Elizabeth’s Global Teaching Journey: San Diego to Barcelona

Meet Elizabeth Zollars, an enthusiastic online English teacher with roots in sunny San Diego, California. She pursued her higher education in Washington, where she delved into anthropology and earned a minor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), equipping her with the skills to guide learners from diverse backgrounds in mastering English.

She openly shares her passion for two things: traveling and tacos. “I could happily eat tacos every day for the rest of my life and never grow bored,” she declares. “I’m truly San Diego at heart.”

During a university exchange program in Thailand, she uncovered her passion for teaching. “I had the chance to work with a group of enthusiastic young students,” she recalls. Her journey continued in Myanmar, where she engaged with adult learners, further deepening her love for education.

This experience illuminated a world where teaching and traveling could coexist harmoniously. Upon returning to university, she gained clarity about her future path. She pursued a TESOL certificate and, in her final year, eagerly applied for an Auxiliar program, ready to embark on her journey.

“The program places participants in random schools across Spain, and I found myself assigned to Almeria in the southern region as a language and culture assistant,” she shares. With that, she packed her bags and, three years later, reflects on her journey with no regrets.

Currently residing in Barcelona, Elizabeth balances a busy schedule as an online instructor with LingualNeeds. In this interview, we explore her teaching journey and discover the strategies she’s implemented to thrive as a successful online tutor.

Teaching is about connecting with people

Elizabeth has always had a passion for connecting with people and building relationships. She shares, “The more I teach, the more I relish being part of my students’ learning journeys.” She finds her students fascinating, enjoying the opportunity to learn about their diverse backgrounds, careers, and cultures.

Most of Elizabeth’s students are adults who are making a dedicated effort to carve out time in their busy schedules for their education. “I truly value their commitment,” she shares.

A growing number of individuals are preparing to move to English-speaking countries, seeking new opportunities and experiences. Meanwhile, others aspire to boost their confidence in using English in professional settings, while some simply have a passion for learning new languages.

“Really, I’m inspired by their drive to learn.”

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The move to teaching online

Before the pandemic, Elizabeth had exclusively taught in person, making the transition to online tutoring a challenging decision for her.

“I initially held onto the hope of returning to the classroom, but as time passed, reality set in,” she explains. “Recognizing the uncertainty of the future, I decided to explore new opportunities that aligned with my expertise in tutoring.”

Feeling apprehensive about transitioning to online teaching, I had hesitated for quite some time. However, my boyfriend’s unwavering support motivated me to take the plunge. Initially, I struggled to find online tutoring platforms that met my specific needs.

But then she discovered LingualNeeds.

Helping the right students find you

“On LingualNeeds, I was able to customize my preferences and connect with a variety of students. I found it to be an excellent match for me, particularly because I loved the concept of students selecting their own teachers,” she explains.

Elizabeth believes that creating an introduction video gives prospective students a valuable opportunity to connect with you on a personal level.

These small details play a crucial role in helping others connect with you. When they explore your profile and watch your video, they might discover shared interests or find a personality that resonates with theirs. This connection lays a solid foundation for collaboration, ensuring that when you decide to work together, you’re already on the right path.

She explains that being able to set preferences allows you to refine your target audience effectively. Elizabeth highlights key factors such as availability, the tutor’s location, additional languages spoken, and specific areas of expertise. For instance, students can choose options like test preparation, focus on regional accents, or differentiate between Business English and General English.

“It’s fascinating because, unlike other platforms I’ve explored, they don’t consider your experience level or comfort zone. You simply have to choose between working with kids or adults, without any filtering to match your specific skills or preferences.”

Additionally, many teaching platforms randomly pair instructors with students, which can lead to uncomfortable situations. As Elizabeth points out, “On LingualNeeds, students choose their teachers themselves.” This approach allows her to feel at ease with each new student, fostering a more positive learning environment.

Overcoming online teaching challenges

Starting your journey as an online educator introduces you to a unique learning environment. Even for seasoned teachers like Elizabeth, the transition can be challenging at first.

“In the beginning, I felt like I was ‘faking it till I made it.’ I was a bit hesitant about transitioning to virtual work,” she admits.

I must admit, I felt a bit out of my element at first. Navigating an online platform was new territory for me. I was eager to learn how to locate resources, share multimedia content, and create an engaging online presence.

Initially, her trial lessons proved to be quite challenging, yet she quickly found effective ways to tackle them. “Working with adult professionals felt a bit daunting since I had only taught kids before,” she recalls.

Elizabeth was eager to showcase her unique teaching style in these lessons, but she found it challenging to fully express herself.

Initially, I felt the pressure to cram every detail into the introductory classes. However, I soon understood that the trial lesson’s primary purpose is to learn about the students’ goals, hobbies, and interests—insights that would enhance future lessons. Once I embraced this approach, everything flowed much more smoothly.

Elizabeth shares her insight: “If I could travel back to my first class, I would tell myself to relax and take the time to connect with the person next to me.”

A rewarding experience teaching online

For Elizabeth, teaching online has proven to be a fulfilling journey. “I usually work with advanced learners, which can make it challenging to spot immediate growth since they already possess strong skills. However, after a few months, it’s rewarding to witness their newfound confidence. They begin to appreciate the value of our classes, and I take immense pride in their progress.”

The online classroom fosters a unique sense of connection. “I interact with some students four days a week for an hour and a half each day,” she shares. “During that time, I get to know about their lives and families.”

Teaching online has been an incredible journey for her, and she’s thrilled to have taken this bold step. It’s the small, everyday moments that truly create the magic of the experience.

One of my students missed our class and was out when I tried to reach him, but he turned it into a unique experience by giving me a virtual walking tour of his vibrant city in Estonia!

Among Elizabeth’s students is a former Olympian who has an impressive collection of Judo medals. “In one class, he proudly displayed them for me,” she shares.

Advice for first time online tutors

Elizabeth’s top tip is to establish your booking preferences by clearly defining the days and times you’re available. This helps streamline the scheduling process and ensures you maximize your productivity.

On my inaugural day on the platform, I stumbled into a major oversight. After setting up my profile, I completely overlooked the booking preferences. While enjoying a coffee with my boyfriend, my phone unexpectedly erupted with notifications, buzzing nonstop.

“I saw I had seven back-to-back trial classes booked in for the day and I didn’t have anything prepared!” 

She offers valuable insights on tutoring individuals, emphasizing that there’s no universal approach. “Each student has unique goals, interests, and learning styles,” she explains. To effectively support them, she continuously refines her lesson plans to cater to diverse learners. Her key advice? Get to know your students and tailor your teaching to meet their specific needs.

Be sure to revisit their goals after six months, as they may have shifted. They might discover that they’re no longer interested in mastering a specific skill or have taken up learning purely for enjoyment. Understanding this can greatly influence how you tailor each lesson to fit their current motivations.

Learn more about becoming an online tutor at LingualNeeds

Elizabeth’s journey demonstrates that working full-time as an online tutor with LingualNeeds is not just achievable—it’s also a rewarding experience.

Her investment in understanding her students has truly paid off. With each class, she refines her teaching approach, witnessing her students grow and excel continuously.

Nearly 50,000 thousand tutors trust LingualNeeds. Learn more about how you can get an online tutoring job with us.