Sincere words from our students.

A careful, thorough and systematic approach to language — since 2008.

18 years

Over 18 years in operation, we have built a working system of learning that we are constantly refining.

Our story

The idea for the Professional school was born in 2008 among the teachers of the foreign-languages department at the Professional lyceum, the first private educational institution in the city of Kharkiv.

We champion a meticulous, thorough and systematic approach to language.

Over 18 years in operation, we have built a working system of learning that we are constantly refining.

Two women watching a video together on a smartphone

Our philosophy

We are not a mainstream school. We have a lot of old-school methods — things that many people nowadays consider unfashionable and unpopular. Yes, in our grammar lessons we even use translation! But we believe in skilfully combining traditional, conservative methods with modern advances.

We tell it like it is: learning a language is a long and painstaking process. That is why we constantly reinforce the material covered — almost every lesson includes some kind of mini-test, not to mention the major assessment at the end of a module. We also have compulsory homework (rather substantial, it must be said). As a result, we see solid knowledge and well-practised skills that last for a long time. Many students return after a break and say in amazement that they remember everything.

And we also believe in education in general. We see language lessons not only as a way to meet functional needs, but also as a means of developing the person as a whole.

A woman reading the “Advanced Grammar in Use” coursebook

Our team

Directors

Volodymyr Barabash

Director, co-founder of the school

Head of Natural Sciences Dept.
20 years of mentoring

25years of teaching experience

Education

H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (2010), chemistry teacher, specialist degree

A chemist and teacher by education, a romantic by nature: a karateka, ecologist, photographer, lyrical poet, guitarist and expert on the work of Vysotsky.

“Why languages? We live, to a large extent, for the sake of communication!”

Olha Oliinyk

Co-founder of the school, teacher

TESOL — Arizona State University
CELTA
TEA winner (2007)
Speaker at TESOL and IATEFL conferences
90+ publications

31years of teaching experience

Focus areas

general English
academic English
IELTS preparation

Education

Candidate of Sciences in social communications
Specialist in English philology
V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (1996) — specialist in English philology

Certificates

20 more certificates →

She values good coffee and loves swimming in the pool.

“He simply did not know that it was impossible.”
— about the flower that broke through the asphalt

Oleksandra Kazarovitska

Co-founder, Director of Studies

IATEFL Poland Conferences presenter
TESOL International Convention presenter (Baltimore, USA)
CELTA

21years of teaching experience

Focus areas

teaching methodology
book club
general English
IELTS preparation
business English

Education

V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (2004) — MA in English Language and Literature

Keen on travel, freediving, music and learning foreign languages.

“Foreign languages are windows into the boundless world around us.”

Teachers

Mariia Vorobiova

Diploma with honours
Philologist and teacher
TESOL-Ukraine

9years of teaching experience

Focus areas

general English
translation
French

Education

V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University — MA in English and French Philology and Translation Studies
National Geographic Learning and Cambridge English seminars

Certificates

Certificate “Basics of ELT”
Certificate “Teaching Low Levels” — workshop by Hugh Dellar

Enjoys meditation, travel, reading and amateur photography.

“Knowing one language lets you into the corridor of life; knowing two opens every door along that corridor.”
— Frank Smith

Ihor Hashenko

“Teaching Lexically” (Hugh Dellar, 2025)

10years of teaching experience

Focus areas

general English
technical and academic English
military studies

Education

Master of Philology — Germanic Languages and Literatures (including translation), primary language English
O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv
Professional school of foreign languages

Certificates

Keen on playing musical instruments and internet technologies.

“The road is mastered by the one who walks it.”

Yuliia Mizik

Cambridge BEC

10years of teaching experience

Focus areas

business English
finance and audit

Education

Candidate of Economic Sciences
Associate Professor
O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv
ICFM DipMADM, DipPIA (Great Britain, 2024)

Loves travel, music, learning and self-development.

“Words are bricks. You can build anything from them; the main thing is knowing how to put them together.”
— Haruki Murakami

Inha Strikauskas

Philologist and teacher
Translator

41years of teaching experience

Focus areas

general English
teaching methodology
English teacher training

Education

V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (1986) — philologist, teacher of English language and literature
Universidad de Pura (Lima, Peru) — teaching methodology
University of Manchester — exchange programme (1984–1985)

“As many languages as you know, that many times you are a person.”
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Valeriia Kizim

OSCE mission translator
German — C1

7years of teaching experience

Focus areas

general English
translation

Education

V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University — MA in English Philology

Loves classic literature, board games and travel.

“People, be beautiful to one another!”
— Lina Kostenko

Oksana Shabaltas

Phonetics teacher

30years of teaching experience in international business (the UK, Hong Kong, Europe)

Focus areas

English phonetics
pronunciation coaching
grammar
business English

Education

Open University of Great Britain — MBA (2007)
Karazin Kharkiv National University (1996) — teacher and translator

In learning she values discipline and a structured approach. Loves animals, strong coffee, green tea and quiet.

“Everything is not what it seems; nor is it otherwise.”
— Buddha

Ivan Tsanko

University lecturer

4years of teaching experience

Focus areas

general English

Education

Master’s — Uzhhorod National University, Faculty of Foreign Philology (2024)
Bachelor’s — Uzhhorod National University, Faculty of Foreign Philology (2023)

Loves literature, detective series and walks in the fresh air.

“The only source of knowledge is experience.”
— Albert Einstein

Support team

Tetiana Petrova

Administrator

A caring administrator with a technical education and a creative soul. She loves travel, British films, Pilates and finds answers in poetry.

“Give a person a small piece of yourself. For this, the soul fills with light.”
— Lina Kostenko

Nataliia Kozachko

Administrator of the children’s department

She has specialized education as a teacher, the kind heart of a loving mother and grandmother, and a love of classic literature.

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
— Mark Twain

Teachers of children's and teen groups

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