Matt – Director of Studies; Teacher
Matt grew up in Maryland, Delaware, and North Carolina in the United States. While in college he met his future wife and married her in 2002. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 2003 and continued his graduate studies. Matt and his family moved to Kazan in 2006 where he began studying at Kazan State University, with an emphasis on the Russian and Tatar languages. Matt appreciates teaching because he is able to meet and connect with students.Matt is certified in TESOL. In his free time in Kazan, Matt enjoys swimming at the lakes in the summer. He also loves watching American football and hockey, especially the Carolina Hurricanes and is an accomplished guitarist.
Tommy - Business & Marketing Director; Teacher Assistant
Tommy is a retired construction company owner and an Engineering graduate from Auburn University in the United States. He is a Certified teacher of ESL. Tommy is married, has two sons and six grandchildren. Tommy enjoys outdoor sports, fishing, hunting, and SCUBA diving.
Albina – Adminstrator; Teacher
Albina’s love of English began at the age of 11. Three years after high school her love for English helped her make the decision to continue studying English at the Turkish Lyceum where she was taught by professors of Kazan State Pedagogical University in the foreign languages department. While studying, she also was working as an English tutor with children from ages 4-7 (kindergarten). She has two sons (3 & 9 years old). Since 2003, Albina taught English in the Department of Law and Psychology at Tatar State University of Humanities. She has a degree in Pedagogics (PhD in Pedagogics) and for three years worked as the Dean’s assistant in the department of Law. She enjoys teaching and helping people to achieve their goals.
Elizabeth – Assistant Marketing Director; Teacher
Elizabeth, grew up in North Carolina in the United States. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, USA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She has had ESL training, and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in English Language Learners, which she hopes to complete in November. She moved to Russia in 2006, studying Russian with individual tutors and at the Tatar State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University. From 2008-2011, she taught English in the International Center at KAI. In her free time, she enjoys watching sports events in Kazan and spending time with friends.
James – Teacher
James grew up in Kentucky and South Carolina in the United States. He graduated from Georgetown College in 1990 and majored in American Studies. He and his family moved to Russia in 2005 where he studied Russian and Tatar at Kazan State University. He has also taught American Studies at a local Institute. He enjoys living in Kazan because it enriches his family’s life to experience another culture. In his free time, James enjoys camping and hiking with his wife and five children.
Margarita – Teacher
Margarita has been teaching English since 2004 after completing her studies at Tatar-American Regional Institute (TARI) with a degree as a Specialist in Teaching English and German. Her previous experience includes teaching in the Linguistics Department at TARI. Margarita has been tutoring and teaching English from Beginning through Advanced Levels. She enjoys outdoor sports and spending time with people. She loves to see her students learn new things.
Elvira - Teacher
Since graduating with honors from the Tatar State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University with a major in Russian Language and Literature and World Literature with a concentration in English, Elvira has taught Beginning to Intermediate levels of English learners. She studied in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, for two years. She loves teaching English and seeing smiles on students’ faces and pleasure in their eyes when they do an excellent job. Elvira also studies Italian language, culture, and literature; and travels for pleasure.
Gloria - Teacher Assistant
Gloria is a retired Business Manager and Medical Technologist from the US. She graduated from the Medical College of South Carolina and is certified for teaching ESL. She is married and has two sons and six grandchildren. She enjoys reading, water sports, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Aliya - Teacher
Since 2005, Aliya, a native of Kazan, has worked in a variety of educational settings teaching English. Her experience includes teaching English at several language centers in Kazan and Moscow. She is a graduate of the Tatar State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University with a major in Foreign Languages (English and French). In her free time, she likes to spend time with friends, dance, and travel.
Galiya - Teacher
Galiya from Almetevsk, Russia, has had many years of experience working with children and university students. Graduating from Kazan State Pedagogical University, she has a Philology degree with a concentration in Linguistics. Upon completion of her studies, Galiya began teaching at school Number 9 for three years. Later, she was a lecturer of Phonetics and English Grammar at Almetyevsk State University of Municipal Service where she worked for three years. When she is not teaching English she enjoys reading, watching movies, cooking, and hanging out with friends.
