I did of bit teaching when I was younger in Canada and Russia and found that it was something I enjoyed. I began to think of teaching as my career and was happy with that because it's a very rewarding job.

In 1997 I was looking for a job. My neighbour was working at the YMCA and he suggested I apply there. There was a lot of teaching work available in those days and jobs were easy to find, but I decided to accept the YMCA's offer because It was a place where I could develop my teaching skills. Most of the teachers working there at the time were much more experienced than I was and I learned a lot from them. Also, the YMCA was different from other language schools. I had previously worked in a chain school that required teachers to follow a very narrow curriculum.  It was frustrating because we couldn't teach anything that wasn't on the menu and I felt that the students weren't getting much for their money. The YMCA had a much more flexible curriculum that allowed me to broaden my teaching methods and learn what teaching was really about.

They need to feel confident. The YMCA is good for this because our students tend to stay in the same classes for a long time. They can build a relationship with their classmates and become comfortable speaking out, even if they make mistakes. 

I want my students to feel part of a wider world. Learning a language can do a lot to expand our horizons and make us realise that we share the world with other peoples. I know that a lot of our students come to the YMCA looking for a different perspective.

I take care that all the students in my classes feel included. Every class has a variety of personalities, and it's the job of the teacher to make sure that everyone works together and feels good about their lessons. 

I also want my students to notice  the progress they're making.  Sometimes they don't feel that their English is getting any better, even though it is. I always point out where they've improved or when they've done especially well in a lesson.

I think my main strength is that I really love language, so I take great pleasure in teaching and discussing all aspects of grammar, vocabulary, and so forth. When the teacher is enthusiastic, the students are more engaged, so I hope my students feel that way. 

My other strength is that I like to laugh. A sense of humour is important in the classroom because when a class takes things too seriously, the students become more self-conscious and stop communicating.  Our lessons should be fun.