Moscow Life
by Alex Walls
I’ve been living in Moscow since 2017 and I can’t imagine being anywhere else in the world right now.
I love Moscow. I love the huge buildings in the centre of the city and the blend of soviet and modern architectural styles. I love the colourful domes of the orthodox churches. I love how the entire city is within easy reach thanks to the efficient Metro. I love strolling through the huge parks as spring becomes summer, and the white blanket of snow that indiscriminately covers everything in winter.
Above all, I love the people of Moscow. Many people come here from all over Russia, the former Soviet Union and further afield. The Russian people couldn’t be further from the Hollywood and western media depictions of being cold and hostile. In my experience Russians have a healthy distrust of new people, but once you have proven yourself worthy (or that you are not an idiot!), they will go out of their way to help you, to be your friend and to make your stay in Russia an experience to remember. Meanwhile, the foreigners in Moscow bring new ideas and perspectives to a city steeped in history and tradition.
If you really want to get on in Moscow, you have to get out and do things, and there is no shortage of things to be done on different budgets. Moscow is of course famous for traditional entertainment such as the ballet and theatre, museums and art galleries, but also keeps pace with new forms of entertainment such as escape rooms and quests. Summer brings the possibility of a pleasant trip along the river, while the night is perfect to go on a tour of hidden underground bars. Moscow is full of adventures just waiting to be had for those that are willing to get out and seek them.I believe Windsor is a fantastic place to work. We have a mix of experienced and new teachers and a strong ethos of professional development. Although teachers are expected to use the Lexical Approach, teachers are still given a lot of autonomy to deliver lessons that are geared to the wants and needs of their students. We offer a wide range of courses and are able to offer teachers the opportunity to try out different types of classes.
As mentioned we use the lexical approach at Windsor. If you are familiar with a communicative approach, you shouldn't have much problem adapting to this approach although you will probably need to make some adjustments to your teaching. We believe that this approach is the most efficient way to learn a language with a strong focus on communicative competence. We give a full induction and ongoing training and support to help you become a confident practitioner of this approach.
Moscow Life
by Elisabeth Jackson
I’ve been teaching English abroad for several years now. When I found a school teaching with the lexical approach, I jumped at the chance - that’s how I ended up in Moscow. I’m a big city person so I feel right at home here. The metro’s great, the center’s really quite beautiful and there are always lots of things to see and do. In the summer, the parks are full of life just like they were in Vietnam. There’s dancing, music, yoga and food stalls and more.
If you prefer nightlife, there’s plenty of that in Moscow too. I arrived in February and got the impression there was lots of indoor entertainment – the theatre, exhibitions and so on. I guess I’ll find that out soon enough. As for food, well, Georgian food is excellent and there are other international restaurants - as you’d expect in a capital city.
As a language learner, I enjoy being in Moscow as there are plenty of opportunities to practice Russian on a daily basis. There are also international events if you prefer that crowd. But as you’d expect, probably the best way to meet people is by pursuing one of your hobbies or interests here in the city. Or, get really good flatmates!