Olena Bazalukova
About the author

Olena Bazalukova

Olena Bazalukova is a philologist and language instructor with an academic background in foreign languages as well as many years of experience in Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF) and exam preparation.

Her professional work combines a solid philological education with practical experience in the German education system. Her focus lies on the structured teaching of the German language and on targeted preparation for standardized language exams.

In her work, she places particular emphasis on clarity, structure, and transparency. Her goal is not only to support learners linguistically, but also to provide them with confidence in dealing with exam formats, task logic, and assessment criteria.

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Education

Olena Bazalukova graduated in 2003 from the National Linguistic University of Kyiv (Ukraine).
She completed a full higher education program in the field of Language and Literature (English, German) and obtained the qualification of philologist and teacher of German and English.
The university degree is available in a certified German translation.

Language Qualifications and Personal Exam Experience

Olena Bazalukova has personal, documented exam experience within the German examination system:

  • Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ, level B1)
    Exam taken on 01.09.2023 at VHS Dortmund
    Result: B1 – very well fulfilled (all exam parts)
  • telc German Test for the Workplace B2
    Exam taken on 28.09.2024
    Overall result: B2 (208.5 out of 240 points)
    Special feature: Speaking 60/60 points

This personal exam experience forms a central foundation for her work in targeted preparation for DTZ and telc exams.

Professional Training and Practice in Germany

From October to December 2022, Olena Bazalukova participated in the program “Lehrkräfte PLUS” at the University of Duisburg-Essen, funded among others by the DAAD and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The program was designed for refugee teachers and included:

  • subject-related language training (level B1+)
  • educational science workshops
  • career counseling
  • a short internship (observation placement) with 148 teaching units at a German primary school

Practical Experience in Language Testing and Examinations

From January to April 2025, Olena Bazalukova participated in the Special Initiative “Partnering in Business with Germany”, a program of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

As part of this program, she completed a job shadowing placement at the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development (g.a.s.t.), the central institution responsible for the development and administration of standardized language tests in Germany.

This practical experience provided her with in-depth insights into:

  • the structure and logic of standardized language exams
  • assessment criteria
  • task formats and typical exam requirements

Main Areas of Work

On the platform deutsch-vorbereitung.com, Olena Bazalukova publishes well-founded professional content on:

  • Deutsch als Fremdsprache
  • targeted exam preparation (DTZ, telc)
  • typical mistakes and assessment logic in language exams
  • structured and exam-oriented learning

All content is based on her own education, personal exam experience, and practical work within the German education system.

Integration Award of the City of Dortmund 2025

Integration Award of the City of Dortmund 2025

Certificate for the “Partnering in Business with Germany” programme

Certificate for the “Partnering in Business with Germany” programme

Participation in the “Lehrkräfte PLUS Duisburg–Essen” programme

Participation in the “Lehrkräfte PLUS Duisburg–Essen” programme

Certificate “Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer”

Certificate “Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer”

Certificate “Deutsch-Test für den Beruf B2”

Certificate “Deutsch-Test für den Beruf B2”

Diploma, degree programme in “Language and Literature (English, German)”

Diploma, degree programme in “Language and Literature (English, German)”

Author publications

Publications found: 104

Olena Bazalukova
ÖSD B1 Sprechen Teil 2: Redemittel, Fehler und Tipps
B1
ÖSD
Speaking
ÖSD B1 Presentation: Useful Phrases for All 5 Slides, Common Mistakes and Strategies

Master the ÖSD B1 Presentation: Useful Phrases for All 5 Slides, 12 Common Mistakes and Helpful Strategies. With a Time Plan, Tips and a Sample Presentation.

Olena Bazalukova
ÖSD B1 Sprechen Präsentation: Ablauf, Bewertung und Themen
B1
ÖSD
Speaking
ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 2 “Presenting a Topic”: Structure, Assessment and Topics

ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 2 Explained Simply: Everything About the Exam Structure, Assessment, Points and Common Presentation Topics. With the Structure of All 5 Slides and Exam Tips.

Olena Bazalukova
DTZ B1 Prüfung ab 1. November: Dobrindt verschärft die Regeln
B1
DTZ
DTZ B1 Exam from November 2026: No B1 Certificate Without the Writing Task Anymore

DTZ B1 Exam: From November 1, 2026, No B1 Level Without the Writing Task. What Dobrindt's Interior Ministry Is Changing and Which Points in Writing, Listening and Reading Now Count.

Olena Bazalukova
ÖSD B1 Sprechen Teil 1: Ablauf, Bewertung und Themen
B1
ÖSD
Listening
ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 1 “Planning Something Together”: Structure, Assessment and Topics

ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 1 explained simply: Everything about the exam structure, assessment, points and typical topics in “Planning Something Together”. With a sample dialogue and useful tips.

Olena Bazalukova
Gemeinsam etwas planen: Fallen, häufige Fehler und Strategie
B1
ÖSD
Speaking
ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 1 – “Planning Something Together” Dialogues: Pitfalls, Common Mistakes and Strategies

Master ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 1: Avoid common mistakes in “Planning Something Together”. With strategies, useful phrases, tips and a sample dialogue.

Olena Bazalukova
Goethe B1 Hören Teil 4: Ablauf, Bewertung und Themen
B1
Goethe
Listening
Goethe B1 Listening Part 4: Format, Scoring and Topics

Goethe B1 Listening Part 4 explained simply: Everything about the format, radio discussion, 8 questions, scoring and common topics. With exam preparation tips.

Olena Bazalukova
Goethe B1 Hören Teil 4: Typische Fallen, häufige Fehler und Strategie
B1
Goethe
Listening
Goethe B1 Listening Part 4: Common Traps, Frequent Mistakes and Strategies

Master Goethe B1 Listening Part 4: Discover 8 common traps, frequent mistakes and smart strategies for the radio discussion. With examples and answers.

Olena Bazalukova
Goethe B1 Hören Teil 3: Ablauf, Bewertung und Themen
B1
Goethe
Listening
Goethe B1 Listening Part 3: Format, Scoring and Topics

Goethe B1 Listening Part 3 explained simply: Learn about the format, tasks, scoring and common topics. Includes a true-or-false example with answers.

Olena Bazalukova
Goethe B1 Hören Teil 3: Fallen, häufige Fehler und Strategie
B1
Goethe
Listening
Goethe B1 Listening Part 3: Common Traps, Mistakes and Strategies

Master Goethe B1 Listening Part 3: Discover 10 common traps, frequent mistakes and smart strategies. With true-or-false examples and answers.

Olena Bazalukova
DTB B2 Sprechen Teil 1: Präsentation – Ablauf, Themen, Bewertung
B2
Beruf
Speaking
DTB B2 Speaking Part 1: Procedure, Topics, Assessment

DTB B2 Speaking Part 1: Procedure, All 8 Official Presentation Topics, Assessment Criteria, Sample Presentation, Useful Phrases and Common Mistakes

Olena Bazalukova
Über sich sprechen: B1 DTZ Ablauf und Bewertung B1 DTZ
B1
DTZ
Speaking
Procedure and Assessment for DTZ B1 “Über mich”

DTZ Speaking Part 1 (“Über mich”) Explained Simply: How the Introduction Works, the 6 Key Points, Examiner Questions, and Points for 1A and 1B – with Official Sources.

Olena Bazalukova
B1 DTZ Sprechen Teil 1: Was die Prüfer wirklich testen
B1
DTZ
Speaking
What Is Tested in DTZ Speaking Part 1 (“Über mich”)?

DTZ Speaking Part 1 Has No Wrong Answers – but 7 Hidden Rules: Where Do the Questions Come From, What Does a Short Answer Show, and What Does “nicht verstanden” Mean?

Olena Bazalukova
ÖSD B1 Sprechen Teil 2: Redemittel, Fehler und Tipps
B1
ÖSD
Speaking
ÖSD B1 Presentation: Useful Phrases for All 5 Slides, Common Mistakes and Strategies

Master the ÖSD B1 Presentation: Useful Phrases for All 5 Slides, 12 Common Mistakes and Helpful Strategies. With a Time Plan, Tips and a Sample Presentation.

Olena Bazalukova
ÖSD B1 Sprechen Präsentation: Ablauf, Bewertung und Themen
B1
ÖSD
Speaking
ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 2 “Presenting a Topic”: Structure, Assessment and Topics

ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 2 Explained Simply: Everything About the Exam Structure, Assessment, Points and Common Presentation Topics. With the Structure of All 5 Slides and Exam Tips.

Olena Bazalukova
DTZ B1 Prüfung ab 1. November: Dobrindt verschärft die Regeln
B1
DTZ
DTZ B1 Exam from November 2026: No B1 Certificate Without the Writing Task Anymore

DTZ B1 Exam: From November 1, 2026, No B1 Level Without the Writing Task. What Dobrindt's Interior Ministry Is Changing and Which Points in Writing, Listening and Reading Now Count.

Olena Bazalukova
ÖSD B1 Sprechen Teil 1: Ablauf, Bewertung und Themen
B1
ÖSD
Listening
ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 1 “Planning Something Together”: Structure, Assessment and Topics

ÖSD B1 Speaking Part 1 explained simply: Everything about the exam structure, assessment, points and typical topics in “Planning Something Together”. With a sample dialogue and useful tips.

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