Can learning English be fun, insightful, productive and affordable at the same time? I believe so! Whatever your background or profession, deciding to learn a foreign language is a great way to add another dimension to your life and make your mind work in a new way. You become a (slightly) different person, since along with a new language, one learns to look at the world in a slightly different way. This is why my approach to teaching English is not only aimed at laying or strengthening the foundational knowledge - grammar, speaking, writing and listening skills, but also at introducing students to the culture of the English-speaking population. We will find out what English speakers find funny, what drives them to tears, what makes them feel proud and what they get embarrassed about. Open to students of all levels, my course usually is taught online, using a variety of visual aids and a wide range of material, from textbooks to YouTube videos. In teaching advanced learners, I often refer to pieces of literature such as novels and poems, since they easily spark discussions, which in turn improves the students' grasp and feel of the language. In doing so, I take students beyond ordinary textbooks and grammar books, since they are no more than guides to learning, not absolute authorities, and because to me language is a living, constantly evolving matter, which you must submerge yourself into in order to understand. In addition to my unorthodox approach, what sets me apart is a collection of unique, language-related experiences, which translate into a good ability to understand nuances of the English language. A native Russian speaker, I have lived in the UK for over 5 years, went to a Scottish boarding school and have even completed a university degree in English. Thanks to my linguistic and cultural competency, I will make sure that you are never lost in translation! Are you interested? Then contact me today!

Having difficulties analysing poems and prose in your (I) GCSE / IB English Literature course? Looking to amp your essays up a notch and finally get that A/A* or 6/7 that you have been dreaming of? I am here to help. The first thing to remember: though analysing works of literature isn't always fun, everybody can master the techniques of how to do it. But learning takes time, which the school teacher may often lack. Indeed, it has been my own experience that English teachers often choose width over depth, and so discussions are cut short for the sake of covering all elements of the teaching programme, leaving many interesting aspects of a particular work unexplored. Or sometimes it's just the attention that wanders off as the teacher is explaining these pesky concepts of "writer's voice", "writer's tone", "meter", "rhymescheme" and so on. Let me assure you: that, too, happens even to the best of us. What I can offer you is exactly what a teacher normally does not time for: exploring a work of literature in as much detail (both analytical and technical) as it takes to push the quality of your essays up to the desired level. My approach is informed by IB / (I)GSCE Eng Lit course guidelines to make sure that the quality of your answer would be developed in accordance with what examiners want to see. Armed with a deep passion for literature on the one hand (reading and writing poems and short stories are one of my favorite things to do) and knowledge of ways of critical analysis (obtained in IB English Lit and reinforced by philosophy courses on university level) which are of tremendous importance in literary analysis as well, I will show you how to deconstruct any piece, how to place it in its cultural context, and make educated guesses about the links between cultural context and the author's choice of stylistical devices. And best of all - unlike in the classroom, the learning experience is tailored to you (based on your way of learning / remembering) and delivered in a highly interactive way! The skills described above, coupled with general essay writing tips will lend authority and style to your summative essays and exam answers, boosting your academic confidence. Ready to leave unsatisfactory essays in the past? Then contact me today!