INTRO

I am a native Russian speaker and university-trained Russian language instructor based on the West Coast of Canada. I teach children, teens, and adults in person and online, including heritage Russian speakers, helping students from all over the world learn Russian with confidence. I hold a Master of Education and a PhD in language and literature, I am First Aid certified, hold a valid Criminal Record Check, and am fully insured. My classes combine language, culture, and real-life communication to help beginners to advanced speakers achieve practical Russian skills.

FULL BIO

I am a native Russian speaker, born and raised in Russia. I am a university Russian Language Instructor, educator, researcher, translator and mom of two bilingual children currently living on the West Coast of Canada. I am fluent in three languages: Russian, English, Polish. 

In Russia, I chose an academic career and completed my M.Ed. (Languages and Literature) in 2005 and then acquired a PhD at A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature in the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow (2009). 

I also hold a Certificate in Training Methods of Teaching Russian as Foreign Language from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (2006).   

I chose the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia  for a reason. The method developed by S. Khavronina and A. Shirochenskaya (Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia) is considered one of the most effective techniques of learning Russian as a foreign language.  This technique was developed in 1970s and it’s based on a communicative approach. I was very lucky to learn in person from the authors of the very first Russian course “Methodology of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language” — S. Khavronina and A. Shirochenskaya. 

I am an active member of the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (MAPRYAL) and the American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR).  In 2023, I became a silver winner through the qualifying stage of the 1st International Competition of Teachers of Russian language abroad.  

I started teaching in my 3rd year of university in 2003.  I taught a foreign language at a school in Russia and worked as a teacher of Russian and Literature at the Russian school in Canada (Victoria, BC).  

Currently, beside teaching at my own school of Russian Language,  I am working in Canada as a Russian language instructor at the University of Victoria (UVic) Continuing Studies and at the SelfDesign Learning Foundation. 

My group and one-on-one classes, both in person and on-line, helped hundreds of students from around the world (Germany, Poland, China, Australia, India, Mauritius, Canada, Switzerland, Greece, UK) to learn, improve, practice Russian language and deepen their knowledge of Russian culture. The age range of my students varies from 3 to 88.

I am very proud of success of my students. In 2023, two of my students became winners of XIII International Pushkin Competition held by Pushkin State Russian Language Institute (Moscow).  There are only two winners from Canada in all 6 nominations and … both are my students! 

I teach Russian as a foreign language to kids of all ages, I teach bilingual children and youth and can help “heritage language” learners. I am First Aid certified, have a valid Criminal Record Check, and I am fully insured for in-person teaching.

My experience as a researcher includes writing articles and papers which have been published in Russia, Poland, Canada and Ukraine, editing newsletters, and translating and writing books.  I have 14 published papers, several published translations and one book I wrote as a co-author.  

I love learning. Several times a year, I takes courses, attend conferences, webinars, and workshops on various topics but — of course — mostly on teaching the language.  

Besides being passionate about the teaching, I love nature, psychology, music, cinematography, design, and cooking. In Russia, I finished a classical school of art — four years of training. I love and appreciate art. Alos, I collect Russian crafts and art.  In my Russian language classes, I always share about Russian art, crafts, customs, and food.  In 2018-2019 I was teaching Russian Culture Course at the University of Victoria (UVic) Continuing Studies.

Over 20 years of a versatile teaching experience combined with my professional academic background and love for teaching and sharing knowledge have helped me to create a truly inspiring learning environment for my students. I know how to make your Russian language journey fun, practical and effective.