Maya Itsakova
Bio:
Hello, I'm Maya! I'm from Kazakhstan, and I am a third-culture kid. My native language is Russian. I've taught ESL to Elementary and Middle School students, and multiple high school lit and writing courses. Now I mostly work with professionals from various fields. I also host a weekly book club IRL, and would love to help others start their own! Lately, my focus has been on the 20th-century American literature. The world of literature is vast and welcoming, join me to explore it!
My teaching methodology:
My teaching background:
I've taught English to people of all ages for 15 years. I've been teaching English Literature and Writing to high school students in an international school for the past seven years. I am primarily interested in teaching higher-level analysis to adults and teens (15+). I have much experience teaching literary analysis to high school students and working professionals. I've hosted an Informed Opinion Nonfiction Book Club for several years, where teachers and students alike were able to develop their critical thinking skills. I have been an editor of the school's newspaper, and I have insanely rich experience editing and revising essays. Now I host a book club IRL, and tutor professionals from many different fields (including, but not limited to: anthropologists, engineers, IT specialists, fellow teachers, etc.).
My background outside of teaching:
I have a background as a school teacher, but our international school is a diverse and dynamic place where I was able to develop a unique and inquisitive teaching style that has been appreciated by many students in the past. I taught individuals from all over the world - the United States, England, Russia, Poland, Turkey, China, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Columbia, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and more! I am fascinated with the study of people and the mind, therefore I am exploring the worlds of philosophy, psychology, sociology, history, and political economy. If you are looking to expand your horizons as a student, let's meet up! Do remember, however, that I am often told that no matter what we discuss, I always dig a little deeper.