Information About Svitlana - Gillingham teacher -

(1 review)

Personal Description:

Hello! My name is Svitlana, or Lana for short. I was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and lived there for most of my life. Two years ago, I moved to England to build a family with my husband.

I started learning English from day one at school. That's why I have such a deep connection with the language. In addition to English, I also had German as an extracurricular activity as well as a compulsory subject during my last two years. After school, I decided to keep improving my language skills at university. A philological degree seemed to be a great option to combine my love for foreign languages and my passion to help people. That's how I became a teacher of English and German.

For the time being, I would like to get back into private tutoring as it is something that allows me to be flexible and take care of my family in England as well as in Ukraine. I am available to provide any necessary support in preparing for internationally recognised, independent qualifications in the German language, such as the Goethe-Zertifikat, as well as national school-age qualifications in German in the UK, such as GCSEs.

Teaching Experience:

I started my journey into private tutoring when I was still a student. I mostly worked with adults helping them to learn English from the very beginning.

A bit later, while doing my Master's degree, I was employed as a teacher of English and German at a state school. I spent 2 and a bit wonderful years teaching languages to children of various ages, starting from 11-17 y.o. I kept giving priva**Contact Detail Removed**ssons to children at this time too. I gained an important experience of working at school, dealing with teacher's paperwork, as well as working with children of different age groups. For me as a teacher, it was invaluable to see the pros and cons of modern education and build my own style of teaching.

After this I worked as a tutor at German online courses. My responsibilities included not only checking homework and answering language related questions, but also providing all kinds of support to my students, most of whom lived in German speaking countries or were planning to move there. I have gained invaluable experience of working with people of absolutely different age groups, backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances.

Teaching Approach:

I'm strongly convinced that a language is a tool of communication, from a small talk on the street to enjoying a book in original to writing a quick message to your foreign friend. That's why my main approach is communicative. However, it does not mean at all that just talking during a lesson is enough. I'm also a great believer that studying grammar and vocabulary, as well as developing listening and writing skills, are all ways to build a strong foundation for a future conversation. For this reason, during my lessons I try to find that delicate balance between these things, tailoring every activity to the needs of my student. I also do hope that my love and passion for the language will be contagious, so the student will get something more than just a good mark or a passed exam.