"I really appreciate the intellectual inspiration that the Advanced Discussion Course provided! Talking about different viewpoints on highly controversial issues helped me to find a clearer stance for myself. The course also fostered my willingness to speak up on these topics. I would definitely recommend it to everybody who loves deep talk! Bistra is such an expert in the English language and a kind and well-read moderator. It was a great pleasure to participate in her course.
As a marketing manager in a global corporation, efficient English communication is key for me. It was a fantastic experience to take part in Bistra's Advanced Discussion Course, not only to improve my fluency and accuracy but also to get a global perspective on current political and societal matters. Bistra is not only a fantastic teacher and expert in present affairs but also a very kind and erudite person. I'm extremely happy to give her my highest recommendation!"
Kristina Widmann, Germany
“I enjoyed the diversity of the materials used in the Advanced Discussion Course. The texts and videos were never too long and always pertinent to the topic. What I also greatly appreciated is that the conversations flowed naturally and were not interrupted by grammar explanations or too much vocabulary development. Thanks to the recording, I could rewatch some parts of the class and correct myself and improve and deepen certain points.
Thanks to the course I made progress in different areas. I learnt a lot of general and specific vocabulary, especially related to societal problems. I was prompted to read articles and watch videos that I would not have watched or read without the course. In this way, it triggered some reflections on certain aspects of each topic.
Doing the weekly writing tasks has undeniably helped me to better organize my thoughts. Before my C2 exam, I tried hopelessly to improve my writing skills, but to no avail. Thanks to the thought-provoking and engaging subjects, as well as Bistra’s tireless encouragement and feedback, I am now more confident in my writing ability.
Isabelle Altenbach, France
“I chose SPEAK YOUR MIND because I knew Bistra to be an amazing educator and professional. I had worked with her before and needed inspiration for my work as a teacher in a multicultural classroom. I knew she would deliver enough linguistic and intellectual stimulation during the sessions, and she did not disappoint!
The course delivered on all fronts - content, interesting topics, vocabulary, and a great atmosphere! We had some really engaging conversations, and I found myself devouring the materials and looking forward to the sessions every single week.
The biggest benefit for me was that I was intellectually and linguistically stimulated and got to reflect and discuss deeper topics of interest. I also enjoyed spending time with great discussion partners and got to read and listen to materials that were engaging, exciting, and interesting. Oh, and I really enjoyed the game we played during the session about stereotypes. It was fun! :)
I would highly recommend this course as well as working with Bistra. She was truly an inspiration and offered a wide variety of materials, with content that was engaging and stimulating.
Bistra is an excellent professional and a warm and caring person who genuinely strives to elevate her students' learning experience.”
Magdalena Kleppe, Norway/Bulgaria
“I had been "flirting" with the idea of taking SPEAK YOUR MIND for a while, not only with the intention to practice and learn English skills but mainly because of the topics of discussion.
I have always struggled to share my opinion, especially on controversial topics, so I felt that this course was the safest space I could find to take a step into speaking my mind. :)
The course went beyond my expectations mostly because of the people - Bistra and all my classmates - who were kind, respectful, open-minded and knowledgeable. I absolutely loved all resources shared, which made me eager to learn more.
Now I feel better equipped to talk about certain topics I used to feel really uncomfortable about.
My biggest benefits: the people I've met, the new insights I've gained, and the increased confidence talking about controversial/difficult topics in English.
I highly recommend SPEAK YOUR MIND as it was a transformative learning experience for me. It gave me much more confidence to participate in deep discussions on topics that are usually so hard to talk about. Not only Bistra, but the whole group led the conversations to another level. I feel privileged and truly grateful for meeting such amazing people!”
Talita N. Rochetti, The USA/Brazil
“I highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in speaking English at an advanced level in a judgment-free environment. As the topics are thought-provoking, the language to be used is likely to be challenging, and even the most proficient language user may feel insecure. That's when Bistra will step in to help and make sure we feel confident to keep speaking. Bistra is a high-level professional whose language skills are outstanding. I feel she strives to make everyone feel comfortable to speak their minds about even the most controversial topics.”
Livia Borba, Brazil
“I truly believe that this course with Bistra helped me improve my fluency in complex topics, and I felt incredibly comfortable addressing controversial subjects. I also learned some advanced expressions and words that have been put to use. I should also mention that I was intellectually stimulated and challenged.
I really enjoyed the autonomy that is offered. The workload was doable, the live sessions were extremely productive, and the conversations with Bistra helped me open my mind and expand my repertoire of vocabulary.
I would definitely recommend this course to other people as it brings lots of food for thought, autonomy, and mind-blowing content.”
Renata Bernardes, Brazil
“Studying with Bistra is what I have always dreamt of. As I am a demanding person, I have found a competent, patient and supportive teacher. Her lessons were never boring, and her explanations and feedback were extremely precise and helpful.
What I really appreciated is that she believed in me, and for this reason, I did my best, and eventually passed the C1 Advanced Cambridge exam.
For me, Bistra is an excellent teacher whose smile and gentle voice make you feel at ease and encourage you when you are in difficulty.”
Cinzia Gregni, Italy
“I've known Bistra since I was 9 years old; I practically grew up with her. She has always been a point of reference for me: always kind, helpful, and above all, she has always made me feel at ease. Bistra is able to understand people without judging them.
Speaking of her as a teacher, I think she has all the qualities of a perfect and competent teacher from all points of view. I made huge progress with her in all skills and even ended up obtaining the Cambridge C1 Advanced certification with merit, and later IELTS with a higher score.
It definitely takes constant commitment, but Bistra has always been by my side. She encouraged me to always do my best and never get discouraged. When I didn't feel ready, she also acted as my mental coach, always motivating me.
She is not the typical theoretical teacher, but integrates theory with practice. With her, I learned English without even realizing it, because she never made it feel like a burden. Quite the opposite!
I started studying English because I liked it, but now I've come to LOVE it. Do you know who deserves the credit? Bistra. I will never thank her enough for everything she has done for me.”
Miriam Rizza, Italy
“I chose SPEAK YOUR MIND because as an English teacher I don't have the opportunity to discuss such topics in my classroom, so the vocabulary and structures related to them could have never been learned and used if I hadn't enrolled on the course.
Not only did the course meet my expectations, but it was even better than I was expecting, due to the quality of the suggested materials and the level of discussion during classes. I feel great about it and I am going to miss it.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone who would like to be able to discuss topics that, unfortunately, cannot always be brought into a regular classroom. Advanced English speakers would learn and improve a lot by enrolling in this course.”
Yasmin Biavatti, Brazil
“I joined SPEAK YOUR MIND to have the opportunity to talk to like-minded people on interesting topics, to improve my English-speaking skills on an advanced level, and to broaden my vocabulary and view of the world.
The course met my expectations 100%. It was really informative and educational. I'm so glad I could find the time and energy to delve deeper into the topics we discussed.
An extra benefit for me was that I've become more confident in finding and using authentic online resources in my own English lessons.
During the lessons, Bistra didn’t act as a teacher but rather as an equal partner to the group members. She conducted each lesson really smoothly, guiding us through the discussion questions gently and without any pressure.
In her contributions to the discussions, she provided a great model of using the language in a natural and professional way.”
Judit Bajnai, Hungary
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