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Nice to meet you! My name is Dr. Irina Kisielowa and I have the privilege to be an expert in three fields of study, namely academic curriculum, diplomacy, and translation.
With over 25 years of experience, I am gladly sharing my offer with my students of any age, nationality, or gender. What makes my teaching style unique is my familiar and informed approach to my students, tailoring the lessons to their needs, and taking time for their questions. I have decided to expand my practice to create a brand-new product
and learning experience.
Having worked at many places I have noticed the one-sided nature of teaching a language. While focusing on grammar and lexicon does give insights into the language initially, the interest in learning tends to drop after a while. What keeps a person engaged in the learning process is the personal emotional connection to the language and its culture. Especially in the case of Russian, which is often misunderstood, especially when taught by someone who has not experienced the Soviet Union and the formation of a vast and diverse cultural code.
During my time as a translator, I have noticed how quickly things get lost in translation, especially in journalism and media. I can teach you all the ways of Russian and Western propaganda and how the two worlds have been growing apart, to gain a deeper understanding of current events, based on historical knowledge.
Moreover, thanks to my diplomatic background, I will teach you to lead negotiations with a Russian speaker successfully by meeting them at eye level, as well as teach you the intricate ways to connect to Russian speakers on a deeper level, no matter the setting.
After completing my exchange semester in Russia, my Russian language skills reached a standstill. I was fortunate however, to start attending Irina's classes. In her I not only found a committed teacher, but also a literature, art, history and politics enthusiast - areas in which I needed to better articulate myself in and craft professional documents with clarity. With personalized guidance, dedication and patience, Irina helped me identify my specific needs. Together we worked on complex grammatical structures, facilitating their application in both everyday conversation and specialized contexts. We practiced role-playing business opportunities and writing professional emails. She continuously challenged me with new materials and offered strategies on how to retain and use my new vocabulary more effectively. Irina's expertise and encouragement boosted my confidence and thus accelerated my learning. Her tailored approach and constructive feedback significantly improved my business language proficiency and writing capabilities.With Irina's help I was able to transform my language skills, which empowered me to communicate effectively in a global setting.
When I started working with Irina, I had already been exposed to the language through speaking and listening. Unfortunately, my grammar knowledge was quite patchy and my active vocabulary was limited. Irina provided structured lessons focused on improving my grammar and expanding my vocabulary. She used a wide range of materials, including textbooks, handouts, videos, and other multimedia. Irina challenged me to immerse myself in new areas of language and life, which greatly enhanced my learning experience. Her supportive teaching style and warm personality boosted my confidence when speaking Russian. With increased confidence in speaking and writing Russian, I have been able to make new friendships and use the language professionally as a lawyer when working with clients. This has allowed me to build trust and forge relationships that would otherwise have been impossible. Moreover, Irina's deep knowledge of Russian literature and culture has kindled my interest in modern Russian poetry and visual arts. This unexpected but appreciated outcome has enriched my life in ways I never anticipated, opening up new worlds of cultural appreciation!
Despite being a native Russian speaker, I, nevertheless, came across many challenges when writing narration for my feature documentary "Russians at War" (2024). I needed a consultant who not only possessed a flawless mastery of the Russian language, but could advise me on how best to bring across the subtlest emotional and political nuances in describing a very complicated and delicate topic. Dr. Kisielowa was out of this world. Her guidance with finding the right tone, her knowledge of regional dialects, Russian-Ukrainian relations and intimate socio-economic language markers were exactly what I needed and more. I would highly recommend Dr. Kisielowa and will definitely be using her services again in the future.
As a journalist covering Russia, Belarus, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia, Russian language skills have always been key for me. Irina not only prepared me for my work on a linguistic level - her hands - on approach was particularly helpful as it emphasized on speech and pronunciation - she also helped me better understand the people, culture and politics of this world region. Highly recommended!
Literary translation requires special linguistic competence and a deep knowledge of the native language. Without a great understanding of the original work, it is very challenging to translate not just the words but the meaning and emotions behind them.. Although we would know the language of the work perfectly, we may always miss a context, a hidden meaning, a quote from a child's lullaby or a school reading that is unrecognizable to us. For that reason we chose to use the services of Dr. Irina Kisielowa, an excellent translator of fiction novels who allows us to understand what might escape us beyond the words as she sees the specific context of the story that is unknown to us. I can highly recommend her services in Literary translation, she will help you to stay true to the intent of the Author while connecting with the reader's language.
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