Maria Makarchenko

I am a new student to Ukrainian and to italki. From the very first «Привіт!», with her beaming smile, Maria had me hooked! Марія teaches and listens with enthusiasm, patience, and a lot of understanding. Her lessons and conversations are diverse, interesting, engaging, and we always smile and laugh along the way! 😄 With my extremely demanding schedule, our learning sessions have become a veritable oasis! We just completed another session and I already can’t wait for our next lesson (I feel that way after each lesson)! Щиро дякую, Маріє! Я так багато вивчаю кожен урок! Ти чудова вчителька! Дуже дуже дякую! 🙏

I have had Maria as a teacher for at least six lessons and she is excellent. She quickly assessed my level of skill in Russian, where I was strongest and what needed work on. Then she set up me up with the opportunity to do assignments (if I wished). Maria is also a great conversationalist and to my surprise had an incredibly detailed knowledge of my humble little state of South Dakota. The hour I spend with her each week just flies by. She motivates me to be better and I feel myself improving as a student -- at least my confidence is! : ) I was not a great language student back in school, but this is fun. It doesn’t feel like work at all. Notice how busy her schedule is. There is a reason: she’s good.

We talk about topics that interest me, and at the same time I expand my vocabulary and analyze my mistakes.

One of the best decisions I made this year was taking Ukrainian lessons with Maria. While I have little talent for learning languages, she has tons and gladly passes her experience and enthusiasm on to her students. In a relaxed and friendly environment, you will learn and practice your language skills, learn about Ukrainian culture, and be inspired to keep going. The hour will go by far too quickly, and you will be noticeably better by its end.

Maria is a positive teacher, I don’t feel self-conscious about my mistakes.

Maria is absolutely outstanding at paying attention to what a student needs in the moment and with lightning speed, tailoring the lesson to those needs. In our last lesson, I came upon a moment of strong frustration with an experience of complete brain freeze I was having. Maria recognized it immediately and continued to encourage me forward with both purpose and understanding. Ultimately, because of the supportive learning environment she created, my brain unthawed and I was able to absorb all I could in the material as well as extract the gems of experience about how it is to be a student moving through a temporary (they’re all temporary), obstacle. Maria is in the right profession and I am endlessly thankful to be her student! Вперед! 👟👟📚🎓📚🎓👟👟