Announcing LanguageBird’s 2025 Instructor of the Year: Joanne Hanckowiak

We are proud to announce that Joanne Hanckowiak, French Department Instructor, Mentor, and current Interim Department Head, has been named LanguageBird’s 2025 Instructor of the Year.

This marks our first-ever Instructor of the Year award, created to celebrate the incredible talent and dedication of our global team of educators. With more than 200 instructors teaching 16+ world languages across 26 countries, LanguageBird’s success depends on the passionate professionals who bring our one-to-one, project-based learning model to life.

Why Joanne Stands Out

Nominated by fellow instructors and academic team members and selected by the LanguageBird leadership team, Joanne exemplifies the best of LanguageBird: compassion, creativity, cultural connection, and a deep commitment to students and colleagues.

Here are just a few of Joanne’s standout contributions:

✅ Attended every LanguageBird professional development workshop
✅ Compiled the French student project library
✅ Created French test prep resources for both students and instructors
✅ Stepped in as Interim Department Head with care and leadership
✅ Provides detailed, thoughtful class observations and feedback
✅ Mentors new French instructors with heart and skill
✅ Supports diverse learners with patience and flexibility
✅ Authored a general student project guide now used across departments
✅ Brings LanguageBird’s mission to life every day

“Joanne creates an incredible amount of useful material and is always ahead of the game.” – LanguageBird Instructor

“Joanne’s endless support and boundless creativity always lift the team.” – Alicia Pomares, LanguageBird French Instructor

“I love that Joanne is genuinely interested in meeting me at my level.” – LanguageBird Student

“Super amazing, awesome teacher.” – LanguageBird Student

Meet Joanne

Joanne was born and raised in Rambouillet, a town just outside of Paris, where her love for nature, music, and language flourished. She moved to the United States to pursue a Bachelor’s in Languages and Linguistics, later earning a Master’s in International Education.

Now based in Palm Coast, Florida, Joanne lives with her husband, two children, and their spirited French bulldog, Max. Whether she’s mentoring instructors or helping students refine their French pronunciation, she brings joy, authenticity, and curiosity to every lesson.

Teaching with the LanguageBird Approach

Joanne is a passionate advocate for LanguageBird’s personalized, project-based model.

“My absolute favorite aspect of LanguageBird is the project-based learning approach. I love how it’s student-driven, inquiry-based, and guided by open-ended questions. As a teacher, it’s a privilege to witness the transformation that occurs when students apply their newly acquired skills, combined with their unique talents and curiosity, to bring their projects to life.” – Joanne Hanckowiak

LanguageBird’s one-to-one lessons empower students to build fluency at their own pace, connect meaningfully with instructors, and grow through creative, real-world projects. Joanne’s work is a shining example of what this approach can make possible.

Q&A with Joanne

Q: What sparked your interest in teaching?
A: Teaching sparks joy for me every day. My mom was a dance teacher, so that influenced me as well. I’ve always loved helping others and sharing what I learn.

Q: How do you bring creativity into your lessons?
A: I like to use music, games, and interactive ice-breakers to relax students and build fluency in a fun way. French music is one of my favorite tools.

Q: What’s your favorite part about teaching French?
A: I love sharing my culture and seeing the world through my students’ eyes. Teaching French is like creating a beautiful dance together.

Q: Favorite travel destination?
A: Greece and Uruguay are favorites, but one of the most impactful experiences I had was visiting the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Germany.

Celebrating Excellence

We are so fortunate to have a team of passionate, talented instructors around the world. Joanne’s commitment to excellence and heart for students set the bar high for this new tradition.

Please join us in congratulating Joanne, LanguageBird’s 2025 Instructor of the Year, and celebrating the incredible work our instructors do every day.