Our guest today is Julia Feliksovna Chernyakova.
Brief biography
Born in Moscow. Graduated with honors from a specialized English school and university in Moscow, earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Amsterdam, and taught at Amsterdam Polytechnic. She holds a PhD in Pedagogy, passed the British Council exams for teachers and the advanced English exam in Malta, where she also taught at an English school. Julia is fluent in English, French, Dutch, and German.
During her postgraduate studies, she won a grant from President Boris Yeltsin and continued her education in the Netherlands. She developed her own teaching method for English, which has helped hundreds of students enter universities around the world. Julia is the author of numerous articles on learning English. Her hobbies include opera, travel, and collecting frog figurines. Member of the International Union of Writers.
On the journey in learning and teaching English
Julia, could you tell us about your journey in learning and teaching English? What inspired you to choose this path?
My relationship with English began almost by chance. As a child, I dreamed of learning French, but the specialized English school near my house only taught English from the first grade—there weren’t any other options. English came easily to me, unlike math and physics, which I frankly disliked and often skipped. By my final year, the choice was obvious. I started tutoring in school—first helping my cousin, then the son of my mom’s friend, and eventually, as was common back then, advertising my services with notes on lampposts.
About the teaching method
You’ve developed your own method for teaching English. Could you elaborate on your approach? How did you come to create this method?
At the heart of my method is a personalized approach, adapted from the Dutch education system where I studied thanks to President Yeltsin’s grant. Over more than 40 years of teaching, I’ve refined it to consider everything: the student’s goals, temperament, interests, and psychological traits.
For example, a 60‑year‑old woman planning to travel doesn’t need grammar as deeply as a future college student in Toronto. Lesson topics also vary—if someone loves cooking or computer games, we learn the relevant vocabulary.
Language is, above all, a means of communication, and it should be learned for real life.
On articles about English learning
You’re the author of many articles on English learning. Which topics interest you most?
I’m especially interested in revealing to students the opportunities language offers. Many come to me just wanting to “pass and forget,” but they leave as different people—confident, planning to study at top universities, travel, and build multicultural connections and businesses.
I’m proud that my lessons aren’t just about knowledge; they foster personal growth. I’ve remained friends with many students for years, and they often bring their children to me.
About the book “My Adventures. Where Languages Lead”
You wrote the book “My Adventures. Where Languages Lead.” In how many countries and cities have you been?
It’s hard to list all the places—I’ve traveled to so many. My first trip abroad was to the Netherlands as a young student on President Yeltsin’s grant, and from there I visited Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Hungary, and France. The book includes stories about trips to Malta, India, Tunisia, the UAE, Italy, Spain, and Turkey. Adventures seem to find me—that’s why I wrote the book. There are plenty of Russian stories too.
How have your travels influenced your approach to teaching languages? Are there any examples from your book that illustrate this?
The book is structured chronologically and by country. It’s hard to pick a favorite story: “Aladdin’s Magic Shop” is mysterious, “The Night Stalker” is comical, and “Mary Poppins Returns” has an unexpected ending. I don’t want to reveal too much—let readers discover the adventures for themselves.
What personal discoveries did you make while writing the book? How is language learning connected to cultural aspects?
It’s really a summary of my travels and interactions with people. I wanted to show the importance of listening, understanding, and accepting each other—which is hard even in your native language, and even more so in a foreign one.
The benefits of learning languages are clear—that’s the main idea of the book.
The meaning of the book
What does this book mean to you personally? How does it reflect your journey?
For me, the book is a source of pride. Early readers say it entertains, amuses, and teaches tolerance, helping us realize that we are all different—and that’s wonderful.
The key is to try to speak the same language, even if our native tongues are different.
Future plans
What are your plans for the future? Any new projects or ideas?
When I was preparing the book for publication, I wasn’t thinking about a sequel. But the adventures haven’t stopped, and readers keep asking for more. So, I’m starting work on a new book. Generally, I prefer not to make plans, but simply to do what feels right.
A story excerpt
Could we read one of your stories?
“Many amusing things happened to me in Paris, all somehow tied to knowing—or not knowing—languages and to the stereotypes we carry in our minds.
One of countless visits to Paris, a hotel in the center, a young man at the reception desk. A red‑haired, blue‑eyed boy looking a bit nervous; I’m tense as well, anticipating issues with English. I admit, despite my immense love for France and all its wonders, French remains quite a challenge for me. In stressful situations, I prefer to switch to my native language—which, for me, is English.
And so it was. After saying ‘Bonjour,’ I chose the path of least resistance and began speaking English, secretly fearing my plan would fail and I’d spend half an hour…”
Conclusion
…and with this hint at our most precious resource—time—we invite you to spend some of it sharing Julia’s adventures around the world. Or get to know her even better by subscribing to her channel.
In conclusion, learning a language means learning the mentality of its speakers. We are delighted to have welcomed such a multifaceted person as Julia Chernyakova to our magazine.