Meet the Vision Behind English Xpress

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I'm on a mission to spread the love of language and learning as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. Let me take you on a journey through my story – full of ups, downs, and lots of heart.

Who Am I?

In a nutshell, I'm just a fun, outgoing, and goal-driven teacher who found a calling in making the world a bit smaller through the wonderful language of English.

How did I end up teaching ESL?

Now imagine this wild ride: I marched into college all set to conquer the world with a social work degree, and guess what? Plot twist! Fast forward to graduation, and I'm like, "Nah, let's try something completely different!"

So, here I am, armed with a degree in social work, deciding to jump headfirst into the magical world of teaching just weeks later. Talk about a career U-turn! 🚗💨

Why teaching? Well, turns out, I've got a knack for helping kids and families, but the "how" part was a mystery. Until, of course, I stumbled into the world of teaching. Picture me, a fresh-faced graduate, landing my first gig as a Kindergarten teacher in the heart of New Orleans. 🎓🍎

Now, they say Kindergarten is where it all begins – math, language arts, and the sacred art of reading. Who knew those little munchkins were the pioneers of literary greatness? 📚

✨Hold onto your hats, because here's the kicker to my teaching saga! Picture this: there I am, rocking my Kindergarten teacher hat, when a 2nd-grade teacher next door is wrestling with teaching a student whose native language isn't English. Cue the superhero music because here comes my cape moment!

Every time I dived into the world of English Language Arts (ELA), we decided to let this little language warrior join my squad of kindergartners for some hardcore phonics and grammar sessions. 🦸‍♂️🔤

As I watched this kiddo conquer the mysteries of basic grammar and vowel sounds, a lightbulb went off in my head – ELA is where the magic happens! Suddenly, I found myself on a mission to make learning those ABCs, grammar rules, and vowel symphonies a top priority for every student.

Now, fast forward through the school year, and my summer plans took a wild turn. I started scouting opportunities to teach abroad, thinking I'd dip my toes in the teaching pool elsewhere. To my astonishment, I received over 10 offers from four different countries. It was like a teaching world tour! 🌎📚

But you know what seemed like the ultimate challenge? China! It was the rigorous adventure I never knew I needed. So here I am, ready to share the wonders of ELA with a global twist.

Buckle up for some international language fun – I'm taking my teaching escapades to China!

My Crazy Ride So Far:

Wow, my journey in China was like a whirlwind adventure! From rigorous teaching to even more stringent learning, it was an experience unlike any other. Six months of intense training later, I proudly received my teaching certification and dove into the classroom with confidence.

Watching my students grasp the intricacies of proper English was a victory. I poured my heart and soul into teaching, and seeing my students grow alongside my love for the English language was incredibly rewarding.

But just as I was hitting my stride, COVID-19 threw a curveball, and I found myself back in the States, navigating a new chapter in my teaching career. After some soul-searching (and a lot of job applications), I landed in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia.

Teaching children was my bread and butter, but sometimes life throws you a curveball. So, I embraced the challenge and made the leap from teaching kids to adults eager to master English for both everyday life and their professional endeavors.

And you know what? It's been an absolute blast! My network of students has expanded beyond my wildest dreams – from Georgia to all corners of the globe. With students hailing from over 10 different countries, every day is a cultural exchange and a lesson in the beauty of language diversity.

Teaching online and in person has its challenges, but the opportunity to showcase my skills as an ESL teacher on a global stage? Priceless. I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to make a difference, one English lesson at a time.

Here's to embracing change, seizing opportunities, and spreading the joy of learning across the world!

Cheers to endless possibilities,

Shavonna Austin 🌍📝

What Makes Me Tick:

I'm not just about textbooks and grammar rules – I'm all about dreaming greatness, doing greatness, all the while, becoming greatness in a casual way. Let's make learning English a blast, filled with laughs, aha moments, and maybe a few dance breaks!

High Fives and Gold Stars:

TEFL Certification 120 hours (Teaching of English as a Foreign Language)

Walden University
Master of Science, May 2021

  • Major: Education (Early Childhood Studies)

    ~Concentration: Administration and Leadership

  • Overall GPA: 3.55

Dillard University
Bachelor of Arts, May 2018

  • Major: Social Work

  • Overall GPA: 4.0 (Summa Cum Laude)

Awards:

  • Dean’s List (3 semesters)

  • Award of Excellence

  • Alpha Chi Honors Society