Reading Adventures with Irina Skibenko

It’s summer and that means more time for pleasure reading! What books are on your reading list? What about helping the young people in your life by providing engaging stories and books?

In this episode, my guest, Irina Skibenko, and I discuss the importance of encouraging young people to read, improve their skills, discover the world, and become life-long learners.

About Irina Skibenko

Irina is a teacher and author from Ukraine who has written three adventure stories featuring Nina and her dog Eve. Preteens from around the world can join Irina’s online programs to discuss the places that Nina visits and improve their English by reading, listening, writing and speaking.

1. “Nina and Eve. First trip to the Sea.” Oludeniz, Turkey

2. “Nina and Eve at Schonbrunn Palace.” Vienna, Austria

3. “Nina and Eve in the Middle of the Indian Ocean.” Reunion Island, France

She (Nina) is a mixture of the personalities of my young students and maybe a little bit of me. She’s a very friendly, loving, caring girl who likes exploring and discovering. . . . Eve is the family dog, a dachshund.

Vocabulary from our conversation

It was destined – it was certain to happen, as in fate
It’s a calling – a strong wish to do a job, usually one that is socially valuable; it’s a heart-felt desire
Compensation – the money received by an employee from an employer as a salary or wages
Salary – a fixed regular payment to an employee, often expressed as an annual sum
Preteens – children ages generally ages 9-12
To enhance – to improve the quality or value

Most important, I’m trying to change their mindset that learning English can be exciting and fun. And reading can be engaging. If they really start to love it, then they can become more autonomous in their learning and they are life-long learners. I think this is the most important goal.

-Irina Skibenko

Links

Learn more about Irina’s books and program

Etsy shop – https://etsy.me/3tsmpZq

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/smartstoryspace/

Website – www.smartstory.club

Award winning book lists from American Library Association

Books that received the Caldecott Award

Books that received the Newbery Award

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