The trip along a new path
When I wrote my first article more than a year ago, I shared the story of my decision to spend a career as an English educator as a second language (ESL) in pursuit of a path in the educational design (ID). It was in December 2025 – and since then, so many things have evolved. This is the story of my teacher ESL teacher to the educational designer.
The pandemic radically moved the educational landscape, and I started to question the long -term sustainability of ESL teaching as I knew it. I had spent years working in close collaboration with adult learners, helping them achieve their linguistic goals, but I knew that I needed a new direction. I wanted to continue to support learners in a way that felt more evolving, flexible and aligned with the direction of education.
Discovery
It was during this period that I discovered the possibilities of educational design. The idea of mixing the theory of learning, content development and technology have triggered something in me. It looked like a natural extension of the skills I had already built and the bridge that I was looking for between teaching and technology. The educational design allowed me to create engaging and impactful learning experiences that could reach a much higher number of people than a traditional class has never been able.
Back to school to build my foundation
To prepare for this new management, I decided to return to school and officially study the domain. I signed up for the program of “Pedagogical design certificate at Washington University (USA), which I finished in June 2025. The program became a pivotal moment in my trip. I acquired a solid understanding of the theories of fundamental learning, learned to design with the experience of the learner and accelerated practical skills by using standard creation tools.
One of the program's take -out dishes was the focus on the user -centered design – an approach that is already familiar to me. As an independent ESL instructor working with adult professionals, I have designed lessons adapted to the specific needs, the history and the objectives of my learners. Without realizing it, I had always practiced the design focused on the learner. Seeing how my experience aligned with the principles of identification was affirmative and gave me more confidence in my ability to adapt to this new field.
Construction skills and a portfolio from zero
The program diploma did not mean that I was immediately ready to start working or consulting. The educational design is a practical area, and even if I had the academic foundation, I needed to develop practical skills with tools entirely new to me. Getting familiar with creation tools marked a significant difference in the traditional teaching material that I had used. I have devoted several months to experiment, develop projects and learn to build complete lessons from zero.
At the same time, I also conceived and developed my professional website to present my work. I built it from zero while developing simultaneously on five complete ESL courses and a non -esl course to highlight my range. Juggling with content development and web design was not easy, but it was a crucial element to present myself as a credible educational designer. My goal was to create a cohesive digital space which reflected both my educational approach and my technical capacities.
The role of AI in my design process
Another important aspect of my learning journey has been to understand the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational design. We now live in a time when technology is progressing quickly and AI is no longer a futuristic concept – it is a necessary tool. As I have designed and created my courses and my portfolio, I also spent time controlling the integration of AI in my design process to improve efficiency and creativity. And all this was not something that happened overnight. Like learning any tool, it took time to understand how to use AI in a responsible and creative way, the brainstorming of content ideas to rationalize visual design and even help accessibility.
Now I regularly use AI as assistant in my workflow. It helps ideation, organization, support writing and improving the learner's interactivity. Rather than replacing the work I do, it increases my abilities, which allows me to work more effectively and focus on deeper aspects of the design. I believe that AI is something that all new educational designers should take the time to learn, not only as a trend but as a vital skill to remain relevant in the field.
How my experience is strengthening my identity practice
Initially during my transition from the teacher ESL to the educational designer, I feared that my history would reduce my opportunities. The educational design covers industries far beyond linguistic education. What I learned is that my ESL experience is a force. Working with adult learners taught me to effectively structure information, simplify complex concepts and adapt content to meet a variety of styles and learning needs.
These skills are essential in educational design, especially when designing training for a global or multilingual audience. My experience gave me a sensitivity to the way different learners approach the content, and I transported this state of mind to each course that I build. I now approach the educational conception not only as a technical discipline, but also as the profession of the learner anchored to empathy and adaptability.
Enter the council, one step at a time
I have not decided to become a consultant. At the start, I just wanted to find a way to apply my teaching experience in a new way. But over time, it has become clear that the council allowed me to define my way, combining freelance freedom with the strategic state of mind of design. Now, with a complete wallet and a clear orientation, I just started my advice path. I am not quite sure where this path will lead, but I am delighted to see where it takes me.
I work continuously on new projects, expanding my skills beyond ESL while remaining anchored in my fundamental expertise. I learn to position my services, to communicate my value to customers and to remain flexible as I grow in this area.
Advice for others considering the yo id quarter quarter
If you plan to go to the educational design, here are some points to remember from my own experience of passing a teacher of ESL to an educational designer:
- Find your niche
Your previous experience is an asset. Whether in health care, education or business training, look at what you already know. The expertise in matters adds real value to this field. - Master the tools
Becoming qualified in tools is the key to creating impactful learning experiences. Give yourself time to practice, explore and experiment. AI can be a powerful design assistant when used in a thoughtful way. - Create a portfolio
Educational design is an exhibition field. Develop a portfolio that highlights your skills, approach and creativity. Include a mixture of types of projects to demonstrate versatility. - Embrace the learning curve
This is not a career in which you can rush. Take the time to build solid foundations. Focus on quality compared to speed and do not be discouraged by slow progress. - Advice requires a strategy
This is not just what you can build, but how you position yourself. Be clear to who you serve, how you help and what makes your work unique.
Always learning, always growing
The transition of a teacher of ESL to an educational designer was like a next natural step, not because I had all the answers, but because it gave me a way to carry my passion for teaching in a new space. Although the process took more time than what I expected, the time I spent learning, building and thinking was invaluable.
I am at the start of my advice journey, and I do not yet know how it will take place. But what I know is that I have never felt more prepared or aligned with the work I do. If you are on the fence to make a similar change, believe that it is normal not to understand everything. Start small, stay curious and let each step learn something new. The growth you gain along the way is worth every moment.
At Learnopoly, Finn has championed a mission to deliver unbiased, in-depth reviews of online courses that empower learners to make well-informed decisions. With over a decade of experience in financial services, he has honed his expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, cultivating both a sharp analytical perspective and a collaborative spirit. A lifelong learner, Finn’s commitment to creating a trusted guide for online education was ignited by a frustrating encounter with biased course reviews.
