About Me

Hi there! I´m Shola, an English Language and Culture Coach from the USA. I speak with a neutral American English accent & learned Spanish as my second language. While living in the States, I earned a Master´s degree in World Language Education and a Bachelor´s degree in Spanish & Education. I became a certified educator & taught in the public school system for a decade.

Then, I decided it was time to pursue my passion for travel more seriously. So, I packed up & moved to Spain where I´ve been teaching English since 2016. In addition to working in primary, secondary & language schools, I´ve also taught thousands of online classes to kids, teens and adults. In total, I have 18 years of professional teaching experience.

Pedagogy

Input is a prerequisite to produce output, and that´s why I recommend students listen to podcasts, audiobooks, series and movies as much as possible. In my lessons, we always listen to realia (authentic sources) through audio files or videos. I gently push students to repeat vocabulary and structures, so they get the most benefit from our time together.

Some mantras to live (and study) by include: Practice makes progress! Consistency is key!

My educational background and teaching experience combined with my travel record enable me to offer cultural insights and real world applications in my English lessons. Using my firsthand experience as a language learner, I lead classes with patience and empathy. Furthermore, I pay close attention to detail and correct the most common mistakes made by native Spanish speakers learning English.

View my CV here.

my daily observation of the Monstera deliciosa ´ s development

Growth Mindset

I chose the Monstera deliciosa tropical plant leaf as my logo to symbolize the growth mindset that I´ve cultivated throughout my own personal life and foster in the lives of my students and clients. I first came in contact with this plant (don´t worry -- it´s not poisonous) in 2021 when I was renting a beautiful, traditional home in Montellano, Sevilla. This incredible plant was on the patio, and I had the opportunity to not only care for it but also observe its growth process. As you can see in the photo, I documented its daily development. I was mesmerized by the way the fresh leaf resembled a chrysalis, which slowly unraveled until it ultimately emerged much like a butterfly unveiling its intricately patterned wings for its first flight.

If you´re interested in learning more about the topic of a growth mindset, sign up for my email list & get my FREE 5-PAGE PDF GUIDE.

Here´s one example of my cultural lessons: Ever wondered why people wear green on St. Patrick’s Day? Or why we talk about leprechauns and four-leaf clovers? In this short video, I’ll teach you fun facts about St. Paddy’s Day while helping you improve your English! 🎩🍀