I taught Russian as a Foreign Language at different levels, from beginner to advanced, at the Language Center of the University of Passau in 2012–2018. In 2018–2019, I taught courses in Russian Literature and Culture at the Chair of Slavic Literatures and Cultures (see the full list of courses below). I have also worked as course facilitator in the course on Feminist Theories, Histories, and Movements at the University of Toronto alongside Assistant Professor Shana Ye, the course instructor.
My teaching has been largely informed by my experience as a volunteer Russian language tutor for U.S. students of Russian during my undergraduate studies (Middlebury Russian school in Yaroslavl), by my work as a tourist guide with Russian-, English-, Spanish-, and French-speaking tourists, and by my undergraduate training in the pedagogy of foreign languages.
I love making students excited and curious about the subject of any course I teach. My goal is to bring diverse voices into the classroom and build bridges between cultural studies, political science and history, and the arts. Readings lists for my courses reflect this philosophy with texts written by authors who come from a variety of backgrounds and often elucidate marginalized themes. I also strive to include literary and cinematic examples relevant for the theme of the session to animate students to study the region through its culture and the arts.
From offering scaffolding exercises in writing to involving students in challenges that tap into their imaginativeness, digital skills, and communication ideas, I create a space of creativity and exploration in my classroom, in which students can build on their previous experience and expertise to learn to ask new questions and uncover new perspectives onto the world around them.
TEACHING QUALIFICATION
THE 500: Teaching in Higher Education, University of Toronto, Jan–Mar 2020
Qualification Program “Lehre+,” University of Passau, Nov 2016–Jun 2017
Teaching Foreign Languages, Specialist Diploma, Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University, 2007–2012 (see “Education” section)
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Planning and Preparing Your Online Course, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI), U of Toronto, Jul 2020
Language Teaching Online, CTSI, U of Toronto, Jul 2020
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training, University of Toronto, Jul 2020
peerScholar: Online Composition Assignments and Peer Feedback, CTSI, U of Toronto, Aug 2020
Teaching from a Distance: Webinars and Lecture Recordings, CTSI, U of Toronto, Aug 2020
Active Learning Strategies for Online Learning, CTSI, U of Toronto, Aug 2020
COURSES TAUGHT
University of Toronto
Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements I | Fall 2020
Course facilitator of a Zoom-based seminar for graduate and PhD students (support the course instructor in facilitating discussion of assigned readings, especially in breakout rooms)
University of Passau
Beyond the Closet: Queer Russia from the Silver Age to the Putin Era | Fall 2018
Course instructor of a seminar for undergraduate and graduate students (solely responsible for course design, delivery, examination, and grading; including the film series “Queer Eye on Russian Cinema,” with bi-weekly film screening events in Russian with English subtitles throughout the semester)
Back Home: The Revival of the Private Sphere in Late Soviet Culture | Spring 2018
Course instructor of a seminar for undergraduate and graduate students (solely responsible for course design, delivery, examination, and grading)
Russian Language Courses | Fall 2012 – Spring 2018
Course instructor in altogether 20 courses (from beginner to advanced level, solely responsible for course design, delivery, examination, and grading)
Russisch – Grundstufe 1.1 [first-year Russian] Spring 2014, Fall ’14
Russisch – Grundstufe 1.2 [first-year Russian] Fall ’14
Russisch – Grundstufe 2.1 [second-year Russian] Fall ’12, Fall ’13, Spring ’15, Fall ’15
Russisch – Grundstufe 2.2 [second-year Russian] Spring ’13, Fall ’13, Spring ’14, Fall ’15, Spring ’16, Fall ’16
Russisch – Grammatik (GS 1.1) [first-year Russian grammar, Part I] Spring ’14, Spring ’17
Russisch – Grammatik (Grundstufe 1.2) [first-year Russian grammar, Part II] Fall ’14, Fall ’15, Spring ’17, Fall ’17
Ergänzungskurs Schreiben (für Aufbaustufe und Hauptstufe 1) [Complementary Course in Writing (for students in the third and fourth years)] Spring ’13
RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TUTOR
Russian language tutor | Fall 2009 – Spring 2011
Russian Language School of Middlebury College in Yaroslavl (RU)
MENTORING ACTIVITIES
Co-organizer and co-facilitator of a writing workshop for graduate students, Women & Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto (with postdoctoral fellow Nikoli Attai), discussion of academic writing strategies (Apr 14, 2020)
Organizer and facilitator of an “Alumna for Students” workshop for graduate students enrolled in the program M.A. Russian and East Central European Studies, University of Passau, discussion of program requirements and career paths (Nov 15, 2018)
Tutor of incoming foreign students, International Office, University of Passau (09/2013 – 01/2015)
Tatiana Klepikova 