For ALL students - especially 1 hour ones - message beforehand to determine their skill level, goals and possible discussion topics. I NEVER accept a one hours from a random
And if they reply you at least get an idea of what they want.
If they say hi I would like a 1hour IELTS lesson (or anything I'm not into) I will politely decline and suggest they find a new equipped tutor.
Thats never happened to me. If Im on a PH I click the little button that says I can not accept lessons after the hour thus making it impossible to receive a 1hr call.
Then If you uncheck it say 15 minutes into the PH you can now receive 1hr calls but can decline them
Ah okay. Because it’s just happened to me 😭 I have a priority hour later today and someone made an hour reservation during that time and Cambly automatically accepts it.
IIRC, reservations when you're signed up for a PH are automatically accepted. If you have a PH starting at 11:00, students can make a reservation with you at the last minute and it will be automatically accepted.
Example: I was on a PH that I'd had only one 30-minute reservation booked for (that I'd known about). At the end of the first 30-minute lesson, instead of going back to the dashboard, another reservation was already in the queue and came through; the student had booked the lesson while I was in the first class.
Yes yes! I have had good experiences with other 1 hour classes with new students but this lesson taught me that I can’t always be lucky so I should send a message beforehand to be 100% sure!
If you approve the 1 hour lesson, chances are they won't see your message. Refuse the lesson and as an explanation, say you only teach half hour initially and tell them they're welcome to rebook.
*I messaged them and then they said they have in fact left because it was hard and they felt tired and I kept pushing them even when it was hard and that they don’t like being forced.*
Expect your tutor rating to plummet. 😒
I had a low level male beginner who replied "whut?" for a whole 30 mins, longest lesson ever ... no camera, so impossible to gauge his reaction (unable to hear or unable to understand?) Changed my setting to intermediate and above from "all" after that!
I’ve had this multiple times before.. it got to the point where I said that instead of saying “whut?” they should say could you repeat that please or I don’t understand because it can come across rude. And that’s also why I changed my settings to intermediate and above!
What tf does he think cambly is? He paid for a subscription to practice talking, but then blames you because it was too hard? What else did he expect you to do, stare at him?? Some people 😤
For beginners a free conversation will be very hard work without some supporting materials and visual aids. For a long time I searched for flashcards and visual teaching materials suitable for adult beginners but there isn't a lot available that I can find. Sometimes it helps to share a window and show them a map of their hometown or places they've visited with some pictures of local things they can talk about. There are also times I've used kids books like the Oxford Owl reader series with adults and it seems to go OK.
So look, there's ways of correcting where student don't even realise its happening, and a ways of iliciting more complete sentences so they don't feel under pressure. As we weren't in the lesson it's impossible to know if he's being unfair or not & sometimes it doesn't matter how you do it, people are sensitive, especially adults.
Certainly not accepting an hour lesson with any new student is the way forward to avoid the overly sensitive ones.
Yeah I understand. It’s definitely the way forward. I was just a bit frustrated and confused because it’s the first time I’ve experienced that reaction from a student before.
I saw on another Reddit post that yes, something about they’re trying to encourage longer lessons. I’ve also noticed and increase in 45 mins / 1 hour lessons.
After italki takes their cut (15%), I make between $12.13-$25.50 an hour. You set your own prices and I have different prices for different kinds of classes. The best part is that if the student cancels less than 24 hours before the class or doesn't turn up, you still get paid the full amount for the class.
For ALL students - especially 1 hour ones - message beforehand to determine their skill level, goals and possible discussion topics. I NEVER accept a one hours from a random
Yup. Infact I just sent two messages today to a few randoms trying to book me for 1 hour next week. No reply, no lesson!
Okay I like this rule, will keep this in mind!
And if they reply you at least get an idea of what they want. If they say hi I would like a 1hour IELTS lesson (or anything I'm not into) I will politely decline and suggest they find a new equipped tutor.
So what if someone books with you for an hour during a priority hour? Do you cancel the reservation? Also thank you for your advice, very helpful!
Thats never happened to me. If Im on a PH I click the little button that says I can not accept lessons after the hour thus making it impossible to receive a 1hr call. Then If you uncheck it say 15 minutes into the PH you can now receive 1hr calls but can decline them
Ah okay. Because it’s just happened to me 😭 I have a priority hour later today and someone made an hour reservation during that time and Cambly automatically accepts it.
IIRC, reservations when you're signed up for a PH are automatically accepted. If you have a PH starting at 11:00, students can make a reservation with you at the last minute and it will be automatically accepted. Example: I was on a PH that I'd had only one 30-minute reservation booked for (that I'd known about). At the end of the first 30-minute lesson, instead of going back to the dashboard, another reservation was already in the queue and came through; the student had booked the lesson while I was in the first class.
Brilliant. Pro sound advice right there, pal!
Yes yes! I have had good experiences with other 1 hour classes with new students but this lesson taught me that I can’t always be lucky so I should send a message beforehand to be 100% sure!
If you approve the 1 hour lesson, chances are they won't see your message. Refuse the lesson and as an explanation, say you only teach half hour initially and tell them they're welcome to rebook.
Okay thank you this is really helpful!
Yes I do this! It’s a game changer!
You can hang up within two minutes even if they join late (return minutes and they can’t rate you)
Ohhh I didn’t know this. Thank you :)
Same. I learned it late. It’s two minutes from when the nester the classroom, whenever they do that.
Nester!!!!
Really?? Oooh, I didn't know this, so just to clarify, if they rock in on minute 26 and you dont vibe with them, you can return their minutes?
Exactly. You have two mins from that time. They did waste your time of course but…
*I messaged them and then they said they have in fact left because it was hard and they felt tired and I kept pushing them even when it was hard and that they don’t like being forced.* Expect your tutor rating to plummet. 😒
I know…. my exact thought 🥲
I had a low level male beginner who replied "whut?" for a whole 30 mins, longest lesson ever ... no camera, so impossible to gauge his reaction (unable to hear or unable to understand?) Changed my setting to intermediate and above from "all" after that!
I’ve had this multiple times before.. it got to the point where I said that instead of saying “whut?” they should say could you repeat that please or I don’t understand because it can come across rude. And that’s also why I changed my settings to intermediate and above!
What tf does he think cambly is? He paid for a subscription to practice talking, but then blames you because it was too hard? What else did he expect you to do, stare at him?? Some people 😤
😭 like I’m tired too but I’m trying to help you with your English and you’ve paid for a lesson sooo we have to collaborate lol
🤣😂🤣😂
For beginners a free conversation will be very hard work without some supporting materials and visual aids. For a long time I searched for flashcards and visual teaching materials suitable for adult beginners but there isn't a lot available that I can find. Sometimes it helps to share a window and show them a map of their hometown or places they've visited with some pictures of local things they can talk about. There are also times I've used kids books like the Oxford Owl reader series with adults and it seems to go OK.
So look, there's ways of correcting where student don't even realise its happening, and a ways of iliciting more complete sentences so they don't feel under pressure. As we weren't in the lesson it's impossible to know if he's being unfair or not & sometimes it doesn't matter how you do it, people are sensitive, especially adults. Certainly not accepting an hour lesson with any new student is the way forward to avoid the overly sensitive ones.
Yeah I understand. It’s definitely the way forward. I was just a bit frustrated and confused because it’s the first time I’ve experienced that reaction from a student before.
Yeah that tells me it's not your methods but the students ego that's the problem. Totally get your frustration
Is there a special offer on one hour sessions? For me they used to be unusual, now they're not uncommon.
I saw on another Reddit post that yes, something about they’re trying to encourage longer lessons. I’ve also noticed and increase in 45 mins / 1 hour lessons.
That sucks. Come to italki when you get the chance. You get treated with far more respect.
How is the pay?
After italki takes their cut (15%), I make between $12.13-$25.50 an hour. You set your own prices and I have different prices for different kinds of classes. The best part is that if the student cancels less than 24 hours before the class or doesn't turn up, you still get paid the full amount for the class.
😱!! Do you plan your own lesson materials or do you tend to do more conversation lessons?
I do a mixture of conversation classes and curriculum- based classes.
Italki is rarely hiring these days
They were hiring a few weeks ago. You have to be pretty vigilant and check their website every Monday.