Maria Makarchenko

I am a new student to Ukrainian and to italki. From the very first «Привіт!», with her beaming smile, Maria had me hooked! Марія teaches and listens with enthusiasm, patience, and a lot of understanding. Her lessons and conversations are diverse, interesting, engaging, and we always smile and laugh along the way! 😄 With my extremely demanding schedule, our learning sessions have become a veritable oasis! We just completed another session and I already can’t wait for our next lesson (I feel that way after each lesson)! Щиро дякую, Маріє! Я так багато вивчаю кожен урок! Ти чудова вчителька! Дуже дуже дякую! 🙏

One of the best decisions I made this year was taking Ukrainian lessons with Maria. While I have little talent for learning languages, she has tons and gladly passes her experience and enthusiasm on to her students. In a relaxed and friendly environment, you will learn and practice your language skills, learn about Ukrainian culture, and be inspired to keep going. The hour will go by far too quickly, and you will be noticeably better by its end.

I have had Maria as a teacher for at least six lessons and she is excellent. She quickly assessed my level of skill in Russian, where I was strongest and what needed work on. Then she set up me up with the opportunity to do assignments (if I wished). Maria is also a great conversationalist and to my surprise had an incredibly detailed knowledge of my humble little state of South Dakota. The hour I spend with her each week just flies by. She motivates me to be better and I feel myself improving as a student -- at least my confidence is! : ) I was not a great language student back in school, but this is fun. It doesn’t feel like work at all. Notice how busy her schedule is. There is a reason: she’s good.

Maria’s presence and lessons will always bring a keen awareness to the rich culture, history, art, and music of Ukraine. She has such a unique way of introducing these elements through her astuteness, her own ever-expanding interests, her innate curiosity, and her ability to use anecdotes to share and convey all above. Each lesson reaffirms the vital, inextricable link between the language and its connections and origins. 🇺🇦

This year I've seen considerable progress in my Ukrainian, thanks in no small part to Maria. I still make mistakes, especially with case endings, and I mix words up, but with Maria's help these are getting weeded out. I can feel many of my thoughts forming in Ukrainian instead of English now. This is a big change as before I was always thinking in English and then figuring out how to say it in Ukrainian. I still do that sometimes, but much less than before. As ever, the lessons are never dull and there are always engaging things to talk about that gift many new words and phrases. This is the best, and most enjoyable way to learn. Looking forward to more lessons in the coming year! Thanks Maria!

How can one avenue of learning a language spring into so many other arteries of knowledge?! I am constantly amazed at how my questions, once answered during our lessons, launch so many others—I think that’s the hallmark of a truly exceptional teacher, always encouraging questions and the process of active inquiry. Maria will inspire thought, as well as thoughtfulness in each lesson. She has so much knowledge to share, while also being an attentive listener and student (another clear mark of a great teacher). Each lesson has obvious immediate benefits, but they continue to unfold far beyond that particular session, enriching every aspect of one’s life; I sincerely cannot wait for the next and the next! 📚