Let me introduce myself. I am Maria Mironova. I'm from Russia, little town at the boarder of China. I'm 28 and have a 7-year-old son.
I am an ESL teacher, TV broadcaster and newspaper journalist. I have been teaching English at Amur State University for almost 6 years.
Since my early childhood I have always been captured by the idea of overachieving. I used to try different ways of pursuing my goals and I was persistent and stubborn enough to reach all of them. Growing up, I realized that I take on too much. I try to combine a lot of things: being an excellent school student, learning foreign languages, going out for sports, acting in school theatre, working for a newspaper, and taking part in scientific and cultural competitions.
When at 16 I had been awarded the first prize in the sixth Soros Olympiad in the field of biology, I caught my breath and said ‘stop’. Sudden success made me think about my future. Biology was ‘I’ll do it just for fun’ sort of thing. I looked at my portfolio and saw a lot of certificates and diplomas in various areas. I asked myself what kind of specialist I want to become.
Since then I concentrated on journalism and learning foreign languages, English and German to be exact. By the time I entered a University I had three years of working experience and a list of publications. As a 17-year-old girl, I moved to another city, entered Amur State University, and began living on campus on my own. I finally decided to specialize in translating, but I never quit my reporting career.
My student’s life was a mind-blowing vortex. I was studying hard, learning Chinese, doing research and working. I changed occupations in a breakneck speed: babysitter, promoter, salesperson, interviewer, tour guide, street vendor, private tutor, sales agent, waitress… But I cling to my first love - journalism.
After graduating from the University, I got a Master’s degree with distinction. I was recommended for a position as the ESL teacher at Amur State University.
When I began my career as an ESL teacher in 2006, I was confused that many students were the same age as me. Moreover, I looked younger than I really was and it made me nervous. I felt like a small fish in a bowl with hungry crocodiles, but I succeeded in not showing it. Surprisingly my tension disappeared by the second half of the lesson and I found myself having a hot debate and playing intellectual games with my students. I was determined to get them interested in English learning and they really were. Controversially I was mainly taught by my students. I mastered my teaching skills according to their response and I was constantly thinking about ways to improve and formulate my own teaching. Through this experience, I discovered that a professional teacher is not only a manager, but also an eager learner and participant of the process.
For more than four years of teaching I changed courses from linguistic disciplines like interpreting and translating, to ESL for journalists, social workers and engineers. My current courses include ESL for undergraduate and M.A. students of the School of Economics, as well as Business English for undergraduate students of management specialization. I try to use different teaching techniques including brainstorming, round tables and role plays.
While in teaching and freelance journalism positions, I try to select acute topics for discussion, to highlight new tendencies and approaches to this sphere of knowledge. I catch up with modern teaching techniques and try to find clues to my students.
In pursuit of perfection I intend to continue my education. I’m completely obsessed with idea of lifelong learning, which is why I applied for E-teacher courses. Courses’ program: Building Teaching Skills through the Interactive Web is wonderful opportunity to implement computer-assisted language learning in the classroom.
