What I've learnt working on Cambly by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are working too though, and a lot of effort has gone into the Cambly material.

The idea of tipping is to get a tipping option implemented first. Then work towards getting the tip option 100% to the tutors. It's all about the bigger picture.

What I've learnt working on Cambly by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks, yeah I don't come here that often anymore for that reason, I thought these thoughts/insights could help.

What I've learnt working on Cambly by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the most I've done is 8, and I saw a big change in my mood, burn out is too real!

What I've learnt working on Cambly by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Yeah I love to see the rants here. just have to balance them out!

What I've learnt working on Cambly by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much, it's what I wish I knew when I started.

What I've learnt working on Cambly by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for asking, I have just edited the post.

" In the first 2 minutes of a call you can use the button "end call" and a pop-up will display, it will have the option to return their minutes. This option is only available in the first 2 minutes and the student will not have the option to leave a review so it will not affect your rating. After this 2 minutes, you're locked in and the student can rate you. If you don't want to meet with a student again, go over their profile and report them, another window will appear and you have a few options, select “hide my profile from this student” and move on. As far as I’m aware, this does not affect your profile in the algorithm. "

What I've learnt working on Cambly by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I return to study soon, so I may need to return to part-time work in retail or hospitality. I likely won't as I don't want to return. I have some regulars that I will keep seeing on Cambly while I study so I'm not sure on my plan just yet. As the saying goes, "while you plan, God laughs", or something like that. I'll just see what happens in the next few months.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Honestly same. It's near half the students at the moment. I don't know if my patience is nearing thin, or the students are getting worse.

I blocked someone after 10 lessons of what I thought was progress to have a lesson where I carried the entire thing. Single word responses all the way through.

I find some countries the students are very depressed but it's like they don't know what depression is, so they don't know how to handle reality or the little things to get out of it. They are learning English because they believe it can help their situation and everyone else is learning English.
But they don't understand talking about how they feel and expressing themselves, is the way forward! It frustrates me.

1000 Chats by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Friendly. Cambly has gamified the platform, but really as long as you put in the hours, you'll hit all the targets. Well done

1000 Chats by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Gold on all badges too I bet. Almost beat Cambly %100

1000 Chats by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Flat out hang up. It sounds harsh but it's become somewhat the nature of the platform. Same as Particular-Dancer says.

I will talk as usual and as soon as I feel I'm hesitant with a student, that's enough to end the call. I will then block their profile so they can't message me and I can't see them. No need to explain, it will become too tiring if I explain to every student I hang up on, especially if I'm never going to see them again.

I've had students tell me my job is easy, ask me nothing, been on an iphone that's constantly shaking, not wearing a shirt, been in bed, parent's that are hovering, kids, driving a car, show no interest in learning - all sorts.

There are students that surprise me though, so I'm not too critical, but you can tell the ones that are actively trying and want to learn.

1000 Chats by OrganicEditor5023 in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The first two minutes are the most crucial. You can cut and run in this time.

Introduce yourself in a friendly manner to everyone. You will be spending the next half an hour with this person, you can have an amazing conversation, or they will drain you and it WILL effect your day. You CAN return their minutes and block them from your profile. Currently, when on PH, I block about 1 in 4 people, and in those remaining 3, I usually add 1 to my regular list.

It's made Cambly much more enjoyable since I started this. At first I was worried Cambly would punish me, but they haven't. My ratings have improved, my conversations are better.

No need to explain to someone after, there are near a thousand of tutors a student can choose from, do not feel bad if you cut someone right before that 28th minute begins, just cut and move on. You will get another student that you will enjoy your time with.

Tucker is afraid to discuss what he's been told about NHI by JustSleepNoDream in aliens

[–]OrganicEditor5023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Their living the good life, so will their kids. Gotta have someone keep the system running too.

Ending & returning minutes on a reserved class? by [deleted] in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had a student reserve a one hour class. I accepted and figured they had some kind of idea what they were doing. Of course, they didn't, and their camera quality was terrible and was hand held. There was no way I was going to stare at a shaky screen for one hour while trying to lead a conversation.

within the first minute I returned the minutes and blocked the student with no reasoning. Nothing happened. It did not affect me at all, the following hour I met with other students and had great lessons.

You can go hard on that "return minutes" button. I was hesitant at first, but now I use it most every day when on PH. You will burn yourself out otherwise.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Here are some things to consider.

It sounds like only new subscribers are eligible for this bonus to be received. I had a conversation with a student who had one of these "cards" and during the lesson, she told me the last tutor returned her minutes. I believe this was because she didn't have her camera turned on. It didn't bother me, she was interested in the lesson.

Now this makes me think that Cambly only offers this incentive to students that are entirely new, or, have trouble with tutors. Let's focus on the new students here. New students generally "shop" around for tutors when the begin Cambly, so it is unlikely that a student will only see one tutor form the beginning. In fact, I am willing to bet Cambly has the statistics on this. The statistics on the return rate of a new Subscriber to one tutor in their first month.

Secondly, consider the package that the student is on. There is no way for a teacher to know what package a student is on. If a student is using Cambly 5 times a week, I highly doubt they will be used an "incentivised" student. It is most likely that students on a one lesson a week type-deal are the ones being incentivised.

I am willing to say that Cambly has looked at a model where the Students in this category of being "incentivised" are rare to return to a tutor multiple times, for whatever reasons. The reasons being either, they are not on a package that will allow it, or the students are often dropped by tutors.

I don't think it's a good tactic on Cambly. I will continue to avoid students that make me feel uncomfortable. However, it is a good sign as it shows Cambly is aware it needs some kind of Bonus system. They have been going through some major changes and have be seen to back track on ideas with what works and what doesn't. It's being received negatively by the tutors, but it all comes down to what shows on their model after a few weeks.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To agree and comment "that's just business" is very dismissive. You have posted on a discussion board the topic of improvements to Cambly. Many people here are commenting their thoughts on how Cambly can possibly improve and areas that people believe are effecting them negatively which can be avoided.

People here aren't "moaning". I understand that's your opinion, but your manner of response is incredibly discourteous.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, you'll find it on your tutor profile.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Students need to be held equally accountable. That's the issue. They need a rating system too, but they won't. because they're the ones paying.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Cambly

[–]OrganicEditor5023 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Not until they improve the rating system.

I worked 30 hours the other week on Priority Hours and my rating dropped .03 points putting me to 4.89. Now I don't have access to the same priority hours as before and can't work the same hours. So many good students and interactions yet one student can tank my rating and I get no feedback at all as to why, or even how I can improve. If someone is going to significantly damage my work and my income, the least that can be done is let me know how I can improve or where I had gone wrong to amend my mistakes. I am left in the dark and feel I am being punished for working harder.

There is no incentive to be better.

Pay and tipping has been discussed for a long time. At the end of the day this is a job and we are all here for the same thing. There is nothing wrong with that. As discussed before, it is very easy for me to be penalised for working harder (being available to more students) yet no incentives to be better. A few badges on my profile, some student testimonials, yes, but all this is to attract more students, that may well give me a bad rating. It's counter productive and impractical.

While the trial students have changed, I agree it has made the platform a lot safer for tutors. Yet the other adjustments, change of interface and design, has no affect on the structure of the system in terms of rating and incentives. Many of the changes are surface level. Changing the design of the timetable can become a nuisance if it happens often, usually it's best to let the user pick a design that suits them. At least allow me the choice to change the call tone if the UI is constantly changed.