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

Certificate for the “Partnering in Business with Germany” programme

Participation in the “Lehrkräfte PLUS Duisburg–Essen” programme

Certificate “Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer”

Certificate “Deutsch-Test für den Beruf B2”

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

Speaking

B2 oral exam → Useful phrases

Practical cheat sheet of useful phrases for the oral part of the B2 exam: agreement, disagreement, partial agreement, expanding arguments, concluding the discussion. Includes examples, exercises, and a checklist.

telc

Speaking

One topic Sprechen B2 (telc) instead of seven

The standard approach in telc Speaking B2 requires preparing 7 different topics, but we offer only one. An alternative strategy for preparing for the oral part of the exam.

Wie besteht man den Dialog A2–B1 DTZ, wenn der Partner schwach ist?

DTZ

Speaking

How do you pass the A2–B1 DTZ dialogue if your partner is weak?

With the tips in our article, you’ll be well prepared for the dialogue in the A2–B1 DTZ exam – even if your partner is weak.

Deutsch im DACH-Raum: Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede

German in the DACH region: similarities and differences

German in the DACH region: differences between Germany, Austria and Switzerland — vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, plus tips for Goethe, telc and ÖSD.

Warum Prüfungsteilnehmer im Lesen Fehler machen und wie man sie vermeiden kann

Reading

Why Exam Takers Make Mistakes in Reading and How to Avoid Them

Typical Mistakes in the Reading Section of B1/B2 Exams and How to Avoid Them: Reading Strategies, Paraphrasing, Working with Details.

Professionelle Lebensläufe und Motivationsschreiben

Professional CVs and motivation letters

Why is a professional CV and a convincing motivation letter crucial for career starters?

Was tun, wenn Ihnen 1–2 Punkte beim Schreiben im DTZ fehlen?

DTZ

Writing

What to do if you are missing 1–2 points in the DTZ writing part?

Complete information and an example of how to write an official appeal if you failed the Schreiben part in the DTZ exam.

Wie man den mündlichen Teil der Prüfungen A1, A2, B1 und B2 erfolgreich besteht: Geheimnis internationaler Wörter

Speaking

How to successfully pass the speaking part of the A1, A2, B1, and B2 exams: the secret of international words

We’ll let you in on a little secret: how to prepare for and successfully pass the speaking part of the A1, A2, B1, and B2 exams using international words.

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ÖSD

Writing

B1 ÖSD Writing Part 2: structure, assessment and typical mistakes

Do not give away any points in B1 ÖSD Writing Part 2: we show you the perfect building-block structure and how you easily avoid typical mistakes with the register.

ÖSD

Writing

Topics, universal sentences and set phrases for B1 ÖSD Writing Part 1

This is how you nail the email in B1 ÖSD Writing Part 1! Learn universal set phrases for every guiding point as well as fixed building-block sentences for the perfect beginning & ending.

ÖSD

Writing

B1 ÖSD Writing Part 1: Structure, Grading, and Typical Mistakes

This is how you master the B1 ÖSD & Goethe-Zertifikat in Writing Part 1! Learn everything about the correct email structure, the 4 grading criteria, and points.