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A1 to B1 in Record Time:
Ratmir's Triumph at Tudor School, UK
EducateOnline
Date: 23.10.2023
Many parents think that learning English online may not be the best option for their child. Especially with a teacher that only speaks English. Some parents wonder, how can my child learn anything if they can’t understand anything?
The story of Ratmir K. proves otherwise. Ratmir lives in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and since July last year he has been taking ESL (English as a Second Language) classes remotely with Tudor School in the UK.
Today, we would like to share an informal interview that our CEO, Alex Zheltov had with Ratmir and his mother Bagina. Together, they explore why they chose online learning and the advantages of doing so.
The story of Ratmir K. proves otherwise. Ratmir lives in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and since July last year he has been taking ESL (English as a Second Language) classes remotely with Tudor School in the UK.
Today, we would like to share an informal interview that our CEO, Alex Zheltov had with Ratmir and his mother Bagina. Together, they explore why they chose online learning and the advantages of doing so.
Many parents think that learning English online may not be the best option for their child. Especially with a teacher that only speaks English. Some parents wonder, how can my child learn anything if they can’t understand anything?
The story of Ratmir K. proves otherwise. Ratmir lives in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and since July last year he has been taking ESL (English as a Second Language) classes remotely with Tudor School in the UK.
The story of Ratmir K. proves otherwise. Ratmir lives in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and since July last year he has been taking ESL (English as a Second Language) classes remotely with Tudor School in the UK.
Today, we would like to share an informal interview that our CEO, Alex Zheltov had with Ratmir and his mother Bagina. Together, they explore why they chose online learning and the advantages of doing so.
Alex
Ratmir, tell us a little about yourself. Where do you study besides Educate Online?
Ratmir
I study at a German grammar school. I study subjects in German there.
Alex
You learn German and English. Cool! I'm sure you will use both of these languages in the future. What do you like to do in your free time?
Ratmir
In my free time I train, play with friends, I like to walk and make something out of cardboard. I used to go to aikido. Now I do my own special program.
Mom Bagina
Ratmir has an app on his phone. We don't have enough time to do aikido in person, so he trains on his own every day.
Alex
Ratmir, you have both English online and sports online. You could say that you have stepped two feet into the 21st century. What successes have you achieved with Educate Online?
Ratmir
I have been studying at the British school Tudor for almost a year now. At the trial lesson I had a hard time understanding the teacher. I was so worried that words cannot describe it! Now everything is fine - my English is quite good. It's not perfect, but I can speak fluently. I started with Educate Online at A1 level and now I have B1. I like everything.
Alex
You are very good! At the age of 12 you have already reached B1 level. When you go to university, you will surely be fluent in English. Maybe even sooner, given your progress.
Why are you studying English? What goals have you set for the future?
Why are you studying English? What goals have you set for the future?
Ratmir
I would like to move to London or another English-speaking country. There I want to study and get some specialty. Maybe I will study cyber sports.
Mom Bagina
We have a goal - to finish a full course of study and then to get education abroad. We are focusing on the UK. If it will be another English-speaking country, that's good too.
Alex
You will definitely do well! When applying for University abroad, it is important to show a balance between academics, community service, and extracurriculars. I can see that you are doing a good job of preparing for your future well in advance.
Bagina, please tell us why you chose online English lessons for Ratmir? What advantages have you seen?
Bagina, please tell us why you chose online English lessons for Ratmir? What advantages have you seen?
Mom Bagina
I once wanted to study abroad myself, but circumstances were different. And when I saw information about Educate Online, I thought, "Why not give it a try?" First we signed up Ratmir for a test lesson. He was very nervous, so I helped him a little during the test. We were given A1 level. After the test I immediately decided that Ratmir would study. There was no such thing as "I'll think about it" or "what should we do". And when he was offered to study cyber sports, everything was finally decided! (Laughs).
Alex
It's great that you selected not just English but also e-sports for Ratmir. It must be fun. For English, Ratmir has private lessons with Jackie. Ratmir, tell us about your teacher Jackie. What do you like about her lessons?
Ratmir
I enjoy studying with her. Everything is always clear with her. If I don't understand something, she helps me, explains it additionally. We study individually, so we have a lot of communication in English.
Alex
That's great! How comfortable is it for you to study online? Are you already used to this format?
Ratmir
I got used to it a long time ago, after about 2 months of studying. I like this format very much. I listen to the teacher, read the assignment on the screen and understand everything.
Alex
So, you have reading, writing, listening and speaking during class ~ you’ve got everything covered. Do you also watch movies, cartoons or TV series in English?
Ratmir
When we flew on vacation, there were movies on the plane. I watched "Harry Potter" in English with subtitles. It was funny and quite understandable.
Alex
Bagina, how do you feel about the convenience of online learning? Does it fit your lifestyle?
Mom Bagina
I like that everything happens in coordination with the parent and the student. We have time to travel, to study in a regular gymnasium (school) and free hours. We can study once or twice a week. Even if we go on vacation thousands of miles away, we don't have to leave or reschedule lessons. We take a laptop with us and study abroad without taking time off from our vacation. It is very comfortable.
Alex
What would be your advice to parents who are considering English lessons for their child? Would you recommend a local tutor or would you recommend that they follow in Ratmir’s footsteps and study online with international schools and teachers?
Mom Bagina
Of course, I recommend a school abroad. Learning with a native speaker will be much more effective than with a local teacher. I can already see Ratmir's global progress in his language skills.
The Educate Online team would like to thank Ratmir and his mom Bagina for telling us about their journey with Educate Online. We wish them success in their further learning!
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