For Teacher’s Day

Author: Alexander Sinitsyn

Finishing elementary school coincided with our move to a brand-new school that had just been built in our neighbourhood. And instead of moving into Grade 4, we went straight into Grade 5. It may have been one small leap for humanity, but it was a giant step for me — the beginning of a whole new era in my life. A new school, new teachers, new classmates.

Perestroika and democracy were flourishing across the country. We were given a choice of three foreign languages: German, English, or French. I chose German. I already knew ein, zwei, drei, Hände hoch and a few other expressions like “Hitler kaput.” Besides, I wanted to become a spy, like Stierlitz. But the political situation was changing, and I realized that America was now the main enemy. So there was clearly no way around learning English.

I had a friend who was one year older than me, and he taught me some basic words. By the beginning of the school year, my “skill level” was already high enough for me to consider myself practically a translator. Perhaps that gave me a head start and helped me learn the language without too much difficulty. I began receiving praise from my new teacher, and that was how my warm relationship with Marina Yevgenyevna Kochetova began.

A kind word is pleasant even for a cat, as the saying goes, so I tried my best to live up to expectations.

I was incredibly lucky with my teacher. Young and attractive, she radiated an endless amount of positive energy. Interest in her lessons was exceptionally high, and everyone I spoke with noticed it — from younger students to the senior grades.

In addition to her fascinating English lessons, she also offered extracurricular classes… in Georgian! And those classes were packed. Even students who normally struggled in school showed up, although one might wonder what could possibly have attracted them to Georgian. During those lessons, we jokingly called her Marina Kochetovidze.

Both the English and Georgian classes were highly interactive. We discussed magazines, learned about different cultures, organized celebrations, pulled symbolic gifts from stockings at New Year, and tried foods from around the world. We even tasted coconut, which at the time was something we knew almost nothing about.

It was fantastic!

Foreign languages brought us not only the pleasure of learning, but sometimes material benefits as well. Once, at a market where Georgian bread was baked in a real tandoor oven, we received a lavash for free after reciting a poem in Georgian. It was completely unexpected and very pleasant.

I was doing quite well in the school curriculum. My marks were 5, 5+, and even 6! The 6 was probably for the time I helped conduct a lesson when the teacher had to be absent because of an emergency. At that rate, I was already aiming for 18+, but all good things eventually come to an end.

Marina Yevgenyevna began putting her English skills to professional use, working as an interpreter during trips abroad. But our communication did not end there. From time to time, I received packages from her containing postcards, stickers, and other artifacts from distant worlds. The feeling was incredible.

In high school, I tried to qualify for a student exchange program in the United States. Marina Yevgenyevna helped me prepare a story about myself in English. Despite such highly qualified assistance, I did not make it through the selection process.

Even though she was no longer teaching at our school, Marina Yevgenyevna remained — and will always remain — my favourite teacher. My classmates and I used to visit her at home, drink tea, and listen to stories about Australia and other countries.

Later, Marina Yevgenyevna moved to Canada, and we lost touch. From time to time, I tried to find her on social media, but without success. Then, quite unexpectedly, I received her email address from one of my former classmates. Our correspondence resumed and continues to this day.

Even now, her “positivity meter” is completely off the charts. She is exactly the kind of person you can turn to during a difficult moment and receive a generous helping of comfort and encouragement.

Her life is filled with interesting people and events, which she describes in her essays. She even has her own author page on a Russian-language website in Ottawa. And on Saturdays, she teaches children at a school — only now she teaches not English, but Russian as a foreign language.

Years ago, Marina Yevgenyevna amazed us with her knowledge of English. Today, after living in Canada for more than twenty years, she amazes us with her remarkable command of Russian.

She is a person of many interests and talents, which is why communicating with her is always fascinating. One can only hope that this connection will continue for many years to come.

It is wonderful that Teacher’s Day exists — a day when we can, and should, congratulate our teachers.

There is no such thing as a former teacher.

After all, a teacher is not simply someone who teaches, but someone from whom we learn.