Staff Interview with Irina Galimova
Get to know EDUCA Russian Language School's staff!
Irina Galimova was born in Siberia and then moved to Saint Petersburg. She loves languages and travel!
What inspired you to work for Educa Russian Language School?
Of course the job opportunity itself was important. I've always wanted to do something I love for a living. Language education and management combined, it was the perfect fit for me. Moreover, I can say that I love the Russian language and I was surprised to know that so many people from other countries choose to learn it as a foreign language. It cannot be underestimated that I’m somehow helping them make their dream come true. I’m not teaching them during the lessons, but of course we do communicate with our students after they finish their classes. It is amazing to hear a foreign person talking in your native language.
I also enjoy the location of the school. It is at the very heart of Saint Petersburg. There are 3 subway stations within walking distance making it very convenient to get to any part of the city.
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day starts with replying to our future students' emails. It is always interesting to correspond with someone without having any idea how they are going to be like. Later, it is always nice to meet them in person at our school. People often turn out to be completely different from what I imagined them to be like.
During the morning current students may come to me with questions. After lunch I manage our social media and write articles to our blog. I hope it helps our students to get to know our school a little better before they arrive. I also may do other paperwork during the day which is necessary but of course it is not that exciting as the main part of my job.
Why do you do what you do?
I have chosen this job and this job has chosen me. I have always been somehow connected with the education field, but I never wanted to be a teacher. I needed a dynamic routine that teaching couldn’t give me. I'm completely satisfied with what I do at Educa Russian Language School. I’ve combined what I am good at and what I am interested in. I have been working here for quite a while and there was never a slight desire to quit or regret of choosing this. Every morning is the beginning of a new perfect working day. That is a good sign, I wake up and I am happy to go to work. I want it and I do it with pleasure.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is meeting new people and communicating with them. It is amazing to welcome new students and help them on their way to exploring Russia. They come here for the first time and sometimes they do need a piece of advice or help with something. It is always a pleasure for me to help them. Also, it is always nice to meet the person I was talking to via email in person. As I mentioned before, they often turn out to be completely different from what I imagined them to be like.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
As my major was language studies and multicultural communication, I use it a lot at work. Moreover, I have travelled to different countries in Asia and Europe. I know what I'm talking about when talking to a student from those regions. As for the paperwork I have to do, it is easy for me as my previous job was in the purchasing department in the production field. That was totally not my kind of job and I couldn’t feel happy doing it. It was interesting to do it , but as soon as it became a routine, it stopped being interesting. Anyway, this experience was useful for me as the amount of paperwork and working with numbers was enormous there and the same things in the school are done much faster now.
What makes Educa Russian Language School special?
Our organization is special because it is one of the first non-state schools in Russia and Saint Petersburg. Educa Language School was established in 2003 as a school specialized in teaching Russian language and culture to foreigners. Now, proudly, we are one of the leading language centers in Russia. By being an officially licensed school, we offer a variety of study abroad language programs at different levels – from complete beginners to the confident advanced learners. We also provide full travel support, outdoor cultural and social activities, as well as internship opportunities, bringing the most unforgettable experience to those who have joined us. More than 3000 people from over 50 countries have already joined Educa, learned Russian, and made life-long connections with people.
Why should someone choose Educa Russian Language School over competitors?
Our school is focused on quality language studies and guarantees high results to students who have full attendance rate and put in enough effort. We offer a wide range of flexible programs and have the ability to satisfy any student’s needs. Our programs are based on the latest psycholinguistics researches and use natural learning techniques.
What hopes do you have for the future of Educa Russian Language School?
I hope that Educa Russian Language School will continue giving people the chance to learn the Russian. Our Visits to Saint Petersburg allow students to see famous works of art with their own eyes. Art is certainly the language of well-educated people. We don’t teach our students to speak the language of Tolstoy, Dostoievsky and Chekhov which was spoken one hundred years ago, but we think that it is important to know who they are. Learning a language shouldn’t be only learning grammar rules and vocabulary. That is why our classes offer cultural immersion. Russian culture is rich and has deep roots. It makes people interested in it as soon as they first touch upon it. I hope Educa Russian Language School will accept more students interested in learning Russian language and Russian culture.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope that our students take the program as a chance to meet people from different parts of the world, learn Russioan, and Visit Saint Petersburg. I hope they take the time to see the works of famous artists with their own eyes. I also hope they will use the full advantage of being a student in Saint Petersburg.
How do you help support participants?
I never reject the requests of students. I understand that they come to a new place and though they are all adults, many of them don’t feel secure being in a foreign country. My duty is to show them our Russian hospitality. If the student asks me to give advice on how to manage something in Saint Petersburg, I will always find a way to tell what’s best. Some of our students don’t have any acquaintances in Saint Petersburg, so we are often the only people they can rely on in case of any extraordinary situation.
They only have the school. That’s why I help all our students with anything they ask.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Learning a new language has always been accepted as a sign of intelligence. I develop the ability to think and talk to people from other countries. As a wise man once said,
learning a new language is like obtaining a second soul.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Don’t be afraid, concentrate on the best moments and go for it! You’ll never regret it! Going abroad is the only thing that can truly motivate people. It is always the right time to travel, especially if you want it.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is the travel after which you gain something. If you just go to a foreign country and return the same as you were it isn’t meaningful. However, every time I went abroad, I come back as another person.