See for yourself
Living and Working in Moscow
There is no better way to understand what life as a Simply English teacher looks like than hearing it straight from the teachers themselves.
Moscow is misunderstood. Teachers who come are always surprised by how modern, vibrant, and exciting it really is.
The largest city in Europe, Moscow can seem overwhelming at first. English is not spoken as often as in other European cities, and the general street atmosphere ranges from aloof to reserved. At the same time, Moscow offers a surprisingly cosmopolitan mix of theaters, museums, art galleries, fun restaurants and bars, and when the weather is warm — large, beautiful parks.
Moscow is a city of contrasts. You never know what you are going to see next — a businessman with perfect English buying flowers for his wife on one corner, and a grandmother chugging a bottle of vodka on the other. Simply English teachers get a unique opportunity to understand Moscow from a personal perspective, travelling throughout the city and interacting with Russian people in their homes, offices, and schools.
The Tretyakov and Pushkin art museums are some of the best in the world. Moscow is famous for its theatre and ballet. Shopping can be expensive but there are plenty of malls with normal stores like Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and Pull&Bear.
Because Moscow is such a large city with so much to offer, housing costs can be high. To offset this, Simply English provides housing assistance for its teachers. Our apartments are comfortable and never more than 15 minutes walk from a metro station. Teachers live in groups of three, and each pays 15,000 rubles a month for rent.
Our apartments are not luxurious, but they are normal, comfortable places to live with all the basic amenities you would expect. Want to see what a typical Simply English apartment looks like? Watch our apartment guide video.
Simply English Apartment Guide
There is no better way to understand what life as a Simply English teacher looks like than hearing it straight from the teachers themselves.
We understand how important it is for teachers to feel settled and have an unforgettable experience in Moscow. To help you make new friends and have a great time, Simply English organizes fun bi-weekly events for teachers.
All kinds of events are planned each year — trivia nights, karaoke, bowling, and other theme events around holidays. We also organize a yearly weekend trip to one of the lovely towns near Moscow.
There are many interesting ancient cities just outside of Moscow, great for day or weekend retreats. The most famous is probably Suzdal — a kind of Russian Colonial Williamsburg. Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Rostov, Kolomna, and Sergiyev Posad are also just a few hours away by train.
It's also quite easy to visit St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Volgograd from Moscow, either by short domestic flight or overnight train. These larger cities showcase the incredible diversity of Russian culture.
Simply English Trip to Tula
The Moscow Metro is a daily necessity and an impressive testament to Russian engineering. Maps are posted in both Russian and English throughout the stations. Simply English provides all teachers with an unlimited metro pass, usable on buses, trolley-buses, and trams throughout the city.
Moscow has great bars and cafes — from the Siberia-themed Kamchatka to quiet retreats like Kvartira 44. American themed restaurants are very popular. The Tretyakov and Pushkin art museums are world class. In spring, a park afternoon with beer and shashlik is a Moscow institution.
Moscow can be expensive for accommodation, but most other things are very affordable on a teacher's salary. Shopping malls with stores like Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and Pull&Bear are common. Skating rinks, snowboarding facilities, and outdoor recreation are plentiful and cheap.
English is not widely spoken on the street in Moscow. Most metro signs are in Russian only, so a familiarity with the Russian alphabet is helpful. Luckily, the alphabet is not difficult to learn, and Simply English staff are always on hand to help you navigate.
Moscow winters are cold — temperatures regularly drop to -20C in January and February. But Russians embrace winter with skating rinks and cozy bars. Summers are warm and sunny with long days and vibrant outdoor culture. Spring and autumn are mild and beautiful.
Moscow is a safe city to live and work in. Teachers travel around daily on public transport and on foot without issues. Simply English provides 24-hour emergency support to all teachers, so you are never alone if something unexpected happens.