Ksenia Provalennikova

Vladivostok, Russia

MA TESOL

Ksenia Provalennikova previously worked in the engineering industry, but did not feel inspired by this career path. She decided to change direction and enrolled onto the MA TESOL course at Sunderland to become a teacher. After her graduation, she began working for the biggest and most popular online English teaching school across all Russian speaking countries, and now teaches seven long term adult learners.

I have a master's degree in Computer Aided Design, which I used to work in the industry. However, after some time, I didn't feel inspired by my work, so I decided to expand my English language skills by completing an MA TESOL course. I chose to study at the University of Sunderland as the UK was the closest English-speaking country to me and I felt that qualifications from British universities are highly valued within the global teaching job market. I found that the fees were reasonable compared to other universities in the North East and the master's course matched my needs.

There were many positive aspects of the MA TESOL course for me. I communicated on a daily basis with people from different countries who had varying levels of experience. I was taught by highly qualified teachers who shared their knowledge and teaching methods (for example, showing us a master's course in real time, with real learners), and we were provided with additional classes for improving our English language skills.

I would definitely recommend this course to all English teachers from my home country who still don’t apply new methods of teaching. I'm glad to have had this personal experience and it's helped me to change my profession. I would suggest that students attend all extra classes available at the University, for example academic English language skills, and seminars and lectures which are delivered by talented professors and philologists.

In my first year after graduation, I successfully passed an interview for the biggest and most popular online English teaching school across all Russian speaking countries. Now I teach seven wonderful long term adult learners who started learning English with me more than six months ago and who always compliment me on my teaching methods.

My experience of studying at a foreign university was incredible. I met a lot of nice people and I was shown new ways of studying and teaching methods which were different from universities in my home country – I experienced British university student life from inside. I will always remember this period in my life with warm feelings.”

Published 29 May 2020