Irena
About Me
Lessons
Availability
Reviews
Visited 4 hours ago
Irena
Professional Teacher![]()
Teaches
Croatian
Native
English
Native
Speaks
Italian
French
Specialties
Test PreparationLearn English & Croatian | 7500+ lessons | CPE C2 Grade A | More than words—language is connection
Teaches
Croatian
Native
English
Native
Speaks
Italian
French
Specialties
Test PreparationLearn English & Croatian | 7500+ lessons | CPE C2 Grade A | More than words—language is connection
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From CroatiaLiving in Chicago, United States (07:17 UTC-05:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Jul 24, 2015InterestsTravelArtHistoryReadingEnvironment & Nature
I come from a family of teachers, so teaching is in my DNA. Over the years I’ve honed my ability to detect and address the obstacles that students face in language learning. This allows me to creatively support my students, helping them push past their barriers and experience that rewarding sense of accomplishment. Since 2015, I’ve been teaching English and Croatian, and I’m always learning something myself, currently diving into French. My passion for languages extends to helping my students discover strategies that bring both progress and joy to the learning process.
Me as a Teacher
I love working with motivated and curious students who are ready to experiment and take on challenges. I want my students to feel comfortable, inspired, and excited about learning. Language learning isn’t always easy, but overcoming challenges is one of the most rewarding experiences, and I love seeing my students conquer obstacles. My goal is to make my students proactive and autonomous in their studies, rather than just passive recipients of a rigid curriculum. I encourage them to think outside the box and discover new ways of learning that work best for them. The connection we build is one of partnership—I'm here to guide them on their journey, not dictate it.My lessons & teaching style
I tailor my lessons to fit each student's unique needs, mixing grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking based on their strengths and areas of improvement. Speaking is an area of particular focus, and I employ small, structured exercises to ease students into more spontaneous conversations. This doesn’t happen overnight, so the goal is to gradually build confidence and ease, so that speaking becomes second nature.My teaching material
- PDF file
- Text Documents
- Presentation slides/PPT
- Audio files
- Video files
- Quizzes
- Test templates and examples
- Homework Assignments
Certificates
TEFL - The TEFL Academy - 2017Teaching English as a Foreign Language Course - 120 Hours.
Certificate verified
TEFL 120 hours - The TEFL Academy - 2017Completed 120 hours of TEFL course that, as part of its curriculum, taught me how to prepare students for various types of language tests ( IELTS, Cambridge CPE/CAE/FCE etc.)
Certificate verified
Education
1997 - 2003
Bachelor’s - Design
Work Experience
2015 - Current
English TeacherI've been teaching English online and in person since 2015.
5.0
Rating
248
Students
7,560
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
Croatian Lessons
Croatian
English
Trial Lesson
113 lessons completed
USD 20.00+
CROATIAN: Step 1 - a good place to start
A1 - A2Language Essentials3,661 lessons completed
USD 20.00+
Package with 12% off
CROATIAN: Step 2 - let's make progress
B1 - B2Language Essentials0 lessons completed
USD 20.00+
Package with 12% off
CROATIAN: Step 3 - the finishing touches
C1 - C2Language Essentials1 lessons completed
USD 20.00+
Package with 12% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
1,581 Reviews
All
Croatian
English
Valeska
26 Croatian lessons
Teacher’s pick
I can’t recommend Irena enough: I learn so much during every lesson – not only language skills, but also methods to study more efficiently. Book a lesson now: you won’t be disappointed! 🙌🤓
Feb 1, 2024
Ilaria
21 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
Thank you Irena! For me you are more than a good teacher (and definitely you are the best!). Improving my English with you is a real beautiful, challenging, funny, enjoayble journey!
Jul 20, 2018
Dinka Bašić Eissler
410 English lessons
The best teacher in italki
Mar 23, 2024
Brigid
65 Croatian lessons
Teacher’s pick
Irena is the very best Croatian teacher. Her lessons are tailored specifically to each student, and she creates all her own (high quality) materials. Irena makes me feel successful in my learning journey, even when I make many mistakes. She is patient and understanding, and explains things in a way that makes sense. Irena has special effective hints and activities for memorising new grammar rules and vocabulary. She remembers details about my life, and includes them in the lessons which makes the learning relevant and interesting. I look forward to my lessons with Irena every week, and the time in the lesson flies by. Hvala Irena!
Dec 19, 2023
Lucía
31 English lessons
Last lesson of the year was a success! Besides being such a great teacher, Irena is super sweet and caring. Thank you for these amazing classes! See you next year.
Dec 18, 2024
Deanna
10 Croatian lessons
Irena is a wonderful teacher and I look forward to continuing my language learning journey with her.
Jan 11, 2024
Trial Lesson
USD 20.00
Your final payment will be made in USD