Professionally, I am a Teacher of English as a Second Language to Adults. I am committed and enthusiastic about helping people grow and improve their knowledge and skills in second language acquisition. I enjoy seeing learners reach their targets in education, enhance their employability and develop their overall confidence in communication.
Personally, I like spending time with my family, playing the guitar and singing, coding (web-development), doing voice-over and learning something new about some religions and cults. Besides that, I am keen on thought-provoking cinema, fine art, realistic (non-photoshopped) photography, honest and heart-warming music and, most importantly, words... original and truthful quotes.
ESL Teacher Self-presentation
Professional summary
Maksym Achkasov (phon. /ˈmæksɪm ˈʌʧkæsəf/) is a bilingual non-native teacher of English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL* instructor) to Adults. He has two degrees (B.A., M.A.) from the University of Manchester. He has also earned the Certificate of Educational Studies in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages and is currently doing a Diploma in TESOL course with INTESOL W. Ltd (UK). He obtained the Diploma in the Methods of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language, from Moscow M.V. Lomonosov State University (Russia). Besides that, he successfully passed three modules of the Teacher Knowledge Test and Business English Certificate: Higher (Cambridge ESOL Examinations). He has also completed the course of International Business English Training (Cert IBET) from Trinity College London (UK). In 2012, he received a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counseling from the PTC Institute, Moscow. He is also a founder and moderator of one of the most popular websites (2018-2022) among language schools in Ukraine, www.english4real.com. He is an author of various video classes for both ESL learners.
As an ESL/RFL teacher, I personally worked with clients from Austria, England, Afghanistan, Brazil, Hungary, Vietnam, Germany, Israel, Iraq, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Canada, Colombia, Myanmar, UAE, Palestine, Poland, Russia, USA, Syria, Sudan, Turkey, Ukraine , Croatia, Switzerland, Ethiopia, South Korea, Japan.
Work experience
- September 2023 - Now
- Language Skills Instructor - YMCA
- Designs, implements and instructs English as a Second Language classes in a LINC/ESL program based on the PBLA (Portfolio Based Language Assessment) guidelines
- April 2007 - June 2023
- Teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL instructor) to Adults - Language courses English4real - Kyiv, Ukraine
- Planned, prepared and delivered lessons to students both online and in-person (including flex/hybrid classes); prepared classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts; prepared and set tests, examination papers, and exercises; marked and provided feedback on oral and written works; taught groups and one-to-one; did administration work - enrolling students, keeping attendance records, awarding certificates on completion of courses.
- August 2006 - April 2007
- Business English teacher - Nikitova LLC - Kyiv, Ukraine
- Planned, prepared and delivered lessons to students; prepared classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts; prepared and set tests, examination papers, and exercises; marked and provided feedback on oral and written works; taught groups and one-to-one.
- June 2005 - May 2006
- Educational research analyst - Euro-Asian Accrediting Association (EAAA) - Odessa, Ukraine
- Planned, prepared and conducted surveys; designed questionnaires; collected, categorized and analyzed data; took interviews; designed charts, graphs and tables; delivered final reports on "The Effectiveness of Theological Education in Ukraine", which was later published as a book.
- September 2002 - August 2005
- Teacher of Systematic Theology, Apologetics, Ancient Hebrew - Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) - Kyiv, Ukraine
- Planned, prepared and delivered lessons to students; prepared classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts; prepared and set tests, examination papers, and exercises; marked and provided feedback on oral and written works; taught large and small groups.
- March 2002 - June 2002
- English Second Language Teacher (internship) - Regents English Language Centre - Cheshire, UK
- Prepared and delivered lessons; marked and provided feedback on oral and written works; taught small groups.
Degrees
- 03 June 2001 - 17 June 2005
- Master of Arts (M.A.) - The University of Manchester
- The degree in the study of Pentecostal and Charismatic issues taught at Regents Theological College (Diploma issued - 28 October 2005; Awarded - 12 November 2005).
- 01 September 1998 - 06 June 2001
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A. with honors) - The University of Manchester
- The degree with Honours in Applied Theology being placed in the Second Class Division Two taught at Regents Theological College (Diploma issued - 27 June 2001; Awarded - 17 November 2001).
Certificate & Diploma programs
- September 2023 - June 2024
- Diploma, Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- 300-hour TESL Diploma program at Canadian College of Educators in Mississauga, ON (Theoretical Issues – 20 hours; Linguistics – 40 hours; Language Structure and Skills – 40 hours; TESL Methodology – 65 hours; Assessment – 20 hours; Teaching Skills – 65 hours; Practicum – 50 hours)
- May - August 2023
- ACE TESOL Certificate Program
- 120-hour ACE TESOL Certificate Program at Learning Languages Institute in London, ON (100 hours of classroom instruction and a 20-hour practicum).
- June - July 2023
- Accessing the Business Job Market
- 40-hour online Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) course by Fanshawe College in London, ON.
- May 2023
- Portfolio-based language assessment (PBLA) Certificate
- 20-hour online course of Introduction to PBLA for New Classroom Instructors (self-directed certificate course) from the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB).
- May 2023
- Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Certificate
- 10-hour online CLB Bootcamp certificate course from the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB).
- April 2021 - August 2021
- Responsive Web Design
- 300-hour course in Responsive Web Design by freeCodeCamp.org.
- October 2016 - November 2016
- Becoming a Confident Trainer (ConfTrnr)
- Four-week course by Karen Turnbull and Petya Green with Open2Study, Open Universities Australia (OUA).
- September 2016 - October 2016
- Early Childhood Education (EChldEdu)
- Four-week course by Caitlin O’Connell and Helen Lawrence Gowrie Victoria courses and instructors with Open2Study, Open Universities Australia (OUA).
- September 2016
- Grammar for Teachers: Language Awareness
- Short-term (16 hours) course by Cambridge English Teacher: Cambridge English Language Assessment (UK).
- November 2015 - December 2015
- Education in a Changing World
- Four-week course by Open2Study from Open Universities Australia (OUA).
- September 2015 - November 2015
- Teaching Adult Learners
- Four-week course by Open2Study from Open Universities Australia (OUA).
- September 2011 - March 2012
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counseling
- Institute of Positive Technologies and Consulting (IPTC), Moscow
- November 2010 - February 2011
- Primary English Teacher Training Online (Primary ETTO)
- Course by British Council, Ukraine.
- October 2010 - April 2011
- International Business English Training (Cert IBET)
- 50-hour course by BESIG, Trinity College London, English UK and The Consultants-E (UK).
- June 2008 - December 2008
- Diploma in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language (TRFL)
- Moscow M.V. Lomonosov State University (Russia).
- July 2001 - January 2005
- INTESOL Certificate
- 120-hour course by INTESOL WORLDWIDE LTD (UK).
Test scores
- August 2023
- ILSAT test - 94
- Interpreter Language Skills Assessment Tool (ILSAT) test developed by the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration and delivered by Across Cultures in London, ON.
- July 2023
- CILISAT test - 91.6 / 93.5
- Community Interpreter Language and Interpreting Skills Assessment Tool (CILISAT) test by the Cultural Interpretation Services for Our Communities (CISOC) in London, ON.
- May 2023
- CLBPT Assessment - CLB8
- Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT) Assessment Report - CLB8 (Listening - CLB8, Reading - CLB8, Writing - CLB8, Speaking - CLB8, max. score is 8 for each category) by London Cross Cultural Learner Centre (London CCLC).
- July 2022
- EnglishScore - CEFR C1 599/600
- EnglishScore - CEFR C1 599/600 (Grammar 599, Vocabulary 597, Listening 599, Reading 599) by British Council.
- July 2022
- Duolingo English Test - CEFR C1 140/160
- Duolingo English Test - CEFR C1 140/160 (Literacy: read and write - 145; Comprehension: read and listen - 150; Conversation: listen and speak - 135; Production: write and speak - 120) by Duolingo.
- September 2020
- EF SET - 82/100 C2 Proficient
- EF SET - 82/100 C2 Proficient (Listening Section - 80/100 C2 Proficient, Reading Section - 83/100 C2 Proficient) by EF Education First.
- November 2011
- IELTS - 7.5
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Listening 7.0, Reading 7.5, Writing 6.5, Speaking 8.0, Overall Band Score 7.5; University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
- May 2009
- BEC Higher - C1
- Business English Certificate: Higher, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
- June 2008
- TKT - Modules 1, 2, 3
- Teaching Knowledge Tests (TKT): University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
Module 1 - Language and background to language learning and teaching (Band 4);
Module 2 - Lesson planning and use of resources for language teaching (Band 3);
Module 3 - Managing the teaching and learning process (Band 3).
Volunteer experience
- November 2023
- Teaching English for the workplace
- A volunteer instructor for “Teaching English for the workplace” at the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre (Newcomer Settlement Services, Canada Connects), London, On - www.sinrc.org
- January 2012 - January 2013
- BESIG Co-ordinator
- Co-ordinator of Business English Special Interest group at IATEFL Ukraine.
Professional skills
In terms of ESL teacher skills, Maksym Achkasov, has:
- strong personal and interpersonal skills;
- excellent listening and speaking communication skills;
- good writing skills;
- good time-management and organizational skills;
- knowledge of various teaching techniques and methodologies;
- good problem-solving skills;
- a wide range of experiences in the field of English as a Second Language.
He is also:
- highly motivated and reliable, patient and open-minded;
- good at establishing rapport, building and maintaining constructive relationship with students;
- able to facilitate interesting and engaging group discussions;
- able to make learners feel comfortable and focused in the classroom;
- able to determine effective ways to teach students with different learning styles and needs;
- good at public speaking;
- disciplined and works well in a collaborative environment with other teachers and administration;
- computer literate with some IT knowledge and experience (i.e. html, css, js); therefore, able to incorporate new educational technological solutions into the classroom environment;
- able to keep clear records;
- strategic thinker committed to progress of ESL learners;
- comfortable with electronic communication and social media;
- able to comply with institutional policies and procedures.
Membership
- April 2023 - April 2024
- TESL Canada & TESL Ontario
- A member of Teachers of English as a Second Language Canada (TESL Canada ) and Teachers of English as a Second Language Ontario (TESL Ontario).
Accomplishments
Throughout teaching career:
- delivered more than 14k hours of one-to-one and group classes;
- recorded and posted on YouTube more than 200 video lessons;
- created more than 1,2k original vocabulary tests for A2-C1 levels;
- received more than 100 positive reviews from clients;
- grew a FB to more than 10k and a YouTube channel to more than 7k of subscribers;
- developed an educational website with study materials that are used by more than 4k people on average every day for free;
- set up and effectively maintained Learning Management System (LMS), Schoology, for Language school academic purposes;
- developed and effective ‘attendance-and-payment’ report system for the Language school managerial purposes in Excel.
Duties include though are not restricted to:
- designing language course curriculum;
- planning, preparing and delivering lessons to students;
- preparing classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts;
- preparing and setting tests, examination papers, and exercises;
- marking and providing appropriate feedback on oral and written work;
- encouraging students to actively participate throughout class;
- devising, writing and producing new materials, including audio and visual resources;
- teaching small groups or on a one-to-one basis;
- participating in marketing events for the language school;
- freelance teaching on a one-to-one basis;
- administration, such as enrolling student, keeping attendance records, awarding certificates of completion of courses.
Purposes
- To create the best possible atmosphere and learning environment for the students to reach their highest goal in educational process;
- To use his creative skills, particularly in the fields of discussions and analytical thinking, to enhance and inspire the lives of his students;
- To dedicate his heart to the teaching profession, always nurturing and encouraging his students;
- To create a classroom with a challenging environment so that every student will reach his or her maximum potential intellectually and socially;
- To share his optimism and generally sunny disposition with everyone he meets, especially his students;
- To continue to grow as a teacher and as a person, taking advantage of professional classes and seminars, eventually earning his administrative credential;
- To value his students, to show them respect, and to build their self-esteem in some way every day.
Beliefs
- Every student, regardless of socioeconomic or ethnic background, deserves the same quality instruction and challenging learning experiences;
- Every teacher should be a role model;
- Modern technology is one of the most useful ways to teach English as a Foreign or Second Language;
- Each student should be challenged to develop critical-thinking skills and become a lifelong learner;
- Students should be stimulated and motivated so that they’ll want to stay longer;
- Students should be treasured, respected, nurtured, praised, and encouraged.