How it Works

 

Your Lessons

You choose when to have classes and what you do.

Can I choose what to do in lesson?

Of course you can choose!

We offer a very flexible service. Lessons are individualized so that you learn what you want and need. Perhaps you want to focus on a particular type of language (for example for business or for travel) or maybe you want to improve certain skills (for example speaking or vocabulary)—it’s your lesson, so you decide!

What are the lessons normally like?

You can tell us exactly what you want to do in lesson. However, if you would like prepared lessons, we offer two approaches: conventional lessons and discovery lessons. Often students combine both types of lesson, but that’s your choice.

Conventional Lessons

We offer professionally prepared lessons that will improve all your language skills (speaking, writing, reading, listening and grammar). Lessons are filled with activities to ensure you advance fast; we use videos, audios, texts and interactive games.

Discovery Lessons

We also encourage students to write their own texts and to record them as podcasts (audio files). You can see what some work by our students on our student work page. Students especially like this approach because they can learn exactly what they want. As language teachers we like it because the lessons focus on the students needs—it helps us to see where the student could benefit from extra practice (perhaps a point of grammar, an idiomatic expression or the pronunciation of a particular sound).

This approach can be combined with 3D virtual worlds, like Second Life. We call these “SurReal Quests”. Find out more about SurReal Quests with virtual worlds…

Will I have homework?

We always offer you homework to help you advance between lessons. You receive the homework by email after the lesson. We also send you an audio recording with the correct pronunciation of words you found difficult in that lesson. You can listen to this example.

Sometimes you may not have time to do your homework but don’t worry, we understand that it can be difficult to find the time.

When are the lessons?

When you want!

You choose when to have lessons so that your language learning suits your schedule. All lessons are individual (one-to-one) classes so you decide what time is best for you.

You can also vary the length and schedule of the lesson. Perhaps you want a class tomorrow at 5pm for 45 minutes and then a 60 minute class next Wednesday at 1pm. No problem. Just arrange this with your teacher.

Can I have a free demonstration?

Of course! We will show you what lessons are like and we will explain how we use the online tools. Please complete the online form to arrange a time. Please give us 24 hours notice when arranging a free demonstration.

Will I meet other students?

We have a community of students and you can meet our other students—through Facebook, Skype or a 3D virtual world. You can easily contact the other students and practice a language together or to have a chat.

We also encourage our students to use 3D virtual worlds to practice languages in a social and immersive way. Watch this video to learn more about how to practice a language for free in a virtual world.

What resources are available?

Avatar Languages has an online library with access to resources to help you learn your language. Visit our library now at www.avatarlanguages.com/library.

How can I improve between classes?

There are a lot of fun things to do to help you improve—our Free Advice page has many suggestions and we have a blog with even more language learning advice.

Can I start now?

Yes, just complete the online form to request a free live demonstration.

Your Online Classroom

It is easy to use our online classrooms. We use everyday programs that are simple to work with.

What programs will is use in lesson?

We use Skype, Google Docs and an online whiteboard…

Skype

Skype is a “messenger” that allows you to have free voice calls, to type text and to share files with other people. It’s very similar to MSN and Yahoo messengers.

I don’t have Skype, what can I do?

We prefer you to use Skype because we have found it has the best voice quality for teaching. Visit www.skype.com to download the Skype program. If you can’t use Skype we can use MSN or Yahoo messengers.

Google Docs

Google has a free online service that is just like Microsoft’s Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs. However, Google Docs is better, because…

• 100% online—Google Docs is always online, accessible in your browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox)
• Collaborative—Google Docs can be edited by several people at the same time
• Free—no need to pay a penny! Just register for a free Google account

Google Docs is so similar to Word that you will instantly understand how to use it. Visit docs.google.com to register for a free Google account.

Online Whiteboards

Sometimes you and your teacher will want to share a space where you can freely move text and images. This is when we use an online whiteboard. It is a small and easy program that is especially designed for Skype It is free and quick to download and install. Visit www.whiteboardmeeting.com to download the program.

Can I have lessons with Second Life?

Of course! We offer lessons in the 3D virtual world Second Life. We combine virtual worlds with the other tools (Skype, Google Docs and the online whiteboard) so that we use each tools for its strengths—Second Life allows the language learning experience to be immersive and social.

Second Life is a 3D virtual world that is free for you to join. You can watch the video below to learn more about it.

How much do these tools cost to buy or use?

Nothing! They are all absolutely free. They are also 100% safe to use. With Avatar Languages, you only pay for the one-to-one lesson time with your teacher.

Booking Your Lessons

Arranging your lessons is simple, safe and flexible.

How much are lessons?

You pay for the time you spend in lessons. You buy lesson time and you decide how and when to use it. For example, you can buy 10 hours of lessons (600 minutes), then use this time when you want. Perhaps you want a 45 minute lesson tomorrow and then a 60 minute lesson next week. After these two lessons you will have used 105 minutes (45 + 60 = 105) of your lesson time and you will have 495 minutes remaining on your account (600—105 = 495).

The more lesson time you buy, the cheaper it is. Please see the prices page for details.

How do I pay for lessons and is it secure?

You buy lessons on our web site (see prices page). You pay with a credit or debit card using PayPal (we also offer Google Checkout if you have any difficulties with the PayPal service). PayPal and Google Checkout are the worlds best known and most secure payment methods. We never see your credit (or debit) card details or any other personal information. We just receive an automatic message from PayPal when you have paid. We immediately add the new lesson time to your account.

Visit Paypal’s website

How do I know how much lesson time I have used?

You can view your account anytime online. We use an excel spreadsheet in Google Docs, so you will find it easy to understand and use. Your account shows you the lesson time you have bought, the lesson time you have used and how much time you have remaining on your account.

Is your account system secure?

Yes. Google Docs is password protected, so only you have access to your account. Besides, there isn’t any sensitive information in your account—just your first name, how much lesson time you bought and when you had lessons.

Do you have any special offers?

We credit existing students with one hour for every new student they refer to us. We also credit the new student with one hour, so everybody gains.

Occasionally we have other offers—please check the news section on the front page.

Your Flexible, Professional School

We offer you a flexible and professional service to ensure you learn to communicate fluently.

Where is the school?

The school is 100% online, so you can have a lesson wherever you can connect to the internet. Our teachers are in different countries—and of course, our students too!

Who will my teacher be?

All our teachers are experienced and qualified to teach languages. They are native speakers of the language they teach.

What languages can I learn with you?

We currently offer English.

Soon we will offer Spanish, Aymara and Quechua. If you are interested in learning these languages with us, please tell us so we can add you to the waiting list and contact you when they are available.

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See when we will be offering more languages

Language	Days until we start
Spanish	0 days
Aymara	0 days
Quechua	87 days
Hindi	207 days

Who are the other students and what do they think about Avatar Languages?

The students are from all over the world and you can read some of their comments on our students’ page.