Pažintis su mokytoja Yevheniia

Labai džiaugiamės ir didžiuojamės vadindami savo komandos nare mokytoją Yevheniia. Kviečiame skaityti ir susipažinti!

1. Hi! Could you tell us (and your future students) why you became a teacher?

I studied English philology at university, and the most popular part-time job for students in this major was tutoring at English language schools. I tried it and enjoyed the process. I realized that I enjoy guiding people, explaining things, and supporting my students. It is very rewarding when a person asks you for help and you are able to help them. Additionally, I am interested in Second Language Acquisition as a field of study.

2. Different teachers use different methods, have different approaches to teaching and interacting with students, and tend to see their own role in the process in myriad different ways. What kind of teacher are you?

I see my role as a facilitator of learning, which means I encourage my students to practice and to use their existing knowledge to discover new things, rules, and meanings in the language and guide them through the process.

3. What is the most difficult part of this job for you?

Lesson planning, because it can take a lot of time depending on the lesson and the materials I have. Additionally, helping students transition from a grammar-translation approach to a new method of learning can be challenging. It takes time and effort for them to feel safe using the communicative method. Of course, it can be scary to study in a way you haven't experienced before.

4. What myths about language learning would you like to dispel?

1) That you can communicate well only if you don’t make mistakes, which is not true. The purpose of using a language is to achieve some sort of communicative result (such as understanding each other or solving a problem), not to speak without mistakes.

2) Translating everything into your native language. Yes, translation can be useful, but the higher your level, the more you should learn English through English. Use an English-English dictionary, study words in context, etc. This way, you will become fluent faster and start thinking in English sooner without translating words in your head.

3) You need to have a "talent" for languages. Actually, with the right approach for you and enough practice, anyone can learn a language.

5. What was the most memorable situation for you as a language teacher?

I think the most memorable situations for me are when students' lives change because they achieve a certain level of English. It's always rewarding to hear that an elementary student, who couldn't talk a few months ago, is now able to have conversations in English and express themselves when traveling or speaking with others. Or when students pass an exam and enter the university they wanted, or get a working visa.

6. What would you want to say to everyone who is studying a language?

• Surround yourself with English content - listen to podcasts, google in English, watch TikToks, YouTube, read the news. Living in a non-English speaking environment, you will help yourself by creating this English environment with your own hands.
  

• When you surround yourself with content, it must be fun and interesting for you!
  

• Be patient and consistent. Practice every day, even if it's just 15-20 minutes. Watching TikToks in English is practice too! :)
  

• Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Please understand that this fear might be the result of an educational system many of us had at school, but it doesn’t represent reality. In language learning, mistakes are proof of the learning process and an opportunity to practice and learn something new. Make mistakes and be relaxed :) This will help you absorb new information better.

Thank you for the lovely chat, Yevheniia!