 My INKA journey began with a clear realization: it had to be shorter, more flexible, yet rich with opportunities.
It was clear to me that many people had a strong desire to learn English but found it tough to commit to regular classes, especially with their busy lives. The traditional way of doing things just didn't fit into their schedules. This frustration was something I could relate to, and it made me want to find a solution. That's how INKA came to be. I wanted to create something that would bridge the gap between ambition and reality. INKA was designed to complement the conversational classes I was already teaching because I knew my students were looking for an alternative that was more flexible and convenient. The core idea behind INKA was beautifully simple—just 30 minutes of casual conversation practice each week. It was a way for people to stay connected with a language, keep up their fluency, and stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed by additional work. It was a lifeline for those of us with hectic lives. But here's the thing: INKA isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. I've always been upfront about that. It's not for folks looking for a super intense, exhaustive language learning experience. INKA is for those who already use the language daily and want to keep it alive without any added stress. It's a handy refresher, an alternative that fits right into the modern world. In the end, INKA is my way of bringing flexibility and practicality to language learning. It's about helping both my students and myself find joy and success in our language journeys without the need for extra tasks that can be burdensome. If you want to try INKA out or find out more, you can do it HERE.  I have never been to the USA. I have experienced the country through its people. I believe that the people reflect what the states are like - diverse, expansive, and hospitable. In today's episode, Ola takes us on her trip to Florida. Let's delve into her experiences. All the images used in this post have been sourced from Ola's private collection. Feel free to click on them to enlarge. Season 2, Episode 1 The one where Ola tells us about the Florida vibe  Agnieszka: Hello Ola, thank you for joining us today. I heard you recently took a trip to the USA. Could you tell us about your experience? Ola: Hello Agnieszka, thank you for having me. Yes, I had an amazing trip to the USA, visiting the Bahamas, Miami, and the Kennedy Space Centre.  Agnieszka: That sounds fascinating! Let's start with the Bahamas. What were some of the highlights of your time there? Ola: The Bahamas was absolutely stunning. The ocean with its beautiful colours and the pristine beaches were the most memorable aspects for me. But one thing that stood out was the opportunity to see a big ship used for ocean crossings. It was fascinating to see how these ships, which seemed small from a distance, turned out to be extremely big when you got closer.
 Agnieszka: Moving on to Miami, what were your impressions of the city and Miami Beach? Ola: Miami was quite different from the Bahamas. The city had impressive tall buildings and a lively atmosphere. Miami Beach offered breathtaking views of the ocean, and I was lucky to witness both sunrises and sunsets. I also discovered amazing art paintings and murals in certain parts of the city, created by 60 different painters. Agnieszka: It sounds like you had a diverse range of experiences in Miami. Did you have any favourite spots or activities in the city? Ola: One of my favourite spots was an American-style restaurant that had a nostalgic atmosphere, just like the ones you see in movies. It had always been my dream to be in such a typical American restaurant with booths, and it felt like a step back in time. Another interesting sight was a building shaped like a guitar, which was quite captivating. As for activities, exploring the Kennedy Space Centre was both educational and emotional. Seeing real rockets and learning about space exploration history was truly fascinating.
 Agnieszka: One last question. Can you tell me about the estate where you stayed in Tampa? Ola: Sure! The estate I stayed at in Tampa was absolutely charming. It was a typical American house with a small swimming pool and a cosy atmosphere. The neighbourhood was picturesque, with narrow streets and numerous houses, each featuring spacious garages. It felt like being part of a movie scene. 
 We thank Ola for sharing her experience. Please leave a sign of your presence in the comments section below.
Also, if you feel you would like to share your experience, passion or hobby in an interview just drop me a line. You know how much I will appreciate that.  English is easy... but English is also hard. So don't worry, you're not alone in your struggles to understand the complexities of the language. In this post, we'll share some amusing examples of the challenges that both natives and non-natives can face when trying to master English. Join us for the ride and enjoy some witty insights! Unlock Your Language Learning Potential with Guided Self-Study  As an adult professional learning English, it is important to set aside some time each week to prepare for your lessons. This could involve dedicating 15 minutes each week to review the materials covered in the previous class, familiarize yourself with the upcoming topics, and practice any relevant skills. By taking this time to prepare, you will be better equipped to engage with your instructor during the lesson. You will also be more confident and better able to participate in discussions, ask questions, and express yourself in English. Furthermore, dedicating just 15 minutes a week to review and practice can help you reinforce what you've learned and build upon your knowledge and skills over time. This can lead to greater fluency and proficiency in the language. I want to inform you that starting in March, I will be offering the opportunity for guided self-study to help you further enhance your language learning experience. During the guided self-study sessions, you will have the opportunity to practice and reinforce the material covered in your regular lessons. The materials and activities provided will be designed to help you review and consolidate what you have learned in class, and to further develop your language skills. This venture is primarily addressed to those of you who have been struggling with coming prepared to the lesson or whose self-study has been inconsistent. How does that work? You have a look into my booking calendar each week and choose a 15min slot that you can devoted to self-study. I prepare a task, or a set of tasks for this period of time. I am also available on Zoom during this period to assist you if you need further guidance or explanation.
 Ah, Valentine's Day. That special day where love is in the air and couples everywhere are celebrating their love for one another. But what about those of us whose dancing days are gone? What do we do on this love-filled holiday when you are simply too advanced in age or the whole idea of sugar-coated holiday is just not for you ? Fear not, dear reader, for I have the perfect solution: playing cards for money.
That's right, forget about fancy dinners or romantic walks on the beach. Who needs all that when you can sit at home and gamble away your life savings? And what better way to show your significant other you care than by winning big bucks off of them in a heated game of poker? Sure, some might argue that gambling is a dangerous addiction and that you should spend your time doing something more meaningful. But let's be real, what's more meaningful than the thrill of the bet and the rush of adrenaline that comes with it? And think about the benefits of playing cards for money on Valentine's Day. You don't have to worry about dressing up or going out in the cold. You can just cosy up on the couch with your sweetheart and let the cards do the talking. Plus, you might also take advantage of other risky habits like smoking cigars, cigarettes or pipes - cards love them. Or a glass of bourbon or other fancy drink - whenever I watch people playing cards these are always somewhere at hand. So there you have it, folks. The perfect Valentine's Day activity for those of us who can't and most of all shouldn't dance any more. Just remember to gamble responsibly and not to let your winnings go to your head. After all, love may be priceless, but winning big at poker is pretty sweet too.
Happy Friday everyone! Let's step into weekend with a bit of inspiration and a whole lot of good vibes.
Below, You will find three really short clips that I've come across this week. I find them dead funny. Plus, all of them have some educational value. Hope you will enjoy them!  When people asked me what I did for a living, I wasn't always very happy to say that I was a teacher. I guess it sounded so ordinary. I was coming up with some funky and jazzy names of my profession because I felt that the things I did couldn't possibly be labelled -TEACHER- Now, I see things differently. Being a teacher is not only my job, it's my vocation. But I aspire, not only to be a teacher, but to be A GOOD TEACHER or even great one day! This year I decided to ask my students to share their ideas on what a good teacher is. And today, as a part of the Teacher's Day celebration I am going to ponder on their ideas and have a piece of cake. A Happy Teacher's Day to me! Below I present my students' work and their contribution to this post. I am very grateful for their involvement. Their ideas will help me to set next goals for myself and look at things from a different perspective. It will also motivate me to work on the areas that I might have neglected or put off board. Click on the image to enlarge !  A GOOD STUDENT WANTSI think that at the bottom of every single thing that we do is our motivation or a lack of it. Motivation is not necessarily connected with having results, or maybe more accurately, setting and reaching spectacular goals. However, in order to be a good student you need to "WANT" - want to learn; want to discover, want to grow, want to explore ... Without this initial and later on nurtured "want", it would be very hard, if not impossible to engage yourself in any learning experience.  A GOOD STUDENT TRIES ... FAILS .... TRIES AGAINTrying is difficult; doing things over and over again can be dull and daunting. Having the ability to keep on trying is an extremely precious thing and anybody who has it can embark themselves on a wonderful journey of becoming better and better. You can always start again. It doesn't matter how many times you tried. If you WANT, there's always a blank page to write a new chapter. And sometimes you need a whole set of drafts before you can put it together into something meaningful. A GOOD STUDENT COOPERATESCooperation for me is a dialogue; it's willingness to be engaged; to give not only take. A good student contributes into their lesson and the whole teaching-learning process. I strongly believe that as much as students need to guided in their learning, teachers also need to shepherded in the whole process. Communicating your needs to your teacher; giving them some background of your current language necessities, sharing feedback with them is absolutely essential for your cooperation to be successful. A GOOD STUDENT KNOWS HOW TO OPEN THEIR LEARNING SPACEIt's a bit of a joke but every little bit of organisation helps. Having a notebook is good but what's even better is to have notes there- notes which you can easily access, update and use. Knowing the technicalities of your learning must-haves simply saves time.
 It has been almost two weeks since my last visit to London. I had planned to write a post soon after I got back, but for some reasons, it was not possible. It took me some time to think about what exactly I would like to share with you. I also didn't want it to sound resentful plus I wanted to avoid dragging on and on how great Great Britain is. But the fact is that it is great. It's different from the other countries I love to travel to. It's a bit like coming home; it's like coming to a place where tea tastes like tea and things are exactly where we last left them. There's a wonderful sense of continuity here, and at the same time, a mixture of tranquility and buzz. My first stop is Baker Street, where I reach for my first-morning snack. I wouldn't call it breakfast, because I know there will be more breakfast opportunities later. And yes, London does not disappoint in any way when it comes to the variety of food it has to offer. For now, my diet is no longer a priority for me. I want to enjoy pancakes, scones, carrot cakes, and the like. I want to sit down and have tea at every opportunity - and you must know that I'm not a tea lover.  I have a few places on my itinerary that I absolutely must visit. But they are not necessarily top ten tourist attractions. I prefer secret London. It's not that I think the most popular tourist attractions aren't worth checking out - of course, they are! But that's not what I'm here for. On this trip, however, I want to visit the Tate Modern. I've never been there before. The Tate Modern is located near the Thames and is surrounded by tall, modern buildings. It is a very nice part of the city. If I had more time, I would probably go for a walk along the riverbank or something. Anyway, back to the museum. The museum building is quite large - that is my first impression. When I go inside, it seems almost surreal how spacious and contemporary the building is. It has several exhibition floors. I already know that I won't manage to see everything. I have two hours and I am literally storming the place. But I know I want to go back there. I am enchanted. Below are just a few highlights from this trip.  I also visit Victoria and Albert's Museum and the National Gallery. Victoria and Albert's is almost always my stop - they have a great shop there, and the National Gallery - well, that's a treat! It's filled with works of the greatest. I want to see my personal favorite - Cezanne. It's a bit of a strange feeling, looking at his paintings depicting familiar places in the south of France here, in a cloudy, slightly colder, and grayer place.  There are a couple of other stops on my list - meeting a friend in Stanmore, where the Jubilee line ends. It turns out to be quite an exciting and scary ride. You can watch my short video here to find out why. Then the must-walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Chinatown for dinner, Portobello St. for a morning chill-out, and Oxford Street for shopping. Time flies! People are rushing around you, the city is bustling, and yet I feel relaxed. There is something about the hustle and bustle of this city that makes me feel alive. I really don't know how to describe it. There is a famous saying: "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life". Well, I guess I'm not as tired of life as I thought.    I have waited with posting this blog post for quite some time. The reason, this time, cannot be attributed either to my laziness or business. The fact is that I have been patiently waiting for my delivery, just to show you the number of goodies I purchased. The day has finally come and I am able to share with you some photos of my latest shopping-spree. At the same time, I want to push you a little bit to present yourselves with some books in English. After all it is a festive season, the season of giving so what other time could be better to enrich your books collection with some new titles. Stop playing Scrooge this Christmas and pamper yourself - and who knows maybe your loved ones as well - with something that will boost your motivation for learning and if not that, something that will definitely present itself proudly on a shelf in your living room.
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