I am a Foreign Languages graduate from Kharkiv State University (Ukraine). After graduating I worked as a secondary school teacher for a short period of time and then won a grant to study management in France (University of Aix-Marseilles) and the UK (Management School of Lancaster University). The knowledge and experience gained there helped me greatly when some seven years ago I opened my own language school. All these years I have not only been teaching English and running the school, I have also been a teacher trainer.

My work is really my hobby, but besides my work I am fond of travelling, I am keen on studying foreign languages. My mother tongue is Russian, I am fluent in Ukrainian and I also speak French, Italian and Portuguese. I am married with two children.

As I am pretty much concerned about the quality of the teaching process and as we have always been ready to try new methods and technologies in our school, I am very happy to have a chance to hear teachers from all over the world sharing their ideas and experience. I hope the experience of being a Roving Reporter at IATEFL 2009 will provide me with an excellent opportunity to engage with others and bring back to my school some fresh ideas. I am also happy that, as a Roving Reporter, I will be able to help other teachers all over the world follow the exciting events of the conference via Cardiff Online.

Yuliya Ivanova