Gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan is the largest land locked country on Earth, and there are many opportunities to teach English as the Kazakhstani people are eager to excel. Astana literally means ‘capital’ in Kazakh, a rather straight foreword example of the culture Hollywood has embraced.
Astana is truly the choice for the adventurer who wants to save a bit of their $700 salary and is interested in a mix of cultures and languages. It is important to remember Kazakhstan is a conservative country and strict rules apply. Teachers are highly respected, and sometimes even feared, as corporal punishment is still used in some classrooms. One passionate teacher shares her tales of teaching in Astana over a span of 13 years.