Mr Calum

Country:

UK

Education:

Nottingham Trent University, England

Work experience:

I have over 11 years' experience teaching English. I've worked in various schools across Russia, with students of all ages and abilities. I have taught the foundations of the English language to kindergarten students, as well as Business English to clients for well-established international companies, and everything in between. I've taught online and offline, but much prefer the latter.

What makes you a good teacher?

I would say the profession chose me. Out of curiosity and the desire to travel, I attended an ESL training course in Nottingham, where I was living after university. The course leader was highly impressed by my personality and told me I would make a fantastic teacher. I took my first job as an English teacher in early 2015 and moved to Russia to explore. Since then, I have worked in countless classrooms and offices, receiving praise for my lessons from both students and colleagues. I simply listen to people and actively fulfil my role; that is, I educate every student according to their own preferences and needs.

Professional achievements:

I have an International Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. I have a BA in Product Design and a Diploma in Foundation Studies for Art and Design. My biggest professional achievements are my students moving forward in their lives by using English, whether that be finding better jobs, travelling and moving to exciting new places, or finding partners and friends.

Personal achievements:

I have written and illustrated a bilingual children's book called Strawberina. It has Russian and English text, accompanied by watercolour illustrations. The story follows a small, wild strawberry who is blown away from home. It has a positive ending, which might open up conversations about growth and leaving home. The book aims to assist children in their learning of English and Russian. Don't hesitate to contact me for more information!

Lifestyle:

I love windsurfing, snowboarding, and painting. I love the rush of being carried over water by the wind and hope to further improve my skill in this sport, so I can glide across water in various countries. I also like throwing myself off mountains with a board strapped to my feet, challenging myself to relax, stay balanced and enjoy the ride. I enjoy the great views which come with snowboarding, and the feeling of letting go of control, letting the mountain lead the way. I also love oil painting. My education was in Art and Design; I am a creative person. I enjoy mixing colours, applying textured layers of paint, and seeing many different strokes come together to form a beautiful whole.

Dreams & Ambitions:

I pray that my wife is safe, stable and supported, that we are blessed with kind and happy children, and that my cat stays healthy and active. I wish to see my friends happy and optimistic, living well through both the good and bad times. I hope my family in the UK continue to love and support each other, remembering to smile and laugh as much as possible! And maybe one day I will have a nice home, with an art studio, near the water and the mountains.