Discover Maya Reeves: Global Explorer and Language Tutor

At LingualNeeds, our tutors are an exceptional group—diverse, experienced, and skilled communicators with a wealth of travel experiences. Each tutor has a unique story that inspires their passion for teaching, and we love sharing these narratives. Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Maya Reeves, one of our talented tutors who specializes in Danish and English.

Today, Maya joins us from the stunning Niagara Falls in Canada, though she splits her time between Brooklyn, New York, and Barcelona, Spain—truly embodying an international lifestyle! Within her multicultural household, her family communicates in an impressive six languages: Italian, Danish, English, Spanish, Catalan, and French.

As you can probably already tell, Maya is passionate about travel, languages, and learning:

“I absolutely adore meeting new people from across the globe,” she shares enthusiastically. “Travel has been a constant in my life. Growing up, I was fortunate to hitchhike through Europe with my father. Now, connecting with individuals from different cultures on LingualNeeds is truly incredible for me.”

Discover the inspiring journey of Maya as she launched her own language school and learn how LingualNeeds has empowered her to embrace a new beginning on the other side of the globe.

Tutoring: a life-long vocation

Tutoring runs deep in Maya’s veins. With a father who taught Danish and a family tree filled with educators specializing in subjects like biology, philosophy, and English, teaching seems to be a cherished legacy in her life.

“From the age of seven or eight, I began tutoring kids in other families,” she shares. “With no allowance for my brother and me, we had to get inventive!”

Living in Denmark, Maya leveraged her bilingual skills in English and Danish to earn some extra income by teaching children a new language. “The classes primarily focused on conversation, with some basic writing exercises sprinkled in,” she explained.

She later went on to be a language teacher and then Director of Studies.

In 2006, Maya made her way to Spain, where she quickly discovered that English speakers were a rarity. “It was a dream come true for someone in my profession,” she recalls. After spending a couple of years teaching and serving as director of studies in various academies, she took the plunge and opened her own language school.

Located just outside Barcelona, her academy provided a diverse array of language courses. Students could choose from English, French, German, Italian, Danish, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, and Catalan, making it an ideal place for language enthusiasts to expand their skills.

For eight years, Maya led the school and witnessed a remarkable transformation in the city. The Catalan public education system had increasingly prioritized English instruction, making it a prerequisite for numerous university programs. “It felt like everyone was speaking English now,” she remarked, expressing her concern that this surge in proficiency might lead to a decline in demand for her classes.

Sensing a desire for change, she decided it was time to embark on a new adventure. Together with her husband and children, she returned to North America, ready to embrace fresh opportunities.

“I kept the school open for a couple of years, working remotely, then took some time off.”

An unexpected change

Maya’s peaceful break took an unexpected turn in early 2020 when she faced an emergency surgery. “It was a challenging setback,” she recalled, “and during my recovery, I was determined not to let myself feel trapped at home.”

Maya’s husband, attuned to her needs, discovered an ideal solution online. “He really understands me. After some research, he found LingualNeeds, which was user-friendly and featured a sleek, professional calendar. He quickly set me up on the platform, and when I logged in later, I was thrilled to see I already had students waiting for me,” she shares.

Maya initially had a complex relationship with online teaching. “I conducted my first Skype lesson back in 2006, so I was well-versed in the technology. However, as an introvert, meeting someone for the first time online still made me a bit anxious!”

But her classes went well and LingualNeeds has definitely simplified things for Maya.

“This platform offers an incredible community and all the essential resources for teaching English, making it the perfect place to kickstart your journey.”

If you are thinking about starting your journey with LingualNeeds, check out the tutor resources Maya has mentioned here.

Maya’s experience with LingualNeeds

Managing a school comes with immense responsibilities, from overseeing teachers and students to handling a myriad of administrative tasks. Fortunately, LingualNeeds simplifies this process for you, taking care of the heavy lifting—leaving you to focus on what matters most and just file your taxes!

Tutoring with LingualNeeds has transformed her lessons into a more enjoyable experience, allowing her to concentrate on what truly counts: her students’ needs and growth.

Maya values the behind-the-scenes efforts that contribute to the platform’s success, noting that its ability to attract a large number of students allows tutors like her to flourish.

“LingualNeeds has a strong marketing team. When you google ‘German teachers,’ for example, LingualNeeds will pop up.”

She maximizes the potential of the Question and Answer section on LingualNeeds, noting, “Providing clear and informative answers can help you attract new students.”

“LingualNeeds has proven to be incredibly user-friendly, to the extent that I’ve enrolled my own students in the system. It streamlines my workflow and makes managing everything much more convenient,” she shares.

Maya’s students on LingualNeeds

Maya tells us that although she began by tutoring English, Danish is the most satisfying language for her.

“I discover Danish grammar to be not only more intricate but also more captivating than English. Interestingly, if you already speak Italian, German, or Spanish, you may find Danish much easier to grasp.”

Her students come from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique aspirations. While some are navigating life and work in Denmark, others are preparing for a challenging university entrance exam. Additionally, there are those who are just passionate enthusiasts of Scandinavian Noir films!

“The most enjoyable classes are those filled with laughter and genuine excitement from students sharing their thoughts,” she explains. “This often occurs because we’re more than just tutors; the virtual setting seems to encourage them to be more open and expressive.”

Maya’s teaching extends beyond adults; she finds joy in working with children. “The kids are incredible, often sharing the most hilarious stories. Their imaginations truly shine during activities, especially when they’re free to express themselves without constant correction.”

Are you curious about the possibility of teaching online? If you enjoy working with children, teenagers, or adults, we invite you to explore the exciting online tutoring opportunities at LingualNeeds. Let us share more about how you can make a difference through virtual education!

Advice for delivering engaging classes online

Maya explains that being a good online tutor requires lots of flexibility.

“To be an effective educator, you must be like a chameleon, adapting your teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of your students.”

She recommends:

• Diverse Teaching Strategies: Enhance class engagement by incorporating varied activities, structures, and presentation methods to keep content fresh and interesting.
• **Diverse Resources**: Always be prepared with a variety of teaching materials. This ensures you can accommodate students who need extra practice or those who complete tasks more quickly than anticipated.
• Recognizing Student Preferences: Each student is distinct. Understanding their preferences for coursebooks or authentic materials will enhance your teaching effectiveness.

Learn more about becoming an online tutor at LingualNeeds

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