My name is Aleksandr and I have been teaching Russian and ESL at LanguageBird since September 2020. I was born in the Ural Mountains, spent my childhood in Russia’s Far East, and came of age in the vibrant city of Saint Petersburg. For more than 25 years, I have made my home in Chicago and Florida, while returning to Saint Petersburg annually to stay connected with my roots.

For over a decade, I have taught Russian and English as a Second / Foreign Language both in the United States and abroad. I hold a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification and am also a licensed journalist in Russian print media, with experience writing for Navy and Military newspapers.

My journey as both teacher and learner began in Saint Petersburg, where I studied French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Later, while living in Andorra, I created an original Russian crash course and organized official Russian Language Proficiency certification exams for the Department of Labor. My culturally informed teaching approach also helped a local real estate agency improve its service to Russian-speaking clients. Many of my students in Russia, Andorra, and Italy have gone on to achieve their dreams of living abroad or working in international companies. In Italy, I also taught English in public schools and corporate settings, further broadening my teaching experience.

These diverse experiences have sharpened my understanding of how languages are learned and refined my teaching methods. In our classes, we will focus strongly on spoken Russian or English, with lessons tailored to your personal goals and learning style.

I am a professional, dynamic, and approachable teacher—flexible, patient, and committed to my students’ success. I look forward to sharing my passion for Russian and English, along with the rich cultures that shape them.