Student Seat
My Story
Hi, I’m Joy Young.
I’m a TESOL teacher who stepped back into the student seat — literally.
After years of supporting English learners, I moved abroad and began studying Spanish again at the B1/B2 level. I quickly realized that learning language as an adult is vulnerable, frustrating, and humbling.
That struggle opened my eyes to what my students go through every day. I had learned about it in theory, but actually being the one lost and overwhelmed was different.
Where I’ve Taught
I’ve taught in a bilingual school in Mexico, U.S. public schools, an online program serving students in China, and in small-group literacy and language programs for diverse learners.
I also hold a Master of Education in TESOL, which shaped my understanding of language acquisition, instructional design, and the emotional experience of learning a new language.
The Moment Everything Shifted
In my Spanish classes, I began to feel the very challenges my students had been trying to describe to me for years.
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understanding more than I could express
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feeling “behind” even when I wasn’t
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freezing when I was called on
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wanting the teacher to slow down
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feeling exhausted from the mental load
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reverting to English when stressed or overwhelmed
As a dyslexic learner, the struggle felt doubly intense.
But it also made the learning deeper — and the insights impossible to ignore.
One day in class, I realized I wasn’t just learning Spanish.
I was learning my students.
Why I Started Back in the Student Seat
This project began as a personal journal — a place to process my experiences, frustrations, and breakthroughs while learning Spanish abroad.
But the more I wrote, the more I realized these reflections weren’t just for me.
Teachers everywhere could benefit from remembering what learning actually feels like:
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slow
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messy
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vulnerable
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exhausting
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deeply human
My goal is simple:
to help teachers reconnect with the student perspective so we can teach with more empathy, clarity, and confidence.
My Perspective
What I share here is shaped by a unique blend of experiences:
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TESOL educator
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language learner
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dyslexic thinker
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adult student navigating Spanish
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teacher learning from students by becoming one
This combination allows me to articulate the emotions, challenges, and cognitive struggles students feel — especially the things they can’t always explain.
What You’ll Find Here
On this site and in my PD work, I share:
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honest reflections from the student seat
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insights into the emotional experience of learning
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cross-language lessons from my Spanish journey
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dyslexia-informed perspectives
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practical reminders for teachers
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stories that reconnect teaching to empathy
Let’s Learn Together
If you’re a teacher, a leader, or someone who wants to better understand the learners in front of you, I’m glad you’re here.