Gardening is Tatyana's other passion in life, and it looks as though she has quite a green thumb!
Meet Tatyana Malyk, a foreign language teacher at a boarding school in western Massachusetts. Her autobiography is online, and you can read more about her there. She attended Kiev Shevchenko State University in Ukraine, and teaches four languages; Latin, Spanish, French, and Russian. It was only five years ago that she discovered her love of the Spanish language during an immersion program with us, ECELA Spanish Schools. Read part one here
VV: In what ways have you used your Spanish-speaking abilities after returning home?
TM: I started to teach. First, level I, then after going to Peru, Ecuador, and Spain , level II.
VV: From your experiences as a teacher, how did ECELA’s professors make sure you understood the Spanish materials taught?
TM: Both my teachers were great. I liked them both. It was more difficult to me at the beginning in Buenos Aires, but my teacher was so patient with me, we managed to have even quite sophisticated conversations. In Santiago, when I was more confident, with my teacher Monica it was a bit easier to go through.
VV: What advice or suggestions would you make to Spanish educators looking to find a Spanish immersion program for themselves or their students?
TM: First of all, make research, know what do you want. Do not limit your expectations to learning in class, see what you can get from the cultural environment, excursions, after school activities.
VV: What advice or suggestions would you make to students looking to find a Spanish immersion program for themselves?
TM: Be able to combine fun with work, do not waste your time. Learn about the country where you go before hand. Be open minded, friendly, unpretentious, ready to embrace a new world.
VV: Thank you very much for your time. I know that you are busy as the World Languages Department Head for your school and your advice is much appreciated. Do you have any parting words for our readers?
TM: Let your immersion be deep and pleasurable. Let you get new ideas, new friends, new passion. Be ready to break your stereotypes. Bring your new knowledge to classes, make students to follow you in the journey to the Spanish speaking world.
Would you like more information about our schools, classes, activities, and special discounts? E-mail us at info@ecela.com. Hasta pronto!