How GentleSpeak Classes Work

GentleSpeak classes are 40-minute live online sessions held over video. Each group class is capped at a maximum of six (6) students so every child gets real speaking time and individual attention. One-on-one Personal Practice sessions are held between a single student and a teacher.

All classes take place online. There is no physical classroom — your child joins from home using the link provided in their account.

Because GentleSpeak is a conversation-first program, both camera and microphone must be on for the full class. Speaking practice depends on seeing and being seen, so a working webcam and microphone are required — not optional.

Please make sure your child has:

• A device with a working camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or desktop).
• A stable internet connection strong enough for live video.
• A quiet, well-lit space where their face is clearly visible.
• Headphones recommended to reduce echo and background noise.

Classes cannot be completed audio-only. A student whose camera or microphone is off may be unable to fully participate.

Students should join each class a few minutes before the scheduled start. A student who arrives late may join the class in progress, but the class will not be extended and the missed portion will not be repeated or made up.

GentleSpeak works best when students are ready to talk. We ask that students come prepared to:

• Keep their camera on and stay in frame for the full class.
• Listen to the teacher and their classmates, and take turns speaking.
• Try to respond in English — mistakes are part of learning and are always welcome.
• Have any assigned reading or materials ready before class begins.

It is okay if a student is shy at first. Our teachers are trained to gently draw out quiet speakers. What we ask is a genuine willingness to try.

There are no make-up classes for student absences. If a student is absent from a scheduled class for any reason, with or without notice, the class is considered delivered and is not reschedulable or creditable.

We appreciate a heads-up when your child cannot attend — it helps the teacher plan the session — but advance notice does not create an entitlement to a make-up or credit. Full rules are in our Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Because each purchase reserves a seat in a specific group, individual classes cannot be rescheduled or moved to another day or time. A seat in one class cannot be transferred to a different class or time slot. Scheduled class times are fixed at enrollment.

Parents and guardians are part of the GentleSpeak experience, especially for younger students. We ask that you:

• Help your child log in and join on time, particularly in the first few weeks.
• Provide a quiet, distraction-free space for the class.
• Let the teacher lead the class — please avoid answering for your child or coaching them during the session.
• Check the post-class report and any homework, and encourage practice between classes.

For younger children, a parent nearby (off-camera) can help with technical hiccups. For older students, independence is encouraged.

GentleSpeak is a calm, respectful space. Students and parents are expected to behave courteously toward teachers, classmates, and staff. Disruptive, abusive, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate behaviour may result in removal from a class, suspension, or termination of enrollment without refund, at our discretion.

GentleSpeak records classes for child-safety purposes. These recordings are kept internally and are reviewed only if a safety, welfare, or conduct concern needs to be investigated. They are a safeguard for your child and their classmates.

We do not give, share, or publish recordings to parents, students, third parties, or the public. Recordings are not sent to you, posted online, or made available for download. They are retained only as long as needed for safety review and then deleted.

Parents and students may not record classes themselves. This protects the privacy of other children in the group and the teacher. By enrolling, you acknowledge that classes may be recorded by GentleSpeak solely for the safety purposes described above, and that you will not receive copies of those recordings. Full details on how recordings are stored, who can access them, and how they are deleted are in our Child Safety & Safeguarding Policy.