Veronika (Vika) Krouguerskaia

I am currently working as a Private Tutor. 

What were your favourite classes and why? 

I particularly enjoyed the literature classes in the higher levels (FRE363, FRE312, FRE417) because I had the opportunity to explore older French literature, which allowed me to immerse myself in the romantic time period. The professors in the French Department at UTM are incredible, and they always kept me interested in the topics. Thank you, Assistant Professor Adrien Rannaud, Professor Charles Elkabas, and Course Instructor Caroline Lebrec.

If you could start university over again, what would you do differently? 

If I could start over, I would look for more opportunities for involvement in my field of study. I focused too much on just my assignments that I did not participate in any studies or student organizations. This would have helped me with application to graduate programs, which I have not yet accomplished.

How did you balance your time as a student?

Finding balance as a student was challenging. I worked almost every day, in addition to class time, which meant that I had to multitask constantly. I always had a checklist of my university assignments with me, and I would work on them in between classes, on the commute, and before meals. Balancing my time became more manageable once I became more organized.

What project or task do you perform in a typical week in your current role? 

To be a successful private tutor, one must offer a unique experience for their clients. Throughout my work week, I prepare worksheets explicitly tailored to each student. I search for texts and documents online for reading materials. I am constantly educating myself on various instruction tactics to improve my skills as an educator.

How is your major related to your current work? 

As a private tutor, my French major has helped me establish a respectable reputation among the French Immersion clients. Parents are also more confident in hiring me, a young self-employed adult, thanks to my background in psychology.

What time of year do employers in your field typically hire?

There are on/off seasons for tutoring. I work with some clients regularly throughout the year, but usually, I have a surge of new clients after report cards are released at school. Some parents hire tutors for the summer to keep their children occupied. During the holidays and school breaks (Christmas, March Break), there are usually very few clients, so I have to be prepared to have less income.