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Maria Athena
Professional TeacherProfessional Teacher![]()
Teaches
English
Native
German
Speaks
French
Gaelic (Irish)
Greek
Dutch
Hebrew
Italian
Russian
Teaches
English
Native
German
Speaks
French
Gaelic (Irish)
Greek
Dutch
Hebrew
Italian
Russian
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From United StatesLiving in Philadelphia, United States (22:54 UTC-04:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Nov 19, 2019InterestsWritingHistoryReading
I have always had a great love for foreign languages and cultures. I am a native English speaker from the United States, but as a child I was fortunate enough to travel to places where English was not the lingua franca. I showed some aptitude at high school French, which I was motivated to pursue language learning as a hobby and career path. I went on to teach myself German at home for two years in high school before studying German literature and Creative Writing at university.Me as a Teacher
I have been working as a German and English tutor since 2012 and I first began while I was still working on my undergraduate programme. Since 2014 I have been an active in-person and online tutor/teacher. After completing the CELTA in 2016, I also taught General English (B1-C2 levels) and Exams (FCE) at International House Minsk in Belarus in addition to meeting with my online students. I have experience teaching German at all levels and English from Low Intermediate to Advanced, including general language acquisition, reading/writing skills for both native and non-native speakers, intensive grammar and exams.My lessons & teaching style
I hope to help develop each student’s ability to explore German and English in both the context of an activity and the context of their own understanding of the language. My students and I explore the target language of a particular lesson in increasingly more detail together so that by the end of the lesson the student has a clearer understanding of the themes and vocabulary we have covered. My lessons tend to be structured, but I do adapt them, including review and supplementary material based on each of my student’s individual strengths and weaknesses. I most often use CEFR level-appropriate coursebooks, books specific to each student’s individual aims, and self-created materials.Certificates
CELTA - British Council Greece - 2016I was required to complete 140 contact hours, including input and feedback sessions from the tutor trainers, six hours of assessed teaching practice, and four assessed assignments in order to obtain the CELTA. This course bolstered my understanding of effective teaching strategies and lesson types, attuned me to preparing student-centred activities that encourage the use of the target language in the classroom, and qualified me as a professional, internationally-recognised teacher of English.
Certificate verified
Education
2010 - 2014
Bachelor’s - German and Creative WritingMy studies centred around the German language and literary canon from the Early Middle Ages to the 21st Century. I learnt about the history of German language and literature while simultaneously gaining a keen awareness of the biographical, cultural, political, and psychological background that influenced major German authors and poets. In my Creative Writing degree I attended a series of workshops designed to improve my rhetoric and art of narration in different genres of literature.
Work Experience
2017 - 2018
Teacher of General English and ExamsAt International House Minsk I had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students of different backgrounds. I learnt how to adapt the course material for stronger and weaker classes and keep to a syllabus while remaining flexible. Moreover, I was able to attend a series of workshops organised by the school and I received direct feedback from my colleagues in the form of formal observations and teacher appraisals, which served as a constructive critique of my own teaching skills.
2012 - 2019
Teacher of German and English (Sole-Proprietor)I teach and tutor students of various ages, academic backgrounds, and ethnicities in German and English. My lessons correspond with the CEFR and are highly personalised to help my students achieve their individual fluency goals, from general knowledge to grammar. This position requires me to develop learning strategies that are tailored to the learning styles of each student and adapt course material for use on an online platform.
5.0
Rating
643
Students
6,809
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
English Lessons
English
German
Trial Lesson
304 lessons completed
USD 17.00+
Book Club: Reading and Writing in English (B1-C2)
B1 - C2Language Essentials1,385 lessons completed
USD 23.50+
Package with 5% off
Exploring the Canon: A Light Reading of English Classics (B1-C2)
B2 - C2Language Essentials276 lessons completed
USD 26.00+
Package with 4% off
Conversational Speaking
B1 - C2Conversation3,048 lessons completed
USD 17.00+
Package with 5% off
Intensive English Grammar
A1 - C2Language Essentials388 lessons completed
USD 17.00+
Package with 5% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
365 Reviews
All
English
German
James Wong
24 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
The teacher carefully analyzes every detail of the writing, ensuring that students can fully grasp the ideas and techniques. She also explains in depth the impact of different sentences and words on the overall article. It is very professional and easy to remember and understand. I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to improve their English writing.
Feb 6, 2025
Julia Herkel-Alfons
45 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
Eine sehr nette engagierte Lehrerin die mit Spaß und Kreativität alle Stunden interessant gestaltet. Sie spricht fließend Deutsch was das Englisch lernen mit ihr sehr erleichtert. Sie liebt Sprachen und das merkt man auch, wenn man Stunden mit ihr Bucht. Ich kann sie nur jedem weiterempfehlen. 😊
Jan 16, 2021
Michael
2 English lessons
Maria erklärt das sehr gut, sie stellt fragen es ist angenehm mit dieser Lehrerin zu arbeiten, egal was man für einen Wissensstand in Englisch hat.
Jul 21, 2025
Angela
119 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
The best teacher! We always have interesting and diverse topics to discuss, which makes our classes incredibly exciting. Thank you!
Oct 23, 2023
Michael
2 English lessons
This teacher is amzing, for every topic or any conversation she helps a lot, with her studying is so awsome feel like so good a incredible teacher
Aug 17, 2025
Tom McDermott
4 German lessons
Maria is quick to understand your skill level. She puts you at ease interacting with the language, guiding you out of mistakes, so that you begin to absorb the material. Highly recommended.
Jul 9, 2025
Trial Lesson
USD 17.00
Your final payment will be made in USD