Hi everyone, my name is Andrea. I'm an applied linguist and TESOL educator — I've taught at universities like UC Berkeley and UMass Amherst, served as a U.S. Department of State English Language Fellow, and I'm currently involved in leadership with TESOL International Association. I also do instructional design work in professional education. English has been the thread connecting my whole career — from journalism and translation early on, to now helping other educators and learners find their voice in the language. I love the moment when a learner realizes they can actually do something with English, not just study it. ⭐ Fun fact: Before I ever set foot in a classroom as a teacher, I spent 14 years working as a journalist and translator — so I'm just as comfortable chasing down a story as I am designing a lesson plan! 📅 A goal for the next six months: I'd love to see more members here build the confidence to speak up in real conversations, not just get things "grammatically right" — fluency and courage go hand in hand. Looking forward to getting to know all of you and cheering you on as you grow! 🎉