Joy Downen 
Introduction
Hi! I'm Joy! I believe the best learning happens when students are genuinely enjoying themselves, so I bring creativity and energy into every lesson — whether that's through storytelling, games, or hands-on activities that make language come alive. Outside the classroom, I love exploring new places, diving into a good book, and expressing myself through music and the arts. I'm excited to bring that same warmth and enthusiasm to my next classroom!
Basics
Work Experience
Delivered comprehensive ESL instruction to elementary students (Grades 1–6) in small-group classes of 6, covering phonics, vocabulary, reading & writing, speaking & conversation, and exam preparation. Adapted curriculum to suit a wide range of age groups and proficiency levels. Tracked and reported individual student progress to support academic development. Employed a balanced teaching approach combining structured lessons with communicative, activity-based learning to maximize student engagement and outcomes.
Responsibilities
Twice a semester, I was responsible for writing progress reports for my students. The reports focused on stating observations I had made of the student, noting areas they should improve upon, and giving advice on how to improve in these areas. These reports were then used by the school counselor to communicate with the student's parents.
For each essay completed by my students, I graded and provided feedback for the students. The feedback would address grammatical errors, usually with a focus on currently learned grammar in class. Also, the feedback focused on essay structures and how to logically communicate information through their essays. Students would apply this feedback in their final drafts.
For reading-based subjects, I created supplemental worksheets that had questions based on the reading that were used during class. These worksheets focused on helping the students articulate the main ideas of passages. Outside of the classroom, these worksheets were designed to help students study for reading tests. For vocabulary, I created additional vocabulary worksheets that focused on areas that I noticed students were struggling in based on their vocabulary test results.
Education
120-Hour Premium TEFL Course Incorporating 50-hr TEFL, 30-hr Grammar & Language Awareness, 20-hr Video Observation, 10-hr Telephone Teaching and 10-hr Teaching Large Classes Courses
Completed 8 hours of student teaching with adult refugees.
Deans List 3.9/4.0 GPA