Globally speaking, it is estimated that three-fourths of the Americans living abroad will not come home in the next five years. Despite some diplomatic tensions between Moscow and New York, Russia is not immune to this phenomenon. The American expatriate community in Russia continues to grow despite the problems before the two countries. There are currently more than 800,000 Americans living in Russia. But is it possible to move from America to Russia without speaking a word of Russian? Superprof is here with some answers.
Where is Russia Situated When it Comes to English?
A fascinating study by EF Education First is published every year. It ranks the countries of the world according to their degree of mastery of the English language of its adult population. Only countries for which English is not a mother tongue are classified. The Netherlands and Denmark are at the top of the ranking, known for their strict language policies. Their respective indicators are 72.16 and 71.15, corresponding to "an excellent command of English." Russia is an intermediate student, ranking 34th in 72 countries. The indicator for Russia reads 52.32, which ranks Russian speakers as the first country corresponding to "low English proficiency." As a comparison, France ranks 29th with an indicator of 54.33, corresponding to an "average command of English." Nevertheless, the results are nuanced for two reasons:
- First, they only take into account the adult and de facto population of people over 50, for whom English proficiency has never been a priority,
- In addition, command of English is much more developed in large cities (such as Saint Petersburg, Novgorod, or the capital of Moscow) than in the depths of Siberia! For an expatriate, the probability of working in these big cities is more substantial; It will be easier to find one's place if the language of Shakespeare is your mother tongue.
You Will Need More than Just English to Work in Russia
Although there are many stories of people who go to work in Russia without first taking Russian courses online and without speaking a word of Russian, we advise against going on an expat adventure without a specific opportunity there waiting for you. Indeed, it isn't easy to look for a job without first mastering the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian grammar and the intermediate language level. We are sure you know that an employer will favour a candidate with a better command of Russian over one who does not speak a word of the language. Suffice it to say that the chances of finding a position in a Russian company (where Russian is the chosen language and English does not matter) are close to zero without a command of the language. But if it is precisely this thirst for adventure that can push you to take the plunge into Russian. It will be easier to move to Russia and apply for posts that do not require very long interactions with natives (such as being a bartender, for example). It will be tough for you to get a job for office positions.
It's Easier to Get Hired With Certain Jobs
Are you an expert in oenology, cooking, or baking? Relatively quickly, you can supplement the Russian language to your skills. Russians are fond of American cooks and pastry chefs. The only pre ogative will be to become familiar with the Russian t anscription of the technical terms you need to know for the job. But, again, you still risk working with natives... While your expert tise may gain you the position, the employees helping you in the kitchen are almost always locals. How can you communicate with them without basic Russian? Look up "Russian course London" to find your native speaker to teach you Russian in the capital.
American Companies in Russia
Despite the tensions that may exist politically between America and Russia, the land of Dostoyevsky remains a formidable eldorado for American companies. Indeed, many American corporations are present in the Russian terr tory. There are almost 3,000 American companies in Russia, and he U.S. is also the leader in foreign companies in Special Economic Zones, with 11 projects. From Macdonald's to Ford to Boeing, there are plenty of companies for you to find your dream job. Ford has been in Russia for 13 years. In April 2015, the joint Rus ian-American venture Ford Sollers lau ched the production of the Ford Transit. The American brand launched four new vehicles in Russia last year, ncluding the Focus and Fiesta models sold here. According to Export.Gov:
The United States is committed to supporting the trade and investment relationship between the United States and Russia in non-sanctioned sectors of the economy. The foreign Commercial Service (FCS) at the U.S. Mission in Russia serves as an important resource for both U.S. and Russian Businesses seeking to develop and expand new relationships. FCS had helped Russian and American firms introduce innovative technologies and increase investment, strengthening ties between our two countries. The inhumane cap imposed by the Russian Federation on our staff has reduced our in-country presence, limiting our ability to provide the full suite of services. Despite these restrictions, we remain committed to supporting American businesses in the Russian Federation and will provide assistance and information as resources allow.
Working with an American company in Russi allows you to circumvent the imperative to speak Russian. Most of the exchanges will be in English, which is crucial for those who only have time to master the basics of Russian. Take Russian lessons online here.
Being an Expatriate in Russia
An American expatriate is "an American worker in the private sector working abroad under a US or local employment contract." In this sense, the expatriate does not necessarily depend upon American labour laws - but each situation is different depending on the contract signed and the employer who has hired you. The expatriate travels abroad for an indefinite period. In terms o taxation, if the expatriate keeps their tax resid only in America, they will be taxed in America, which is not the case when he leaves America accompanied by their entire family and leaves behind their residence in America indefinitely. Anyway, suppose the eviction is done within the framework of an act ve American work contract. In that case, the transition will be much easier, and there is a good chance that your current company will help you prepare for this significant change. In addition, for those who work in an international company (such s Ford or MacDonald, for example), the language you will use at work is likely English. In such a case, a perfect command of Russian is not helpful t first.
Taking A Few Classes in Russian Before Leaving: A Great Idea
We've now seen that mastering the Russian language will depend enormously on the conditions of the exile (on your own or with one's company). Command of Russia will be more or less required depending on the removal requirements. It will be considered indispensable and need to be of an advanced level for those wishing to work in small Russian companies or to open their own business in Russia. Still, it may be almost useless for someone working in a multinational company where English will be the dominating language. Nevertheless, working in Russia is not just about the work. You wi l have a social life which you should not neglect. For this also, having some Russian basics down is essential. If becoming bilingual in a few weeks is impossible, more Russian notions are always welcome before leaping! All the more if the job you are looking for is neither in Moscow n r Saint Petersburg, cities where it is not difficult to find someone to speak English with. But if Russian seems too tricky to master, some companies will ask you to take a Russian course. For example, learning the Russian alphabet is only a matter of a ew hours of work. Having that down is already a good start. As suggested by the Easy Ussian website, a beginner's level where one can conduct basic conversations requires about six months of practice for half an hour daily. This adds up to a total of only 90 hours of learning. For those who do not have the time or for whom departure to Russia is imminent, learning some valuable phrases will make it possible to manage your life in the country. You could always understand Russian by communicating regularly rly with native speakers once there. Check out our tips to learn Russian very fast. In any case, an Eng ish-Russian or Russian-English dictionary or s me online dictionary must be a part of your "survival kit" before you go! In short:
- Although it is quite possible to work in Russia without mastering the language of Tolstoy, the challenge is more complex if you have no basics.
- Unless you want to go on an adventure and explore Russian culture, we do not recommend leaving without thinking about your action plan and not having hiring opportunities before leaving. Always remember that the recruiter will favour someone with a better command of Russian.
- On the other hand, it is quite possible to get by in some jobs with basic knowledge of Russian. For an oenologist, mastering the terms specific to their field of activity remains essential to perform their position in the best conditions.
- The transition will be smoother for those who already have a contract with an American company in Russia because the working language will not necessarily be Russian but more likely English. It is possible to find American companies established in Russia. T ey are numerous!
- Finally, even if mastering the subtleties of the Russian language like a native is not your ultimate goal, we still recommend taking some Russian introductory courses to get at least acquainted with the basics of pronunciation, phonetics, accents, and Russian expressions or to work on your listening comprehension. The Russians will probably laud this learning desire.
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