Your frequently asked questions are answered
If you still have doubts that you'll make progress and improve your level of English level through Speakingathome, please look at our answers
- What are English lessons with Speakingathome like?
- What level of English do I need?
- For whom are your packages of online English lessons designed?
- What are the opening hours?
- What is the cost of Speakingathome English lessons via Skype?
- How can I sign up for lessons with you?
- How does the bank transfer payment method work?
- How can I create a Skype account?
- Are all teachers native speakers?
- How far in advance can I schedule my lessons?
- Can I cancel already booked lessons?
- How are already reserved lessons cancelled?
- Can a teacher cancel an English class already scheduled with me?
- Do English courses online for which I sign up with Speakingathome expire?
- Can I receive Speakingathome's lessons from my phone or Tablet?
- Can I receive the audio from my lessons in mp3 format, after each lesson?
- Is the use of headphones mandatory?
- What steps can I take to optimise the quality of video conferencing?
- Can you issue an invoice of my purchase?
1. What are English lessons with Speakingathome like?
They are conversational classes online, via Skype, with a single pupil and teacher which focus mainly on enhancing and improving your spoken English.
2. What level of English do I need?
It is advisable to have a basic level, to be able to maintain a minimum of conversation. If you have any doubts, sign up for your first lesson of 30 minutes, which is free. This enables you to test our method without having to make any commitment.
3. For whom are your packages of online English lessons designed?
Our students have a variety of reasons or motivations for wanting to improve their English: business, work, studies, interviews, as a hobby, First, IELTS, TOEFL exam preparation, etc.
4. What are the opening hours?
Each teacher offers availability at a different time. We have availability even on weekends, during which we are also teaching in our school. Our students book their lessons within the available timeframes offered by the teachers. On a typical day, we usually have time slots available from 8:30 in the morning until 10 at night (GMT+1,Germany, France, Italy and Spain). Remember that the schedules of lessons that you reserve on our calendar are expressed in the timezone that you have configured on your computer.
5. What is the cost of Speakingathome English lessons via Skype?
Prices are varied and are more affordable than most contracted lessons. You can see our prices here.
6. How can I sign up for lessons with you?
In a simple, fast and fully automated way, you do not need to make calls or contact any telemarketer. The payment process is made by credit / debit card, bank transfer, Paypal or Bizum. You can buy any of our courses by clicking on the "Buy" or "Contract" buttons on each page. Then you must register or login with your login and the next page will ask you for the confirmation of the course you have chosen. Finally you will be forwarded to the page of the payment system that you have selected. Your package of online English classes will be active in our system as soon as the payment provider confirms your payment. You can cancel your course and reimburse your money in case you want it before 30 days from the date of purchase and only totally, no cancellations are allowed once the consumption of classes has begun.
7. How does the bank transfer payment method work?
Unlike the methods of payment of credit / debit card, Paypal or Bizum, the method of payment of bank transfer is not instantaneous, you must send the bank transfer to the account indicated by our website, and after one or two days we will verify the payment of your course and we will add it to your account.
8. How can I create a Skype account?
It is simple, quick and free. You can create an account on Skype from here.
9. Are all teachers native speakers?
Yes, all our teachers are native speakers. They have experience and training teaching English. You can see some of our teachers here (See online English teachers)
10. How far in advance can I schedule my lessons?
You need to schedule all lessons at least 12 hours before the starting time of the lesson. The system will not allow you to do so after the deadline.
11. Can I cancel already booked lessons?
Yes, provided that you do it more than 12 hours in advance. The system will not allow you to do so after the deadline.
12. How are already reserved lessons cancelled?
It is not necessary for you communicate the cancellation with your teacher. You can cancel the lesson already scheduled with a simple click. Access our system, on the main tab "My account" you will see on the right a listing of your booked and pending English lessons, click on the "Cancel" button of the class that you want to cancel and that's it. This option is only available 12 hours in advance of the date of the commencement of your English lesson.
13. Can a teacher cancel an English class already scheduled with me?
Yes, our teachers can have unforeseen circumstances and may cancel a class even 1 hour before the start time. Don't worry, your credit will be returned and you can schedule with him/her or any other teacher within those available hours.
14. Do English courses online for which I sign up with Speakingathome expire?
Yes, contracted courses are available for 1 year from their start date, after which they are no longer valid.
15. Can I receive Speakingathome's lessons from my phone or Tablet?
This depends on whether your smartphone or tablet permits this, although normally any next generation mobile enables videoconferencing for Skype without any problem. It is important, in this case, that the Internet you use is high quality, and that you're in a place where noise will not impede your teacher's ability to listen to you.
16. Can I receive the audio from my lessons in mp3 format, after each lesson?
Yes, although our Academy rules state that you have to remind your teacher at the beginning of the lesson. Recording is an additional service that is subject to technical or human error in the recording. Because of this, this service is not mandatory, so you are not able to not claim the mp3 or the return of credit should there be any problem with this service. When the class is finished, you will have to provide a means for the transfer of the file. We accept only WeTransfer or Dropbox.
17. Is the use of headphones mandatory?
It is not obligatory, but it is highly recommended to make the most of your lesson. By using headphones, you avoid external noises and loss of concentration, you can hear your teacher much better, and also contribute much more to the quality of your lesson's mp3 recording. Therefore, Speakingathome strongly recommends the use of headphones.
18. What steps can I take to optimise the quality of video conferencing?
Skype is one of the leading videoconferencing systems worldwide and its video conferencing often provides optimum quality. If you notice that the lesson is problematic in the quality of the video or audio, please check that there is no software, such as EMule, BitTorrent, etc. downloading files. These programs use a considerable bandwidth, leaving little bandwidth for the correct use of Skype video conferencing. If despite shutting down this type of program, you are still having problems with your connection, you can choose to turn off the video for Skype and attend the lesson in audio mode only. This will decrease the need for bandwidth of Skype.