HOW AN ENGLISH TEACHER IN POLAND USES COURSERA

Yelyzaveta Liubomyrska graduated from Zaporizhzhia National University with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education Major in History and Secondary Education Major in English. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she was forced to leave for Poland, where she got a job as an English teacher in Czestochowa. Yelyzaveta plans to apply for a master's degree either in Poland or in Zaporizhzhia if she returns to Ukraine. Coursera has given her knowledge of different methods of engaging children in online learning and added quality indicators to her resume. In this text, she shares useful tips on taking courses and her own development path on the platform.

How did you start studying on Coursera?

I learned about the courses from my university. In total, I received 31 certificates.

Which course is most memorable?

The most memorable course was the one on time management - for organizing time. I also liked the course on English pronunciation - Tricky American English, which I would recommend to my students.

How to motivate students to take courses on online learning platforms?

Online education can be a great complement to stationary education. The first is more comfortable because it has no time or place restrictions. The main motivation for students is to broaden their horizons and acquire new skills. Today, there is no attitude that "we have studied the program and have been working on it for 10 years," because now we need to improve and adapt to new things every day.

What practical things from the courses can you use in your teaching?

During the courses, I got acquainted not only with stationary teaching methods, but also with online ones. I even had the practice of teaching in an online school when the pandemic started. And then I used a lot from Coursera during my work. For example: what methods should I use to get children interested in the online space?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of online learning platforms?

-Setting my own boundaries. I can decide for myself when to take a test or watch a lecture.

-Interesting teachers who share their experience from universities around the world.

-A wide range of courses.

-The only drawback is that no one controls you. Here you can postpone deadlines and forget to take tests, but this disadvantage can be easily overcome with motivation and a desire for knowledge.

What advice would you give to users or those who are just joining the platforms about taking courses?

Do not put it off, but do something for yourself. Learning new things is a contribution to our future. I would also advise you to choose courses that really interest you, not based on recommendations or insistence of your friends or acquaintances.

What do certificates give you?

They show personal development. They also help when applying for a job: I have added courses to my resume and they really confirm my competence. The certificates illustrate that I am not standing still, but developing professionally.

What practical tips will help you not to drop out of your courses?

-Don't sign up for 100 courses at once, but really evaluate your time and capabilities.

-Choose a specific time and spend it every day on courses (even if it's 30 minutes, 20 minutes, or 10 minutes)

How have learning platforms affected your life?

Before the pandemic, I didn't pay attention to online learning. It seemed like it was somewhere far away, in other countries, and unpopular in our country. I also did not believe in the effectiveness of this format. But studying on Coursera changed my mind. Now I believe that online learning is for everyone: schoolchildren, students, teachers, and other employees. It is a broadening of the worldview and lifelong learning. 

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