Preply Review: #1 Best Tutor Finding Platform?
Original blog post: https://ling-app.com/tips/preply-review/
At some point in our lives, there comes a time when we become so filled with a burning passion for starting learning a new language. Unfortunately, only a few are able to get full proficiency and confidence in using their target language. If you are truly interested in sounding like a native speaker, then this Preply review is perfect for you! This unique platform allows you to focus primarily on learning critical language features with the help of native speakers and seasoned professional tutors. You can book your first lesson (or trial lesson) anytime and immerse yourself in your language of choice through this. Let’s learn more about this in this post!
Planning to take up a new language but do not know what, where, when, or how to prepare? We understand that this endeavor is exciting, but it can also be pretty overwhelming for some. More often than not, you might end up with analysis paralysis as you are looking for the right materials, learning tools, and textbooks to use to teach yourself. You might even find yourself with conflicting advice, which can stress you out, and think of dropping the idea of learning altogether.
But here’s the thing… learning a new language is possible! The only key to unlocking your target language is by finding consistency in your learning schedule. Based on reports, setting aside one hour per day is already enough to help you succeed. You can either teach yourself (which might take you more time) or find a tutor/ professional teacher who can provide guidance during that time.
If you want to take your skills to the next level and learn at a faster pace, finding the right teacher who can tailor lessons to fit your learning style is the best way to go. One example of an online platform that connects language learners and new teachers/tutors is Preply. Preply has been around since 2012, and it continues to gain positive momentum due to its wide selection of tutors for over 50 languages- including niche languages! Depending on the tutor’s hourly rate, you can start learning for as low as $5 for a single lesson! Could it really be the best website out there? Let’s find out!
Preply Review: What Is This Language Learning Platform About?
Preply is an online marketplace where students can book their favorite language teacher, depending on their availability. Just like Italki, students also have the chance to book trial lessons so that they can get a feel of someone’s teaching style before signing up with them regularly. It also offers great part-time work arrangements for native speakers and teachers who are looking to make a few bucks out of online tutoring.
What makes this online educational platform interesting is that it has a really good selection of tutors (both new and those with teaching experience), which means that you can truly rely on them in terms of improving your language skills. There are also other tutors who have special certification and can accommodate students with special needs (ADHD or even dyslexic students). This is a great companion for casual learners, but there are also tutors on Preply that provide specialized training for Business English and test preparation (SAT, IELTS, TOEFL, ACT tutoring).
For busy parents out there who are looking for general tutors, Preply also offers more lessons for other specializations like math, chemistry, computer science, arts, and even on different programming languages. For this reason, we can say that Preply is truly a powerhouse, and it does serve not just language enthusiasts but also real students and hobbyists.
One drawback is that there may be quite a few tutors for other specializations, but that is totally understandable since they do not have a set quota on how many tutors you can find in one subject. For instance, I only found 11 Preply tutors if you want to learn about other subjects like corporate finance. The same low number of tutors can be found in specializations like IT Project Management, Marketing Strategy, and Copywriting.
In terms of learning popular languages, you won’t be disappointed with the number of search results you will get from Preply. The tutor’s experience greatly varies too, which is why it is a great thing that you can join a trial lesson to learn about the lesson quality of that specific tutor.
How Does Preply Work?
There are two ways by which we will discuss the process of using Preply as this is highly dependent on what account you will create. At present, you can either be a student (looking for a new teacher/tutor) or become part of the tutors on Preply. The good thing here is that you won’t have to pay anything to create an account.
For Students
Finding a new tutor with Preply is easy. Just create an account and use the search feature to filter tutors based on your preferred criteria- hourly rate, availability, experience, popularity, number of reviews, specialization, and certification. Once you have clicked on the search button within the website, you will be greeted with a number of profiles that you can check out individually to see their available schedule, rate, resume, introduction video, and/or demo video.
From their profile, you are also allowed to send them a personal message to clarify if they can teach you a particular topic or simply take a leap of faith and book a trial lesson. You can also add profiles to your virtual list so that you can look around at other profiles before committing.
Once you show up for the lessons and figure that you want more time with your tutor, you can also purchase lesson packages. Currently, Preply offers 6, 12, or 20-hour packages (the rate for the additional lessons will depend on your tutor’s own rates.
For Teachers
If you got some spare time and figured that you would love to teach other people, then joining Preply is a great thing too! From here, you are allowed to teach as many specializations as you can so long as you can prove you have expertise or experience in this. You can also set your own price and go for as low as $5 to as high as $40 per hour! But of course, newbies in the online teaching world may like to set their own hourly rate at the minimum first just until they get to attract students.
What we really appreciate about Preply is that they pay their teachers for the trial classes. Unlike other language learning companies, there are more instances wherein the tutors are feeling overworked without getting paid for their inconveniences. Imagine preparing for trial classes and doing your very best without any confirmation of whether you are going to be paid for your time or not.
Preply Language Tutor
When it comes to finding the best language tutor, it is up to you to decide which one fits your needs and budget. As a rule of thumb, it is always better if you send them a message and ask tutors to tailor fit the lesson based on your needs and expectations. Do not show up in class and expect that the teacher automatically knows what to do.
To find tutors and get the best one out there, it would be wise for you to set the filter correctly when searching. For instance, you can search only for those with teaching experience or look only at profiles with certifications. Given that Preply is a marketplace, the company does not have any hold on the quality of the learning instruction you can get from every teacher. For this reason, it would be wise to book only a few lessons with different tutors first so that you can choose correctly. After all, your learning process will greatly depend on your expertise, right?
Wrapping Up
In as much as you want to save by teaching yourself alone, we cannot deny that having guidance and professionals who are working with us will certainly help in our language learning progress. While Preply may seem like a decent platform for those looking for a good tutor, it may take you some time to find “the one” as not every teacher there will live up to your expectations. In addition, the rate of the tutors may easily throw you off as it can quickly become expensive if you book many lessons at once.
If you are more interested in getting access to free learning content and quizzes for over 60+ foreign languages, then you might want to consider learning through the Ling App. The Ling App is a fantastic language learning tool that is aimed to help you master a few critical language concepts in as fast as 10 minutes! By simply committing a few minutes to use it, you can become confident in your target language in no time!
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t get left behind and start the right way! Download the Ling App on your mobile device now or simply access it via the web to learn instantly!
