Which English school should you choose?

Are you looking for a new English course? Learning English online has never been easier. In the last few years, the number of language learning platforms has been steadily growing. You can find specialised websites for just about any learning style.

How can you pick the right school for you? We’re here to help.

We divided the review into four main parts: Lessons and how you learn, Teachers, Cost and Final Thoughts. You can also see an overview of each platform’s features below.

Please note that all the information in this blog post is based on publicly available information and our teachers’ personal experiences. It is accurate as of the time of posting. If you see an error, please let us know and we’ll amend it.

Lessons and how you learn

Often, how you learn is more important than what you learn. You should decide whether you’re simply looking for someone to chat to or whether you’d prefer a complete package with learning plans and self-study materials.

Students sometimes feel like they need many 1on1 classes to progress. Naturally, you need to take lessons with a teacher to get feedback and guidance, but it doesn’t mean you can’t learn through other methods. On the other hand, taking private lessons without spending any time on revision or self-study can slow down your improvement. You want to find a balance between guided learning with a teacher and self-study time.

Cambly

With Cambly, you can pick a curriculum and self-study courses to supplement lessons. The lessons follow the curriculum you’ve chosen, and you can review recordings of your lessons.

Verbling

Verbling is a marketplace to find language teachers. There are no learning materials or a curriculum offered to students, but you can participate in discussions. Each tutor is an independent teacher, and there is no connectivity between your lessons if you switch tutors. You can study many different languages on Verbling.

Intrepid English

All Intrepid English students have access to a learning community to ask questions and interact with other students and teachers. There are weekly competitions, discussions and learning challenges to keep you practising. 

Learning is structured according to student goals, and all Intrepid English Academy students have access to a library of self-study courses, assessments and achievements. After each lesson, you receive written and audio feedback for further practice. You can take both group and private lessons.

Teachers

Apart from your motivation and learning environment, your teacher is one of the most important aspects of learning a language. Not every teacher is suitable for every student. Find a teacher that you get along with and that motivates you. Don’t hesitate to change teachers if you’re not satisfied.

Cambly

At Cambly, teachers do not need a teaching certificate, degree or any prior teaching experience. There are hundreds of tutors you can choose from, which can mean you spend more time looking for a teacher than studying. You can pick one teacher you like, or take each lesson with a different teacher.

Verbling

Verbling does not require teachers to be native English speakers but asks for teaching experience. Lesson and lesson packages you purchase are specific to each teacher, and there is no easy way to transfer to a different teacher if you’ve already paid for lessons with one.

Intrepid English

All teachers at Intrepid English are experienced and have access to regular training sessions and continued professional development. A smaller number of teachers are available at Intrepid English, which means you don’t have to spend hours to find the right one. Send us a message with your needs if you’re unsure, and we’ll get back to you with a recommendation.

You can easily switch teachers if you want to change or even have lessons with multiple teachers. It’s also easy to find a substitute teacher if your regular one isn’t available. There is no need to stop learning.

Cost

Of course, it’s important to consider how much you can spend on learning a language. If you don’t have a lot of money to spare, you may have to compromise quality for the price, or you may not be able to study as much as you’d like. You are paying your teacher for their time and expertise, so more experienced teachers often charge a lot more than new teachers.

Cambly

The cost to subscribe to Cambly is one of the lowest in the industry. This, unfortunately, means that the pay rates for teachers are low compared to other platforms.

You choose your membership depending on how much you want to study each week. This is to encourage you to study regularly. The price also depends on whether you want to commit to paying one, three or twelve months in advance. You can change, pause or cancel your plan.

Verbling

There are many English teachers on Verbling with big differences in price per lesson. Teachers set their rates, and Verbling takes a 15% commission. You can buy single lessons or packages. You can take a FREE trial lesson on Verbling when signing up for an account.

Intrepid English

At Intrepid English, you’re paying for access to the platform rather than individual teachers. This keeps the cost the same for you, no matter with which teacher or teachers you study. Intrepid English is run by teachers, which means all Intrepid teachers get a fair wage based on British industry rates.

Depending on how much time you have, you can pick a monthly membership and then arrange the lesson length and time with your teacher. You can change, pause or cancel your membership at any time and there are options for monthly and yearly memberships.

You can take a FREE trial lesson with any Intrepid English teacher. There is no need to sign up.

Final Thoughts

There are many things you should consider when deciding where to learn English. No matter which platform you use, it’s important you are honest with your teachers. Try to be clear and specific about your goals and listen to your teacher’s recommendations. I hope you can find a school that suits you and helps you reach your goals.

Are you looking to improve your English skills in 2022? Sign up for our Excel in English language learning challenge. It’s completely free, and we’ll keep you accountable to keep learning throughout the year.

You’ll also get a study planner, regular learning materials and challenges to test your skills. You can also earn certificates and points towards FREE private lessons with Intrepid English. Sign up now! All you need is an email address.

 
 
The Intrepid English Academy
 
Your personal path to success in English
 

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