A good online lesson needs very little equipment, but a few small things make a big difference to how much you hear, say and remember. Here is our checklist for the first lesson.
The platform
We teach on Zoom or Google Meet, whichever you prefer. Your tutor sends the link before the lesson. Install the app or open the link in a browser a few minutes early and test your camera and microphone once.
Camera and sound
Any laptop or tablet with a camera works. Headphones or earbuds are the single best upgrade: your tutor hears you clearly without echo, and you hear the difference between similar sounds, which matters for pronunciation. Sit facing a window or a lamp so your face is lit, not the wall behind you.
The room
Pick a quiet spot where you can speak out loud without feeling watched. Speaking is the point of the lesson, and students who whisper because flatmates are nearby progress more slowly. Tell the people around you that you are in a lesson for 55 minutes.
On the desk
A notebook and a pen. Most tutors share a document or slides during the lesson, but writing by hand helps new words stick. Keep a glass of water close; you will talk more than you expect.
Internet
A stable connection matters more than a fast one. If video stutters, switch off your camera for a moment rather than dropping the call; sound is what carries the lesson.
Before the first lesson
Think about why you are learning and what you want to be able to do in three months. Your tutor will ask. If you have taken our free placement test, have the result to hand. If not, do not worry: the trial lesson is 20 minutes and is designed to find your level.
After the lesson
Most tutors send a short task between lessons. Ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week. If you need to move a lesson, reschedule for free up to 12 hours before.