Welcome to JoannaESL! My journey to becoming an ESL teacher has been unique, and I’d love to share my story with you. Let me take you through the key milestones that led me to pursue my passion for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and content creation.
1991-2007 Early Years: Discovering My Love for English
I was born in a town in northern Poland and began my English learning journey at the age of 6. Initially, it was all about singing songs and basic language skills, but soon my parents enrolled me in a private language academy, where I excelled. I quickly reached the top of my class and discovered the importance of mastering English, thanks to some incredible teachers who made learning fun and engaging.
2007-2011 Living and Studying Abroad: A New Chapter in Dubai
In 2007, I moved to Dubai, UAE, marking a huge turning point in my life. It was a challenge to adjust to a new culture and environment, but within two years, I transitioned from English as a Second Language to English as a First Language at Emirates International School – Jumeirah. My experience in Dubai helped me improve my English skills and prepared me for the next steps in my academic and professional life.
2011-2017 Academic Pursuits: Combining Passion with Education
After high school, I pursued my love for math, science, and nature by studying environmental engineering. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in wastewater treatment from the University of Technology in Częstochowa, Poland, followed by a Master’s degree from Aalborg University in Denmark. During this time, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Greece and Portugal through two Erasmus programs. Although I enjoyed my studies, I realized it actually wasn’t my true passion…
2018 A Career Shift: Finding My Path in ESL Teaching
In 2018, after working in the environmental engineering field for six months, I decided to make a dramatic career change. I moved to Spain to explore the world of ESL teaching. I had taken an online TEFL course during my break between university degrees and realized that teaching English was my true calling. Soon after arriving in Spain, I secured a part-time position at This is England in Zafra. Despite the challenges, I quickly fell in love with the dynamic nature of teaching and the creativity it involved.
2020 Certifications and Growth: Earning My CELTA
In March 2020, the pandemic forced me to re-evaluate my career and teaching methods. During this time, I enrolled in a CELTA course offered by CLIC Seville IH. Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, I successfully completed the CELTA course with a Pass A grade, further developing my skills as an ESL teacher.
2020-2021 Becoming Familiar with Online and Hybrid Teaching
In 2020, I moved to Altea, Spain, and began teaching a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online classes at Eurobridge in Alicante’s city center. This experience helped me refine my teaching skills while learning how to use various online tools and platforms. However, I was unable to teach the intensive courses that I had hoped for, and due to the company’s financial difficulties and a challenging economic situation, I was ultimately not asked to return for the following year.
2021-Present Current and Future Endeavours: Continuous Growth as an Online ESL Teacher
In 2021, I embraced freelancing full-time and continue to expand my career, finally becoming who I have always wanted to be (I think!) – an online ESL teacher and content creator. This is also the year when joannaesl became a reality! The journey is still unfolding, and I’m excited about the future of my teaching career. However, in the meantime I managed to get a few stable gigs…
2022-Present Teaching Private Students online
Since 2022, I’ve been teaching private students through Preply, helping learners from around the world improve their English skills. My lessons are personalized to meet each student’s unique needs, whether it’s for travel, business, or general language improvement. In addition, I had the opportunity to work with groups and decision-makers who were evaluating Preply as a tool for their companies to provide English training to employees.
2023-Present Working as a Language Consultant
In 2023, I expanded my expertise and started working as a Language Consultant for Kleinson, where I teach online Business English lessons and Cambridge exam preparation to corporate clients. These lessons focus on improving professional communication skills, enhancing business vocabulary, and providing practical language solutions for employees at various levels within companies.
As an online ESL teacher and content creator, I’m still navigating the path ahead, continuing to refine my approach and grow my online presence. While I’ve gained valuable experience teaching both online and in-person, I’m excited about the future and hope to focus more on content creation, specifically developing engaging and effective lesson plans. I’m looking forward to expanding my work in this area, helping learners worldwide with high-quality materials that cater to their needs.