel centres. There are also daily services to St Petersburg from many European capitals.
The main western rail gateways to European Russia are Helsinki, Warsaw, Prague and Budapest. There is a daily service from Paris and Amsterdam to Moscow via Berlin and Warsaw. There's also a service from Berlin to Omsk. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs from Moscow to Vladivostok, and you can get a train from there to Beijing. There are limited cruise and ferry services between Russia and Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Turkey and Georgia.
Russian buses are now completely open to foreigners and when going between small towns are a great way to travel. Driving in Russia isn't everybody's cup of tea but, if you've got a sense of humour, don't mind some fairly rugged road conditions, a few hassles finding petrol, and getting lost now and then, it's a great way to see the country.
River transport remains important and in summer it's possible to travel long distances across Russia on passenger boats. The main passenger services ply between Moscow and St Petersburg, and between Moscow and various points on the Volga and Don, including Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd, Astrakhan and Rostov-on-Don.
All visitors require a visa. Getting a visa for Russia takes a bit of time, so get the process started early. Visas are not issued at the border.
Visitors must carry ID at all times whilst in Russia; a photocopy of your passport and visa will suffice. An Immigrant Card will be issued on arrival. All visitors staying for longer than three days must register their Immigrant Cards with their hotel or sponsor. Technically anyone applying for a tourist visa needs to have pre-arranged accommodation, but hostels or hotels can often provide an invitation as long as the first night is spent there. Exit permits are required on departure. These are usually issued with the visa, or can be obtained at hotels not less than two days before departure. Passports must be valid for period of intended stay. |
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Basic Living Costs |
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If you're really frugal, avoiding plane trips, taxis, overseas phone calls and decent restaurants, as well as always looking for the very cheapest place to stay, you should be able to get by on US$30 a day. If you always stay in comfortable hotels and eat in restaurants two or three times a day, you're looking at more like US$85 a day. If you prefer to spend your day eating in Moscow's finest restaurants and sleeping between their crispest sheets, plan on around US$350 a day.
It's best to take your money as many ways as you can. US dollars cash are easiest to change; although carrying cash is dodgy in this increasingly dangerous environment, you're chances of changing travellers cheques are slim to non-existent. You should also be able to get a cash advance on your credit card in the big cities, but it will be difficult elsewhere.
Very few places in Russia expect you to tip. Top-end hotels and restaurants add 5% to 15% to your bill, while porters expect around US$1 a bag. Shops have fixed prices, but in markets you'll be expected to bargain.
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Health & Safety |
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Travellers to Russia are advised to have up-to-date vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid fever and tetanus-diphtheria, as well as medications for travellers' diarrhoea. Water for drinking and brushing teeth should be treated; bottled water is readily available. There is a reciprocal health care agreement with the UK entitling citizens to free health treatment. All visitors are strongly advised to have full insurance for medical treatment and accidents.
The areas in North Caucasus of Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area) and the eastern and southern parts of Stavropol Krai are highly volatile at present and visitors are strongly advised against travel in those regions. There is a risk of domestic terrorism throughout Russia, particularly in Moscow. Visitors are advised to be vigilant, particularly in tourist areas, and also to watch out for pickpockets and street crime, especially in large cities. The so-called Russian mafia will not bother you, but, as in any big city, you should beware of petty crime. Precautions include not flaunting valuables, or walking alone at night through city outskirts or parks.
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General |
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Russia's extremes range from the frosts of the Siberian north to the heat of the European south. With no discernable spring or autumn, Russia has a dry continental climate. Siberian summers are surprisingly warm; it's the winters that make regions distinct. So while daytime summer temperatures over the nation may only vary from 20 to 30°C (68-86°F), in winter it is more like 10 to -50°C (51 to -58°F). Major towns like Moscow and St Petersburg share similar pleasant summer temperatures, both averaging around 24°C (75°F). Spring in both cities brings the great thaw, the reappearance of vehicles on the road and a general sense of mayhem. |
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Prices & Dates |
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Disclaimer: |
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We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
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