From ESL Teacher to Instructional Design - Talita Pacheco-Valente's Journey Through IDOL Academy
Jul 09, 2025
When Talita Pacheco-Valente joined IDOL Academy’s Cohort 17, she wasn’t just stepping into a new field—she was balancing motherhood, a full-time teaching job, and a dream of building something bigger. What followed was a year-long journey of persistence, creative breakthroughs, and deep personal growth that led her to become one of IDOL Academy’s celebrated Star Students.
Starting With a Toddler and a Dream
Talita entered the Academy when her son was just seven months old. “I thought I could do it all—anytime, anywhere,” she laughs. “But having a baby takes away from the fluidity of it all.” She quickly realized that transitioning to instructional design would require more structure, more focus, and a lot more flexibility than she had anticipated.
Despite the challenges, she stuck with the program, ultimately completing it over the full year. “It was more challenging than my master’s,” she says—a bold statement from someone with a graduate degree in community social psychology.
Growing Her Skills—and Confidence
As a longtime ESL teacher and immigrant herself, Talita brought a deep understanding of learning challenges and cultural transition. But IDOL pushed her beyond what she thought she was capable of.
“I used to struggle with feedback, thinking it meant I wasn’t good enough. IDOL helped me understand that feedback is part of the process—and growth,” she reflects. “It humbled me and made me more confident.”
One of her proudest accomplishments was building an entire eLearning course in both English and Portuguese for her husband’s company during her internship. From scripting to visuals to voiceover, she created a bilingual training program from scratch—serving real business needs and preparing for future team onboarding.
“I created every piece of it. I was consumed at times, but I’m so proud of the final result.”
Creativity Meets Culture
Talita’s portfolio is vibrant and personal, infused with intentional visual design and psychological insight. She leaned into her background—using her knowledge of color psychology to build an aesthetic that’s calming, trustworthy, and unmistakably “her.”
And as a multilingual designer, she sees language as a powerful asset. Her future plans include developing a culture shock explainer video in Vyond to support the English language learners she’s so passionate about helping. “Being an immigrant myself, I know how important it is to make learning accessible, relatable, and real.”
The Power of Doing It Messy
From struggling with buttons in Storyline to late nights with ChatGPT as her “design therapist,” Talita’s journey was anything but linear. “IDOL taught me to ‘do it messy.’ I used to be so afraid of mistakes. But now I know—that’s where the real learning happens.”
Talita is now putting the finishing touches on her portfolio, resume, and LinkedIn profile, with a goal to transition into a full-time instructional design role before the new school year begins. “I’m a mom, a woman, a minority—and after IDOL, I finally believe in myself and what I can bring to the table.”
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