Before coming to EF as our Chief Technology and Experience Officer, Enio worked as Senior Scientist at Apple Computer. He first experienced the power of learning a new language at the age of 18, when he left his native Brazil and moved to Monticello, New York, to work as a waiter. Though he initally struggled even with simple food orders, when he returned to Brazil six months later, he had already gained English skills that would eventually help him earn a Ph.D in Artificial Intelligence and Education from Northwestern University. He also earned a Master degree in Computer Science from George Washington University.

Now, based in our Shanghai office, Enio builds and designs some of EF’s most groundbreaking projects. Describing himself as having, “a Brazilian heart, a Japanese body, and an American head.” Enio not only has a passion for the application of cognitive science and computer technology to language training, but also an incredible love for dancing.

Enio has a natural love of languages: as a Brazilian born Japanese, he speaks English, Portuguese, and Japanese fluently. Enio also speaks Java, C#, Lisp, Pascal and COBOL to mention a few.

Dr. Enio Ohmaye is the chief scientist of the EF Englishtown education technology team. He developed Englishtown's, UNext, Apple Computers and the Institute for the Learning Sciences (ILS) pioneer educational software. Graduated in Business Administration from the University of São Paulo, and having a master's degree in Computer Science from George Washington University, as well as a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Education at Yale and Northwestern. In this talk he tells us that whenever we embark on adventures, whether through travel, learning a new language, explore a different culture, it can open the people's minds, it can transform us. By using some personal adventures to illustrate what he wants to say Enio describes a kind of transformation, which is very important, that happens when we learn to choose how we will interpret the experiences we have.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)