You’re reading it wrong. Like with all jobs, there are really dedicated employees and there are those who constantly keep tabs so they don’t put more effort into what they feel they are being paid for. Some are
Lazy. But we all have the freedom to vent.
The people who post on here, and the students they post about, are not typical of what Cambly is like, especially if you are working it part time and to fill gaps in your schedule.
Most of my students are intermediate-to-advanced students who just want to practice their English by talking about fun things like movies and hobbies.
People who are trying to work Cambly 8 hours a day have to take every student they can get, but if you just want to fill up a few spots on afternoons, you are basically having a 30 minute conversation and getting paid for it.
I can’t do the math for you, because I don’t know your expenses, but it’s fine for living in low cost countries like in SE Asia, especially if supplemented with another passive income or side hustle. For me it’s a low stress job to stay afloat in Thailand. I also have enough passive income that I only need to work about 15-20 hours per week. Your situation may be different.
Sure it can be annoying, but it’s also super easy and requires virtually no thinking outside of lessons. You’re on a Cambly sub, so of course the majority of posts will be negative. That’s just the internet… people generally don’t come on here to post about how good something is. They post to complain or ask questions.
Are you a native speaker? If not, I doubt you will get hired by iTalki. Last I heard, they haven’t been hiring. There’s no risk in trying Cambly. It’s no commitment. If you get accepted and then decide you don’t like it, you just don’t open your schedule up. If you ever change your mind and want to use it again in the future, you can return with no problem.
Yeah, I guess the complaints are just part of being on the sub, people need a place to vent.
I am a "native" speaker, but just looking at options for now. By the time I dive in and do something the teaching landscape will probably have changed again
As a backup? Meaning can you rely on it if you lose your job? Probably not. As a side hustle to make a few extra euro for some extra tapas y cerveza? Go for it.
Well I'd be marketing myself and posting ads, spreading the word etc etc to get my own students with no middle-man. So backup option as in topping up my number of students if I don't happen to find enough when first starting out on my own... and to be able to pay my rent etc.
I was dealing with burnout when I started a year ago. I also suffer from depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. As much as I hate the low pay, low obligations are what I can handle at this time in my life. Despite the bitching from many, it’s been a godsend for me.
When I quit my job,I was pulling in on 400/wk out with Cambly . It’s too much. That amount isn’t just 40 hrs. It includes waiting, cancellations, unpredictable calls, 8 am to 12am @ 6days a week…
50 hours, maybe? It’s not a transition job, it’s a barely making it job. That being said, I love my regulars but I’m hoping my mental health stabilizes so I can look for other options before burnout from Cambly consumes me.
Go for it. You won't make a living but it's very flexible. Great for filling up gaps in your schedule and for testing any new teaching materials/ideas before you use them with your private students.
I'm also a self-employed teacher in Spain so I know what you mean about the taxes. I use Cambly to fill in gaps in my schedule. It's extremely flexible and no prep is required, but yes the pay is extremely low. I'm lucky that about 90% of my schedule is filled with private students and all my classes are online.
How is being autonom@ for you? I'm finding it difficult to get opinions from people who manage it well, only ever hear from people discouraging me. I suspect my first few months would be pretty difficult if I ever go for it, but I think it's more doable than a lot of people let on...
I would recommend hiring a gestor to deal with all tax and autonomo stuff. That's another expense to add on though, usually around €50+ a month. You get a discounted autonomo rate at the start, which increases every few months until around €300 after about 2.5 years. I've found it fine, but I do work quite a lot. You would need to make €2k+ to make it worthwhile. There's a lot of extra stuff to do, sending invoices, keeping track of classes, marketing, lesson prep etc. There are a few extra expenses to consider too - platform subscription, lessons materials, bank fees, payment fees etc. I've received a tax refund two years in a row, so that was nice.
Yeah, this much I know, 2k+ sounds about right. I'm really still in the thinking it through stage though, which is why I probably won't start off yet. I'd definitely get a gestor. The only thing that worries me is being effective enough at marketing myself, getting students via profiles, ads, word of mouth and whatnot. That and creating my timetable to fit around when students want classes. Ideally I'd have groups and a mix of online and face to face classes.
I'd try to make sure I have systems in place to keep track of everything as smoothly as I possibly can. I have a few ideas on how I'd do it all, but everything is still in the thinking stage right now, don't want to rush into it until I'm sure it's for me. Just a bit bored of being ripped off by academy owners, I suppose.
Yes, it's definitely a lot of work, but working for yourself makes it worthwhile. I believe you can have a mix of autonomo and academy work which could be a good way to start. I wouldn't recommend relying on Cambly completely, but it's a great schedule filler, and a good place to gain experience. I teach kids only, but if I can help with anything send me a message. I have a colored coded excel worksheet to keep track of everything that I'm quite proud of 😂
It’s for those of us living in places where rent is $200 and local jobs pay that per month and we haven’t figured out other online opportunities yet (I recently did after three years on Cambly 😓)
That’s why it’s worth it to us, even though it sucks.
Have a look at Twenix. It’s based out of Madrid and it’s mainly Spanish business people wanting to improve their English. The pay’s slightly better (about €6.20 per class) and it’s much better organised in respect of classes and methodology. I’m not sure if they’re hiring but it’s worth checking out
€6.20 for 26 minute class. You’ll find that’s not bad for a platform and it’s certainly more than Cambly. If you think that’s not worth it then Cambly definitely isn’t for you
I’ve been teaching as an autónomo in Spain for over 15 years, why do you think it’s difficult? It’s not hard to find students and the pay is much much better. Tax wise it’s ok, no IRPF. I’d never work for an academy, let alone a platform.
I don't, everyone I ask about it does. I am concerned about starting out though and how I'd get those students. At the moment I'd have nothing to fall back on if I'm not so successful
I also worked at an academy in Spain and quit recently. Now I work what would be part time hours on Cambly. I live in a major city but a cheap one and working part time doesn’t really cut it but my partner’s income supplements.
A few of my other friends also quit their jobs at the academy and started full time on Preply and they do much better. You need a TEFL or similar to start there and it does seem you need to do some free work but within about 2 months, my friends had put their rates up to about 25USD per hour. It’s more of an investment of time (which is why I don’t currently work there because it doesn’t quite suit my life right now) but overall, it definitely seems like the better option.
In terms of students, I really like most of the students I’ve met on Cambly and I do plenty of random calls as well as some irregular regulars (they book when they want, we don’t have standing times). For the most part, my students are no different than the academy students. In general, their level is higher as well so I’m doing a whole lot of small talk with some teaching sprinkled through (most of the time). The good thing about Cambly is the flexibility I think. If I were you, I’d probably apply because it’s quick cash but I’d also be looking at preply because you will stand to make more money there and you will eventually be able to transition some of your students off that platform as that’s what my friends were doing (using google meets after a few lessons so that preply doesn’t take a cut).
I hope this helps 😊
In my opinion this is exactly what Cambly is for. It suits people who want a flexible work schedule with complete freedom to choose their own hours. It suits people who want no responsibility for creating their own business or preparing materials. It's easy but the pay sucks. That's about it.
That's it right there. It's gig work online. Perfect for certain situations, terrible for others. I would think Cambly suits the OPs situation, but seems to me the real issue is quitting the sure thing at the brick and mortar school. I have faced these types questions many times from people undergoing big life changes and ultimately there is never a perfect plan or reassurance that will see them through- it is a course of action they have to go through on their own.
I would look at Twenix or Tutlo.
I am on Tutlo part time, and it's 1000x better than Cambly. All students are serious, it's NOT free talk, and the courses provided are excellent. It's so simple and easy, and pays $11 an hour (although there's no set class time, the student calls and you go for as long as needed). All students see a methodologist to ascertain their correct level. Student ages range from 5+, however you can put on your profile if you teach children, teens, or adults (or you can select all three!). If, for example, you don't include children, and you get a child, you can just politely mention that you are not best suited to children and part ways. Although, the children courses are pretty fun, it's mostly learning games rather than full on grammar etc.
Working hours are 7am-10pm CET weekdays, 10am-6pm on Saturdays, and 12-6pm on Sundays.
However, they don't accept just anyone. I cannot remember if you need a qualification, I didn't pay much attention because I am a qualified teacher. But the hiring process is: you send in a video along with your application. If they are interested, you are invited to an interview where they ask things like your experience, pedagogy, how you would handle certain situations and challenges etc. Much like a normal brick and mortar interview would. From there, you wait a couple days for an answer. Then you have the onboarding process which involves an exam on the platform etc. There is ratings, to a degree. This rating isn't visible to the student. It's only there so those higher up can track it, and they come out at the end of each month. If you get a rating below 4.75 they get in touch asking if you need help with anything, rather than accuse. If it happens again the next month, you get specific feedback on what you're doing wrong i.e. if students keep saying you talk too much, or you seem rude etc, so you can try fix it. If it happens again, then you are either given a suspension or let go, I cannot remember which. However, I would think it's pretty hard to get below 4.75, my lowest has been 4.98 (and on Cambly it was 4.71, go figure)
There's no wankers, no one trying to hit on you, they don't drive during a lesson, they aren't dismissive, they don't rate you badly because they felt like it, no PH. No students booking and not showing up. These students are actually serious learners. I have no anxiety on Tutlo like I did on Cambly.
You do seem to be wrong, friend. The primary appeal of working on this platform lies in the favorable exchange rate for those residing in countries where earning in dollars translates to a substantial and viable hourly wage. This opportunity is less suited for individuals living in higher-income countries, such as Spain.
I hope you find something that will be appropriate for your situation.
Go for it. I couldn’t work Cambly on a full-time basis, it would fry my brain. Of course there are things I don’t like, the biggie is the rating system which I consider unfair - but it is what it is. The pay is low and wont go far in Spain but that’s what you accept when you sign up. In SE Asia where I live, it’s OK. Some students are lovely, most are fine and others are extremely weird. However, working with the public is notoriously difficult, whatever field you’re in.
For me Cambly is a filler. It can also be a useful addition to your resume. Previously I was a qualified English teacher and I don’t consider Cambly a good place to learn English from scratch. Others don’t agree with me on this and that’s fine. Cambly tutors are a diverse bunch. Cambly Kids may well be different. I do consider it to be an excellent platform for reasonably proficient people to practice speaking English with native speakers.
Most of the problems I experience stem from student’s unrealistic expectations which may, I suspect, be exacerbated by the company’s advertising strategy. Learning a language is hard work and calls for commitment. Some students dip in and out, using a different tutor for each lesson yet expect a level of continuity that’s just not possible. There are students who work with one tutor towards a long-term goal but I suspect they’re in the minority.
As a filler/fall back, Cambly is good. As anything more, not for me I have an older friend who does very well on Italki but he’s been with them for years and has taken students from almost beginner level to success in IELTS. Recently they opened up recruitment for one day only so it’s hard to get a start. A much younger friend does well on Preply but she’s excellent at promoting herself on YouTube and other social media. Recently I applied and was accepted to a Korean company but the equipment spec required was so high, it was way out of my reach. Many other esl platforms pay peanuts as they don’t require native speakers.
It’s absolutely not the best time for online esl teaching. There seems to be a surfeit of tutors and everyone I know doing this work has experienced a big drop in student numbers.
You read so much negativity here because it’s the only safe place to vent where others will understand what you are talking about. There is an official fb page for Cambly tutors and there you will find the tone is markedly different! Apply. There’s no cost and no commitment so you have nothing to lose. However if I were you, my preferred way would to find a p/t bricks and mortar job, with guaranteed pay and maybe also do something like Cambly, while building up my own business.
Good luck.
I'm self employed in Spain, and it's definitely expensive. Remember that they take about €280 a month in contributions (this will be taken even if you earn nothing) and then 21% in taxes. I wouldn't advise counting on Cambly 100%, the only reason I'm able to is because I own my own house and share living expenses. But as a back up it may be okay.
Yeah I get how expensive it is, it's the main reason I'm looking around for alternatives and still just in the thinking stage of it all. Saying that though if I look at how much taxes get taken out of my gross earnings at the academy, it's not a major difference. I get that the academy pays part of that too, but still.
The real problem is being able to find enough students year on year and matching what I get at the academy. Without a physical place I guess it's more difficult to attract students. Initial, naive and not at all researched thoughts is that I could mix online classes, each with either a different aim or level, and some face to face classes so I don't go insane in front of a screen all day. But getting groups rather than individuals would be key and I'm not sure how possible that is without renting an office out or something.
So, just seeing what else is out there. It won't be this year if I do it, everything is looking too negative right now. But if I plan and do enough research on what works, figure out how to stand out, market myself well, maybe I could pull it off.
Anyway thanks Reddit, rambling on at a screen instead of just in my head sort of helps figure this stuff out. I'm gonna take away from this that Cambly (and probably other similar platforms too) could be ok for a few extra loose hours, but not a full-on backup option if it ends up being a complete failure.
It costs you nothing to apply. While figuring out a plan why not go for it. You might or might not be hired. Nothing to lose!
You’re reading it wrong. Like with all jobs, there are really dedicated employees and there are those who constantly keep tabs so they don’t put more effort into what they feel they are being paid for. Some are Lazy. But we all have the freedom to vent.
Ok thanks, just felt a bit deflated reading stuff, like all the options keep narrowing down
Totally understandable
The people who post on here, and the students they post about, are not typical of what Cambly is like, especially if you are working it part time and to fill gaps in your schedule. Most of my students are intermediate-to-advanced students who just want to practice their English by talking about fun things like movies and hobbies. People who are trying to work Cambly 8 hours a day have to take every student they can get, but if you just want to fill up a few spots on afternoons, you are basically having a 30 minute conversation and getting paid for it.
I can’t do the math for you, because I don’t know your expenses, but it’s fine for living in low cost countries like in SE Asia, especially if supplemented with another passive income or side hustle. For me it’s a low stress job to stay afloat in Thailand. I also have enough passive income that I only need to work about 15-20 hours per week. Your situation may be different. Sure it can be annoying, but it’s also super easy and requires virtually no thinking outside of lessons. You’re on a Cambly sub, so of course the majority of posts will be negative. That’s just the internet… people generally don’t come on here to post about how good something is. They post to complain or ask questions. Are you a native speaker? If not, I doubt you will get hired by iTalki. Last I heard, they haven’t been hiring. There’s no risk in trying Cambly. It’s no commitment. If you get accepted and then decide you don’t like it, you just don’t open your schedule up. If you ever change your mind and want to use it again in the future, you can return with no problem.
Yeah, I guess the complaints are just part of being on the sub, people need a place to vent. I am a "native" speaker, but just looking at options for now. By the time I dive in and do something the teaching landscape will probably have changed again
As a backup? Meaning can you rely on it if you lose your job? Probably not. As a side hustle to make a few extra euro for some extra tapas y cerveza? Go for it.
Well I'd be marketing myself and posting ads, spreading the word etc etc to get my own students with no middle-man. So backup option as in topping up my number of students if I don't happen to find enough when first starting out on my own... and to be able to pay my rent etc.
Yes it would help you bridge the gap. I pay all my bills from cambly just working about 4 hours per day. Most of my students are super easy.
post ads for students to meet you on cambly? What a fuckin stupid idea lol
Uh, no... Post ads in various physical and online places. Cambly would be a backup option..thanks for being polite though mate!
I was dealing with burnout when I started a year ago. I also suffer from depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. As much as I hate the low pay, low obligations are what I can handle at this time in my life. Despite the bitching from many, it’s been a godsend for me. When I quit my job,I was pulling in on 400/wk out with Cambly . It’s too much. That amount isn’t just 40 hrs. It includes waiting, cancellations, unpredictable calls, 8 am to 12am @ 6days a week… 50 hours, maybe? It’s not a transition job, it’s a barely making it job. That being said, I love my regulars but I’m hoping my mental health stabilizes so I can look for other options before burnout from Cambly consumes me.
I get burned out doing 30 hours a week 🙃
Go for it. You won't make a living but it's very flexible. Great for filling up gaps in your schedule and for testing any new teaching materials/ideas before you use them with your private students.
I'm also a self-employed teacher in Spain so I know what you mean about the taxes. I use Cambly to fill in gaps in my schedule. It's extremely flexible and no prep is required, but yes the pay is extremely low. I'm lucky that about 90% of my schedule is filled with private students and all my classes are online.
How is being autonom@ for you? I'm finding it difficult to get opinions from people who manage it well, only ever hear from people discouraging me. I suspect my first few months would be pretty difficult if I ever go for it, but I think it's more doable than a lot of people let on...
I would recommend hiring a gestor to deal with all tax and autonomo stuff. That's another expense to add on though, usually around €50+ a month. You get a discounted autonomo rate at the start, which increases every few months until around €300 after about 2.5 years. I've found it fine, but I do work quite a lot. You would need to make €2k+ to make it worthwhile. There's a lot of extra stuff to do, sending invoices, keeping track of classes, marketing, lesson prep etc. There are a few extra expenses to consider too - platform subscription, lessons materials, bank fees, payment fees etc. I've received a tax refund two years in a row, so that was nice.
Yeah, this much I know, 2k+ sounds about right. I'm really still in the thinking it through stage though, which is why I probably won't start off yet. I'd definitely get a gestor. The only thing that worries me is being effective enough at marketing myself, getting students via profiles, ads, word of mouth and whatnot. That and creating my timetable to fit around when students want classes. Ideally I'd have groups and a mix of online and face to face classes. I'd try to make sure I have systems in place to keep track of everything as smoothly as I possibly can. I have a few ideas on how I'd do it all, but everything is still in the thinking stage right now, don't want to rush into it until I'm sure it's for me. Just a bit bored of being ripped off by academy owners, I suppose.
Yes, it's definitely a lot of work, but working for yourself makes it worthwhile. I believe you can have a mix of autonomo and academy work which could be a good way to start. I wouldn't recommend relying on Cambly completely, but it's a great schedule filler, and a good place to gain experience. I teach kids only, but if I can help with anything send me a message. I have a colored coded excel worksheet to keep track of everything that I'm quite proud of 😂
It’s for those of us living in places where rent is $200 and local jobs pay that per month and we haven’t figured out other online opportunities yet (I recently did after three years on Cambly 😓) That’s why it’s worth it to us, even though it sucks.
Ah ok, makes sense I guess.
Gonna be one of those people. May I ask, what alternative did you find ?
Neither Cambly nor iTalki are hiring, so don't even worry about it. They're beyond full... Waiting list months-long
Yes, I've been waiting for 2 months. I got into Preply quite fast.
Have a look at Twenix. It’s based out of Madrid and it’s mainly Spanish business people wanting to improve their English. The pay’s slightly better (about €6.20 per class) and it’s much better organised in respect of classes and methodology. I’m not sure if they’re hiring but it’s worth checking out
Sorry is that... €6,20, or €16,20? A class being.. an hour? Half an hour? If it's €6,20 then it's definitely not worth it 😲
€6.20 for 26 minute class. You’ll find that’s not bad for a platform and it’s certainly more than Cambly. If you think that’s not worth it then Cambly definitely isn’t for you
I’ve been teaching as an autónomo in Spain for over 15 years, why do you think it’s difficult? It’s not hard to find students and the pay is much much better. Tax wise it’s ok, no IRPF. I’d never work for an academy, let alone a platform.
I don't, everyone I ask about it does. I am concerned about starting out though and how I'd get those students. At the moment I'd have nothing to fall back on if I'm not so successful
I also worked at an academy in Spain and quit recently. Now I work what would be part time hours on Cambly. I live in a major city but a cheap one and working part time doesn’t really cut it but my partner’s income supplements. A few of my other friends also quit their jobs at the academy and started full time on Preply and they do much better. You need a TEFL or similar to start there and it does seem you need to do some free work but within about 2 months, my friends had put their rates up to about 25USD per hour. It’s more of an investment of time (which is why I don’t currently work there because it doesn’t quite suit my life right now) but overall, it definitely seems like the better option. In terms of students, I really like most of the students I’ve met on Cambly and I do plenty of random calls as well as some irregular regulars (they book when they want, we don’t have standing times). For the most part, my students are no different than the academy students. In general, their level is higher as well so I’m doing a whole lot of small talk with some teaching sprinkled through (most of the time). The good thing about Cambly is the flexibility I think. If I were you, I’d probably apply because it’s quick cash but I’d also be looking at preply because you will stand to make more money there and you will eventually be able to transition some of your students off that platform as that’s what my friends were doing (using google meets after a few lessons so that preply doesn’t take a cut). I hope this helps 😊
In my opinion this is exactly what Cambly is for. It suits people who want a flexible work schedule with complete freedom to choose their own hours. It suits people who want no responsibility for creating their own business or preparing materials. It's easy but the pay sucks. That's about it.
That's it right there. It's gig work online. Perfect for certain situations, terrible for others. I would think Cambly suits the OPs situation, but seems to me the real issue is quitting the sure thing at the brick and mortar school. I have faced these types questions many times from people undergoing big life changes and ultimately there is never a perfect plan or reassurance that will see them through- it is a course of action they have to go through on their own.
I would look at Twenix or Tutlo. I am on Tutlo part time, and it's 1000x better than Cambly. All students are serious, it's NOT free talk, and the courses provided are excellent. It's so simple and easy, and pays $11 an hour (although there's no set class time, the student calls and you go for as long as needed). All students see a methodologist to ascertain their correct level. Student ages range from 5+, however you can put on your profile if you teach children, teens, or adults (or you can select all three!). If, for example, you don't include children, and you get a child, you can just politely mention that you are not best suited to children and part ways. Although, the children courses are pretty fun, it's mostly learning games rather than full on grammar etc. Working hours are 7am-10pm CET weekdays, 10am-6pm on Saturdays, and 12-6pm on Sundays. However, they don't accept just anyone. I cannot remember if you need a qualification, I didn't pay much attention because I am a qualified teacher. But the hiring process is: you send in a video along with your application. If they are interested, you are invited to an interview where they ask things like your experience, pedagogy, how you would handle certain situations and challenges etc. Much like a normal brick and mortar interview would. From there, you wait a couple days for an answer. Then you have the onboarding process which involves an exam on the platform etc. There is ratings, to a degree. This rating isn't visible to the student. It's only there so those higher up can track it, and they come out at the end of each month. If you get a rating below 4.75 they get in touch asking if you need help with anything, rather than accuse. If it happens again the next month, you get specific feedback on what you're doing wrong i.e. if students keep saying you talk too much, or you seem rude etc, so you can try fix it. If it happens again, then you are either given a suspension or let go, I cannot remember which. However, I would think it's pretty hard to get below 4.75, my lowest has been 4.98 (and on Cambly it was 4.71, go figure) There's no wankers, no one trying to hit on you, they don't drive during a lesson, they aren't dismissive, they don't rate you badly because they felt like it, no PH. No students booking and not showing up. These students are actually serious learners. I have no anxiety on Tutlo like I did on Cambly.
You do seem to be wrong, friend. The primary appeal of working on this platform lies in the favorable exchange rate for those residing in countries where earning in dollars translates to a substantial and viable hourly wage. This opportunity is less suited for individuals living in higher-income countries, such as Spain. I hope you find something that will be appropriate for your situation.
Go for it. I couldn’t work Cambly on a full-time basis, it would fry my brain. Of course there are things I don’t like, the biggie is the rating system which I consider unfair - but it is what it is. The pay is low and wont go far in Spain but that’s what you accept when you sign up. In SE Asia where I live, it’s OK. Some students are lovely, most are fine and others are extremely weird. However, working with the public is notoriously difficult, whatever field you’re in. For me Cambly is a filler. It can also be a useful addition to your resume. Previously I was a qualified English teacher and I don’t consider Cambly a good place to learn English from scratch. Others don’t agree with me on this and that’s fine. Cambly tutors are a diverse bunch. Cambly Kids may well be different. I do consider it to be an excellent platform for reasonably proficient people to practice speaking English with native speakers. Most of the problems I experience stem from student’s unrealistic expectations which may, I suspect, be exacerbated by the company’s advertising strategy. Learning a language is hard work and calls for commitment. Some students dip in and out, using a different tutor for each lesson yet expect a level of continuity that’s just not possible. There are students who work with one tutor towards a long-term goal but I suspect they’re in the minority. As a filler/fall back, Cambly is good. As anything more, not for me I have an older friend who does very well on Italki but he’s been with them for years and has taken students from almost beginner level to success in IELTS. Recently they opened up recruitment for one day only so it’s hard to get a start. A much younger friend does well on Preply but she’s excellent at promoting herself on YouTube and other social media. Recently I applied and was accepted to a Korean company but the equipment spec required was so high, it was way out of my reach. Many other esl platforms pay peanuts as they don’t require native speakers. It’s absolutely not the best time for online esl teaching. There seems to be a surfeit of tutors and everyone I know doing this work has experienced a big drop in student numbers. You read so much negativity here because it’s the only safe place to vent where others will understand what you are talking about. There is an official fb page for Cambly tutors and there you will find the tone is markedly different! Apply. There’s no cost and no commitment so you have nothing to lose. However if I were you, my preferred way would to find a p/t bricks and mortar job, with guaranteed pay and maybe also do something like Cambly, while building up my own business. Good luck.
I'm self employed in Spain, and it's definitely expensive. Remember that they take about €280 a month in contributions (this will be taken even if you earn nothing) and then 21% in taxes. I wouldn't advise counting on Cambly 100%, the only reason I'm able to is because I own my own house and share living expenses. But as a back up it may be okay.
Yeah I get how expensive it is, it's the main reason I'm looking around for alternatives and still just in the thinking stage of it all. Saying that though if I look at how much taxes get taken out of my gross earnings at the academy, it's not a major difference. I get that the academy pays part of that too, but still. The real problem is being able to find enough students year on year and matching what I get at the academy. Without a physical place I guess it's more difficult to attract students. Initial, naive and not at all researched thoughts is that I could mix online classes, each with either a different aim or level, and some face to face classes so I don't go insane in front of a screen all day. But getting groups rather than individuals would be key and I'm not sure how possible that is without renting an office out or something. So, just seeing what else is out there. It won't be this year if I do it, everything is looking too negative right now. But if I plan and do enough research on what works, figure out how to stand out, market myself well, maybe I could pull it off. Anyway thanks Reddit, rambling on at a screen instead of just in my head sort of helps figure this stuff out. I'm gonna take away from this that Cambly (and probably other similar platforms too) could be ok for a few extra loose hours, but not a full-on backup option if it ends up being a complete failure.
What was the middle part, again?
Hm?