My Journey in Language Education and Game Design
Hello! I’m Oxana Timakova, a passionate language educator with expertise in game design and innovative teaching methodologies. My professional journey began in design, where I earned a Master of Science in Industrial and Product Design, providing me with a strong foundation in creating engaging, functional experiences. In 2016, I transitioned to language education, and since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse student populations both as a professional language teacher and at Secondary School Civico Polo Scolastico Manzoni, Milan, Italy.
My educational background now spans multiple disciplines: from my design foundation to a Master’s in Intercultural Competence and Management from the University of Verona, a qualification training in teaching Russian as a foreign language from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, and most recently, a Master’s in Game-Based Learning from the University of Urbino. This interdisciplinary background allows me to approach education from both creative and pedagogical perspectives.
Why Game-Based Learning?
My interest in Game-Based Learning emerged from observing how traditional teaching methods often fail to engage today’s students, who are growing up in a rapidly changing digital environment. As both a designer and educator, I found that games—particularly board games—create natural learning contexts that foster engagement, motivation, and deeper understanding.
I don’t just implement existing games—I design my own educational materials that bridge my background in design with my teaching experience. My creation BooQuest is a specialised game designed for literature and language learning, combining storytelling elements with language practice in an engaging format.
Tutoring and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
One of the most rewarding aspects of my teaching career in the Italian secondary school has been collaborating with colleagues across different subject areas. I supervised the learning process of foreign students, working closely with teachers from various disciplines to adapt and create materials that support language acquisition while teaching subject content.
This experience has given me deep insight into the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) approach, where students learn both language and subject content simultaneously.
Through tutoring and mentoring, I’ve developed expertise in identifying students’ individual learning needs and creating customised learning paths. My design background has been invaluable in this process, allowing me to craft visually engaging, intuitively usable materials that enhance the learning experience. This personalised approach helps students connect with language learning in meaningful ways, building confidence and competence simultaneously.
Why This Website
This website represents my commitment to sharing practical resources and insights with fellow educators. Whether you’re a language teacher looking to enliven your classroom, a subject teacher interested in incorporating more language practice, or simply curious about the potential of Game-Based Learning, I hope you’ll find valuable ideas here to inspire your teaching journey.
Feel free to reach out with questions or to share your own experiences with Game-Based Learning — I believe we grow stronger as educators when we learn from each other!