Linkua is a meeting point for people interested in teaching and learning languages. As a student you find language teachers from all around the world and learn from them from the comfort of your home. As a teacher you'll be able to connect with students and can teach them from home, with total flexibility.
(top of page)
Why distance learning is better than face to face learning?
You will get a stronger result by learning by telephone or VoIP than if you learn in person.
Many people are surprised when they first hear this but after you read these ten reasons you will be convinced!
#1 - Better Comprehension
When you are tutored by telephone you learn to hear voice. When you are taught face to face, about 30 percent of what you think you hear are the non-verbal gestures. People who are taught in person will finish a course of study, go to talk with someone on the phone, and freeze because they just lost 30 percent of their communications!
People who are taught on the telephone will do well on the telephone. They will also do great in person, because they get an additional 30 percent in the non-verbal gestures that they were not even accustomed to in normal learning process!
#2 - Better Pronunciation
People typically talk about 10 to 15 percent more loudly on the phone than in person. To speak more loudly you need to open your mouth more widely, and we all know that opening your mouth widely is a prerequisite to developing good enunciation and pronunciation.
#3 - Better Concentration
As you are not influenced by the non-verbal gestures, you can concentrate more on what you are told and what you say. For instance, while you drive, don´t you have to concentrate more on what you say on the phone than what you say to the person next to you? Furthermore, using the phone quickly helps you get over the fear of speaking.
#4 - Leverage Your Time
Instead of spending your precious time driving to a school or to someone's home to take a language class, you can use that time to learn more.
#5 - Flexibility: Wherever You Are
If you do any traveling, you can stay consistent in your learning by simply picking up a telephone. It does not matter if you are in Spain, New Jersey, Australia, Mexico, Sudan or Germany. If you can get to a PC with internet, you can take your class.
#6 - Flexibility: Whenever It Is
If you have a schedule that is variable, you can schedule learning on an "as you go" basis. You do not need to lock into the same times every week. You can schedule as you go and around the clock. You will always be sure to get a learning time that meets your needs.
#7 - More Relaxed
You can go home from work, get relaxed and enjoy your learning from your favorite chair. It is a lot more fun taking learning in casual clothes than in dress clothes. If you have a cordless telephone, you can even do learning from your garden while you are enjoying the sunshine!
#8 - Prepared for Real Business World
Since you learn to deal with voice, you will be better prepared for the real business world where much of what we do is by telephone. Also, if someone happens to be out of your line of vision, you will be able to understand even if you cannot see him or her. As I have already mentioned, if you are trained in person, you will freeze when you get on the telephone. When you are trained by telephone, you do not become dependent on lipreading, gestures, etc.
#9- Consistency of Training
You can have learning more consistently for the same amount of money than you could by going to a school. Telephone learning sessions are tipically shorter (around half an hour) and sessions at most schools are at least one hour in length because they have to justify having an instructor come in.
A half-hour on the telephone twice a week is more consistent, and better, than having one onehour session a week. Of course, four half-hour sessions weekly are better than two one-hour sessions.
It is just like exercise. Which is better? Three or four times a week for a half-hour, or once or twice for an hour or two at a time? We all know that consistency is critical to the development of a new skill or habit. You'll feel like you have more attention for the same amount of time... and money!
#10 - Higher Completion Rates
Our studies show conclusively that students who take their learning by telephone more consistently complete a full course of study. This is due to the fact that they learn better and that they learn in an environment that meets their needs from a logistical and scheduling standpoint.
The conclusion of the matter is that people who do learning by telephone, learn better, understand better, speak better, schedule more easily and complete their programs much more consistently.
(top of page)
What does "Linkua"mean?
Linkua is the mix of the words 'Link' and 'Lingua'. We believe that languages are the tool that link people. Linkua is also the link between people that, otherwise, would hardly get in contact. Lingua means language in latin, the mother of many of the main languages in the world.
(top of page)
About teaching on Linkua
What languages can be taught on Linkua?
All languages can be taught on Linkua. If you don't find the language that you want to teach, just contact us and we will list it.
(top of page)
How do I get started teaching on Linkua?
Getting started teaching on Linkua is easy.
Register and create your profile (the better and more complete your profile the more likely you'll be to get new students). Posts classes! You can post as many classes you want. The more classes you post, the more possibilities you have to be contacted by sutdents. Each class can have a different topic, length and price. Students will book your classes and you will receive messages from students interested in learning a language from you.
(top of page)
Which is the pedagogical approach I should follow? Which contents should I use?
You choose your own pedagogy. You are free to use the pedagogical materials that you want and send them to the student before the class. You can use the big amount of free content that can be found in internet.
(top of page)
Do I need any special software to do a session on Linkua?
Yes. You need to download Skype. You also need an Internet connection (broadband recommended) and a web browser. Skype is a software that will allow you to phone and do videoconferences from your computer for free. To download Skype for free, please click on the link below:
Do I need a webcam or any other hardware to do a teaching session?
You don't need a webcam, but learning a language online is much better if your student can see you. Skype allows you to do a videoconference if you have a webcam.
In addition, we'd recommend purchasing a headset if you don't have one already. A headset will help you and your student to hear each other better and avoid interferences between microphone and speakers. (top of page)
What tools will be available to teach with on Linkua?
With Skype, you can use a combination of video, voice and text chat. Skype also allows you to use a whiteboard and record your class by downloading some free plug-ins. (top of page)
How many classes am I allowed to post?
You can post as many classes you want. In each class, you decide the language that you want to teach, the class lenght and the price. For instance, you migth decide to post 1h conversation classes and 30min grammar class. (top of page)
How do students schedule lessons with me?
Once a student has bought the class, you will be able to contact him/her by internal messaging system to agree a day and time to do the class.
(top of page)
How do I get paid from my teaching sessions?
In order to book the class, the student will pay the class to Linkua.com. You will receive your teaching fee at the end of the month transferred to your Paypal account or Moneybookers account. Our fee will already be deduced.
(top of page)
How much does it cost to teacher on Linkua?
Linkua is free for teachers to register and create a profile. We charge a 20% fee for each sold class. You are only charged when you teach a session, so you will only be charged when you are making money teaching on Linkua. We earn money only when you get money.
(top of page)
What are the qualifications necessary to teach on Linkua?
There are no minimum qualifications necessary to teacher on Linkua. However, the better a teacher you are the more likely you will be to attract new students and the higher price you'll be able to charge for your services. We strongly encourage you to update your profile with any information that will make a student more likely to select you including your education, credentials, certifications, etc. (top of page)
How do students find me on Linkua?
Attracting students to Linkua is a team effort. On our end we'll be doing a number of things to spread the word and market the site. On your end we encourage you to market your services as well. We'll be working to give you tools that make it easy for you to promote yourself on other websites and find new students that way.
(top of page)
What is the teacher reputation rating?
Your teacher reputation rating is calculated with the rating that your students give you after a class is done. It is a tool for the students to compare between the teachers. It is very important for you that your students are satisfied with you in order to get good ratings from them. (top of page)
Can I teach and learn with the same profile?
Yes. If you have registered as a teacher, you can also buy classes from other teachers and learn other languages. (top of page)
How many times can I sell a class?
As a teacher, you can post as many classes as you want. Each class can be sold more than one time, so if a student is happy with the class, he can buy it again and again. Whenever you want you can access 'My classes'-->'Open Classes' and delete the classes you don't want to be listed any long. (top of page)
How long is a class posted? How can I relist it?
Classes are currently posted for 60 days. After this lapse of time, you will get an email informing you. In this email you will have instructions to easily relist the class for 60 more days. (top of page)
About Learning on Linkua
What languages can be learnt on Linkua?
All languages can be learnt on Linkua. If you don't find posted classes of the language of your choice, just post a Wanted Class and teachers will answer to your class request.
(top of page)
How do I do a teaching session on Linkua?
Getting started learning on Linkua is easy. You start by browsing the list of classes or the list of language teachers. Once you?ve found a good teacher you can buy a class from him/her. Then you can contact him/her to schedule a session. The session will be done using a VoIP system like Skype. (top of page)
Do I need any special software to do a session on Linkua?
Yes. You need to download Skype. You also need an Internet connection (broadband recommended) and a web browser. Skype is a software that will allow you to phone and do videoconferences from your computer. To download Skype for free, please click on the link below:
Do I need a webcam or any other hardware to do a teaching session?
You don't, but we?d highly recommend it. The experience of learning languages online is much better if your teacher can see you.
If you don?t install a webcam you?ll still be able to do a teaching session. You?ll be able to speak with and see your teacher but he or she won?t be able to see you.
In addition, we?d recommend purchasing a headset if you don?t have one already.
(top of page)
How much does a teaching session cost?
Teachers set their own prices for each class. You can browse all classes and check the different prices.
(top of page)
How do I schedule a session with a teacher?
Once you have bought the class, you will be able to contact the teacher in 'My Classes'-->'Bought Classes'. Suggest the teacher a possible time for your teaching session.
(top of page)
What if I need to cancel or reschedule a lesson?
Just contact the teacher with the internal messaging system and agree with him to reschedule the class.
(top of page)
What is the teacher reputation rating?
The teacher reputation rating is calculated with the rating that you and other students give to the teacher after a class is done. It is a tool for the students to compare between the teachers. Look at the reputation ratings to decide which teacher to choose.
(top of page)
How can I decide between different teachers?
Linkua offers you several tools to decide:
Check the teachers profile
Check the teachers reputation
Check the comments of other students about the teachers
We take your privacy and security extremely seriously. We encourage you to view our Privacy Policy here. If you have any questions regarding privacy or security please contact us at contact@linkua.com.
(top of page)
Troubleshooting
What do I do if forget my password or my username?
You can contact us over at the contact us page. We love feedback. We want to improve our service. Please help us to do so. We also accept critics !
(top of page)
I am not receiving any email from Linkua. What should I do?
Linkua may send you email for many reasons. If you suspect that you are not receiving email from us, please confirm the following:
Your email address is correct.
Your Linkua email settings are configured to allow us to send you email.
Your email software or host is not storing email from Linkua in your bulk/spam/junk folder.
Your email software or host is not blocking email from Linkua.
What do I do if I or the other user hears an echo of our voice during the teaching session?
This most commonly occurs when either the teacher or student is not using a headset with built-in microphone. We?d strongly recommend that both the teacher and the student use a headset with a built-in microphone if this occurs. (top of page)
HOME
FAQ
FIRST STEPS
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
LOGIN
SEARCH
LIST OF TEACHERS
WANTED CLASSES
English (66)
Mandarin (41)
Spanish (27)
Arabic (23)
Italian (22)
French (20)
Russian (8)
Korean (4)
Portuguese (3)
Tagalog (3)
Urdu (3)
German (2)
Afrikaans (2)
Swedish (2)
