Fast Forward American English & Culture

Our team of superstars spanning three continents together for a short meeting this morning. I am incredibly fortunate to have such amazing people as part of the Fast Forward team. Thanks to Ilaria, Tamusi, and Renata (and Rafaelzinho) for all that you do for our students.

Many students are curious as to how homes in the US can be built so quickly. This picture illustrates the necessary means to do that. Wood is plentiful in the US and Canada due to the amount of fir trees that exist. The frame of most houses are built using this material and some of the larger pieces are delivered to the site already assembled. This house should look very much like the one next to it within a week. The part that takes the most time is the interior.

Today, on International Women’s Day, we pause to celebrate the incredible women who make our community—and our world—move forward.

At Fast Forward, we are honored to be shaped by women who lead with both intelligence and empathy. We are more than a team; we are a collective of stories, expertise, and global perspectives. To our team, our students, and women everywhere: your voices are essential. Your leadership is transformative. Your pursuit of excellence is what inspires us every single day.

Happy International Women’s Day to the women who dream, lead, and speak their truth in every language 💛

Why do brilliant professionals feel “limited” in English?

You’ve spent years mastering Medicine, Law, or Engineering. You are at the top of your game. But when you switch to English, you feel like a different, less capable version of yourself.

The reason? Most traditional schools focus on the10% (grammar and textbooks). But for a high-level professional, fluency happens in the 70%—the real-world application.

At Fast Forward, we reverse the pyramid: 1️⃣ We skip the “Level 1” fluff. 2️⃣ We dive straight into your actual work materials. 3️⃣ We provide the expert feedback (the 20%) that corrects those “frozen” mistakes you’ve been making for years.

The goal isn’t to “know” English. The goal is to lead in English.

Ready to move from the 10% to the 100%? Book your diagnostic call in the link in our bio. Let’s build a curriculum around your reality.

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Thinking of taking the TOEFL test but aren't sure how to start? Priority number one should be a good teacher. Ilaria Selmani has taken the test twice with scores of 100 and above. In addition, she is an excellent teacher and can share effective strategies in order to get the score you need. Contact us today to find out more.

A huge Fast Forward congratulations to PicPay 🇧🇷🚀

Today, PicPay officially joined Nasdaq, raising $434 million in its IPO — a major milestone not only for the company, but for Brazilian fintech as a whole.

At Fast Forward American English LLC, we’re especially proud because this story includes one of our own Jessica Alves, who works in PR at PicPay, has been part of the Fast Forward journey for years, working closely with Mike to strengthen her professional English and communication skills.

Look at her now: in New York, standing in Times Square, in front of a giant screen where PicPay’s logo lights up the city.

This moment is a reminder of what Fast Forward stands for: long-term growth, global careers, and English as a tool for real-world success.

Congratulations to Jessica and the PicPay team on this incredible achievement. 🌍✨

Happiest of birthdays to my great friend and colleague Renata Barboza Ferraz. I've known Renata since 2013 and this picture includes Mellina Tanure, another fantastic student of mine. We all wish Renata a great day in the company of friends and family. Parabens Renata!

Learn the culture, learn the language.
In order to effectively and enjoyably learn a language, embrace the culture of the language.
Context is critical in language learning. So please, immerse yourself in the traditions, support a sports team, discover food delicacies, and unearth historical secrets. Your desire for more cultural information will fuel your wish to learn the new language more easily.
There’s no better example than my good friend and student André Suman Pereira. Since moving to the US in 2019, Andre and his wife Thais have thrown themselves completely into American culture. As an avid sports fan, Andre has adopted the professional teams (Orioles and Ravens) closest to his home in Maryland. A few days ago, he had the chance to attend one of the oldest and most storied of American college football games -Army vs Navy pitting the two service academies against each other. He had an amazing experience made all the more exciting because he knew the history of the game.
Even if you don’t live in the US, there’s plenty of opportunities to dive into our culture. Watch a movie, listen to some music or read some interesting cultural stuff online. Embrace the culture and the language will become easier and more natural.
Fast Forward American English & Culture specializes in American Culture. If you want to find out ways to make your language learning come alive, contact us today. There’s so much culture to experience!

Quero agradecer publicamente ao meu amigo, professor, coach e facilitador de inglês Mike Ward, que foi fundamental nos últimos meses para que eu ganhasse a confiança necessária para subir em um palco internacional na CrossTech Miami e compartilhar ideias e conteúdo.

Ao longo desse processo, o Mike se tornou mais do que um profissional: tornou-se um amigo que genuinamente apoia meu desenvolvimento.
Mais do que focar apenas na perfeição do idioma, ele trabalha aquilo que realmente faz diferença: a confiança.

Porque quando você constrói uma boa base, é a confiança que te permite comunicar com clareza e naturalidade.

Deixo aqui minha recomendação a um profissional excepcional, alguém que não apenas ensina inglês, mas habilita pessoas a se expressarem em um mundo cada vez mais moderno, interconectado e global.

Obrigado, Mike!

-- EN --

I want to publicly thank my friend, teacher, coach, and English facilitator Mike Ward, who played a crucial role in helping me build the confidence I needed over the past months to step onto an international stage at CrossTech Miami and share ideas and content.

Throughout this journey, Mike became more than a professional, he became a friend who genuinely supports my growth.
More than focusing solely on language perfection, he works on what truly makes a difference: confidence.

Because when you build a solid foundation, confidence is what allows you to communicate with clarity and authenticity.

So here is my recommendation for an exceptional professional, someone who doesn’t just teach English but empowers people to express themselves in an increasingly modern, interconnected, and global world.

Thank you, Mike!