Vlasta Pickering Pollakova

Life before Stowe

Originally from Slovakia, I have lived in England for over a decade now. Prior to starting in the English department at Stowe, I worked at a secondary school in Kent for a few years. There I had the luck to teach some thoroughly delightful, individual and truly extraordinary students. My decision to retrain as a qualified teacher followed employment in various fields, such as PR, the automotive industry and, whilst still in Slovakia, teaching English as a foreign language. I believe that I have made the right choice and now enjoy a career that I truly believe in.

What do you enjoy most about your subject?

Literature offers endless amounts of enjoyment I believe. Imagination, questioning of the world(s) around us and of our place in it, escapism, serious contemplation of the known and unknown, love, humour ... these are just a few elements of texts that would sound familiar to any avid reader. Equally, I find language and its workings utterly fascinating. I suppose that if I had to express myself in short, I would simply say that it was 'Love at first word.'

What do you enjoy most about Stowe?

I love the fact that Stowe focuses on the growth of an individual as a whole; its friendly and supportive environment. 

What is your favourite lesson?

Any lesson that leads to (even a minor) Eureka moment for the students, a lesson that leads to an engaged discussion, a lesson that includes an element of humour. 

What do others say about you?

Although I do have some lovely cards from my ex-students commenting on support and confidence building, I do think that this question is best asked of others (at my own risk). 

Other hats

I play the flute which I find infinitely relaxing and have been writing an (ir)regular literary blog. 

Passions

Unsurprisingly, books; also theatre, discovering new places and shoes. And let's not forget my cat: Gatsby.