PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

I have over 20 years of experience teaching privately, and at prestigious schools and universities in England and abroad.

My extensive professional experience includes teaching general English, English for specific purposes, academic English and IELTS preparation courses.

I used to be an IELTS writing and speaking examiner. As a result, I have an excellent understanding of what it takes to succeed in the IELTS exams.

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Prior to becoming a teacher I worked in the media as an editor, journalist and translator.

BACKGROUND & INTERESTS

I am British, and English is my first (native) language.  I also speak fluent Russian, Spanish and French. I have intermediate level Hebrew.

I have lived in the UK, New Zealand, Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, Israel, Spain and Latin America.

In my spare time I like to: learn languages, travel, do yoga, swim, hike, cycle, enjoy nature, visit galleries, paint, and build on my interest in personal development and healthy living.

In addition to that, I am interested in: current affairs, international relations, psychology, and social and environmental issues.

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT ENGLISH WITH KARINE?

My teaching style and teaching skills are the result of over 16 years of professional experience and a lifetime of language learning.

I am half English and half French. I grew up in England and visited France regularly as a child, so I have been switching between languages and cultures my whole life.

Because I can speak four languages fluently (English, Russian, French & Spanish) I am also an experienced and successful language learner. I can speak a fifth language (Hebrew) to intermediate level, and this has helped me relate to the struggles and challenges that some language learners face, and think of strategies to overcome them.

Thanks to my two postgraduate qualifications in English language teaching, I have a deep understanding of English grammar and language learning processes and a very analytical approach to teaching. Studying for these qualifications required a lot of time, dedication and focus and this is evidence of my commitment to language teaching and my organisation skills.

My teaching style is both intuitive and informed by educational theory. I place a lot of value on building a rapport with my students. A positive student - teacher relationship is central to creating an effective environment for studying and an enjoyable learning process.

My lessons are student-centred and the course content is discussed and negotiated with learners. I am naturally curious and have a love of learning, so I am happy to prepare lessons to cater to the interests and professions of individual students.