Published online December 2023 An Immersive Learning Experience for Teachers and the Change of Teaching Pracces Kathia Vivian Machado dos Santos Soares Dr. Phillippe Uébe State School and Municipal Educaonal Center of the Sugar Industry Workers Union in Campos dos Goytacazes Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Laila Alves Santos Geraldo di Biase University Center, Barra Mansa’s School of Technological Educaon, and UGB Applied School Barra Mansa and Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Introducon This essay is nothing less than a happy result of an enriching experience the authors had during a short training program in early 2023. The program took place at the University of Kansas and granted the opportunity of learning more about teaching methods, technology, phonetics and pronunciation, and cultural interaction. We would like to start this essay by introducing ourselves so that our readers understand a little of our background and the path that led us here. We met during the PDPI Program in 2023 and spent a total of seven weeks sharing a room, ideas, laughter, difficulties and thus, becoming real friends. But our life stories before that January night when we first saw each other happened miles apart and under different circumstances. Inspired by a teacher from her school days, Laila wanted to help others to learn more and motivate others to have access to a new culture, knowledge, and perspectives without being limited by the language. This is why she became a teacher. Currently, she is a college professor and high school teacher in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where she teaches all levels of English at college and basic English in high school. Professional development is what keeps her going. This is why the PDPI program was such a good fit for her. Although it seemed so unreachable at first due to personal insecurities, the program offered the real-life experience she lacked, where her theoretical knowledge could finally be put into practice and culture would be experienced first-hand. The program offered a course on pronunciation, communication, teaching methodologies, and technology as well as opportunities for socializing. This would help Laila turn her classroom into a fruitful learning environment and would be a remarkable first experience abroad. Kathia always loved the English language, especially music from the U.S. and Great Britain. She started study- ing the language at age 13 and never stopped. Inspired by the idea of passing this passion on and granting others the opportunity of learning a second language, she went to college to be a Portuguese and English teacher. Since then, she has kept on studying to improve her teaching skills. She started teaching English in private language schools and then in public schools. She also participated in professional development programs, including the 2014 PDPI program at the University of Delaware and, more recently, the 2023 PDPI program at the University of Kansas. Currently she is studying to get a master’s degree and intends to do research in the field of English teaching and learning. Today, Kathia teaches at two different public schools in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Her students are middle and high schoolers, and she also teaches adults in the state program Educação de Jovens e Adultos, which freely translates as Education for Youth and Adults. It is an opportunity for older students to return to their studies or to continue their Issues in Language Instruction A Journal for Practicing and Interpreting Teaching English as an Additional Language Vol. 9 No. 2 (2023)