APPLICATION FORM
Please complete this short application form and we’ll get back to you with some study options in no time.
Daily Group Course Application Form
Please complete this short application form and we’ll get back to you with some study options in no time.
Our teachers are young but experienced, eager but casual, exceptionally talented but humble individuals who will make sure your study process is effective and enjoyable, who will encourage and inspire you on your way to success
ALMA Teachers and Staff
ALMA
Story
ALMA School was established back in 2014 by two friends, ALyona and MAria. Both had already taught for a while and came to a conclusion that it was time to create a new space for studying Ukrainian and Russian, a school that would be the opposite of everything that existed at that time in Ukraine and beyond. And up until this day ALMA School strives to be a modern environment where effective teaching methods are combined with excellent customer service, professionalism and a human touch.
Once upon a time there was a girl, Alyona, who worked as a lawyer in Kyiv and studied English at a local language school. There she met Sarah and they became friends. Sarah was from the UK and really wanted to learn Russian but couldn’t find a good teacher. So Sarah offered Alyona to help her study. Alyona reluctantly agreed.
Having done a massive research on the subject, Alyona started teaching Russian to Sarah. Good news spread fast and quite soon a bunch of other foreigners joined the club. They, too, had previously failed to find a decent place to learn Russian.
Meanwhile, there was another girl, Maria, who was a university professor working on her thesis and keen on improving the language teaching style in Ukraine. A common friend introduced Alyona and Maria at a party and they quickly became good friends, and that’s when the story of ALMA School truly began.
The lack of quality teaching, professionalism and friendly attitude in educational services really bothered the girls so they eventually came up with a solution: Opening a language school of their own (a place of modern and fresh look at teaching Ukrainian and Russian as foreign — a process that had had quite a reputation of being a boring, rough and endless endeavour. The name of the school didn’t come at once but seemed so logical and perfect when it finally dawned on the girls:
And when we looked for the meaning and the origin of the word itself, the decision to choose it only solidified. It is Spanish for ‘soul’ and Latin for "kind", "fostering", or "nourishing" — which is exactly what ALMA School stands for! And now, seven years later, we still remember why we started and believe in everything we do. We teach and we care!
Having done a massive research on the subject, Alyona started teaching Russian to Sarah. Good news spread fast and quite soon a bunch of other foreigners joined the club. They, too, had previously failed to find a decent place to learn Russian.
Meanwhile, there was another girl, Maria, who was a university professor working on her thesis and keen on improving the language teaching style in Ukraine. A common friend introduced Alyona and Maria at a party and they quickly became good friends, and that’s when the story of ALMA School truly began.
The lack of quality teaching, professionalism and friendly attitude in educational services really bothered the girls so they eventually came up with a solution: Opening a language school of their own (a place of modern and fresh look at teaching Ukrainian and Russian as foreign — a process that had had quite a reputation of being a boring, rough and endless endeavour. The name of the school didn’t come at once but seemed so logical and perfect when it finally dawned on the girls:
AL + MA = ALyona + MAria
And when we looked for the meaning and the origin of the word itself, the decision to choose it only solidified. It is Spanish for ‘soul’ and Latin for "kind", "fostering", or "nourishing" — which is exactly what ALMA School stands for! And now, seven years later, we still remember why we started and believe in everything we do. We teach and we care!
Our
Teachers
Alyona
Co-founder,
Teacher of Ukrainian and Russian
Teacher of Ukrainian and Russian
– 10+ teaching experience of Ukrainian and Russian
– certified teacher of Russian as foreign from Moscow State University
– knows English and Italian, has a Law degree and is an attorney
– likes knitting mittens and crochet tops for herself, her friends and family
– certified teacher of Russian as foreign from Moscow State University
– knows English and Italian, has a Law degree and is an attorney
– likes knitting mittens and crochet tops for herself, her friends and family
Maria
Co-founder,
Teacher of Russian
Teacher of Russian
– 12 years of teaching experience
– certified linguist and translator
– speaks fluent English, knows Spanish and Italian
– loves karaoke and enjoys a good laugh
– certified linguist and translator
– speaks fluent English, knows Spanish and Italian
– loves karaoke and enjoys a good laugh
Anastasiya
Administrative and Program Manager, Head Teacher
– 10+ years of experience in teaching foreign languages and has a PhD in Linguistics
– is an avid book-lover, film subtitles translator, comprises weekly timetables of the movies in the original for the Expat Community of Kiev
– loves knitting and embroidery: has even made her own vyshyvanka (a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt)
– is an avid book-lover, film subtitles translator, comprises weekly timetables of the movies in the original for the Expat Community of Kiev
– loves knitting and embroidery: has even made her own vyshyvanka (a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt)
Nazar
Head Teacher, Program Manager
– 10+ years of experience
– translator and author of various books, study programs, lectures
– is a PhD in Linguistics
– speaks fluent English, French and Greek
– Cooking expert (our very own Ukrainian version of Jamie Oliver)
– translator and author of various books, study programs, lectures
– is a PhD in Linguistics
– speaks fluent English, French and Greek
– Cooking expert (our very own Ukrainian version of Jamie Oliver)
Marusya
Teacher of Ukrainian
– 10+ years of language teaching experience
– a linguist and a certified translator of English and Spanish
– speaks fluent Portuguese
– is passionate about Ukrainian folklore and holds workshops on Easter Egg painting
– is a professional video-maker
– a linguist and a certified translator of English and Spanish
– speaks fluent Portuguese
– is passionate about Ukrainian folklore and holds workshops on Easter Egg painting
– is a professional video-maker
Anna
Teacher of Russian, SMM Manager
– 7+ years of teaching experience
– speaks English like a native, knows some German
– extremely talented and creative: Anna is an artist (sewing, painting, drawing, make-up)
– also works as ALMA School’s content creator for social media and the website
– speaks English like a native, knows some German
– extremely talented and creative: Anna is an artist (sewing, painting, drawing, make-up)
– also works as ALMA School’s content creator for social media and the website
Yura
Teacher of Russian
– 5+ years of experience of teaching Russian as foreign
– Scandinavian and Roman linguistic study expert
– speaks fluent French and Swedish
– likes reading tarot cards
– Scandinavian and Roman linguistic study expert
– speaks fluent French and Swedish
– likes reading tarot cards
Yurii
Teacher of Ukrainian
– is both a linguist and an archaeologist
– loves taking part in historical reenactment
– is a part-time curator for Taras Shevchenko House Museum
– speaks fluent Chinese
– loves taking part in historical reenactment
– is a part-time curator for Taras Shevchenko House Museum
– speaks fluent Chinese
Carolina
Teacher of Ukrainian and Russian
– a certified Ukrainian language linguist
– knows English
– loves reading classic English literature
– is a counted cross stitch enthusiast
– knows English
– loves reading classic English literature
– is a counted cross stitch enthusiast
Sasha
Teacher of Ukrainian
– a certified Ukrainian language linguist
– is obtaining her second degree in journalism
– is editor-in-chief for an internet news portal
– a professional badminton player
– is obtaining her second degree in journalism
– is editor-in-chief for an internet news portal
– a professional badminton player
Lyuda
Teacher of Russian
– 10+ years of teaching experience, a certified linguist and teacher
– speaks fluent English and knows Japanese
– is a Jack of all trades and a master of each: plays the violin, does wakeboarding, sings, goes in for boxing, hikes in the mountains and studies computer linguistics to name a few
– speaks fluent English and knows Japanese
– is a Jack of all trades and a master of each: plays the violin, does wakeboarding, sings, goes in for boxing, hikes in the mountains and studies computer linguistics to name a few
Natalia
Teacher of Ukrainian and Russian
– a certified Ukrainian language linguist
– specialises in corporate programs for ALMA School
– is a pro at collecting puzzles
– loves latin music and dancing
– specialises in corporate programs for ALMA School
– is a pro at collecting puzzles
– loves latin music and dancing
Natasha
Teacher of Ukrainian and Russian
– a certified Ukrainian language linguist
– speaks fluent English and knows Spanish
– is passionate about traveling and meeting new people
– loves music and dancing
– enjoys photography, poetry and drawing
– speaks fluent English and knows Spanish
– is passionate about traveling and meeting new people
– loves music and dancing
– enjoys photography, poetry and drawing
Join our team
Please complete this short application form and we’ll get back to you with some study options in no time.
