TUTOR PROFILE
Tutor ID: OTC-T1024
Elham Bizhand
English learning that meets each person where they are.
ESL Educator · Young Learners & Adults · Practical English
Young Learners
Conversational English
Phonics & Literacy
Multilingual Support
Online instruction · Austin, Texas · U.S. Central Time
The request form will include OTC-T1024 as the first tutor preference.
8+ years
English teaching experience
10+ countries
International learners supported
25 / 50 min
Age-appropriate session lengths
Ages 3–10 and adults · Practical English · Individual and small-group learning
Meet Elham
Elham Bizhand is a multilingual ESL educator based in Austin, Texas. With more than eight years of online and in-person English teaching, she has supported over 100 learners across more than ten countries. Her own experience as an immigrant and multilingual learner helps her create patient, culturally responsive lessons.
Elham teaches young children ages 3–10 and adults, especially newcomers, retirees, and parents returning to learning. She adjusts activities to the person in front of her, combining clear goals with games, conversation, and encouragement that make speaking and practicing feel more approachable.
English teaching and further study
Elham holds a Qualifi Level 5 Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (168 guided learning hours, awarded 2026) and a 120-hour TEFL certificate (2019). She earned a B.A. in Transactional Analysis Psychology from Azad University in Tehran in 2009 and is pursuing a second B.A. in General Psychology at Austin Community College.
Experience across learners and settings
Her teaching has reached learners in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Türkiye, Spain, Israel, Ukraine, Haiti, Bolivia, and beyond. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she taught 32 children individually, adapting each lesson to their circumstances. She also volunteers as an ESL teacher for refugee children in Austin.
A calm and responsive approach
Elham completed the Trauma Research Foundation’s Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies in 2025 and brings this learning to the way she creates a supportive educational setting. When confidence, anxiety about speaking, or life changes affect participation, she listens, adjusts the pace, and keeps language goals clear. Tutoring here is English instruction, not mental health diagnosis or treatment.
How Elham Can Help
Elham builds lessons around the learner’s everyday goals and current English level. Sessions are 25 minutes for children under 7 and 50 minutes for older children and adults.
Young Learners: Phonics & Early English
Game-based lessons for ages 3–10 in phonics, vocabulary, basic grammar, reading, listening, and speaking. Activities encourage participation without pressuring shy or easily discouraged learners.
Adult Conversational English
Practical English for daily life, cultural transition, travel, and more confident conversation, especially for newcomers, retirees, and adults returning to learning.
Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening
Personalized practice in comprehension, everyday writing, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and understanding spoken English at beginner and developing levels.
Small Groups & Sustained Practice
One-to-one tutoring is available alongside mixed-ability small groups of up to six learners. Elham welcomes recurring or focused short-term work with a minimum commitment of five sessions; she does not offer single one-time sessions.
Subjects, approach and availability
Her subject scope includes conversational English, phonics, grammar, vocabulary, daily life and travel English, reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and listening. She does not offer advanced English, Business English, Academic English, or exam preparation, and she does not complete graded assignments for learners.
She begins by understanding the learner’s goals and what is getting in the way. Rather than pushing through a rigid lesson plan, she adjusts activities and pacing, uses clear expectations, and maintains an encouraging environment. Her education-related training helps her notice when the learner may need a different approach; concerns outside tutoring should be addressed through appropriate support.
Elham teaches online using Zoom, including whiteboard and annotation, as well as Google Meet. She uses Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva Pro, and prepared visual materials. She can support learners in English and Persian/Farsi, with Turkish support when useful.
She is based in U.S. Central Time and available Monday through Friday. Her stated capacity is about four 50-minute sessions per day, or equivalent shorter sessions. Confirm the current schedule and group fit when requesting a match.
MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Understand the learner first, then build the path together.
Elham does not label students as inherently good or bad. People learn at different speeds and bring different life experiences to a lesson. She believes a tutor should stay flexible, understand individual progress, and set clear goals collaboratively with each learner.
When learning becomes difficult, Elham looks for the reason before changing the plan. Teaching 32 children individually during the pandemic showed her how grief, instability, and anxiety can affect focus. A calm, clearly structured learning environment and responsive teaching helped her meet each child’s needs.
She believes Online Tutor Connect should set transparent expectations, support tutors and learners, and handle rematching without judgment when fit is poor. Parents can help by providing a calm home setting, respecting the child’s needs, and sharing useful context. Open communication among family, tutor, and institution keeps attention on the whole learner and their progress.
Set shared goals
Agree on what the learner wants to practice and how progress will be recognized.
Respond to the person
Adjust pace and activities when a learner’s circumstances affect engagement.
Keep expectations clear
Use transparent communication and a calm environment to support learning.
Start a Learning Conversation
Tell us what your learner is working on and request Elham by name or tutor ID.
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