Meet Kirill G.: A Linguistic Prodigy

Introduction

Kirill, with a Master’s in DaF/DaZ and a Bachelor’s in German Language and Literature, has been a cornerstone of the German Online Institute since 2015. Originally from Eastern Europe, Kirill has mastered several languages to a high level and brings ten years of teaching passion and expertise to his students. His approach is deeply personalized, fostering significant progress in language acquisition among his learners.

Preview of the Interview: In our exclusive interview, Kirill shares insights into his multilingual experiences, his innovative teaching methods, and his personal language learning journey.

Interview

Language Mastery & Teaching:

• Question: To start, could you tell us which languages you speak and which one has given you the most trouble?
• Kirill’s Answer: “I speak eight languages: German, English, Estonian, Latvian, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, and BCS. BCS was particularly challenging, yet immensely enriching.”
• Question: What motivated you to teach German instead of pursuing a career as a secret language decoder?
• Kirill’s Answer: “Teaching German is not just my job, but my passion! For me, it’s an honor to accompany my students on their integration journey – it motivates me immensely when I see progress in their learning process!”

Approaches to Language Learning:

• Question: What unusual or fun methods have you tried while learning new languages?
• Kirill’s Answer: “I often use music as a learning aid. It’s an entertaining method that improves both pronunciation and listening comprehension.”

Teaching Style:

• Question: Can you describe a typical lesson? Are there perhaps hidden Easter eggs in your classes?
• Kirill’s Answer: “At the beginning of the class, I discuss everyday life and the latest world news with my students. Then we review the homework and repeat the vocabulary from the last lesson. After that, we continue with the book or teaching material – I cater to all my students’ wishes!”

Cultural Encounters:

• Question: What embarrassing situation have you experienced that was due to language confusion?
• Kirill’s Answer: “Last summer, I took a short vacation in Montenegro. The waiter at a local restaurant wasn’t keen on speaking BCS with me (probably because my accent was too strong). He only gave English responses to all questions – it was a bit embarrassing, but I kept speaking BCS anyway.”

Tips for Language Students:

• Question: What would you say is the secret recipe for effectively mastering a new language?
• Kirill’s Answer: “Engage with the new language 24/7 if you want to learn it effectively! Listen to music in the language, watch movies (with or without subtitles), try to engage in small talk! Speaking without mistakes is unrealistic – you learn from mistakes!”

About the German Language:

• Question: What do you think is the most curious word in German and why?
• Kirill’s Answer: “For me, the most curious word in German would be ‘gucken’. Since I live in Austria, you don’t hear that word much – people tend to say ‘schauen’ instead. The word ‘gucken’ sounds very odd to me and it would be very unnatural for me to use it.”

Technology in Language Teaching:

• Question: How do you use technology to enhance language teaching? Are there any apps that you consider a secret weapon?
• Kirill’s Answer: “Writing is crucial for using new expressions and expanding vocabulary! That’s why I recommend my students use the digital PONS dictionary! On the website or in the app, you can not only see the translation of the word but also possible examples and phrases where the searched word can be used.”

Need good private German lessons with personal experts like Kirill? Request your free expert trial lesson today!