About

The Story Behind

EPIC Language Training

I started teaching English in 2007 in a church basement in Atlanta, Georgia, working with a group of learners who had recently immigrated to the United States.

Before that, I had been working in advertising after completing a degree in communications, and was looking for a way to support myself while traveling.

I had never taught before and, to be honest, I was terrified. The director of the nonprofit handed me a textbook and said, “Good luck.”

That first night in class, I wasn’t quite sure what to do. So I drew a chart on the board showing the present tense in first, second, and third person — both singular and plural — and had the class repeat the forms.

Then a student raised his hand and asked, “How many tenses are there in English?”

Without thinking too much about it, I answered: twelve. Four in the present, four in the past, and four in the future. I began drawing the charts on the board and explaining how they worked together.

"As I watched the students, I could see the moment when the idea clicked — the lights coming on as the system started to make sense.

I was hooked."

Over the next several years, I continued teaching both abroad and in the United States. By 2015, my work had moved increasingly online, and in 2018 I began my Master’s degree in TESOL at the University of Colorado.

After completing my graduate studies, I began working with university programs, coaching graduate students and international scholars on the East Coast. I also spent time in K–12 education, leading an English Learner department in Tucson, Arizona and working with sheltered content instruction.

Each of these experiences shaped the way I think about language learning and communication.

In 2023, I founded EPIC Language Training, where my work evolved into what I now call communication performance training.

While my roots are in ESL, my focus today is broader. I work with international professionals as well as native speakers of English who want to strengthen their communication skills in professional environments.

In my experience, effective verbal communication often comes down to three things:

• clear articulation
• knowing when to pause
• speaking with a confident, controlled pitch

These simple elements can dramatically change how a message is received.

Alongside my coaching work, I’ve developed an extensive microlearning series grounded in adult learning theory. These short lessons are designed for busy professionals who want practical communication tools they can apply immediately.

Here at EPIC, our goal is simple: to help people communicate their ideas clearly, confidently, and effectively.

We hope to see you soon.