Volunteer Programme

  Russia

• St. Petersburg: 
St. Petersburg
• Moscow: 
Moscow (Moskva)
• All Other Areas: 
Samara (Kujbysev),  Volgograd

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: Flexible

Description: Language Link's Volunteer Program is the ideal way to acquire valuable international work-experience and get a taste of life in Russia. Our International Language Centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Volgograd and Samara have a limited number of vacancies each semester for volunteers in the fields of Education, Project Management, Administration, Translation and IT. The program is extremely flexible - entry is possible all year round, and you can determine how many hours per week you wish to commit for, and how long you want to stay (breaks for independent travel are easily arranged). Depending on your interests, talents and experience, you may volunteer as a teaching assistant, student activities organizer, translator, educational consultant, administrator, web master, html programmer or project manager (you may also combine two or three of these roles). The wide variety of program options means that whatever your motivation and interests, there is sure to be something that suits your requirements. Details of program options are given below.

Teaching Assistant
Available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd and Samara

As a volunteer Teaching Assistant, you will be assigned to one of our foreign language departments to help teach English or French as a foreign language under the supervision of a qualified teacher. Following an initial week of basic training, you will begin assisting in the classroom, where your responsibilities may include leading discussions, acting as a conversation partner and helping the students overcome their language learning difficulties or lack of confidence on a one-to-one basis. You may be asked to assist in lessons taught by Russian EFL teachers to improve students' pronunciation and understanding of the language as spoken by a native-speaker. There may also be the chance to help in lessons with children or young learners.

Student Welfare and Activities Assistant (SWA)
Available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd and Samara

This position involves arranging excursions and extra-curricular activities for students and teachers at Language Link. Depending on your own strengths and interests, you could organise cultural trips for students of Russian as a foreign language, English discussion clubs for Russian students of English, video nights, company celebrations (for Thanksgiving, Christmas etc) or anything else linked to your personal hobbies and talents. Additional responsibilities sometimes include the upkeep and upgrade of the school's video and book libraries.

Translator / Proof-reader
Available in Moscow and St. Petersburg

Provided you have a high enough level of Russian (at least intermediate), you may apply to volunteer in Language Link's Translation Department as a translator and proof-reader. The majority of work involves translating corporate documents, catalogues, brochures and website texts from Russian into your native language under the supervision and guidance of senior translators. You will also have the task of proof-reading documents in your native language (i.e. carrying out stylistic corrections of translated material prior to its return to clients), and correcting websites from a linguistic point of view.

Administrative Assistant in the RFL Department
Available in Moscow

Language Link's Department of Russian as a Foreign Language accepts a limited number of volunteers to assist with its everyday work, such as the creation of promotional materials, pamphlets and brochures, liaising with clients, translating and editing, writing articles for the website and conducting market research.

Educational Consultant
Available in Moscow

If you choose to volunteer as an Educational Consultant your role will be to assist in Language Link's Education Abroad Department, which helps and advises Russians who wish to study overseas. Working under the guidance of the Head or Assistant Head of Department, you will be involved with the department's everyday work, e.g. advising students on what it's like to study in your native country, assisting students with paperwork, applying for visas and/ or explaining cultural traditions. Other functions may include assisting with travel, education and tourism exhibitions, making presentations in schools, creating bulletin boards and displays and contacting educational institutions overseas to obtain information.

Project Manager
Available in Moscow

In this role you will be responsible for overseeing short-term projects, such as developing newsletters, academic programmes and teaching materials, new website features, or other ideas you suggest yourself to improve and expand services for Language Link's clients. Previous volunteer projects have included creating a 'photo gallery' for Language Link's website, and producing a newsletter for study abroad agents.

IT / Internet Specialist
Available in Moscow

Volunteers who demonstrate the necessary skills can work in the IT and Marketing Department under the supervision of Language Link's Systems Administrator. Typical tasks include assisting with hardware maintenance, installing software and troubleshooting network problems. Internet specialists such as html programmers can work with Language Link's Head of Marketing, performing website-related duties in keeping with their skills.

Qualifications: To qualify for the volunteer program, applicants must conform to the following profiles:
Nationality - Your participation depends on Language Link's ability to issue you with a visa invitation. We are able to offer visa support to citizens of the UK, the USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most Western European countries. If your nationality doesn't figure in this short list, you may still be eligible for the shorter programmes (6 or 12 weeks).

Language: Applicants for the Teaching Assistant and Translator/Editor positions must be native speakers of English. All volunteers of other nationalities must have a good command of English. A basic ability to communicate in Russian is preferable (although not essential) for all positions except Teaching Assistant. For the Translator/Editor and IT roles, a minimum of intermediate Russian is required.

Education/Qualifications: The program is open to anyone who has successfully completed their high school education, although graduates or undergraduates (any major) are preferred. Applicants for the IT positions must have experience or qualifications in their area of specialization.

Personality: When recruiting volunteers, Language Link looks for confidence, enthusiasm and a committed attitude to work. Applicants should be highly motivated, with the ability to adapt to different cultures and to take the initiative whether working individually or in a team. In most cases, a strong desire to help young learners and adults reach their educational goals is essential.

Age: The Language Link Volunteer Program is open to the young and the young at heart. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the start of the programme.

Financial independence: Applicants must be able to support themselves financially throughout their stay in Russia. Applicants for the longer programs (24 and 36 weeks) may be eligible for a housing stipend; however, this should not be a primary consideration when applying.

Cost in US$: From $1570

Salary / Pay: Orientation is provided upon arrival in Russia, and all volunteers may attend up to 6 academic hours of free Russian language lessons per week during their stay (on the condition that a space is available in a class of the appropriate level). Volunteers participating in programs of 24 weeks or longer are eligible to apply for a monthly housing stipend from Language Link, which covers the cost of accommodation in one of the school's shared apartments. Provided the volunteer is deemed eligible and a space is available in one of Language Link's apartments, the stipend commences from the 13th week of the programme. To qualify, the volunteer must have: successfully completed 12 weeks of the programme worked a minimum of 30 hours per week and completed the assignments set by his/her supervisors to a high standard

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: A successful volunteer at Language Link is flexible, adaptable and enthusiastic. He or she is a native speaker of English or another major European language, who has chosen the challenge of living and working in Russia as a way to gain valuable international work-experience and an insight into a foreign culture. Volunteers come from many different backgrounds, but share a desire to help learners reach their educational goals and learn from working in a different culture.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European and Kiwi Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Russia Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Written Application