Q&A with Helen M., Russian Teacher of the Year

We asked Lessonface Teachers of the Year about their process and goals for 2025. Here are the responses from Helen M., our Russian teacher of the year for 2024.

What are some key lessons your students have learned this year?

I am so proud of my students! Everyone is doing an amazing job, learning at their own pace, and challenging themselves to improve. Learning a language is hard—Russian is particularly challenging—but they’re doing it anyway!

This year, I believe all of my students have learned a lot, made significant progress, and taken meaningful steps toward achieving their goals. I’m so impressed by their dedication and determination. Keep it up!

If you could gift your students one piece of automatic knowledge about Russian, no studying required, what would it be?

If I could, I would gift my students automatic mastery of Russian cases—the correct word endings based on their function in a sentence. It would make learning the language so much easier!

What’s one lasting takeaway you hope your students will carry with them from your teaching, even years from now?

I hope my students always remember this truth: they are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to—they just need a little patience and persistence.

What are some of your most indispensable pieces of gear for teaching online? What are some gear items that you wish all your students had?

For online language classes, students absolutely need a computer (a laptop works perfectly), a stable internet connection, and a good microphone. Headphones are optional but can be helpful. This setup is what I use for my classes, and I’ve found that an external microphone has been a game-changer for sound quality and clarity!

What exciting goals are your students chasing in 2025? What’s a skill or idea you’re excited to explore in 2025?

Most of my students aspire to become fluent in Russian, and I’m so excited for them! I can’t wait to continue helping them achieve their goals in 2025.

I’m also thrilled to welcome new students and guide them through their language-learning journey. Here’s to another year of progress and success!

Learn more with Helen M.