Maxim Achkasov is a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL instructor). He has two degrees (B.A., M.A.) from the University of Manchester. He has also earned the Certificate of Educational Studies in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages and is currently doing a Diploma in TESOL course with INTESOL W. Ltd (UK). He obtained the Diploma in the Methods of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language, from Moscow M.V. Lomonosov State University (Russia). Besides that, he successfully passed three modules of the Teacher Knowledge Test and Business English Certificate: Higher (Cambridge ESOL Examinations). He has also completed the course of International Business English Training (Cert IBET) from Trinity College London (UK). In 2012 he received a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counseling from the PTC Institute, Moscow. He is also a founder and moderator of one of the most popular websites among language schools in Ukraine, www.english4real.com. He is an author of various video classes for both ESL RFL learners. He is also a teacher-trainer at INTESOL Ukraine and a member of TESOL Ontario.
"A not-intensive but disciplined, relaxed and yet thoughtful study, led through an engaged discussion with sensitive and regular feedback is often a sure way to some significant and solid progress in learning a foreign language." - M.A.
Work experience
Teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL instructor) - Language courses English4real - Kyiv, Ukraine
From April 2007 to March 2023
Duties: planning, preparing and delivering lessons to students; preparing classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts; preparing and setting tests, examination papers, and exercises; marking and providing appropriate feedback on oral and written work; teaching small groups and one-to-one; administrating - enrolling students, keeping attendance records, awarding certificates on completion of courses.
Business English teacher - Nikitova LLC - Kyiv, Ukraine
From August 2006 to April 2007
Duties: planning, preparing and delivering lessons to adult professionals; preparing classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts; preparing and setting tests, examination papers, and exercises; marking and providing appropriate feedback on oral and written work; teaching large and small groups at range of language proficiency.
Educational research analyst - Euro-Asian Accrediting Association (EAAA) - Odessa, Ukraine
From June 2005 to May 2006
Duties: planning, preparing and conducting surveys; designing questionnaires; collecting, categorizing and analyzing data; taking interviews; designing charts, graphs and tables; delivering final reports on "The Effectiveness of Theological Education in Ukraine", which was later published as a book.
Teacher of Systematic Theology, Apologetics, Ancient Hebrew - Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) - Kyiv, Ukraine
From September 2002 to August 2005
Duties: planning, preparing and delivering lessons to students; preparing classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts; preparing and setting tests, examination papers, and exercises; marking and providing appropriate feedback on oral and written work; teaching large and small groups.
English Second Language Teacher (internship) - Regents English Language Centre - Cheshire, UK
March 2002 to June 2002
Duties: preparing and delivering lessons; marking and providing appropriate feedback on oral and written work; teaching small groups.
Degrees
Master of Arts (M.A.) - The University of Manchester Completed
From 03 June 2001 to 17 June 2005
The degree in the study of Pentecostal and Charismatic issues taught at Regents Theological College (Diploma issued - 28 October 2005; Awarded - 12 November 2005).
Bachelor of Arts (B.A. with honors) - The University of Manchester Completed
From 01 September 1998 to 06 June 2001
The degree with Honours in Applied Theology being placed in the Second Class Division Two taught at Regents Theological College (Diploma issued - 27 June 2001; Awarded - 17 November 2001).
Certificate & Diploma programs
ACE TESOL Certificate Program In Progress
May 2023
120-hour ACE TESOL Certificate Program at Learning Languages Institute in London, ON (100 hours of classroom instruction and a 20-hour practicum).
Progress
1%
Portfolio-based language assessment (PBLA) Certificate Completed
May 2023
20-hour online course of Introduction to PBLA for New Classroom Instructors (self-directed certificate course) from the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB).
PBLA Certificate
153kb
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Certificate Completed
May 2023
10-hour online CLB Bootcamp certificate course from the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB).
CLB Certificate
1.6mb
INTESOL Diploma in TESOLIn Progress
From April 2022 to present
-hour INTESOL Diploma in TESOL course by INTESOL Worldwide Ltd (UK).
Progress
12%
Responsive Web Design Completed
From April 2021 to August 2021
300-hour course in Responsive Web Design by freeCodeCamp.org.
Responsive Web Design
100kb
Becoming a Confident Trainer (ConfTrnr) Completed
From October 2016 to November 2016
Four-week course by Karen Turnbull and Petya Green with Open2Study, Open Universities Australia (OUA).
Early Childhood Education (EChldEdu) Completed
From September 2016 to October 2016
Four-week course by Caitlin O’Connell and Helen Lawrence Gowrie Victoria courses and instructors with Open2Study, Open Universities Australia (OUA).
Grammar for Teachers: Language Awareness Completed
September 2016
Short-term (16 hours) course by Cambridge English Teacher: Cambridge English Language Assessment (UK).
Education in a Changing World Completed
From November 2015 to December 2015
Four-week course by Open2Study from Open Universities Australia (OUA).
Teaching Adult Learners Completed
From September 2015 to November 2015
Four-week course by Open2Study from Open Universities Australia (OUA).
Teaching Adult Learners
0.5mb
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counseling Completed
From September 2011 to March 2012
Institute of Positive Technologies and Consulting (IPTC), Moscow
Psychological Counseling
670kb
Primary English Teacher Training Online (Primary ETTO) Completed
From November 2010 to February 2011
Course by British Council, Ukraine.
Primary ETTO
200kb
International Business English Training (Cert IBET) Completed
From October 2010 to April 2011
50-hour course by BESIG, Trinity College London, English UK and The Consultants-E (UK).
Cert IBET
340kb
Diploma in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language (TRFL) Completed
From June 2008 to December 2008
Moscow M.V. Lomonosov State University (Russia).
TRFL Diploma
0.4mb
INTESOL Certificate Completed
From July 2001 to January 2005
120-hour course by INTESOL WORLDWIDE LTD (UK).
INTESOL Certificate
0.7mb
Test scores
CLBPT Assessment - CLB8
May 2023
CLBPT Assessment Report (Listening - CLB8, Reading - CLB8, Writing - CLB8, Speaking - CLB8, max. score is 8 for each category) by London Cross Cultural Learner Centre (London CCLC).
CLBPT
92kb
EnglishScore - CEFR C1 599/600
July 2022
EnglishScore - CEFR C1 599/600 (Grammar 599, Vocabulary 597, Listening 599, Reading 599) by British Council.
EnglishScore
1.8mb
Duolingo English Test - CEFR C1 140/160
July 2022
Duolingo English Test - CEFR C1 140/160 (Literacy: read and write - 145; Comprehension: read and listen - 150; Conversation: listen and speak - 135; Production: write and speak - 120) by Duolingo.
Duolingo English Test
1.7mb
EF SET - 82/100 C2 Proficient
September 2020
EF SET - 82/100 C2 Proficient (Listening Section - 80/100 C2 Proficient, Reading Section - 83/100 C2 Proficient) by EF Education First.
EF SET Certificate
0.4mb
IELTS - 7.5
November 2011
International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Listening 7.0, Reading 7.5, Writing 6.5, Speaking 8.0, Overall Band Score 7.5; University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
IELTS
1.2mb
BEC Higher - C1
May 2009
Business English Certificate: Higher, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
BEC Higher Certificate
980kb
BEC Higher Transcript
840kb
TKT - Modules 1, 2, 3
June 2008
Teaching Knowledge Tests (TKT): University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
Module 1 - Language and background to language learning and teaching (Band 4);
Module 2 - Lesson planning and use of resources for language teaching (Band 3);
Module 3 - Managing the teaching and learning process (Band 3).
Module 1 - Language and background to language learning and teaching (Band 4);
Module 2 - Lesson planning and use of resources for language teaching (Band 3);
Module 3 - Managing the teaching and learning process (Band 3).
Other studies
To see other certificates and diplomas, please, proceed to the education page.
Volunteer experience
War refugee volunteer - Lviv Railway Station, Ukraine
March 2022 to April 2002
Online English Grammar Course Teacher - www.english4real.com - Kyiv, Ukraine
From October 2018 to present
This is a 145-day English grammar course (B1) with video classes and exercises, which are personally checked by the teacher.
ESL teacher - Christian Youth Community - Temporarily occupied territory, Ukraine
From March 2020 to June 2020
Co-ordinator of Business English Special Interest group at IATEFL Ukraine
From January 2012 to January 2013
Projects
INTESOL Ukraine Franchise
From April 2022 to present
ESL teacher trainer and INTESOL Ukraine Franchise director.
Websites for Learners of Foreign Languages
From April 2007 to present
Moderation and supporting websites:
• www.english4real.com - for ESL learners;
• www.englishworksheets.net - for ESL learners;
• www.russian4real.com - for RSL learners.
• www.english4real.com - for ESL learners;
• www.englishworksheets.net - for ESL learners;
• www.russian4real.com - for RSL learners.
Membership
TESL Canada & TESL Ontario
From April 2023 to April 2024
TESL Ontario
20kb
Testimonials
Duman A.
Lawyer
"Trust me it is a pleasure to work with Maxim ! In my experience of learning the language I have met many teachers, including the native one. Though the most effective approach turned out to be that of Maxim – the approach to his students, the study materials and diversity. Attention to details, needs of the learners, preparation and delivering the classes in a friendly atmosphere are a hallmark of Maxim. Maxim helped me in my preparation to enter the master’s degree. Maxim ’s knowledge and experience of taking international language exams and interviews was a big advantage for in the preparation process. Different variations of questions and answers, appropriate and timely points, details, strategies, tests and a thorough analysis of the results became the key to my successful admission. In this there is a significant contribution from Maxim; that is what I am grateful to him for.I am sure that Maxim’s business will thrive and there will be more and more students!"