Joseph S.

Hello! My name is Joe. I’m a US-native educator from Virginia, currently based in Vientiane, Laos. Since 2016, I have specialized in helping students and professionals around the world bridge the gap between 'textbook English' and real-world communication. I am also a published writer (journalistic non-fiction).

My focus is on helping intermediate and advanced learners master the language required for global business and academia. I teach from real-world contexts, lived experiences, international developments, and so on, based on the goals of each student.

In my spare time, I am an avid learner of all things related to the social sciences and humanities.

With over 3,000 one-on-one sessions on LearnZone alone, I have built a career helping professionals in medicine, tech, finance, international business, public administration, and more, to achieve their learning goals: fluency in meetings, success in interviews, achieving their desired test scores, and so on. I hold a Master’s TEFL certification, as well as post-TEFL teacher training from the British Council, and am currently a CELTA candidate; I take great pride in ensuring that my methodology meets the highest international standards.

I began my teaching journey in 2016 as a part-time English tutor while studying Chinese in Taiwan. Since then, I have continued developing my skills as a teacher, earning further certifications and gaining experience in classrooms and private sessions in the United States, China, Thailand, and Laos. Through online platforms like LearnZone, I have gained experience working with students all around the world. I love learning about everyone's cultures and interests while helping them achieve their goals!

My approach is rooted in "English for Specific Purposes" (ESP), from an "emergent teaching" orientation. My unique international and multilingual background gives me a deep understanding of the cross-cultural communication barriers that professionals face in the global market, as well as insight into how to navigate them.

Book a trial session so that we can assess your learning needs. We will identify your specific 'bottlenecks' and determine a roadmap to reach your learning goals.

If you are looking for a teacher who can engage with you on an intellectual level while refining your professional output, I look forward to meeting you!