TESSA S.

Tessa Soleski is a BC Certified Teacher and has recently moved to Vancouver. She grew up in Windsor Ontario, moving to Peterborough Ontario to complete an Undergraduate Degree in English and Psychology . She also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Education. Tessa grew up with a deep love of travel and took the opportunity to explore the world following the completion of her degrees. As an oldest sibling to 3, Tessa has always been passionate about helping others. It is through teaching that Tessa has been able to foster her love of Literature, Social Sciences and working with kids and teenages. In her spare time Tessa works one-on-one with children ranging from 6 years through highschool. She has supported the improvement of their reading, writing and vocabulary skills in both French and English. Tessa believes that by building a strong relationship with her students she is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning. As a mentor she continues to develop strategies for working with children. She finds these experiences enjoyable and extremely rewarding.

Tessa graduated from Trent University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology. After her teaching degree she has spent the last two years teaching a wide variety of subjects to students of all ages, levels and backgrounds. Being bilingual has had so many benefits, not only during her travels but also professionally! She understands how frustrating learning a new language can be and has found ways to make it as enjoyable as possible for her students.

Alongside having years of tutoring experience, Tessa also tutors students where she fosters engaging, personalized one-on-one interactive lessons. Additionally, Tessa has an AQ (additional qualification) in special education which has deepened her understanding and strategies for her students of diverse abilities. Tessa truly believes that engaging students using their curiosity and interests is crucial in helping them gain the confidence they require to succeed. In her spare time, Tessa enjoys being surrounded by nature, which is what brought her to this beautiful province! She also enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family, and dogs.

LISA T.

Lisa believes that the best learning happens when students have fun, have a choice, and are engaged in their learning. She is an animated, passionate, and caring teacher. Lisa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Bachelor of Education as a French Immersion generalist. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Calgary. Lisa has been a full-time K-8 French Immersion classroom teacher in Calgary for the past 17 years, including teaching English, grade one online, social-emotional learning, coaching sports, dance instructor, foods teacher, and was a learning coach. As a published author and a keynote speaker, she specializes in whole-child learning, infusing academic subjects with food, language, environmental education, movement, and intergenerational connections.

Lisa is a Certified Health and Yoga Coach, Culinary Nutrition Expert, and Certified cook. She marries this experience with her many years of teaching and parenting experience. She has taught in Thailand, Whistler, Springbank, Airdrie, Calgary, and Cochrane. Lisa is eager to work with families and students to continue encouraging a love of learning.

FARAH M.

Farah is a passionate teacher with more than 15 years of experience in teaching at schools and tutoring. She has a Master’s degree in Education and linguistics, and speaks more than 3 languages fluently. She has studied and taught art as well in all its mediums. She also studied singing, playing the acoustic guitar, and music reading at the conservatory. She has worked with kids from preschool to grade 12, as well as with adults. Her classes combine the academics and the fun activities, and she likes to incorporate visual arts to make her lessons more interesting and easier to comprehend. She strongly believes that being a teacher is the most rewarding job because, not only she helps shaping the students’ future, but she also learns a lot from them.

Amelia C.

Amelia graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences. Throughout her university career, Amelia taught first year mathematics and statistics classes as a Supplemental Learning (SL) leader. She is passionate about teaching, and is great at breaking down challenging concepts into smaller, more comprehensible pieces. Amelia gets to know her learners, and puts a lot of effort into understanding their learning styles, and catering to that. She has been tutoring and teaching math for eight years, and has helped many students enjoy math and view it as a comfortable challenge, rather than a daunting task. She has experience tutoring both individuals and groups, and is happy to do either or. She mainly has experience tutoring and teaching students of high school or university level, however she has lots of experience with younger students and is very comfortable tutoring any level.

In her free time, Amelia loves being active, whether that is skiing or climbing or anything in between. She also has traveled extensively, and has taught English abroad. She is an outgoing and friendly individual who always finds a way to make people feel comfortable. Her love for teaching stems from her love for helping people, and she really enjoys seeing the improvements her students make.

ARZIK B.

Arzik is a BC Certifed Teacher with Master Degree from Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris. She has several years of teaching experience with K-G12 students and adults. Her main goal as a language teacher is to develop learners’ spoken interaction competences, so I focus on all 4 sections of a language (reading, writing, speaking and listening). Arzik’s classes are tailored to her students’ goals and interests. She teaches French language based on BC Curriculum and prepares for DELF/DALF exams, as well as Arzik gives cultural training to students planning to pursue higher studies abroad.

Arzik is enthusiastic about teaching and always involves her students into diverse activities considering their personal interests and incorporating different learning strategies in order to develop critical thinking, creative writing and analyses.

EMILY V.

Emily is a graduate of the Master of Teaching program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She is currently a supply teacher in the Durham District School Board and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Emily is from Ajax, Ontario and was an elite level competitive swimmer throughout her elementary, high school and undergraduate career. She competed at Olympic Trials and won MVP at her conference championships in the NCAA for the University of Denver. Originally wanting to be a med student, it wasn’t until she took a science communication course that she realized she wanted to change the course of science education. Emily aspires to dismantle systemic barriers, make learning accessible for all and make education personally meaningful. When she is not working, she can be found nose deep in a book with her cat on her lap or watching a Leafs game with family and friends. Emily works to involve student’s personal interests in their learning as that is what helped her excel in her own academics.

JESSICA D.

Jessica has a Master’s degree in French and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has been teaching for the last 12 years and she currently teaches French in a school in Mississauga. She previously taught in Dubai. Her expertise lies in languages.

LENA S.

Lena Sherwood is currently a student pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a major in Evolutionary Biology, a major in Archaeology, and a minor in Immunology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in research and has been working alongside a tenure Professor and postdoc on their ecologic research. She also got an internship working with an anthropological UofT Professor researching sustainable indigenous practices. Prior to coming to Toronto she lived in Singapore for 9 years where she was in one of the most renowned French International schools. Not only did she excel in her science courses, especially in Biology where she was the top student of the class, but she also chose to do extra English Literature, English History, and English Geography classes so as to graduate with the highest Honours (Mention Très Bien) and the prestigious OIB title. Yet one of her most proud accomplishments is having managed to help her high school friend pass his Grade 12 Final Maths exam- he thought he was bound to fail. Since middle school Lena learnt that one of the best and most rewarding ways to learn her course material was by helping teach her friends. She found it so enriching to help assist her friends gain confidence and achieve success in their courses that she thus jumped at the opportunity to become a tutor. In the past she has also tutored several middle-schoolers in math, biology, and french and is looking forward to further help students to reach their full potential.

TATIANA C.

Tatiana graduated with a Master’s degree in Psychology (Honours) from Pedagogical State University(2006),Republic of Moldova. She has a Bachelor of Education (Honours) Program specializing in Psychology, Pedagogy in the English Language (2003). In 2010 she completed the Early Childhood Educator Program at George Brown College and became a RECE (registered early childhood educator). She is a Member of CECE in good standing.

In 2014 ,Tatiana successfully completed a French Program with HIGH Honours at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology. She completed multiple workshops and programs related to the field of education In 2022 she successfully completed a program ” Building resilience in young students at Mothercraft Shaping Children’s Lives Through Learning. She started her career in the field of education as a RECE,continuing as an ESL & FSL Teacher ,and Childcare Supervisor. Tatiana is passionate about her teaching skills, and she is providing a developmentally play based curriculum program as a DECE ( designated early childhood educator) in TDSB(since 2014 – present) – French Immersion Program for Primary Grades students.

Since 2006 ,Tatiana has displayed a genuine interest in teaching students (age 4- 12), working promptly, building responsive and positive relationships with families and staff members. Tatiana is familiar with the Montessori approach that is specifically designed to stimulate children’s intellectual, social skills as well as emotional growth in a loving and comfortable environment. Tatiana believes that children must have freedom to explore, to choose, to be creative in order to develop their uniqueness while demonstrating their learning. She is a caring individual that interacts in a gentle and supportive manner with a tremendous amount of patience. Tatiana possesses an excellent ability to listen attentively and respectfully to all students , offering encouragement and praise. Her joyful activities and long plans are developmentally appropriate and thought based on students’ skills and abilities. Her activities could be planned spontaneously, sparking interest ,promoting exploration, self-esteem, self-regulation ,self-confidence , cooperation and participation.

Tatiana is consistent and firm when redirecting students on time using logical and natural consequences and problem solving strategies helping students to understand their responsibilities. In her teaching Tatiana uses a variety of techniques and appropriate resources when planning, moreover, asking thought provoking questions. She shows her self- confidence when taking initiative cooperating with staff members and students , and interacting greatly, seeking the ways to contribute to the program she provides. Tatiana’s professional , theoretical and practical experiences are clearly reflected in her teaching environment, when she is engaging students in a creative problem solving inquiry ,challenging them to extend their learning skills. Tatiana is aware that each student has their own pace and unique abilities to process and perceive the learning material. Therefore, her goal is to implement the lessons where all the students are included to participate easily, with comfort to acquire the knowledge and skills achieving the results to the highest of their potential.

Tatiana enjoys dancing, singing, reading, writing poems, playing sports, and watching movies and TV shows. Few years ago( 2017) Tatiana was awarded in York Centre for “SERVICE to COUNTRY and COMMUNITY – Canada 150 Award “by Member of Parliament, Michael Levitt, and for her ambitious aspirations, leadership driven by compassion, the courage to dream boldly, being an ordinary personality doing extraordinary things. Also, she had been nominated by her peers for her singing and dancing ,promoting culture and traditions in the Moldovan Community in Ontario.

ANNA B.

Anna has been passionate about the French language since she first started her studies as a French Immersion student. Over the course of her career, she has taught FSL to Primary and Junior levels, and has been a valuable faculty member at the Bishop Strachan School since 2000, where she currently teaches JK – Grade 4 Core French. Anna also enjoys connecting with her students by coaching Athletics, such as Cross Country, and is an Advisory lead as well to support the social emotional well-being of her students.