Soňa Albrechtová
from: language: I like teaching. I don’t have a talent for languages, which allows me to understand well those with a similar ‘issue’. I try to pick the easiest way to learn Czech for each of my students. It feels great to hear beginners say their first full sentence in Czech, to help them understand what’s being said around them, to know that they can finally have a conversation with their friends. With more advanced students, we focus on developing their speaking confidence, even if speaking means making a mistake or two at the beginning. In my lessons, I use not only a textbook, but also current articles, videos, online activities, games… The student and I choose topics they enjoy and are interested in and use them to create ‘tailor-made’ lessons. It feels good to help people get understood.
Alžbeta Bobáľová
from: language: Time spent with my students makes my life full of new experiences and situations, preventing me from getting stuck in a rut. Although working with children is my personal favourite, I enjoy teaching all students regardless of their age. I focus my lessons on spoken English and communication and I like to use my own original materials in my lessons, placing emphasis on active use of English based on my students’ needs.
Alma Cammasa
from: language: I believe that the lesson should be about the student. They should be the protagonist of their own progress, with the teacher being the guide providing the tools and content necessary to extend their linguistic knowledge and abilities. My teaching goal is to make sure the student is in contact with the language from the very beginning. Using suitable prompts such as semi-authentic material and fun activities, I strive to create an environment that will put the student at ease, encouraging them to speak and gradually, discover the grammar and vocabulary structures. Although I usually use a single textbook as a reference point in my classes, I also love to bring in other material that the student might find fun, useful and interesting.
Fosca Di Gabriele
from: language: For me, teaching is the perfect moment to share my roots, my heart… and the sun of my country! I like to play games with my students, play the devil’s advocate, and become a bit of an actress to provoke emotions that Italian can convey. We learn, laugh, and fall in love with this beautiful, lively language together.
Lucie Janků
from: language: What I like about teaching the most is busting the myths of how difficult Czech is. :) I refuse to believe in ‘no pain, no gain’. Instead, I see the teacher as a guide, assistant and support for students. In my lessons, students can discover grammar rules themselves through practical phrases and interesting texts. They deduct the meaning of words from context. We practise everything in a complex way, using it in conversation. I tailor lessons to the student’s needs, which is why I like to use my own materials.
Miles Koblin
from: language: Besides some years in New Mexico and Massachusetts, I spent the majority of my childhood in Hawaii. I studied music in California before moving to the Czech Republic where I have been teaching Guitar and English for the past ten years in various regions and online. I love teaching English because it allows me to meet new people from all over the world, learn about their culture and have interesting conversations. I try to make my lessons fun and engaging while also challenging the students with critical thinking. Along with working through textbooks I make learning enjoyable with activities like roleplays, comedy, as well as stories, guessing games and sometimes helping the student create their own exercises.
Ivana Kohlhammer
from:
language:
For me, teaching is a great way to feel fulfilled that makes me proud not only of my students’ progress, but also of my own development.
I adapt my teaching style and methods to the student’s needs and requirements. What has always worked for me best are games and activities that engage the student and helps them practise all their language skills: role-plays, quizzes, board games, videos. And although I usually build my lessons on textbooks, I don’t follow them at all costs and I use a variety of activities and resources instead.
Pavel Krňák
from: language: I believe we learn through emotions and my goal is that my students leave each lesson taking away new knowledge, skills, or just a good mood and a sense of achievement. I focus on conversation and many of my students say that I helped them overcome fear of speaking, that in my lessons they finally got confident in speaking. The thing is, we all make mistakes, but these very mistakes are also the best way to learn something new. I treat my students with respect, I value each and every one of them and I try to establish a positive partnership with them. Everyone has a right to develop, flourish and experience success. And it’s the fact that I can help people achieve this, that makes me feel fulfilled in my work.
Zuzana Martincová
from: language: Teaching languages is a pleasure. Languages have fascinated me and have become my long-term pastime since I was a child. What I like the most about teaching is the great feeling you get when you see your student make a progress from one lesson to another, learning something new and standing on their own two feet. :-) A smile makes everything better, so in my lessons I always smile in abundance to create a friendly, easy-going atmosphere. I like to use different materials, but the thing we’ll focus on the most will be speaking so that you get the hang of the language with all its peculiarities. So breathe, smile & go for it!
Jozef Moravský
from: language: When your student looks forward to meeting you, when they want to share what they’ve heard and learnt, that they understood an Italian movie, that they really saw, heard and actually used the phrases from our lessons when they went to Italy, that’s the best feedback for me and that’s what makes me enjoy teaching. I try to make my lessons anything but tedious work that students have enough of in their lives anyway. Students often go to lessons to bring variety to their everyday life, so we spice up our lessons with games, role-plays and fun facts about the Italian culture. And when it inevitably comes to grammar, did you know that there are a number of ways to make it fun, too?
Arezoo Nasiri
from: language: I perceive teaching as a win-win situation and this is what I’m fascinated by most. On the one hand, I guide my students towards their language-learning goals. On the other hand, as a lifelong learner, I get to evolve in the process of planning, delivering and reflecting. I prefer the type of teaching based on tasks tailor-made for the students, enabling them to develop both accuracy and fluency. To achieve this, I expose my learners to real world English by using authentic resources such as videos, podcasts and songs, allowing them to communicate actively and extensively. Besides, I do my best to be a careful observer and encourage my students to notice and address areas that need improvement.
Míša Polashek
from: language: I really enjoy teaching, preferably without a textbook. Playing games and moving around a bit in lessons with the youngest students always makes my heart smile. I like to travel, meet new people, read, experiment with essential oils and do craft activities with my son. <3
Lara Singery
from: language: Teaching is very close to my heart, I have a deep passion and desire to develop and train people. Teaching brought me to a place where my own understanding of life extended beyond my own, it made me selfless and I managed to fulfil a calling. In addition, I truly love the fact that I have built long and beautiful relationships with my students. I do not see them as just another number, I regard them as family. Regarding my teaching style, I strongly uphold a professional approach with a great sense of humour followed by patience, understanding, support and a constant positive drive. Lastly, creativity is what makes a lesson interesting and retainable. Therefore, I prefer to use most of my own material, e.g. language books that enclose video and pictures. I also like to make reference to short based classic English films, in this way the student is able to listen and then summarise in his/her own words as to what they comprehend.
Pavla Spáčilová
from: language: I teach because I love German and communication with people. It makes me feel proud when I see that my students not only enjoy our lessons, but they also make progress, understand and are able to get by in German. The most magical moment comes, however, when we get to the level where we can talk about a variety of topics. In my lessons I combine a number of teaching styles to make the learning process motivating, enjoyable and, of course, as beneficial as possible. In addition to textbooks, I use listening tracks, videos, interviews and pictures that I find both online and in the real world. And I also bring additional tailor-made materials that I create for my students to cater for their needs and interests. In my free time, I like to go hiking both in the summer and in the winter, I play volleyball, I read or I make ceramics.
Ondra Stejskal
from: language: I teach because it makes sense to me and I like to pass on my modest knowledge and experience to other people. Every lesson is a little personal challenge to me because it makes me to leave my comfort zone – and that’s another reason I teach. I’m not a fan of classic textbooks and grammar rote learning. Instead, I like to focus on the student’s interests and work on topics they’d prefer to discuss. That can help them get better at speaking and become more confident. In my lessons, I use a lot of videos, music, sometimes flashcards and I do ask a lot: I want to know the answers to everything and I love debates! :) I prefer informal settings and a friendly approach to my students.
Elina Voskanian
from: language: I have been teaching for over 5 years and in that time I have gained invaluable experience working with children and teenagers. In my lessons, I combine both interactive activities and classical teaching methods. The programme is always built on the basis of the student’s interests to make sure we keep the lessons stimulating.