About Lemon Learn English

A new academy.
Decades of experience.

Lemon Learn English is a new startup — but our instructors are seasoned educators, native speakers, and internationally aware professionals who have taught students and professionals across continents.

Native speakers.
Global perspective.

Meet the principals

Educators who have taught
on both sides of the Atlantic.

Justine Houpa

Justine Houpa

Lead Instructor

MA TESOL — Arizona State University · NY State ESOL Certified

Justine Houpa is a dynamic TESOL educator specializing in exam preparation and academic English mastery through creative, one-to-one instruction. She holds a Master's in TESOL (with distinction) from Arizona State University and a BA in Applied Linguistics from Queens College, CUNY, where she served as a student researcher contributing key insights to the program. A certified New York State ESOL teacher, Justine taught ESL in New York. In Greece, she taught ESL, designed courses and curricula, and delivered targeted ECCE, ECPE, IELTS, and TOEFL training. She has also taught English to refugee and migrant populations, supporting linguistic integration and social empowerment. Justine has extensive Teaching ESP experience for adults. She served as a mentor teacher for graduating practicum student teachers at Greece's prestigious National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Mary Skondras

Mary Skondras

Academic Director

MA TESOL — Columbia University · BA Applied Linguistics — CUNY

Mary Skondras is a distinguished TESOL educator with over 30 years of dynamic experience in English language instruction, innovative curriculum design, and transformative teacher training. She earned her Master's in TESOL from Columbia University's prestigious Teachers College and a BA in Applied Linguistics from Queens College, CUNY. As lecturer for English language programs and college-level writing at City and State Universities in New York and American universities in Athens, Greece, she pioneered a groundbreaking Writing Across the Curriculum program. She taught Freshman Composition and Public Speaking, inspiring countless students. Mary also has extensive Business English and Public Speaking Coaching experience. A sought-after voice in the field, Mary has presented at TESOL and EATAW conferences in Europe and in the US.

Universities & organizations our instructors have taught, studied, or worked with

Columbia UniversityArizona State UniversityShellSingapore AirlinesZara

Our team

Small team.
Big heart.

We're a tight-knit group of educators, curriculum designers, and language enthusiasts who believe great teaching happens in real conversation — not on a conveyor belt. Every student we take on gets the full attention of a team that knows their name, their goals, and their story.

Native speakersTESOL-certifiedInternationalOne-to-one only
The Lemon Learn English team

Our philosophy

How we think
about teaching.

01

Learner first

Curriculum bends to the student — not the other way around. Every lesson is designed for one person's goals, gaps, and pace.

02

Real-world fluency

We teach English that works in meetings, essays, exams, and airports — not just on a worksheet.

03

Warm and rigorous

Kind instructors, high standards. We make the room safe to make mistakes and serious about progress.

How we teach

One-to-one.
Every time.

No group classes, no shared attention. Every lesson is a private conversation between a student and an instructor who has prepared for them, specifically.

Diagnostic first

We start by listening. A free trial lesson maps your level, goals, and blockers.

Custom curriculum

Materials are built for your context — your industry, your exam, your school.

Live video lessons

50-minute one-to-one sessions on your schedule, with recordings you can revisit.

Feedback that sticks

Written notes, corrected transcripts, and clear next steps after every lesson.

Our journey

From lemon seed
to grove.

A young academy with a clear roadmap. Here's where we've been and where we're headed.

March 2026

Lemon Learn English is founded

Justine and Mary launch the academy with a single promise: one-to-one, always.

May 2026

First cohort of students

Doors open to students preparing for IELTS, TOEFL, and university applications.

July 2026

Business English program launches

Executive coaching for meetings, negotiations, and presentations goes live.

September 2026

Public Speaking coaching

Keynote, pitch, and panel coaching added for working professionals.

Q1 2027

Scholarship program

Free lesson packages for refugee and migrant learners — expanding access.

And onward…

Learn from the source

Learn from educators who have taught the world.

Book a free trial lesson and experience the difference of one-to-one instruction from seasoned professionals.