Job ideas for not-so-great-verbal-communicators in Apex, Cary, Raleigh

[Ellen Pitts]

I encountered an employee at Home Depot with a very strong Russian accent. This was earlier this year. I remembered it because my grandmother was Russian and the accent was very nostalgic for me. You might try Home Depot. :-)

[Francois]

There is a Berlitz Language School in Raleigh who may need (part-time) Russian teachers. That's not helping your situation, but it would be a case where your native language would be an asset, since they only use native speakers to teach their classes (I used to teach ESL there). And you might be able to trade out Russian classes for ESL (off the books) with an English teacher interested in learning Russian.

Watch a lot of TV (not sit-coms or reality shows--try news or nonfiction shows), get used to hearing the language and pay attention to the accent. I was a Linguistics major in college (with 2 years of Russian), and I know that one of the most "noticeable" things in Russians speaking English is the tendency to omit articles, since of course Russian doesn't have them. Do a lot of reading of newspapers, etc and reading aloud. Ask English-speaking friends or coworkers to correct you and study the things they correct. It's like learning any language, but living in the country where it is spoken is a big advantage.

[Yuri_S]

Thanks Francois! I even applied at Berlitz Language School but they currently don't have open positions in Raleigh.

I am also trying to expand my freelancing opportunities as a cartoon-style illustrator through my portfolio website Toonstyle.com – Funny Cartoon Style Vector Images

But I guess it might take long time to attract decent amount of clients...

[WeLuvNC]

I wonder if your wife could also volunteer at the Urban Ministries clinic? They provide free/low cost healthcare in durham and raleigh (separate organizations). With her medical degree, she might be very useful and it may help her language skills.

For that matter, with useful medical skills, I would encourage her to apply at any of the local hospitals -- Wakemed, Duke, UNC system -- etc. Great place to work and they may put part of her skills to work. I am sure she could draw blood, perhaps even work in the lab(s).

Also, medical schools? Duke and UNC and ECU have great medical schools -- have you looked at the job postings there? Working with residents may not pay a lot but it may be rewarding for her and wouldn't waste her fab schooling.

Good luck to the two of you. and welcome to the area!