Today is World Teachers' Day! ⁠ ⁠ "When one teaches, two learn" - Robert Heinlein⁠ ⁠ A teacher can't help learning. From a client, from the process of preparing for classes, from the experience of teaching and living in general. Not to mention formal learning (professional development).⁠ ⁠ Today I want to thank all the people who helped me learn: my former and current teachers and mentors, friends whose advice I take and whose opinions I respect, role models and people I admire.⁠ @conversationskate @elenamutonono and Veronika Palovska, @hennekeduistermaat @lyukaoverchenko @english_vocabulady @allaboutitalian @englishwithatwist @jamesclear and many others⁠ ⁠ You became a part of who I am, and I'll always carry you with me. ⁠ ⁠ I wish all teachers (in the biggest sense of the word: people who help others learn) to stay curious, creative, kind and compassionate and to keep doing what you do so well.⁠ Stop doubting yourself (if you do) and beating yourself us for not being perfect - you are enough (and more than that) already. ⁠ Take care of yourself first to keep bringing the good stuff to this world: inspiration, your insight, and your warm presence.⁠ ⁠ And to my readers who are learners: ⁠ cherish your curiosity, remember that learning is not meant to be perfect, enjoy the company of your teachers, and don't forget to share what you learn with others (you don't have to have a teacher's diploma to do that)⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #teachersday #peopleiadmire #learningcommunity #teachingcommunity #teachersrock #thankfulforyou #commitmenttoexcellence #languageenvironment ⁠ #спасибоучителям #интеллектуальноеудовольствие #вечныйученик #всегдаинтересно

September roundup:⁠ ⁠ September left me with a good feeling. ⁠ I didn't have huge projects, but the small ones kept me interested and made a difference.⁠ ⁠ I had both shots of the "CoronaVac" vaccine, and now waiting for my certificate. I was recently told that "CoronaVac" certificate is not valid for international travel, which is a disappointment, but not an urgent matter at the moment.⁠ ⁠ I made a webinar/video about 3 everyday tools which I recommend if you want to organize your learning process (as I organize my teaching). It's on YouTube, I hope you'll ? it - check out the link in bio⁠ ⁠ I also talked about these tools with my friend and colleague Kate (@conversationsKate) and she made a podcast episode of it. Check out Kate's podcast if you are a curious person who likes exploring and learning (2nd link in the bio)⁠ ⁠ For the 1st time after Covid, I started going to the cinema again. Before September, there weren't films I really wanted to see. But September brought 3 films which I enjoyed a lot: ⁠ 1️⃣ "Dune" has so much going for it that I think it deserves a separate post, but I am considering seeing at again on the big screen. It's spectacular, impressive, and memorable.⁠ ⁠ 2️⃣ "The Card Counter" was a chance I am glad I took. It's not exactly a film about playing cards/gambling (despite the title), and I saw a lot of people disappointed about unfulfilled expectations. It's slower, deeper, more subtle and more violent than I could have predicted.⁠ Made an impression, not sure of what kind. ⁠ 3️⃣ And finally, "No Time to Die" is the final Daniel Craig's Bond film, and it was definitely worth a watch. Bond here seems more realistic: less 007, more like the rest of us. Partly because he's older, partly because he has more at stake than the fate of the world (no spoilers). It's (predictably?) spectacular, dynamic and dramatic. I liked it a lot.⁠ ⁠ How was your September? And what about your plans for this month?⁠ ⁠ #monthlyroundup #inthecinema #gotvaccinated? #dunemovie #TheCardCounter #NoTimetoDie #movieimpressions

I created a notebook for my community with the resources you might find useful. Check out this video introduction and let me know what you think - or make a suggestion about a resource you'd like me to add. Link to the #CommunityResources #OnenoteNotebook is in bio #learningtools #communitylearning #toolsandresources #Onenote #essentaltools

She was the first American I saw in real life (not on TV) and could talk to. ⁠ ⁠ I can't remember her name, but I remember that she was the first person who introduced me to movies in English.⁠ ⁠ I don't remember which semester it was.⁠ I don't remember if we had a discussion before watching the movie.⁠ ⁠ But the film made a huge and lasting impression on me:⁠ ♥ It shifted something in my attitude to poetry, literature and language.⁠ ♥ It shifted my perception of teachers and teaching.⁠ ♥ I felt closer to the film characters - but also to my classmates during the discussion afterwards. ⁠ ⁠ It wasn't just a type of lessons we used to have before (reciting homework, correct/incorrect answers etc). It was a learning experience.⁠ ⁠ I am amazed how much I understood even then, with no experience of watching authentic movies, limited vocabulary, and incomprehension of most cultural references. ⁠ ⁠ The movie is "Dead Poets Society".⁠ I was 17 or 18 at that time. ⁠ It became one of my favorite movies. ⁠ I've watched it several times since then. And now we're going to discuss it in our movie club. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ While watching it this weekend - in preparation for the hangout - I was fascinated by the amount of quoted poetry, and at how much wisdom this film offers (I didn't realize how much when I was a student). ⁠ ⁠ I am grateful for having this film in my life - then and now - for how much it affected me - made me a bit better person, friend, and teacher. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it (especially if you are a teacher, if you like poetry, or like a bit of practical philosophy in movies)⁠ I hope you like / will like it too, and will join us to discuss the film on September 25 and 26.⁠ ⁠ Link: http://bit.ly/attend-movie-club⁠ ⁠ #deadpoetssociety #moviediscussions #favoritemovies⁠ #learningwithmovies #WatchYourEnglish #moviehangoutswithtania #discussingmovies #educatainment #learningcommunity #разговорныйклуб #разговорныйанглийский #английскийкиноклуб #любимыефильмы #мовнесередовище #кіномани #спілкуванняангліською

If you are looking for an opportunity to practice your intermediate-level English for free, you're welcome to our Movie Hangouts - but only if you love talking about movies. ⁠ ⁠ This Saturday we're discussing a sports drama called "Miracle" (2004).⁠ ⁠ What's curious is that even people (like me) who don't like sports still enjoy movies about sports, athletes and competitions. ⁠ More than that: sport dramas are one of my favorite genres, as well as movies about teaching.⁠ ⁠ This one is doubly interesting, because it's based on a true story - and as far as I know, pretty accurate. It's a true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad. ⁠ ⁠ There are several interesting themes in the movie, including leadership and teamwork, motivation vs talent, work/life balance etc. ⁠ ⁠ If you have seen it (in any language) and would love to discuss it (in English), sign up (link in bio) and join us this Saturday at 9 AM (Kyiv time).⁠ ⁠ I'll send the discussion questions in advance so you'll have enough time to think what you want to say and how you want to answer.⁠ ⁠ Attendance is FREE, but registration is required. ⁠ ⁠ Do you watch sports dramas? What was the most memorable one? ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #WatchYourEnglish #freespeakingclub #movieclub #sportsmovies #truestory #MiracleMovie #speakingEnglish #Ilovemovies #learningEnglish #английскийвудовольствие #языковаясреда #киноанглийский #кіномани #кіноанглійська #кіноклуб⁠ #фильмыоспорте ⁠

My belated August roundup:⁠ ⁠ - My new course based on "Ted Lasso" didn't go as expected, which I should have expected (but I didn't). What I liked is the easy-going feeling in the group. I hoped to create an English-language environment for the participants, with enough support so they didn't feel like they are struggling on their own, but without too much pressure. This balance is what I need keep working on. I learned a few lessons, but I think this run was good. Thank you @ihorstepaniv, @leonchyk_olga and @iustinaolga, you were wonderful!⁠ ⁠ - I had a swim in a pond near the village where my family live. I haven't swum in the last 2 or 3 years. I miss the seaside air, and the waves, and even the jellyfish which so irritated me. Anyway, splashing in the pond was fun, and I still feel great even thinking about it.⁠ ⁠ - I feel like my eyesight is getting worse, and plan to make an appointment with an eye doctor. There is a history of eyesight problems in my family, but I assumed I'd be spared. No wonder, though: I look at screen most of my waking hours, and don't do all those useful exercises to relieve the eye strain. Now that I realized there is a problem, I am more mindful about giving my eyes a rest between Pomodoro sessions. ⁠ ⁠ - I re-discovered Quora. This time - as an answerer. I used it to look for some answers there - and I still occasionally do. But I found it fun to answer questions. One of the answers/posts I shared there got me thinking about making a walk-through video about the tools I use and recommend to my readers and clients to streamline the process of learning English. Would you be interested?⁠ ⁠ - I got vaccinated. Actually, it happened in September, but I am late with my monthly roundup post, so that works. I didn't have any side effects. So far, so good. Next one is on September 30. Have you been vaccinated? ⁠ ⁠ - I've watched a few old and new movies, and I've caught up on some cool TV shows. Would you like to know my impressions? ⁠ ⁠ ?Ok folks, that's all from me for now. How's your life been recently? Let me know in the comments.⁠ ⁠ #TedLasso #WatchYourEnglish #MonthlyRoundup #learningcommunity ⁠ #английскийонлайн #такежиття

A client of mine wanted to have a vacation abroad, but was put in isolation on arrival, along with all his family. ⠀ He later told me that our weekly conversations in English was the thing that made their release possible. He called the Ministry of Health several times to explain the situation, and it worked. He wouldn't have been able to do so without regular practice. ⠀ Sure, the classes helped him expand his vocabulary and grammar, made him remember the necessary words in a stressful situation. But what's more important - he was sure enough that he'd manage. ⠀ BEING CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN HIS ENGLISH GAVE HIM A CHOICE. ⠀ Many would feel lost, confused and powerless, and think "There's nothing I can do". Most people who are not used to speaking in English wouldn't even try to solve the problem. They'd think "Yes, I learned English at a language school 2 years ago, but I can't explain our situation - not with what is left from my English". ⠀ ?You never know when you'll REALLY NEED English. But if that time comes, it might be too late. Preparation for the unforeseen has to start much earlier, and it should be consistent. ⠀ The point of learning and using English regularly is to learn the elements of the language, yes. But also - to make you more sure of your ability to deal with life situations and solve problems. ⠀ Yes, English at class feels sort of "pretend" English. You might listen, watch or discuss things unrelated to what your life is about. But exposure to different topics prepares you for what life might throw at you later. And dealing with the unknown at class builds adaptability and resilience. ⠀ Yes, I know - it's hard to keep spending time and money if you're not sure when you're gonna need it. We need deadlines, and we crave* certainty. ⠀ ?But certainty is an illusion. You can't control what happens. What you can control is how you'll feel, if you're prepared. ⠀ Think about it not as "when I need English", but as "giving yourself options" (or, to be exact, giving your future self options). ⠀ ?What do you think? Do you make time to do something important (but not urgent) now? In what ways are you giving your future self options? ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Watch, enjoy,

If you're curious about what we're doing the our "Ted Lasso" course, here's a sneak peek for you: not only did we have an engaging discussion about the main characters, problems Ted is facing, and national stereotypes - we also got to practice grammar in context. This time, we revised "be going to" when talking about plans and intentions. Here are a few examples we worked with. Can you say these in English? - Будет тяжело. Но знаешь что? Я розберусь (справлюсь). - Видишь ли, мой бывший муж всю жизнь искренне любил только одно: этот клуб. И Тед Лассо поможет мне сжечь его дотла. - Но я думаю, что когда мы начнем, все пойдет хорошо. - Ты позволишь ему так называть тебя? ?If you'd like to get the worksheet with answers, write me a message and leave your email, and I'll send it to you, along with the screenshots. #TedLasso #EmilyInParis #curatedforyou #learningcommunity #theatlantic #readinginsights #WatchYourEnglish #morethanmeetstheeyes #learningwithTVshows #courselaunch #разговорныйанглийский #новыйкурс #общениенаанглийском #английскийвудовольствие ⁠ #комедиянаанглийском #английскийпосериалам #английскийонлайн #англіськадлядорослих #звичкавчитися #класнийсеріал

How do I improve my English speaking and grammar? This is a question I recently got from a reader. I can talk your ears off by telling her what she could do. But I had to give a quick and memorable recommendation, so I tried to prioritize. ⠀ Below is what I came up with. ⠀ The short answer: when you’re reading or listening to good English, pay more attention the chunks - words which are connected and “go together”. In my experience, this helped my students most . Doing it transforms your ability to use natural English phrases and grammar instead of simply translating thoughts from the native language word-for-word. ⠀ Just a quick example from a TED talk (3 sneaky tactics that websites use to make you spend): "Worldwide, online retail has been on the rise. In 2019 alone, shoppers spent nearly 3.8 trillion dollars online." ⠀ Here, notice the expressions “has been on the rise” (instead of only noticing “rise”), “in 2019 alone”, “spent … online” etc. ⠀ Or another example, from a blog post by Bernadette Jiwa (The Limitations Of Labels) ⠀ ‘A guy working on our last job wasn’t wearing a mask,’ he said. ‘I have heaps in the van. I offered him one, but he wouldn’t take it. It’s up to every one of us to do the right thing.’ ⠀ Here you have “on our last job”, “was wearing a mask”, have heaps (of masks)”, “in the van”, “wouldn’t take it”, “it’s up to every one of us”, “do the right thing”. ⠀ Noticing these chunks not only helps to better understand how vocabulary and grammar work - it can also improve pronunciation (because everything “inside” a chunk is pronounced as one word, without stops) and as a result - listening comprehension. ⠀ The next (necessary) step would be consciously trying to use these chunks when you write or speak. It takes a bit of practice, but makes a huge difference. If you want me to help you with this, get in touch with me. ⠀ Noticing, learning, and using chunks is like using panels instead of bricks while building a house. It’s easier, your speaking is smoother, and your progress is quicker. ⠀ What about you? ?‍?When you're reading (or watching) something in English, do you pay attention (and try to learn) words - or chunks? ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Watch, enjoy,

Monthly roundup: July⁠ ⁠ July was a bit of mess - there was a bit of everything there: fantasy, hailstorm, writing, and movies. ⁠ ⁠ Our movie club had a 6-month list of films, which we ran out of. With the help of our tribe of movie-loving English learners, I compiled a new list of movies to watch in the next few months. Here's the list, if you're interested:⁠ Wonder (this Saturday)⁠ The Truman Show⁠ Miracle⁠ Dead Poets Society⁠ The Help⁠ Gattaca⁠ The Kings Speech⁠ Meet Joe Black⁠ In time⁠ ⁠ I was going to launch my new course based on "Ted Lasso" TV show, so I wrote a series of emails to my readers (as well as some blog posts) about that. I was "thinking aloud" why watching and discussing a TV show matters and how it actually helps in improving your language skills. ⁠ ⁠ At the same time, I took deliberate breaks from work, but instead of travelling somewhere, I escaped into a fantasy world. I got hooked on a fantasy series, in English. I felt like a little girl staying up late to finish the book (and start a new one next day). I downloaded maps of the imaginary world to track the characters, and I felt great. I needed that. ⁠ ⁠ Also, I discovered the joy of walking in the grass. Growing up in the village, I used to walk barefoot when I was a child, but I always felt embarrassed about walking barefoot in the city. Last week, while taking a walk home, I got some sand into my sandals, and had to take it off to share the sand out. I took a step without it, and then too another one, into the green patch (I was passing the stadium) and decided to walk like that for a while. It felt amazing, if ticklish a bit. Now I try to do it every evening. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ?What about you? How did you spend your July? Have you walked barefoot recently? What was the highlight of your summer?⁠ ⁠ ⁠