I guide learners to their happy place.

My mission is to help educators create thriving learning environments where students stay motivated and committed to their language goals.

Success in language learning requires commitment and faith in oneself. I’ve experienced the ups and downs of a student, and as a teacher, I’m passionate about creating happy studies. I help language learners build a healthy mindset that allows them to celebrate the small wins and be successful from day one.

Signature Talk: Student Stamina and Success

This inspiring and interactive talk draws from Jennifer’s 25+ years of teaching experience to guide students away from limiting beliefs and beyond the usual metrics to evaluate their success. Participants will learn actionable steps to redefine success on their own terms, empowering them to remain steadfast in their goals. The outcome for your language program: stronger student commitment and retention that lead to a vibrant learning community!

Learning Objectives

Learn a 4-step framework to shift your mindset about success in language learning and in life.
Identify and challenge limiting beliefs about fluency and language learning.
Gain strategies to own your identity in the face of judgment and external pressure.
Walk away with tips to keep your language learning experience positive.
Engage in a listening challenge that presents relevant vocabulary in a meaningful context.

This talk can be adapted for different audiences, including international students and adult learners.

Keynote: Mindset over Milestones

What is fluency? What does realistic progress look like in language learning?

To support our students effectively, it is essential that teacher and learner expectations align. Yet in today’s online world, English language learners are often exposed to harmful messaging about proficiency and especially pronunciation. In this talk, we will explore the elements of a healthy learner mindset. Let’s empower our students to redefine success on their own terms in language learning and beyond.

Reflect on a clear definition of fluency in language learning.
Recognize common limiting beliefs that may hinder learner progress.
Reframe success as a mindset to build and maintain rather than a destination to reach.
Explore meaningful alternatives to standard metrics for measuring success.

This talk will be tailored for your event theme and the audience’s needs.

Additional Workshops

Fluency through Affirmations

In this 60-minute workshop, students will mark up 12 learner-centered affirmations for stress, linking, and intonation. Jennifer will guide them through an oral reading. They will then compose and read their own uplifting statements. All participants will receive access to the digital download.

Confidence with Contractions

This 60-minute workshop walks students and/or teachers through six drills covering 50+ spoken and written contractions. An oral reading, a poem, and a short conversation allow for practice in context and exposure to stress and linking patterns. All participants will receive access to the digital download.

Your License and Legacy

This transformative 60-minute workshop guides participants through a short reflection that leads into the creative process of designing a license symbolizing permission to oneself to be or do what one wants. After discussing their newly issued licenses, participants are prompted to write about the legacy they wish to build.

Enjoy these free materials to build happy studies!

Teacher and Learner Pledges

My Bio

Jennifer Recio Lebedev is the creator of English with Jennifer, an established YouTube channel with a global following of 1M subscribers. Her educational videos have accumulated over 100M lifetime views.

She is also an ESL textbook author, a conference presenter, and the author of an award-winning blog, originally launched by Pearson Education in 2008. Having worked in the traditional classroom, Jennifer moved online in 2007. She wrote about her 15-year journey on YouTube and is now spreading a message about redefining success through her book Being a YouTuber: One Creator’s Bumpy Road to 1M Subscribers (November 2022).

Jennifer holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Bryn Mawr and Middlebury Colleges, respectively. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jennifer now lives in Massachusetts with her two children and their black Lab. When she is not teaching or speaking, she likes to play the piano, practice tai chi, take walks with her dog, study Spanish and Russian, and spend time with her son and daughter.

Praise for Jennifer

“Jennifer delivered a transformative keynote address that resonated deeply with everyone in the room. She shared her journey of navigating life’s challenges and discovering the power we each hold to shape the world around us.”

Dr. Kisha Bryan Jordan, Tennessee State University

Praise for Jennifer

“Jennifer Lebedev shared stories from her own life to demonstrate the power of perseverance and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. A truly inspiring account of the strength found in honest self-reflection.”

Dr. Jim Mischler, Northwestern State University

Praise for Jennifer

“Jennifer was absolutely AMAZING at the CoTESOL conference! She brought just what the educators and leaders needed in these challenging times in education. She is an amazing speaker, an inspiration, and a beautiful spirit.”

Chantelle Sharbino, CoTESOL President 2025

Praise for Jennifer

“Working with Jennifer on our episode ‘Lessons Learned’ was a real pleasure. Her enthusiasm and teaching expertise resonated well with our audience and listeners of The He’s Just A Social Worker Radio Show on WHCR 90.3 FM NY The Voice of Harlem.”

Jules Douge

Praise for Jennifer

“Jennifer Lebedev is…an inspiration to anyone who has an entrepreneurial dream and knowledge to share. While she is offering a valuable service as an educator that is so greatly needed, she’s also a beacon of ingenuity and an example to anyone who has something to offer that is a marketable tool of value to others. Jennifer is blazing a path that many can follow!”

Peter Anthony Holder, Host of The Stuph File Program

Praise for Jennifer

“You’re always so kind, positive and determined. You didn’t just teach us a new language. You encouraged us to follow our dreams and look inside ourselves. You taught us to look in the mirror and learn to love ourselves.”

Andréia (on-camera student)

Praise for Jennifer

“Big GRATITUDE to you, Jennifer! Your keynote ‘brought the house down’ in the best way – down to earth, down to the details of self-worth, down into the profound power of kindness.”

Karen Taylor, The Color Vowel Conference 2025

Praise for Jennifer

“I so enjoyed working with Jennifer as she presented a webinar for ASU’s Teach English Now! audience. She communicated clearly and efficiently as we organized the event and designed and created a memorable webinar for our audience.”

Jessica Cinco, Senior Global Educator, ASU Global Launch

Praise for Jennifer

“Jennifer kept everyone engaged from start to finish! She delivered her ideas with clarity, energy, and a strong understanding of what our English language teachers needed. Her practical insights and relatable stories truly resonated with our audience, who walked away feeling supported, encouraged, and inspired. This webinar did not just meet our expectations; it exceeded them!”

Alissa Nostas, Senior Global Educator, ASU Global Launch

Guest Interview Topics

Redefining success. How to see beyond the numbers and what kinds of achievements can really sustain you while building a career.

Finding your inner rock star. How to become a confident performer and still be true to yourself.

Mid-life crisis or awakening? How Jennifer used her book to make her 50^th birthday a turning point rather than a tragedy.

What is success?

Find your inner rock star

Create your own currency

For me, success has three elements:

quality contributions, meaningful connections & shared experiences

Each path to success is unique. 

Each and every one of us is capable of inspiring and being inspired.

My Book
What did I write about and why?

Book Interviews
and Guest Articles

Being a YouTuber: One Creator’s Bumpy Road to 1M Subscribers was published in November 2022. Read an excerpt for free on Amazon.

May 26, 2025. Thank you to host Paul Vogelzang for inviting me as a guest on The Not Old – Better Show. Our discussion is live on iHeart Radio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere.

April 2025. My article “Happy Studies, Hard Lessons” was published in the magazine The Relatable Voice (pp. 56-57), Issue #32. See all issues.

February 26, 2025. Fellow YouTuber Lewis Rollinson invited me to join his series of conversations to discuss teaching online, learning languages, and more. View here.

February 24, 2025. I was a guest on Ron Lancaster’s daily talk show on WVBF radio station in Taunton, MA. Tune in to 1530 AM, 99.7 FM.

December 2024. My article “A License to Life Creatively” appeared in the magazine The Relatable Voice (pp. 36-37), Issue #28. See all issues.

September 30, 2024. Lucia Matuonto shared my audio story on “Catch the Story.” (Episode 40) Enjoy more stories from Lucia on Spotify.

August 28, 2024. I was a guest on Rick Flynn Presents.Rick Flynn is a veteran media personality based in Cincinnati, OH. His podcast is distributed on Spotify, iHeartRadio, andApple Podcasts.

August 11, 2024. I was a guest on The Stuph File Program hosted by Peter Anthony Holder, a veteran of radio and TV. The show is distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, andTuneIn. It is also broadcast on various radio stations, including WorldFM in New Zealand; WLSL-LP FM in Dade City, FL;KZZH-LP FM in Eureka, CA; CFQR600 in Montreal; CKUW 95.9 FM in Winnipeg; CKLU 96.7 FM in Sudbury, CFMU in Hamilton; CFMH – Local 107.3FM in St. John, New Brunswick; CHSR 97.9FM in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

August 6, 2024. I was thrilled to be a Suzy Rosenstein’s guest on her popular podcast on Women in the Middle Entrepreneurs. The episode is also available on Apple Podcasts.

August 6, 2024. I was offered a short TV appearance on WISH-TV in Indiana. Click to view the segment.

August 6, 2024. I was Andy Morris’s guest on KVEC 96.5 FM. Andy hosts a Lifestyle Morning show in San Lui Obispo, CA. Visit First Look with Andy Morris.

July 31, 2024. I was a guest on the RISE Radio Program. WHPC 90.3 FM in NY hosted by Dr. Saran Heron and broadcast by Nassau Community College. Dr. Saran aims to change people’s thought process on conversation at a time. Click to listen.

July 1, 2024. I was a guest on The Watchdog Morning Show with Howard Monroe The show is aired daily on 98.1 FM out of Wheeling, West Virginia. Show recordings are available via Apple podcasts.

June 26, 2024. PodTV Network invited me to return for the Online Dinner Party hosted by Marc Lee.

June 11, 2024. PodTV Network invited me to join their World Edition for June 11, 2024.

June 1, 2024. I was a guest on the He’s Just Podcast. Hosted by Jules Douge, who is also the host of He’s Just a Social Worker on WHCR 90.3 FM “The Voice of Harlem.” Click to listen.

May 30, 2024. Radio show host January Jones interviewed me live on Talk4TV. The episode later aired in June on her BlogTalkRadio page. January has over 2M listeners on BTR! January has a show and a series of books both focusing on Success Stories.

September 6, 2023. Bowei Strategy’s James Liu interviewed Jennifer on Streamyard. The feed went out to LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. Watch the replay and view comments.

March 21, 2023. Writer Series: Where Minds Meet. Hosted by Sasha on iHeartRadio. Click to listen.

February 27, 2023. Moving Mountains with Sasha. Hosted by Sasha of Kreative Circle on iHeartReadio. Click to listen.

February 2023.February 2023. Dare to Be Authentic. Hosted by Mari Mitchell on BlogTalkRadio. Click to listen.

Book Interviews
and Guest Articles

Being a YouTuber: One Creator’s Bumpy Road to 1M Subscribers was published in November 2022. Read an excerpt for free on Amazon.

May 26, 2025. Thank you to host Paul Vogelzang for inviting me as a guest on The Not Old – Better Show. Our discussion is live on iHeart Radio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere.

April 2025. My article “Happy Studies, Hard Lessons” was published in the magazine The Relatable Voice (pp. 56-57), Issue #32. View all issues.

February 26, 2025. Fellow YouTuber Lewis Rollinson invited me to join his series of conversations to discuss teaching online, learning languages, and more. View here.

February 24, 2025. I was a guest on Ron Lancaster’s daily talk show on WVBF radio station in Taunton, MA. Tune in to 1530 AM, 99.7 FM.

December 2024. My article “A License to Life Creatively” appeared in the magazine The Relatable Voice (pp. 36-37), Issue #28. View all issues.