Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Our university once again held the "Best RUDN University Lecturer" competition. Students have the final say in this competition, and independent experts ensure the objectivity of faculty evaluations. The winners are the most outstanding teachers who deliver meaningful and inspiring classes, engage their audience, and spark interest in the subject.
This year, places were distributed among the following areas.
Medical and biological sciences:
1st place — Elena Valeryevna Kaverina, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Health, Healthcare and Hygiene; 2nd place — Maria Naimovna Chernova, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of the I.D. Kirpatovsky Department of Operative Surgery and Clinical Anatomy; 3rd place — Milana Sergeevna Das, Assistant Professor of the V.S. Kiktenko Department of Microbiology.
Natural and technical sciences:
1st place — Elvira Marsovna Gaysina, Assistant, Agrobiotechnology Department, Agrarian-Technological Institute; 2nd place — Ekaterina Dmitrievna Yesikova, Assistant, Technosphere Safety Department, Agrarian-Technological Institute; 3rd place — Daria Sergeevna Novikova, Senior Lecturer, Department of Applied Informatics and Intelligent Systems in the Humanities, Institute of the Russian Language.
Humanities:
1st place — Ekaterina Vasilyevna Kalygina, PhD in Economics, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Hotel and Restaurant Business at the Graduate School of Management; 2nd place — Irina Ivanovna Belozerova, PhD in Law, Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Forensic Science at the Law Institute; 3rd place — Lyubov Vasilyevna Timoschenkova, Teacher of Continuing Education at the Department of Russian Language No. 4 at the Russian Language Institute.
Social Sciences:
1st place — Tatyana Igorevna Larina, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; 2nd place — Milana Magomed-Salievna Abueva, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Finance, Accounting and Auditing, Faculty of Economics; 3rd place — Aylara Batyrovna Orazova, Assistant Professor of the Department of Customs, Institute of Foreign Economic Security and Customs Affairs.
The Audience Choice Award was won by Lyubov Vasilyevna Timoschenkova, a teacher of additional education at the Russian Language Department No. 4 of the Russian Language Institute.
The overall winner of the competition was Alikhan Akhmedovich Elyasov, a teacher of supplementary education at the Institute of Foreign Languages at RUDN University. We spoke with him and learned the secret to his success.
Tell us about your path to RUDN and how you came to teaching.
My journey at RUDN University began with a dream of receiving a high-quality education and immersing myself in a multicultural environment. I've always been passionate about languages, especially English, and the university provided me with the opportunity not only to study it at a high level but also to interact with students from other countries. I strived to maximize my potential: I actively participated and presented at international conferences and language clubs, received prestigious scholarships for my academic and research achievements, and led student initiatives. I'm happy to have completed this journey, graduating with honors and becoming the best graduate of the Class of 2024.
But at some point, I realized that my accumulated skills and achievements were truly valuable when I could help others master new things more easily and achieve success. It was then that I realized how much I wanted to share my knowledge, inspire others, and see how students' eyes light up when they began to understand and speak a foreign language. That's how I came to teach. Perhaps it was this student experience, my pursuit of intellectual growth, and my desire to share information that helped me in the competition.
What subjects do you teach?
I've been teaching foreign languages, particularly English, for many years. My love of explanation and desire to teach probably began in my childhood. I always enthusiastically helped my friends with their homework, and this early mentoring experience later led me to believe that teaching was my calling, which ultimately determined my professional path.
Do you have a special training system?
My method is based on the desire to create the most positive and inspiring atmosphere in every lesson. I believe that this is the environment in which students feel comfortable, unafraid to speak up, ask questions, and make mistakes. I actively use a variety of modern tools: memes, videos, music, game elements, interactive presentations, and online platforms. I am constantly developing new ways to present material, striving to make each lesson unique and keep students coming back for more.
What do you consider most important in a teacher’s work?
In my opinion, the key to teaching is not simply imparting knowledge but cultivating interest. It's important not only to explain the material but also to inspire students. As Socrates said, "There's a sun in every person, just let it shine." A teacher should both imbue students with knowledge and awaken their curiosity, teaching them to think and seek answers independently, creating an atmosphere in which everyone feels valued and capable. The key is to create an environment where students feel supported and confident in their abilities. After all, even the most difficult topic becomes easier when there's someone who believes in your success.
"The Best Lecturer at RUDN University" is a highly prestigious professional excellence competition. What criteria did the jury use to evaluate the participants?
This is a truly large-scale event that allows all RUDN University faculty to demonstrate their professionalism and share experiences. Participants were evaluated based on several key criteria: lecture content, logical and structured presentation, oratorical skills, creative delivery, and, of course, mastery of effective audience communication techniques. It was important not just to present a topic, but to do so in an engaging and understandable way—one that would leave the audience wanting to learn more. The jury also looked for lectures that met modern educational standards, as well as interactivity and the ability to engage the audience.
The final round took place in person. What did the jury note about your presentation on "Memes as a Tool for Learning Language and Culture in the Digital Age"?
It was incredibly exciting. I'm delighted that my idea resonated with the jury. I was especially pleased to hear that the presentation was interactive and dynamic. I tried to show that memes aren't just entertainment, but a powerful tool for learning language and culture, as they reflect current trends, humor, and the values of modern society. To engage the audience and create a lighthearted atmosphere, I began with a simple and fun task. Each participant was given a set of 3D stickers featuring funny cats and dogs. The goal was to describe the mood of these cute animals using new words and expressions from the lecture.
The students immediately perked up. Laughter erupted in the audience, and a lively discussion ensued. Everyone was eager to come up with the most creative answer. We also analyzed numerous visual examples, the linguistic features of memes, and their cultural context. The jury noted that the lecture was not only informative but also truly engaging, and even suggested developing a full-fledged course on using memes in English language teaching based on it. I am grateful to the jury for their high praise of my work and their support in developing this idea.
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