LOOKING BACK AT 2025
This year was… a lot.
I was juggling being a mom, a wife, growing my private sessions and English clubs, as well as trying to maintain an ounce of my social relationships 🤪
There were times I felt I was failing in all spheres of life, but living abroad teaches you patience — with your environment, in learning, in relationships, and yourself.
English phrase I love:
✨ “Growth doesn’t always look pretty.”
So true 🤷♀️
I’m grateful for this year, especially for the challenges. I am walking into 2026 stronger, and loving who I see in the mirror🪞 🤍
This year was… a lot.
I was juggling being a mom, a wife, growing my private sessions and English clubs, as well as trying to maintain an ounce of my social relationships 🤪
There were times I felt I was failing in all spheres of life, but living abroad teaches you patience — with your environment, in learning, in relationships, and yourself.
English phrase I love:
✨ “Growth doesn’t always look pretty.”
So true 🤷♀️
I’m grateful for this year, especially for the challenges. I am walking into 2026 stronger, and loving who I see in the mirror🪞 🤍
❤12
Merry Christmas To All!
One big holiday difference between Americans and Russians would be the day we celebrate Christmas 🎄
Dec. 25th is the day Americans 🇺🇸 celebrate Christmas🎅 while Jan. 7th is the day it’s celebrated in Russia 🇷🇺
No matter which day it’s celebrated, the meaning is universal- faith, love and joy to the world! ✨
Which day do you celebrate Christmas, and do you have any special traditions on this holiday? 💬
One big holiday difference between Americans and Russians would be the day we celebrate Christmas 🎄
Dec. 25th is the day Americans 🇺🇸 celebrate Christmas🎅 while Jan. 7th is the day it’s celebrated in Russia 🇷🇺
No matter which day it’s celebrated, the meaning is universal- faith, love and joy to the world! ✨
Which day do you celebrate Christmas, and do you have any special traditions on this holiday? 💬
❤12🎉4🔥2
DECEMBER 31: HOW DO YOU SPEND IT?🥳
In the US, December 31 is usually parties, countdowns, and fireworks. mostly celebrated by the young and energetic 😆 while it’s not rare for most families to be tucked in by 12:01
In Russia, it’s all about family, food, long conversations, and TV in the background. Everyone is a
partaker in the biggest holiday of the year 🤩
English phrase:
🥂 “Ring in the New Year” — to celebrate the start of a new year.
My perfect Dec 31? Cozy, calm, and no rushing🙏 …and of course champagne and caviar 👌 I’ve been Russianized 🤷♀️
In the US, December 31 is usually parties, countdowns, and fireworks. mostly celebrated by the young and energetic 😆 while it’s not rare for most families to be tucked in by 12:01
In Russia, it’s all about family, food, long conversations, and TV in the background. Everyone is a
partaker in the biggest holiday of the year 🤩
English phrase:
🥂 “Ring in the New Year” — to celebrate the start of a new year.
My perfect Dec 31? Cozy, calm, and no rushing🙏 …and of course champagne and caviar 👌 I’ve been Russianized 🤷♀️
❤12
MY WISH FOR YOU IN 2026
Not “perfect English.”
Not “big goals.”
Just confidence.
Comfort.
And progress without pressure.
English phrase I love:
💛 “Take it one step at a time.”
That works for language learning — and life.
Not “perfect English.”
Not “big goals.”
Just confidence.
Comfort.
And progress without pressure.
English phrase I love:
💛 “Take it one step at a time.”
That works for language learning — and life.
❤8🎉2😎2
DECEMBER 31 IN RUSSIA (VERY DIFFERENT VIBE)
December 31 in the US is about the night. Parties, countdown, fireworks, champagne at midnight.
December 31 in Russia is about the whole day. Cooking from the morning. Cleaning. TV in the background. Salads that take hours. Family conversations that start early and last long.
The first time I experienced it, I was surprised by how calm and full the day felt. Not rushed. Not chaotic. Just… meaningful.
Now December 31 is one of my favorite days of the year.
English detail: 👉 “New Year’s Eve” — December 31 👉 “To ring in the New Year” — celebrate the beginning of the new year
Language is also about rhythm. Not everything needs to be fast. Sometimes slow days help you remember why you’re doing this at all.
December 31 in the US is about the night. Parties, countdown, fireworks, champagne at midnight.
December 31 in Russia is about the whole day. Cooking from the morning. Cleaning. TV in the background. Salads that take hours. Family conversations that start early and last long.
The first time I experienced it, I was surprised by how calm and full the day felt. Not rushed. Not chaotic. Just… meaningful.
Now December 31 is one of my favorite days of the year.
English detail: 👉 “New Year’s Eve” — December 31 👉 “To ring in the New Year” — celebrate the beginning of the new year
Language is also about rhythm. Not everything needs to be fast. Sometimes slow days help you remember why you’re doing this at all.
❤10
Welcome to 2026 🙌
Are you already feeling the pressure of your new year resolutions?
Americans like the idea of new year resolutions, but more as a tradition, rather than a hardcore practice 😅
Dec 31 : “This year I’ll start working out more!”
Jan 14: (Went to the gym for 2 weeks) I give myself a pat on the back and ✅ off the list 😆
And in reality, I would go to the gym all together about 4 months out of the year, but hey, that’s better than last year ☝️
People tend to think Americans are overly goal driven, it’s true to some existent, but I’d say we are progress driven people.
Perfection can come with pressure, but progress always comes with results 👏
This year my wish for you is to take a look at where you can replace perfection with progress.
Maybe it’s in your insecurity to speak, hyper fixation on grammar, or any other areas in your life.
This year you won’t be perfect, but you’ll make progress ☝️🤍
Are you already feeling the pressure of your new year resolutions?
Americans like the idea of new year resolutions, but more as a tradition, rather than a hardcore practice 😅
Dec 31 : “This year I’ll start working out more!”
Jan 14: (Went to the gym for 2 weeks) I give myself a pat on the back and ✅ off the list 😆
And in reality, I would go to the gym all together about 4 months out of the year, but hey, that’s better than last year ☝️
People tend to think Americans are overly goal driven, it’s true to some existent, but I’d say we are progress driven people.
Perfection can come with pressure, but progress always comes with results 👏
This year my wish for you is to take a look at where you can replace perfection with progress.
Maybe it’s in your insecurity to speak, hyper fixation on grammar, or any other areas in your life.
This year you won’t be perfect, but you’ll make progress ☝️🤍
❤15🥰2
The perfect time to catch up on series/films are definitely during the holidays. Everything is closed, you have an excuse 🤷♀️👍
I am often asked by English learners, “with or without subtitles, and what about dubs?”
Here’s my humble opinion✨
- For my newbie watchers (A1, A2): Listen with your native language and watch with English subtitles.
Your focus is to try to catch a couple new vocab words.
- For my competent bingers (B1, B2): Always listen in English with your native language subtitles.
Your focus is to mainly practice listening as well as catch new vocab and pronunciations . Subtitles are your support only ☝️not your main source of information.
- For my fluent cinephiles (C1,C2): Listen in English always and only, and watch without subtitles or English subtitles only.
Your focus is to understand communication, context, and culture- You are C1 and C2 after all 😉
Also this is the time to enjoy choosing and mimicking the accents you like 🗣️
Enjoy the show! 🍿 🎥
I am often asked by English learners, “with or without subtitles, and what about dubs?”
Here’s my humble opinion✨
- For my newbie watchers (A1, A2): Listen with your native language and watch with English subtitles.
Your focus is to try to catch a couple new vocab words.
- For my competent bingers (B1, B2): Always listen in English with your native language subtitles.
Your focus is to mainly practice listening as well as catch new vocab and pronunciations . Subtitles are your support only ☝️not your main source of information.
- For my fluent cinephiles (C1,C2): Listen in English always and only, and watch without subtitles or English subtitles only.
Your focus is to understand communication, context, and culture- You are C1 and C2 after all 😉
Also this is the time to enjoy choosing and mimicking the accents you like 🗣️
Enjoy the show! 🍿 🎥
❤8
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I sat down with Maria from “Samara Newspaper” and got to share my story of how I ended up in Russia (Samara specifically) and how I am adjusting to Russian society 🇷🇺✨
🗣️ I also share a my experience working with English learners, and give my humble opinions and tips on how to not only learn English, but also “Enjoy the Experience”!
And a bonus for you ✨ You get to see me speak Russian for an hour 😆 I am a language learner too, and by far not a fluent Russian speaker, but I enjoyed the practice and had a great time expressing the amazing emotions this great country has given me 🇷🇺🤍
You can watch the full video here 🎙️
What do you rate my Russian 1-5 😆 and don’t be nice! 💬
🗣️ I also share a my experience working with English learners, and give my humble opinions and tips on how to not only learn English, but also “Enjoy the Experience”!
And a bonus for you ✨ You get to see me speak Russian for an hour 😆 I am a language learner too, and by far not a fluent Russian speaker, but I enjoyed the practice and had a great time expressing the amazing emotions this great country has given me 🇷🇺🤍
You can watch the full video here 🎙️
What do you rate my Russian 1-5 😆 and don’t be nice! 💬
❤16👍6👏2
American Christmas and Russian Christmas- Two different vibes…
🇺🇸 In America, Christmas (Dec. 25th) is a social, traditional and religious holiday. Even if people aren’t religious, they partake of the holiday from a social and cultural perspective. Maybe there’s no church, nativity scenes, and family dinners, but there will be Christmas parties, gifts and Santa clause.
Over all the vibe is very joyful, social and vibrant. 🎄✨
🇷🇺 In Russia, I have experienced Christmas (Jan. 7th) is far more a traditional and religious holiday. If you aren’t religious, most likely you are not celebrating this day specifically (its still apart of a two week “new years” holiday). For those who do celebrate, it means liturgical vigils lasting into the early mornings, and a slow day with the family.
Overall the feeling is peaceful, religious and contemplative. 🕊️ 🙏
Both Christmases are full of love, faith and joy, centered around meaning that can be found in the hearts of each celebrator.
Merry Christmas…again 🤍🎄🙏
🇺🇸 In America, Christmas (Dec. 25th) is a social, traditional and religious holiday. Even if people aren’t religious, they partake of the holiday from a social and cultural perspective. Maybe there’s no church, nativity scenes, and family dinners, but there will be Christmas parties, gifts and Santa clause.
Over all the vibe is very joyful, social and vibrant. 🎄✨
🇷🇺 In Russia, I have experienced Christmas (Jan. 7th) is far more a traditional and religious holiday. If you aren’t religious, most likely you are not celebrating this day specifically (its still apart of a two week “new years” holiday). For those who do celebrate, it means liturgical vigils lasting into the early mornings, and a slow day with the family.
Overall the feeling is peaceful, religious and contemplative. 🕊️ 🙏
Both Christmases are full of love, faith and joy, centered around meaning that can be found in the hearts of each celebrator.
Merry Christmas…again 🤍🎄🙏
❤17🥰1
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❤13🦄1
Dinner plans 👩🍳
I’m all for a delicious, nutritious, and efficient meal.
I especially enjoy a one pot or pan meal, which means all ingredients go into the pot/onto the pan at the same time to be cooked at once. This makes for a flavor complex and labor saving dish.
What kind of meals do you usually eat? 💬
- Quick bites/ Fast food ⏰
- over night recipes (meals that take hours) 😴
- Simple and tasty 🤌
- Healthy and hardy (filling) 🌱
I’m all for a delicious, nutritious, and efficient meal.
I especially enjoy a one pot or pan meal, which means all ingredients go into the pot/onto the pan at the same time to be cooked at once. This makes for a flavor complex and labor saving dish.
What kind of meals do you usually eat? 💬
- Quick bites/ Fast food ⏰
- over night recipes (meals that take hours) 😴
- Simple and tasty 🤌
- Healthy and hardy (filling) 🌱
❤6
Forwarded from Бутылист
RUSSIAN ENGLISH EVERYDAY
🏴 Каждый из нас дал себе обещания в Новом году заняться делом. Больше отдыхать, чаще появляться в "Бутылисте" и наконец то выучить английский язык. В это воскресенье можно будет закрыть сразу все три гештальта.
🙊 Наша подруга Киша в рамках разговорного клуба Speak Easy вновь собирает ребят на втором этаже кооператива, чтобы поглядеть кино на языке оригинала, а после обсудить увиденное и просто попрактиковаться ещё разок в уютной и расслабленной атмосфере. Не так давно, кстати, у Киши брали интервью в её любимом ботлшопе, получилось мило, интересно и неожиданно, особенно про любимые блюда, так что рекомендуем к просмотру.
⚪ Нас попросили не объявлять фильм заранее, но скажем только то, что он будет являться логическим продолжением прошлого - "Всегда говори да" с Джимом Керри. Если не смотрел или забыл о чем был фильм, то рекомендуем восполнить пробелы здесь или просто пересмотреть картину ещё раз, это поможет тебе в дальнейшем при обсуждении и сравнении двух фильмов.
🗓 18 января, воскресенье
⏰ 17:30
🎫 Вход 500 руб., для записи пиши сюда
🏡 второй этаж кооператива "Бутылист"
📱 @butylist
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❤8🔥1
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Power of the “Word”
We have all heard that “words create reality”. Then the words we use are important, no?
For language learners, vocabulary is of course the most important aspect, but it can also be the most daunting.
Learning, memorizing, applying… it can all get jumbled up and become useless if not done in a practical and enjoyable way.
My favorite tip 💡 MUSIC 🎶
Why music:
- Sing alongs (pronunciation)
- Gets stuck in your head (word memorization)
- Rhythm and rhyme (combines pronunciation and memorization)
- Cultural context (added bonus)
And of course, vibes ✨
Music is a great choice to combine education and enjoyment while learning a new language.
Try it out now! Listen to Cher’s Believe, it’s a classic you may find yourself singing along to 🎶 If you don’t know the lyrics, be sure to look it up!
Have you ever listened to a song you didn’t understand and looked up the lyrics after? 💬
We have all heard that “words create reality”. Then the words we use are important, no?
For language learners, vocabulary is of course the most important aspect, but it can also be the most daunting.
Learning, memorizing, applying… it can all get jumbled up and become useless if not done in a practical and enjoyable way.
My favorite tip 💡 MUSIC 🎶
Why music:
- Sing alongs (pronunciation)
- Gets stuck in your head (word memorization)
- Rhythm and rhyme (combines pronunciation and memorization)
- Cultural context (added bonus)
And of course, vibes ✨
Music is a great choice to combine education and enjoyment while learning a new language.
Try it out now! Listen to Cher’s Believe, it’s a classic you may find yourself singing along to 🎶 If you don’t know the lyrics, be sure to look it up!
Have you ever listened to a song you didn’t understand and looked up the lyrics after? 💬
❤4🦄1
WHY GRAMMAR DISAPPEARS WHEN YOU START SPEAKING
Many of my students tell me the same thing: “I know the rule… but when I speak, my mind goes blank.”
That’s because grammar learned from books lives in your head, but grammar used in conversation lives in your body. Speaking is fast. Emotional. There’s no time to think about rules — only meaning.
When you speak, your brain chooses what feels familiar, not what looks correct on paper. That’s why grammar needs repetition in real sentences, not memorization.
English note:
👉 Grammar is not knowledge — it’s habit.
And habits are built by doing, not remembering.
Many of my students tell me the same thing: “I know the rule… but when I speak, my mind goes blank.”
That’s because grammar learned from books lives in your head, but grammar used in conversation lives in your body. Speaking is fast. Emotional. There’s no time to think about rules — only meaning.
When you speak, your brain chooses what feels familiar, not what looks correct on paper. That’s why grammar needs repetition in real sentences, not memorization.
English note:
👉 Grammar is not knowledge — it’s habit.
And habits are built by doing, not remembering.
❤2🔥1