My name is Joel Schafer and I an educator living in the beautiful Midwestern metropolis of Chicago, Illinois though I am originally from a small farming community in rural Missouri. I have studied English language and literature, linguistics, Russian language and literature, journalism, education, and pedagogy during my academic career. Providing education to others is what I devoted my entire life to, and I would not have it any other way. I first started tutoring when I was a junior in college. My professor recommended that I tutor some of the lower level students in her Russian language course and I accepted not knowing what I was getting into. Though I was volunteering, I was obsessed with helping others evolve academically. Eventually, after completing college, I moved to Moscow, Russia to teach English there for a year. Since moving back, I have been teaching ESL in Chicago to a plethora of students from all over the world. I am currently working on my Master's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English and plan to eventually teach in high schools here in Chicago. Part of what I love about teaching is learning form my students. They might not know it, but I learn as much from them as they do from me. It really is the best job that anyone could ever have.

When I'm not teaching, grading, studying, or writing, I'm usually playing my bass guitar. Music has always been a huge part of my life and I'm sure it always will be. I also love to cook, play video games, read fiction, explore Chicago, and write creatively when I have the time.