Is it possible to work in Russia without speaking Russian?
Is it possible to work in Russia without speaking Russian?
At first, it may seem difficult to get around the country of Tolstoy without knowing a single word of Russian.
Russia is not at the bottom of the ranking of English-speaking countries, but it is below Spain. In fact, it is the first country to be classified as ” least proficient in English ” of the 77 countries highlighted by ED Education First.
However, these results must be qualified:
- Only the adult population and people over 60 years of age are taken into account. However, they are not the ones who are most fluent in English.
- English is more important in big cities like Moscow, Saint Peters burg or Novgorod than in the deeper parts of Siberia.
It will be much easier to integrate in Russia without knowing how to speak Russian in specific subjects such as oenology, cooking or even engineering, since Spanish knowledge is required. In other jobs, it is obvious that the company and the employer will prefer that the candidate can already speak Russian.
Think of the Spanish companies already established in Russia (Frenetic, Seat, Rep sol, Fiberboard, Indite …), they are numerous and that you know Spanish or English will be essential.
Taking some Russian classes with a native teacher before traveling to Russia will be of great use to you. When you work in a foreign country, you also live the language. It will be necessary to know some basic terms that can help you with the day to day. What less than trying to fully integrate into the country that will host you?
