Developer / Educator / Creator
Paul Kniaz Builds Things That Teach
Tools, ideas, and code that help others learn, reflect, and grow.
By Paul Kniaz · Updated June 2025

With a background in ESL education and instructional design, I develop software that bridges language gaps and enhances learning. Whether it’s translating PDFs, tracking habits, or building voice-powered tools — my work is about making knowledge more accessible.
This site is a personal portfolio and playground — a mix of experiments, teaching tools, and little things I’ve built along the way.
Outside of work, you might find me reading classic literature, exploring faith and tech, or walking with a good playlist.
My teaching career in ESL has spanned adults and teens in the Boston area, Chile, and Mexico. I hold a literature degree from Thomas More College in New Hampshire, a master's in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in New Mexico, and another in Teaching ESL from Framingham State University in Massachusetts.
My experiences teaching English in Chiapas, Mexico, and business English in Santiago, Chile, honed my expertise, leading me ultimately to instructional design. I am particularly drawn to creating concise, visually appealing educational materials. Outside work, I enjoy hiking, Spartan races, playing musical instruments, attending classical concerts, and exploring languages and cultures. To read more about my philosophy of teaching, please click on the button below.

Areas of Expertise
- Adult Learning Theory
- eLearning Development
- Project Management
- Curriculum Development
- Learning Assessments
- Training Needs Analysis
- SME Collaboration
- Scripting & Storyboarding
- Video Editing
- Persona Development
- Learner Engagement
- Facilitator Guides
- Workbook Development
- Evaluations & Surveys
- Course Mapping
Tools
- Articulate Storyline 360
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Workspace
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Canva
- Windows 365
Skills
- Spanish ↔ English Translation
- Problem Analysis
- Learning Objectives Formulation
- Formative Evaluation
- Cultural Competency
Certification
- Instructional Design & Tech Accelerator Certificate, The Instructional Design Academy, anticipated May 2024
- School Interpreter (Spanish), University of Massachusetts at Amherst, June 2023 — 30-hour skill-based training program
- Spanish Medical Interpreter, University of Massachusetts Medical School, February 2022 — 60-hour skill-based training program
- TEFL, Dunham Institute, Chiapas, Mexico, January 2016
- MTEL in ESL, Massachusetts, August 2015
Education
- Master’s, Teaching English as a Second Language Education, Framingham State University, MA, 2016
- Master’s, Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM, 2013
- Bachelor of Arts, Literature, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, Merrimac, NH, 2010