One of the consequences of globalisation in recent years has been the unprecedented spread of English as the world's lingua franca. This has particular resonance in postcolonial countries, such as Pakistan and Australia, whose histories have been strongly shaped by English colonisers in contrasting ways. Written from the perspective of someone who has taught English in Pakistan and Australia, this essay presents my own personal stories of learning as an English language student in Pakistan and Australia. As a student of English, I felt my own voice and identity were often suppressed in the service of a curriculum that valued compliance with external standards over meeting the needs of learners. I explore how my own stories of becoming have shaped my current practices and identity as an English educator in Australian and Pakistani classrooms.