Elena: World Language Educator, Teacher Trainer & Language Assessment Specialist

Meet Elena—an Exam Writer, Teacher Trainer, and World Language Educator at Cambridge University Press and Assessment, originally from Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Teaching a language means opening doors to the world and showing the people you teach how great it can be out there.

What first inspired you to become a language (German, Russian, and English) educator? What motivates you today?

Like many people who stem from teaching dynasties, I was determined to become anything but a teacher. And yet, during my sophomore year at the Lomonosov Moscow State University, I was offered to become a teacher of English at the School for Young Philologist. When I first entered the classroom, I realized that this is what I really would like to do in my life. I really liked helping people learn languages and realize their potential.

Nowadays, I teach exclusively online and mostly work with teachers of world languages. What still motivates me today is the realization that I can do some good in the world which is very much far from being perfect or safe, by telling people about opportunities and helping them achieve them.

What advice or encouragement would you like to share with aspiring or early-career language educators?

Teaching may not be the most lucrative business, but it is certainly one of the most rewarding ones. Don’t give up if things look grim today; tomorrow will be better. As for advice, take care of your mental health and make sure you allocate enough time to rest and relax. Burn-out is real and it can hit anyone. Don’t let it get the best of you.

Have you got a favorite word or expression in another language? What is it, what does it mean, and why did you choose it?

When I first started learning French, I came across the word témoignage (meaning testimony or witness) and was taken aback by its strange composure and reading rules. I’m far better in French now, but this word still fascinates me!