Last updated: July 3, 2026
This page covers the most common questions from teachers and students using SpeakingHumans.
SpeakingHumans helps independent language teachers offer private 1:1 lessons through their own teaching page. Students can view lesson offers, choose a time, pay before class, and receive lesson details without being sent into a public tutor marketplace.
No. SpeakingHumans is designed for teachers who already have student trust or their own audience. We do not rank teachers in a public marketplace or push students to compare tutors. Teachers share their own private teaching page with students.
SpeakingHumans charges teachers a simple 3.9% platform fee per paid lesson. Students pay a Student Service Fee of 4.9% at checkout. Standard payment-provider fees may also apply. The goal is a clearer and fairer model than high-commission marketplace platforms.
Students pay before the lesson through PayPal checkout. PayPal processes the payment, handles card or PayPal payment details, and routes the teacher portion to the connected PayPal account after successful capture. SpeakingHumans does not hold lesson funds.
For independent language teachers who already teach privately or want to move trusted students into a clearer booking and payment flow.
Create a teacher account with Google, complete your profile, set your availability, connect PayPal, and connect Google Calendar if you want bookings and Meet links to be handled automatically.
You need a Google account for sign-up and calendar sync, a PayPal account to receive payments, and at least one lesson offer you want students to book.
Google Calendar helps prevent double bookings and creates lesson events with Google Meet links, so students know exactly when and where to join.
The student pays during checkout. PayPal processes the payment and routes the teacher portion to your connected PayPal account after successful capture, minus SpeakingHumans and PayPal fees. PayPal may still apply its own review, reserve, or settlement timing. If PayPal requires action from you, such as accepting a currency, the booking is confirmed only after the payment is completed.
Yes. Teachers can pause bookings from their dashboard settings if they need to stop accepting new lesson requests temporarily.
No. Teacher access may be restricted for certain countries or regions based on applicable laws, sanctions, payment-provider requirements, or risk and compliance considerations. Eligibility may change over time, and SpeakingHumans does not guarantee teacher access in every jurisdiction.
If a student cancels at least 24 hours before the lesson start time, the booking is eligible for a full PayPal refund. If the student cancels less than 24 hours before the lesson, no refund is issued under the platform policy. If the teacher cancels, the booking is eligible for a full PayPal refund.
Ordinary post-lesson issues are sent to you first as a resolution request. Because PayPal routes the teacher portion to your connected account after capture, SpeakingHumans does not hold funds to release later. You can issue a refund, agree a reschedule, reject the request, or mark it resolved another way. We may remind you if the request remains open. If the student still wants a payment review, they can open a case through PayPal or their card issuer, and that provider decides the outcome.
For students invited by a teacher using SpeakingHumans.
Open your teacher's private booking page, choose a lesson and available time, then complete payment during checkout. Once payment succeeds, your lesson is scheduled.
When you book a lesson, payment is captured through PayPal checkout. PayPal processes the payment and routes the teacher portion to the teacher's connected PayPal account after successful capture. SpeakingHumans does not hold the lesson funds.
Lessons take place on Google Meet. When a lesson is scheduled, the meeting link is attached to the booking details and calendar event when available.
You can cancel a scheduled lesson before it starts. If you cancel at least 24 hours before the lesson start time, the booking is eligible for a full PayPal refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the lesson, no refund is issued under the platform policy. If the teacher cancels, the booking is eligible for a full PayPal refund.
After the lesson, you can send a resolution request to the teacher from your dashboard during the post-lesson report window. The teacher can issue a refund, agree a reschedule, reject the request, or mark it resolved another way. Your request card also explains that if you cannot reach a good solution with the teacher, you may open a case through PayPal or contact your card issuer. SpeakingHumans does not decide ordinary lesson disputes.
No. SpeakingHumans is not a public tutor marketplace. Students usually join through a teacher's private booking page and need a student account to book lessons, manage bookings, and access lesson details.
If your question is not covered here, contact us.
