General Guide
Can I cancel a scheduled lesson?
Avoiding cancellations is highly recommended. If you have to cancel, get in touch with your student right away and take the lesson down from the platform so they can get their paid time back.
Can I see if a student has booked prepaid lessons with me?
Indeed. You can see how many prepaid hours your student has scheduled by going to the Calendar section and opening your lessons. You will find a list.
What should I do when a student book a lesson?
Simply get ready for the session in terms of materials and content. It is encouraged that tutors discuss the student’s aspirations and expectations of this lesson.
What happens if a student cancels?
24 hours’ notice is required by the cancellation policy for both parties. You have two options if a student cancels with less than twenty-four hours’ notice: either cancels the lesson or demands payment. Just let the system verify the lesson automatically to get paid.
How long is a lesson?
Lessons last 50 minutes each. You should use the remaining time to correct exercises and provide your student with feedback and prepare yourself for the next lesson.
Can I refund a student?
Yes.
- Go to the lesson in question,
- open the payment options field,
- select ‘Cancel the session’.
Can I use my prepaid hours with another teacher?
First, you need to request a refund. The money then becomes credit on your account. Your money will not be automatically transferred to your bank account. You can then use this credit to pay for hours with another teacher.
Technical Questions
What platform do I use to teach?
Tutors are to use the platform’s integrated classroom. In case they use another video platform, they risk being blocked and banned at once from the platform.
How do I communicate with my students?
Use IOPARLA‘s built-in messaging system for all communication with students.
How do I report a technical problem?
Email support@ioparla.com and describe the issue clearly and include screenshots if possible.
How is my ranking in the teacher list determined?
Your ranking is determined by your overall star rating, average number of lessons per student, response rate and speed, and the completeness and veracity of your profile.
When can a student leave a review?
Following their first lesson, students are able to post a public review. Teaching strategies, course materials, timeliness, communication, and connection quality should all be reviewed. They have to be objective and pertinent.
Payments
How do I set my hourly rate?
You are free to choose the rate. Take into account your credentials, experience, and the fees that other teachers on the platform charge for the same language. One helpful piece of advice is to start with a lower rate and gradually raise it in order to build reviews.
How do I get paid?
Once the student attests to the lesson, you are paid. Payments can be made by bank transfer or PayPal. The Withdrawals section allows you to make withdrawal requests at any time.
What commission does IOPARLA take?
Initial launch phase : At the outset of our launch, as a reward to the teachers who believed in us and became part of our community.
Post-launch phase : the following commission structure after the initial months of launch will be as follows :
| Teaching hours Monthly | Commission (for launch) |
| 0 – 20 hours | 30% (15% ) |
| 21 – 50 hours | 28% (14% ) |
| 51 – 200 hours | 25% (12.5% ) |
| 201 – 400 hours | 22% (11% ) |
| 400+ hours | 18% ( 9% ) |
Note: A commission will be deducted from each payment. Teachers should take this into account when determining their hourly wages.
Can I change my hourly rate?
Yes, but the new fee will only apply to new students, not to current ones.
Application and Requirements
Can I teach more than one language?
Yes. List all the languages you teach on your profile.
Do I require a teaching certificate?
A certificate is needed, not necessarily a teaching one. Usually, translation certificates are accepted, it all depends on the teaching ability you prove during certificate verification
Do I need teaching experience?
Yes, in most cases. However, the ability to fluently speak the language, the accent, the easiness in front of the camera as it is shown in the introductory video will be discussed during the verification interview. Strong language skills and genuine motivation are highly recommended to make up for the lack of exprience in this case.
Do I need to be a native speaker?
No, you just need to prove that you master the language, with a certificate or other proof to support it such as the introductory video which is highly recommended
How do I apply?
- Register on the website
- Build your profile
- Once it is 100% complete, our team will review it within 48 hours and provide feedback if needed
The profile becomes public once approved. Henceforth, the availability has to be updated.
Once All the above is attained, you are ready to start teaching.
Is it free to create a profile?
Yes, creating a profile costs nothing. A commission is only calculated when you receive payment, it decreases the more hours you teach.
Why is my profile not showing up in the teacher list?
What is a verified teacher?
A complete profile, an accessible introductory video, a precise availability, and the number of hours being taught are what characterize a verified teacher’s profile.
Legal Aspects
Do I need to declare my income?
Profile Creation
What makes a good profile photo?
A clear, brightly lit photo with simple background of you alone smiling, professionally dressed with eye contact made
How do I create a good introduction video?
- Record a short, high-quality video
- Include who you are, what and how you teach
- Upload it to YouTube and paste the link in the corresponding field on your profile at IOPARLA.
How do I set my availability?
Go to My Profile → settings → Availability and select the hours of your availability in the week.
How do I describe my teaching offer on my profile?
When writing about yourself, focus on what makes you stand out as a teacher among others in terms of experience, methodology, pedagogy, and materials used. It is even possible to write it in multiple languages for a wider reach.
What should I do if a student asks to pay outside the platform?
This is strictly against IOPARLA‘s terms of use as all payments must go through the platform. The student should be informed. In case of this taking place, both profiles will be deleted.