FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
After scheduling a lesson, where will we meet?
Skype is still the best platform for video and audio calls, and it's free. If you don't already have Skype, download it now and we can begin our lessons. You'll also need a good Internet connection. Please provide the following for a successful and pleasant learning experience:
All lessons begin on the hour and are 25 minutes in length. I always begin by saying hello. That's your signal to call me.
If you're late, the time you missed will not be added to the end of the lesson, as there may be other students waiting to begin on time after your lesson.
How do lessons work?
Each lesson will start with a little chat, a review of the previous lesson and then enter into the subject of the lesson you selected. If, for example, you choose the Accent Training lesson, we'll begin by reviewing what we studied during the previous class and then move on to the pronunciation exercise of the day. If you choose the Conversational English lesson, then we will have a discussion about a topic chosen from a conversation book or from an article I send you a few days before class. Natural conversation is imperative to learning a new language and studies show that meaningful conversations contribute to learning more than passive or uninvolved interactions.
This standard format of conversing and correcting is my professional approach to help students become more fluent. However, if you need help in other areas or need to address some specific issues, I am more than willing to help with that, too.
How long will it take to improve my English?
This is a question I get frequently from students. There is no single answer. Each student is different and therefore the effort and time it takes to reach your goals varies according to the individual.
Will I receive a certificate after completing the course?
No, and the reason is that real English proficiency certificates (the only ones that matter to employers and educational institutions) are issued by TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS. I can certainly help you prepare for taking one of these exams.
How do I know if your lessons are suitable for me?
My lessons are suitable for students who are, at least, at the lower-intermediate level in speaking and reading. You may not know what your level is. In the trial lesson, I will ask you a set of questions to determine your level, as well as your reasons for learning English. I will also explain how the lessons work and answer any of your questions.
During the trial lesson, you will be able to determine if you are comfortable with me as a teacher. This is the most important factor when choosing a tutor. The relationship between teacher and student should be relaxed and natural so that you feel free to make mistakes and have meaningful conversations. In fact, I encourage you to make as many mistakes as possible during our classes, as every mistake is an opportunity to learn and make progress.
How do I schedule and pay for lessons?
After our trial lesson, you'll have the option of purchasing a subscription for a package of lessons, or paying for each lesson separately. A subscription is the most economical choice, but is not always offered - this depends on the number of students I currently have enrolled and other factors.
All of this can be done by going to the Schedule page and choosing the lesson(s) you prefer. Here is a detailed explanation of how to schedule multiple classes. Alternatively, you can use the Contact form to request a time with me.
Payment is made by international credit card at the time of scheduling your classes. If using an international credit card is not possible for you, please inquire about other forms of payment I might accept. If you have purchased a subscription, payments will be made automatically and you'll be able to schedule the number of classes allotted in the subscription plan you purchased during the period for which the subscription is active.
What is your policy for missed lessons or canceling?
Postponing lessons - In case you are not able to have class at the time you scheduled, you can use the scheduling service to postpone your lesson. There's also a link in the confirmation email for your lesson that you can use to cancel the class. This must be done at least 10 hours in advance. Otherwise, the lesson will be charged to you, regardless of the reason.
I personally don't reschedule any classes as it creates too much bureaucracy, confusion with time zones, etc. To make scheduling changes, you'll need to use the scheduling system, which I've configured to be flexible and fair for everyone. It allows changes to the schedule up to 10 hours before class time. If the scheduling system doesn't allow you to make a change, it's because my policy doesn't allow it. If you can't have the class, please accept that you will lose it.
I respect your time and, for that reason, I'm always ready to begin at the time you scheduled. If for some reason I am not able to be present for our class, I will give you at least 10 hours prior notice regarding any changes I wish to make to the schedule. Any changes I make to your scheduled class time without sufficient notice will result in me owing you not only the missed class but also another to make up for your lost time and the hassle I've caused you.
Validity and refund of lessons - Individually purchased lessons are valid for 2 months. A subscription is valid for the length of the subscription. The lessons must be taken within this time limit; otherwise, they lose their validity.
Technical difficulties - Bob's English cannot be made responsible for communication problems and technical difficulties that are beyond our control. If, however, the technical difficulties are on my end, you will receive credit for the time lost.
Skype is still the best platform for video and audio calls, and it's free. If you don't already have Skype, download it now and we can begin our lessons. You'll also need a good Internet connection. Please provide the following for a successful and pleasant learning experience:
- A computer or laptop with a webcam (The use of a webcam is optional, but it is highly recommended for normal conversation and for demonstrating how to pronounce certain phonemes).
- A broadband Internet connection, preferably connected directly by Ethernet cable from the router to the computer and with a speed of at least 8 Mbps of download and 2 Mbps of upload. If you cannot connect by Ethernet cable, try to position yourself close to the router to obtain a strong Wi-Fi signal. Satellite Internet is inadequate due to its high latency (ping). You can run a speed test. In the interest of transparency, here's a screenshot of my ping, download and upload speed in California.
- A quiet environment.
All lessons begin on the hour and are 25 minutes in length. I always begin by saying hello. That's your signal to call me.
If you're late, the time you missed will not be added to the end of the lesson, as there may be other students waiting to begin on time after your lesson.
How do lessons work?
Each lesson will start with a little chat, a review of the previous lesson and then enter into the subject of the lesson you selected. If, for example, you choose the Accent Training lesson, we'll begin by reviewing what we studied during the previous class and then move on to the pronunciation exercise of the day. If you choose the Conversational English lesson, then we will have a discussion about a topic chosen from a conversation book or from an article I send you a few days before class. Natural conversation is imperative to learning a new language and studies show that meaningful conversations contribute to learning more than passive or uninvolved interactions.
This standard format of conversing and correcting is my professional approach to help students become more fluent. However, if you need help in other areas or need to address some specific issues, I am more than willing to help with that, too.
How long will it take to improve my English?
This is a question I get frequently from students. There is no single answer. Each student is different and therefore the effort and time it takes to reach your goals varies according to the individual.
Will I receive a certificate after completing the course?
No, and the reason is that real English proficiency certificates (the only ones that matter to employers and educational institutions) are issued by TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS. I can certainly help you prepare for taking one of these exams.
How do I know if your lessons are suitable for me?
My lessons are suitable for students who are, at least, at the lower-intermediate level in speaking and reading. You may not know what your level is. In the trial lesson, I will ask you a set of questions to determine your level, as well as your reasons for learning English. I will also explain how the lessons work and answer any of your questions.
During the trial lesson, you will be able to determine if you are comfortable with me as a teacher. This is the most important factor when choosing a tutor. The relationship between teacher and student should be relaxed and natural so that you feel free to make mistakes and have meaningful conversations. In fact, I encourage you to make as many mistakes as possible during our classes, as every mistake is an opportunity to learn and make progress.
How do I schedule and pay for lessons?
After our trial lesson, you'll have the option of purchasing a subscription for a package of lessons, or paying for each lesson separately. A subscription is the most economical choice, but is not always offered - this depends on the number of students I currently have enrolled and other factors.
All of this can be done by going to the Schedule page and choosing the lesson(s) you prefer. Here is a detailed explanation of how to schedule multiple classes. Alternatively, you can use the Contact form to request a time with me.
Payment is made by international credit card at the time of scheduling your classes. If using an international credit card is not possible for you, please inquire about other forms of payment I might accept. If you have purchased a subscription, payments will be made automatically and you'll be able to schedule the number of classes allotted in the subscription plan you purchased during the period for which the subscription is active.
What is your policy for missed lessons or canceling?
Postponing lessons - In case you are not able to have class at the time you scheduled, you can use the scheduling service to postpone your lesson. There's also a link in the confirmation email for your lesson that you can use to cancel the class. This must be done at least 10 hours in advance. Otherwise, the lesson will be charged to you, regardless of the reason.
I personally don't reschedule any classes as it creates too much bureaucracy, confusion with time zones, etc. To make scheduling changes, you'll need to use the scheduling system, which I've configured to be flexible and fair for everyone. It allows changes to the schedule up to 10 hours before class time. If the scheduling system doesn't allow you to make a change, it's because my policy doesn't allow it. If you can't have the class, please accept that you will lose it.
I respect your time and, for that reason, I'm always ready to begin at the time you scheduled. If for some reason I am not able to be present for our class, I will give you at least 10 hours prior notice regarding any changes I wish to make to the schedule. Any changes I make to your scheduled class time without sufficient notice will result in me owing you not only the missed class but also another to make up for your lost time and the hassle I've caused you.
Validity and refund of lessons - Individually purchased lessons are valid for 2 months. A subscription is valid for the length of the subscription. The lessons must be taken within this time limit; otherwise, they lose their validity.
Technical difficulties - Bob's English cannot be made responsible for communication problems and technical difficulties that are beyond our control. If, however, the technical difficulties are on my end, you will receive credit for the time lost.