By Riley Kaminer
When Anna Gandrabura arrived in Miami in 2021, she instantly knew it was home.
“As I walked out of the airport, I had only one thought running through my mind: ‘I’m home,’” she recalled in an interview with Refresh Miami. It wasn’t just the sunny weather or the diverse culture that made her feel this way – it was the city’s unique blend of international talent and entrepreneurial energy.
But even in a place as welcoming as Miami, Gandrabura saw a major challenge: many highly skilled immigrants were unable to fully contribute to the economy due to language barriers. That’s where her company, English For IT, comes in. Founded in 2015, the company initially focused on teaching English to tech workers in Gandrabura’s native Ukraine. Now, Gandrabura is on a mission to bring her innovative Tech ESL program to the U.S., starting in Florida, to help immigrants develop the language skills they need to succeed in the technology industry.
The Tech ESL program provides a unique combination of English language training and an introduction to the tech industry, offering immigrants not just the skills but also the confidence to pursue better-paying careers in technology. “Many people who move here end up in low-paying jobs like driving for Uber or working for delivery services. This program is designed to help them get out of those situations and into roles where they can use their skills,” Gandrabura said.
English For IT’s Tech ESL program, currently offered through a grant to U.S. educational institutions, gives students access to an online platform that uses bite-sized, community-based learning to teach English and business communication.
“Our lessons are short – just five to 10 minutes each – followed by practice tasks to reinforce what was learned,” explained Gandrabura [pictured above]. She’s quick to point out that this approach is similar to how people engage with social media platforms like TikTok, learning in quick, digestible snippets.
Beyond language skills, the program gives students a foundational understanding of the tech industry. They learn about the types of jobs available and the paths they can take to enter the field. “You don’t have to already be in tech to benefit from the program. Even if you’re just curious about the industry, this can be your first step,” she said.
While Gandrabura originally launched her business as a traditional language school in Ukraine, the pivot to online learning came during the pandemic. That decision paid off. “In 2020, we grew four times in terms of users and revenue. The move to online was crucial for us, and we were able to reach a global audience,” she noted.
Now that Gandrabura is based in Miami, she’s excited about the potential for growth in the U.S., particularly given the city’s large immigrant population and its status as a tech hub. She’s already established partnerships with universities like Arizona State University, where the Tech ESL program is offered to students. But she wants to expand the program even further.
“Miami has a huge international workforce, and there’s a real need for programs that can help people improve their language skills while learning about technology,” she emphasized. “We want to ensure that institutions across Florida and beyond can take advantage of the free access we’re providing through our grant program.”
Gandrabura sees a bright future for English For IT. Her goal? To become an integral part of every tech company’s learning and development system.
“I want to be one of the tabs on their platform where international employees can go to upgrade their English,” she said.
As she continues to build English For IT in Miami, Gandrabura is driven by the belief that language should never be a barrier to success. “We’re here to help people unlock their potential, both in tech and beyond.”
READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:
- Miami web3 is dead! Long live Miami web3!
- Scenes from Miami Hack Week: Parties, yes, but much more than that
- Local teacher excels in 4Geeks bootcamp and lands new opportunity in data science and machine learning
- MDC and Apple create a Swift pathway to work experience in tech
- From pastry chef to a tech career with Miami-Dade County, this MDC graduate is taking the data analytics world by storm
- Students to tech employers: Take a chance on us and watch us grow
- Koywe’s answer to slow international payments started with a lifelong friendship - September 9, 2026
- Split Pay raises $125M to give your paycheck better timing - September 9, 2026
- PRIMA raises $5M to turn hot tables into a referral business - September 4, 2026