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Study Polish, German, Russian or Czech with an experienced PhD
Christina M.

5.0 (121 ratings)

182 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $40
Contact Christina
Response time: 9 minutes
Christina M.'s Photo

Study Polish, German, Russian or Czech with an experienced PhD
Study Polish, German, Russian or Czech with an experienced PhD
Christina M.

5.0 (121 ratings)

182 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
5.0 (121 ratings)

182 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

About Christina

Bio

I have extensive experience teaching foreign languages, writing and history.

My specializations are Eastern European languages and history, and I also work with foreign languages every day as a translator.

The nineteen years I spent living in Poland and Slovakia have allowed me to perfect my Polish and Slovak (both at C2 level). I have taught Polish at the University of Washington and the Polish Cultural Center in Seattle, as well as Polish to English translation at the University of...

I have extensive experience teaching foreign languages, writing and history.

My specializations are Eastern European languages and history, and I also work with foreign languages every day as a translator.

The nineteen years I spent living in Poland and Slovakia have allowed me to perfect my Polish and Slovak (both at C2 level). I have taught Polish at the University of Washington and the Polish Cultural Center in Seattle, as well as Polish to English translation at the University of Warsaw.

I am also able to tutor German and Russian -- I passed the Mittelstufenprüfung (corresponding to C1 in today's CEFL scheme) after study in West Berlin and Austria, and have taught adult and teenager classes at the Tacoma German Language School. I know Russian very well from years of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a long-time resident of the Russian House at the University of Washington, I had the opportunity to mentor and tutor undergraduates in Russian.

As an historian, I have had a great deal of experience teaching students how to research, write and revise essays. I have been engaged in these kinds of activities for almost thirty years, ever since receiving specialized training in the teaching of writing at Brown University.

Although I believe humor and encouragement are key to motivating and putting students at ease, this does not mean my standards are not the highest possible -- as my students' success demonstrates.

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Education

Brown University
History and Russian Studies
University of Washington
Masters
University of Washington
PhD

Policies

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Approved Subjects

Corporate Training

Czech,

Czech

I studied Czech as a graduate student at the University of Washington in Seattle for three years at the intermediate and advanced level, focusing on translation, for which I received a Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship (full ride scholarship and stipend for graduate studies). I also lived in Bratislava, Slovakia, for ten years and am fully fluent (at the C2 level) in Slovak, which is linguistically very close to Czech. In addition, as a professional translator, I have translated texts from Czech. I believe the key to guaranteeing a good foundation in foreign languages is to master their sounds first, and that the best way of propelling students forward is to provide them with an endless stream of interesting linguistic sources in the form of lyrics and songs, information about history and culture, and tidbits from current events and the press. I also try as hard as I can to tailor my materials to students' individual interests.
German,

German

In 1990, I passed the Mittelstufenprüfung, the equivalent of today's C1 exam, after having completed two courses at Goethe Institute in Berlin. In addition, I also took courses at the University of Washington, in high school, and as a child. Most recently, I taught an adult German class at the Tacoma German Language School, and continue to tutor the language on a weekly basis. I believe the key to guaranteeing a good foundation in foreign languages is to master their sounds first, and then the grammar, and that the best way of propelling students forward is to provide them with an endless stream of interesting linguistic sources in the form of lyrics and songs, information about history and culture, and tidbits from current events and the press. I also try as hard as I can to tailor my materials to students' individual interests. My German students are often particularly appreciative of my ability to explain German's rather difficult grammar in a way that makes it easier to understand and use.
Polish,

Polish

My students find that as a non-native Polish teacher, I am better able to explain Polish grammar than many native speakers, who know how to say something, but not why. For almost thirty years, learning Polish, and then translating from Polish and teaching it, has been a main focus of my life. I simply love Polish, and like to share with anyone who is interested the many things I find so interesting about it -- from its cute little "tails", to its grammar, to its many interesting sayings and great slang. For those who might know another Slavic language, I like to compare and contrast with Russian, Czech, Slovak and Slovenian. In 1992, I passed the Polish state exam in the Polish language while studying in Warsaw, Poland, and then took the State Department exam in 1994. I taught Polish to English translation at the University of Warsaw in Poland for 3.5 years, and have also taught Polish at the University of Washington in Seattle. In the autumn of 2023, I was honored to receive the Michael Henry Heim Prize in Collegial Translation. I am currently teaching three adult beginning Polish classes at the Polish Home cultural center in Seattle. During the years 1989-2003, I lived a total of nine years in Poland, during which time I also worked as a freelance translator and interpreter. Among other things, I interpreted during interviews with former Polish president, Solidarity leader and Nobel Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa, and also with General Wojciech Jaruzelski, the head of Poland's communist government during the period of martial law. I believe the key to guaranteeing a good foundation in foreign languages is to master their sounds first, and then the grammar, and that the best way of propelling students forward is to provide them with an endless stream of interesting linguistic sources in the form of lyrics and songs, information about history and culture, and tidbits from current events and the press. I also try as hard as I can to tailor my materials to students' individual interests. My Polish students are ofte
Russian,

Russian

Language learning should be fun, and my natural curiosity and love of languages help make it that way for students, too. As a non-native speaker of Russian, I am able to explain its rather complex grammar to learners in a way that they often find very effective. I have a degree in Russian Studies from Brown University, where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in Russian (four years of intensive study, plus one year of Russian literature in Russian). As a graduate student at the University of Washington, I also had three and a half years of specialized courses in Russian to English translation. Since 1990, I have tutored Russian privately and as a senior member of the Russian language house at the University of Washington, where I lived for six years. I have taught language and translation classes at universities in Seattle and Warsaw.
Grammar, Proofreading

Elementary Education

Handwriting,

Handwriting

I have tutored elementary school pupils in handwriting for the past three years. I use traditional methods, learned in Europe, which include preparatory exercises that first develop fine motor-skills. I rely on a series of handwriting workbooks, and have the pupils use student fountain pens early on, which encourages correct strokes and an appreciation of handwriting's aesthetic aspects. My teaching style is rooted in a firm belief that handwriting is not only a form of communication, but of self-expression, which should be developed and nutured.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have been coaching students in study skills since the 1980's, when I was a peer tutor in high school, helping my classmates write notes, study before exams and write essays. I continued this as an undergraduate, when I was a specially trained peer writing tutor at an Ivy League college. As an lecturer in a liberal arts college and teaching assistant in graduate school, I was also responsible for making sure that students knew how to study the material, which I did through leading discussions on readings and helping students take notes, study for exams and write papers.
Grammar, Reading, Vocabulary

English

English,

English

While at Brown University, I received special training in the teaching of writing, and served as a peer writing tutor for courses there. Later, as a teaching assistant at the University of Washington, I also devoted a great deal of time helping students improve their writing style and essays. I have also worked as an editor and proofreader for manuscripts of academic books and articles.
Writing,

Writing

Having been specially trained in the teaching of writing at Brown University, I have since served as a writing tutor and mentor at Brown University and the University Washington, where much of my job as a teaching assistant in the history department was to coach students with their writing assignments. I have also helped students and colleagues edit their papers and publications, and have also engaged in that kind of work professionally for decades. As a translator and teacher of languages, words and their meanings, and the grammar that holds them all together, are of great interest to me. Often, all it takes is for me to reveal how the student's own language works in order for his or her own writing to improve.
Grammar, Literature, Proofreading, Reading, Vocabulary

History

European History,

European History

Ph.D., M.A., in History (European) from the University of Washington, Seattle (1998) B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, History and Russian Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (1989)
American History, Geography, World History

Homeschool

English,

English

While at Brown University, I received special training in the teaching of writing, and served as a peer writing tutor for courses there. Later, as a teaching assistant at the University of Washington, I also devoted a great deal of time helping students improve their writing style and essays. I have also worked as an editor and proofreader for manuscripts of academic books and articles.
Handwriting,

Handwriting

I have tutored elementary school pupils in handwriting for the past three years. I use traditional methods, learned in Europe, which include preparatory exercises that first develop fine motor-skills. I rely on a series of handwriting workbooks, and have the pupils use student fountain pens early on, which encourages correct strokes and an appreciation of handwriting's aesthetic aspects. My teaching style is rooted in a firm belief that handwriting is not only a form of communication, but of self-expression, which should be developed and nutured.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have been coaching students in study skills since the 1980's, when I was a peer tutor in high school, helping my classmates write notes, study before exams and write essays. I continued this as an undergraduate, when I was a specially trained peer writing tutor at an Ivy League college. As an lecturer in a liberal arts college and teaching assistant in graduate school, I was also responsible for making sure that students knew how to study the material, which I did through leading discussions on readings and helping students take notes, study for exams and write papers.
Writing,

Writing

Having been specially trained in the teaching of writing at Brown University, I have since served as a writing tutor and mentor at Brown University and the University Washington, where much of my job as a teaching assistant in the history department was to coach students with their writing assignments. I have also helped students and colleagues edit their papers and publications, and have also engaged in that kind of work professionally for decades. As a translator and teacher of languages, words and their meanings, and the grammar that holds them all together, are of great interest to me. Often, all it takes is for me to reveal how the student's own language works in order for his or her own writing to improve.
Reading

Language

Czech,

Czech

I studied Czech as a graduate student at the University of Washington in Seattle for three years at the intermediate and advanced level, focusing on translation, for which I received a Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship (full ride scholarship and stipend for graduate studies). I also lived in Bratislava, Slovakia, for ten years and am fully fluent (at the C2 level) in Slovak, which is linguistically very close to Czech. In addition, as a professional translator, I have translated texts from Czech. I believe the key to guaranteeing a good foundation in foreign languages is to master their sounds first, and that the best way of propelling students forward is to provide them with an endless stream of interesting linguistic sources in the form of lyrics and songs, information about history and culture, and tidbits from current events and the press. I also try as hard as I can to tailor my materials to students' individual interests.
German,

German

In 1990, I passed the Mittelstufenprüfung, the equivalent of today's C1 exam, after having completed two courses at Goethe Institute in Berlin. In addition, I also took courses at the University of Washington, in high school, and as a child. Most recently, I taught an adult German class at the Tacoma German Language School, and continue to tutor the language on a weekly basis. I believe the key to guaranteeing a good foundation in foreign languages is to master their sounds first, and then the grammar, and that the best way of propelling students forward is to provide them with an endless stream of interesting linguistic sources in the form of lyrics and songs, information about history and culture, and tidbits from current events and the press. I also try as hard as I can to tailor my materials to students' individual interests. My German students are often particularly appreciative of my ability to explain German's rather difficult grammar in a way that makes it easier to understand and use.
Polish,

Polish

My students find that as a non-native Polish teacher, I am better able to explain Polish grammar than many native speakers, who know how to say something, but not why. For almost thirty years, learning Polish, and then translating from Polish and teaching it, has been a main focus of my life. I simply love Polish, and like to share with anyone who is interested the many things I find so interesting about it -- from its cute little "tails", to its grammar, to its many interesting sayings and great slang. For those who might know another Slavic language, I like to compare and contrast with Russian, Czech, Slovak and Slovenian. In 1992, I passed the Polish state exam in the Polish language while studying in Warsaw, Poland, and then took the State Department exam in 1994. I taught Polish to English translation at the University of Warsaw in Poland for 3.5 years, and have also taught Polish at the University of Washington in Seattle. In the autumn of 2023, I was honored to receive the Michael Henry Heim Prize in Collegial Translation. I am currently teaching three adult beginning Polish classes at the Polish Home cultural center in Seattle. During the years 1989-2003, I lived a total of nine years in Poland, during which time I also worked as a freelance translator and interpreter. Among other things, I interpreted during interviews with former Polish president, Solidarity leader and Nobel Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa, and also with General Wojciech Jaruzelski, the head of Poland's communist government during the period of martial law. I believe the key to guaranteeing a good foundation in foreign languages is to master their sounds first, and then the grammar, and that the best way of propelling students forward is to provide them with an endless stream of interesting linguistic sources in the form of lyrics and songs, information about history and culture, and tidbits from current events and the press. I also try as hard as I can to tailor my materials to students' individual interests. My Polish students are ofte
Russian

Russian

Language learning should be fun, and my natural curiosity and love of languages help make it that way for students, too. As a non-native speaker of Russian, I am able to explain its rather complex grammar to learners in a way that they often find very effective. I have a degree in Russian Studies from Brown University, where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in Russian (four years of intensive study, plus one year of Russian literature in Russian). As a graduate student at the University of Washington, I also had three and a half years of specialized courses in Russian to English translation. Since 1990, I have tutored Russian privately and as a senior member of the Russian language house at the University of Washington, where I lived for six years. I have taught language and translation classes at universities in Seattle and Warsaw.

Most Popular

English,

English

While at Brown University, I received special training in the teaching of writing, and served as a peer writing tutor for courses there. Later, as a teaching assistant at the University of Washington, I also devoted a great deal of time helping students improve their writing style and essays. I have also worked as an editor and proofreader for manuscripts of academic books and articles.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have been coaching students in study skills since the 1980's, when I was a peer tutor in high school, helping my classmates write notes, study before exams and write essays. I continued this as an undergraduate, when I was a specially trained peer writing tutor at an Ivy League college. As an lecturer in a liberal arts college and teaching assistant in graduate school, I was also responsible for making sure that students knew how to study the material, which I did through leading discussions on readings and helping students take notes, study for exams and write papers.
Writing,

Writing

Having been specially trained in the teaching of writing at Brown University, I have since served as a writing tutor and mentor at Brown University and the University Washington, where much of my job as a teaching assistant in the history department was to coach students with their writing assignments. I have also helped students and colleagues edit their papers and publications, and have also engaged in that kind of work professionally for decades. As a translator and teacher of languages, words and their meanings, and the grammar that holds them all together, are of great interest to me. Often, all it takes is for me to reveal how the student's own language works in order for his or her own writing to improve.
Reading

Other

Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have been coaching students in study skills since the 1980's, when I was a peer tutor in high school, helping my classmates write notes, study before exams and write essays. I continued this as an undergraduate, when I was a specially trained peer writing tutor at an Ivy League college. As an lecturer in a liberal arts college and teaching assistant in graduate school, I was also responsible for making sure that students knew how to study the material, which I did through leading discussions on readings and helping students take notes, study for exams and write papers.
Geography

Special Needs

Study Skills

Study Skills

I have been coaching students in study skills since the 1980's, when I was a peer tutor in high school, helping my classmates write notes, study before exams and write essays. I continued this as an undergraduate, when I was a specially trained peer writing tutor at an Ivy League college. As an lecturer in a liberal arts college and teaching assistant in graduate school, I was also responsible for making sure that students knew how to study the material, which I did through leading discussions on readings and helping students take notes, study for exams and write papers.

Summer

German,

German

In 1990, I passed the Mittelstufenprüfung, the equivalent of today's C1 exam, after having completed two courses at Goethe Institute in Berlin. In addition, I also took courses at the University of Washington, in high school, and as a child. Most recently, I taught an adult German class at the Tacoma German Language School, and continue to tutor the language on a weekly basis. I believe the key to guaranteeing a good foundation in foreign languages is to master their sounds first, and then the grammar, and that the best way of propelling students forward is to provide them with an endless stream of interesting linguistic sources in the form of lyrics and songs, information about history and culture, and tidbits from current events and the press. I also try as hard as I can to tailor my materials to students' individual interests. My German students are often particularly appreciative of my ability to explain German's rather difficult grammar in a way that makes it easier to understand and use.
Russian,

Russian

Language learning should be fun, and my natural curiosity and love of languages help make it that way for students, too. As a non-native speaker of Russian, I am able to explain its rather complex grammar to learners in a way that they often find very effective. I have a degree in Russian Studies from Brown University, where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in Russian (four years of intensive study, plus one year of Russian literature in Russian). As a graduate student at the University of Washington, I also had three and a half years of specialized courses in Russian to English translation. Since 1990, I have tutored Russian privately and as a senior member of the Russian language house at the University of Washington, where I lived for six years. I have taught language and translation classes at universities in Seattle and Warsaw.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have been coaching students in study skills since the 1980's, when I was a peer tutor in high school, helping my classmates write notes, study before exams and write essays. I continued this as an undergraduate, when I was a specially trained peer writing tutor at an Ivy League college. As an lecturer in a liberal arts college and teaching assistant in graduate school, I was also responsible for making sure that students knew how to study the material, which I did through leading discussions on readings and helping students take notes, study for exams and write papers.
Writing,

Writing

Having been specially trained in the teaching of writing at Brown University, I have since served as a writing tutor and mentor at Brown University and the University Washington, where much of my job as a teaching assistant in the history department was to coach students with their writing assignments. I have also helped students and colleagues edit their papers and publications, and have also engaged in that kind of work professionally for decades. As a translator and teacher of languages, words and their meanings, and the grammar that holds them all together, are of great interest to me. Often, all it takes is for me to reveal how the student's own language works in order for his or her own writing to improve.
Reading

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (121 ratings)
5 star
(121)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

I feel like I can learn Polish now!

This is more of a general review since I have been working with Christina for several weeks. I feel like I have been trying to learn Polish in somewhat of a haphazard way over the past couple of years, and almost was going to quit, but thought I would try one last time. I am glad I did and found Christina to work with! My lessons with Christina have been really helpful. I feel like she is genuinely interested in the language itself, but also in teaching it. She gives you a lot of her time outside of the lessons by grading homework, but also by sending you helpful material to continue learning. I am much more joyful in my approach to learning Polish now and I think it is paying off! Thank you, Pani Krysiu!

Gail, 20 lessons with Christina

Patient Instruction

I feel like we are starting to get into a rhythm and I’m really enjoying Pani Christina’s teaching methods!

Adam, 17 lessons with Christina

Christine is very accomplished language tutor. And she is easy to work with.

Christine is very knowledgeable in Polish and other languages as well. She has lived in Eastern Europe, including Poland. Some of her work experiences have matched my interests in Poland. While I am working to learn this language, Christine has been very helpful as I am planning to travel to Poland this summer. She has provided information and Polish words, so I am able to recognize where to catch a train! Christine has been a pleasure to work with. She is encouraging and very patient. Christine only compliments when it is earned. This is a difficult language for me. Homework and listening to recorded conversations really help. I have used the apps that Christine suggested, and they have helped as well. She is the best!

Jeri, 14 lessons with Christina

Fantastic Tutor!

Christina is an exceptional polish teacher! Her knowledge in the subject matter is truly impressive, and her ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and understandable manner is so good. I've only taken two lessons with her but I’ve already greatly benefited from her guidance in sounding out words. She has fantastic lesson plans that have made learning both enjoyable and effective. I highly recommend Christina to anyone looking for a top-notch polish teacher!

Alexa, 7 lessons with Christina

Patient Instruction

Christina does a fantastic job of teaching the Polish language. With just a few lessons, I’ve started to understand her format for teaching as well as her patience with a new student like myself. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn from her!

Adam, 17 lessons with Christina

Incredibly encouraging and proactive tutor!

I am learning Polish with Christina and she is wonderful! Very patient and creates a welcoming environment for me as a beginner. Our lessons are so much fun; I am grateful for all the Polish study resources that Christina provides. 10/10 Christina is a fantastic tutor, do not hesitate!

Sierra, 11 lessons with Christina

Inspiring Tutor

I highly recommend Christina M. for her work as a Polish language tutor. I worked with her during December of 2016 out of genealogical and family history interests. She is truly a teacher of great skill and competency and I am happy to convey my experience working with her.
My lessons with Christina were conducted through Skype. Often, instructors find online teaching difficult, but this is not the case with Christina. Instead, she has a strong mastery of the tool with which she is working and excellent organizational skills, all of which contribute to easily understandable and useful lessons. In addition, her choice of texts – Oscar E. Swan’s Polish grammars as well as Alexander M. Schenker’s book for Yale University – displays her discriminating knowledge of the resources available to help students. She is a teacher who also puts in a great amount of effort in creating supplemental materials, whether it is recording textbook exercises on SoundCoud for listening comprehension or searching out songs on YouTube to showcase truly excellent language use. Slowly, she even encouraged me to begin writing my logistical correspondence to her in what Polish I could.
Ultimately, I was unable to continue lessons due to work obligations but have retained my interest in the Polish language and work from the resources provided by Christina frequently. One of her great gifts as a teacher is inspiring a genuine fascination with language and culture.

Claire, 2 lessons with Christina

Extremely understanding and intuitive

So wonderful. She went out of her way to assist me in my studies . Christina would be great for anyone struggling to learn a foreign language. Highly recommended.

Cindy, 15 lessons with Christina

Wonderful teacher who is patient

Christina is fantastic at making language learning fun and interesting. She is very knowledgeable about the Polish language and culture. She's easy to talk to and full of information.

Nett, 2 lessons with Christina

Patient and very detailed

Explained concepts in a way that made them incredibly less difficult she has also helped me improve on my pronunciation of certain german words I have been struggling with thank you for the help.

Jonathan, 2 lessons with Christina
Hourly Rate: $40
Response time: 9 minutes
Contact Christina