#122 From Construction Worker to Teaching MILLIONS of Developers with John Smilga
May 3, 2024
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Former construction worker turned prolific programming teacher John Smilga shares his journey from Soviet Union to teaching millions through freeCodeCamp. Topics include overcoming voice challenges, language immersion in China, transition to software development education, building a successful business teaching code, evolving software development roles, and living in the shadow of conflict in Ukraine. Reflects on plans for relocation and remote work in Latvia.
Transitioning from construction work to coding was facilitated by free learning resources like Free Code Camp and mentorship from tech experts.
Overcoming vocal challenges due to a paralyzed vocal cord, John Smolga persists in sharing his coding expertise with his distinctive teaching style.
Valuing multilingual skills, John Smolga draws parallels between learning coding and foreign languages, emphasizing simplified communication for global audiences.
Adapting his academic journey to balance tech education and family commitments, John Smolga exemplifies resilience and continuous skill development in his career transitions.
Embracing the vibrant tech industry in California, John Smolga refines his teaching style to make coding education more accessible and inclusive for diverse learners.
Deep dives
Discovering the Value of Coding
The transition to coding came naturally after John Smolga found inspiration in free learning resources like Free Code Camp. Initially studying engineering, the overlap between electrical engineering and computer science intrigued him. He credits the welcoming ethos of tech mentor Bo for breaking down barriers and encouraging him to consider coding as a valuable skill for individuals at any proficiency level. Embracing coding allowed John to express complex ideas in simple terms, making technology accessible to diverse learners.
Overcoming Vocal Challenges
John Smolga navigates vocal challenges stemming from a paralyzed vocal cord, which imposes limitations on his speech endurance during recording sessions. Despite fluctuations in vocal quality due to medical conditions, he persistently communicates technical concepts to share his expertise. His distinctive voice and accent align with his unique teaching style, resonating with learners seeking diverse perspectives in coding education.
Embracing Multilingual Inclusivity
Reflecting on his journey to mastering English and Mandarin Chinese, John Smolga emphasizes the value of diverse language skills in educational content creation. He draws parallels between learning coding and adapting to foreign languages, highlighting the benefits of simplified communication for global audiences. His experiences in non-native language contexts underscore the importance of embracing multilingual inclusivity in tech tutorials.
Navigating Career Transitions
Customizing his academic journey from community college to Western Governors University, John Smolga demonstrates adaptability in pursuing a career in tech while honoring family commitments. Transitioning from construction work to digital education, he leverages personal challenges as opportunities to enhance his teaching authenticity and expand the reach of coding knowledge. His resilience in career transitions exemplifies a dedication to continuous learning and skill development.
California Dreaming and Professional Growth
Relocating to California marked a pivotal moment in John Smolga's professional growth as he embraced the vibrant tech industry and educational opportunities in the Golden State. Integrating coding expertise with vocal challenges, he refines his teaching style to engage a diverse audience and amplify the accessibility of coding education. His journey from physical labor to digital instruction encapsulates a transformative shift towards tech innovation and inclusive learning environments.
Creating Online Courses and Building a Business Around Teaching
The podcast episode delves into the journey of building a career in creating online courses, particularly focusing on software development. The host discusses the process of transitioning from construction work to learning and teaching coding through online platforms like YouTube and Udemy. The speaker emphasizes the importance of authenticity in content creation, outlining a business model that involves offering free and paid courses to learners. Through personal experiences and collaborations with educational platforms like freeCodeCamp, the episode highlights the fulfillment derived from teaching and engaging with a global audience.
Challenges and Success in Online Teaching
The podcast explores the challenges and successes encountered in the realm of online teaching. It touches upon the need to maintain a balance between teaching and revenue generation, stressing the importance of providing valuable content while ensuring sustainability. The speaker reflects on the mechanisms of success as a tutorial creator, emphasizing the impact of consistent content creation and the evolving business models employed. The episode underscores the significance of adapting to changes in the educational landscape to deliver high-quality and accessible learning experiences.
Family Dynamics and Educational Choices
Discussing personal family dynamics, the podcast delves into the decision-making process regarding educational choices for children. It sheds light on the aspect of homeschooling, highlighting the benefits of parental involvement in teaching and curriculum design. The conversation touches on the experiences of teaching essential skills to children, emphasizing the role of quality time spent with kids amidst career pursuits. The speaker shares insights on prioritizing family values while imparting fundamental knowledge to younger generations.
Global Conflicts and Personal Perspectives
Addressing global geopolitical tensions, the episode delves into personal perspectives on conflicts such as the situation in Ukraine. The conversation navigates through the challenges and emotional impact of living in regions affected by war, echoing a call for empathy and understanding. The speaker shares narratives of family members directly impacted by warfare, portraying the complexities and human toll of such crises. The episode emphasizes the need for awareness, dialogue, and international cooperation to address and resolve conflicts worldwide.
On this week's episode of the podcast, freeCodeCamp founder Quincy Larson interviews prolific programming teacher John Smilga. John grew up in the Soviet Union. He worked construction for 5 years before becoming a developer. Today he has taught millions of fellow devs through his many courses on freeCodeCamp.
John spent his childhood in Latvia before the Soviet Union fell. He sought work in the UK as an expat hospitality worker on the tiny island of Guernsey.
But he had his sights set on moving to the US. There he worked construction and taught himself to code. He also attended online university courses to get a degree.
He met his wife, a nurse from Ukraine. Together they started a family and live together in Florida.
During this conversation, John talks about his journey into teaching the programming and computer science concepts he's learned. He talks about his free courses on freeCodeCamp and his paid courses that help him pay the bills.
John's voice is instantly recognizable by developers. He shares that this is because he has condition where is vocal cords are partially paralyzed, for which he has to receive frequent injections.
I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Can you guess what bass line I'm playing on my bass during the intro? It's from a 1982 song produced by Quincy Jones.
Be sure to follow The freeCodeCamp podcast in your favorite podcast app. And share this podcast with a friend. Let's inspire more folks to learn to code and build careers for themselves in tech.
Also, I want to thank the 9,003 kind people who support our charity each month, and who make this podcast possible. You can join them and support our mission at: https://www.freecodecamp.org/donate
