My friend Yulia Bondarchuk is organising her fourth(!) stand-up event - this time in Russian. Don’t miss the chance!

Early career teachers, grab this opportunity!!

🌟 Last FEW spots for Early Career Teachers! 🌟
FLASH: Multimedia Design and Use in the English Classroom is a FREE online series of 15 hands-on sessions that explore how digital tools—mobile learning, storytelling, open-source content, music, video, podcasts, and more—can transform your classroom. 

📝 Don’t wait – apply by January 16, 2026! 🔗 https://forms.gle/8VZ31a7rRhH6ED887

✨ Join FLASH and inspire your learners through creativity, technology, and multimedia! ✨

Ever struggle to explain a Russian tradition in English?

You know the deep, quiet feeling of «благоговейная тишина». You understand the spirit of «колядки». But finding the English words that do them justice? That's the real challenge.

That's what "Equivalents" is for. It's not a language lesson—it's your toolkit for translating culture, not just words. Join our first session this year.

🗓️ This Sunday, Jan 11th | 7:30 PM Moscow Time

Here’s what we’ll figure out together:

· How to explain «колядки» to a friend abroad. What's a perfect, relatable analogy they'd instantly get?
· How to describe «благоговейная тишина» so someone feels its reverence, not just hears it's "quiet."
· How to crack the code of a British «Christmas Cracker». What's the best way to describe why it's fun and what's inside?

And as usual, we’ll have our American co-host share their traditions and ways of celebrating.

Perfect for you if you chat with international friends, prep for exams like IELTS or CAE, or just want to share the nuances of your culture with clarity. Or just a nerd.

Let's find those perfect cultural parallels together. Save your spot!
👉 [Link to Register]

More information about Equivalents here

Учителя средней школы, this is your chance. 🔥🔥🔥

РФ не участвует

🌍 Программа стипендий Фулбрайта TEA 2026 в США
Продолжительность: 6 недель |
❗️ Дедлайн: 1 февраля 2026 г.

Формат
Программа Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program пригласит около 100 международных учителей среднего уровня в США на шестинедельную программу в январе или сентябре 2027 года для участия в академических семинарах по профессиональному развитию в принимающем университете, а также для наблюдения и обмена опытом с учителями и учениками местных средних школ.

Что покрывает

- поддержка визы J-1;
- предотъездная ориентация, проходящая в родной стране участника;
- авиабилеты туда-обратно;
- стоимость академических программ;
- жильё и питание;
- страхование медицинской помощи при несчастных случаях и болезни;
- ежедневное пособие на дополнительные расходы во время университетской академической программы;
- возможность для выпускников с хорошей репутацией подавать заявки на небольшие гранты для выпускников.

Кто может подать
Учители средней школы.


👉 Подробнее: https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/programs/tea

#сша #практика #обмен

Tired post-holiday brain? No motivation to study?
What if you didn't have to prep at all?

Join our Equivalents. Think of it as a brain-upgrade session—we brainstorm, build bridges in meaning, and learn together.

We're back TONIGHT! 🎉Time: 19:30, Moscow time
Topic: New Year Traditions.

PLUS: Mark your calendars for our 4 special club meetings!
Jan 18, Jan 25, Feb 8, Feb 15.
Time: 19:30 Moscow time

Just show up. We'll do the rest.


Information and registration here

Every picture here is a story that evokes memories - and emotions.


Because of my back episode I missed the year reflection. [better now and back to doing my daily sport routine]

But 2025 was an eventful one!!

Not wrapping a year with a photo tree seems preposterous, now. So, here’s mine. ))


Here are my trees from previous years: 2025

And even 2019


If you’ve done yours - share in the comments!!
Oh - would you like to do a photo tree for your year?

I am thrilled.

Virtual Educator course in ON!!! Whoooo-Hoooo!!

It’s absolutely free for Russian teachers.

The goal is to nerd out and explore the language on a higher level - with the help of wonderful and experienced educator (she’s going to appear here soon!).

It’s where linguistics meets culture and pedagogy. A powerful triumvirate!


- 7 bi-weekly workshops

- Thursdays 7:30 PM

- From February to May

- Certificates available


How to get in?

Text me: “virtual educator project” to set up an appointment

* You don’t have to be a teacher to get in.

*Posting this here first - if you’re interested, sign up now before the places are taken.

People say they're impressed (and probably a little irritated) by my achievements and endless energy. But that's just what you see. You don't see me tired. You don't see me cry. You don't see me angry. And it's not because I never feel that way. It's because I hide it behind my smiling facade.

2025 was honestly hard. Overwhelmingly so. Sure, it was filled with success. Not denying the accomplishments.

But also with so, so many tears. I've decided to stop hiding my struggles and start talking about them—and TrashConf2 feels like the right place to begin.

Use my promo code COOLSPEAKER for 15% off.

Conference website: https://proself.pro/trashconf

I am open for consultations for colleagues for your balanced PD (professional development) track: DM to sign up ✍️

Finished my fourth book of 2026 and loved it.

I think we, Russians, are quite similar to Finns. And we can learn a lot more from them.

Loved the proverb and the final thought:

We only live once. But if we live right, that’s enough.

Such a powerful idea.


Definitely recommend the book.