EF English Live

EF English Live is the online English school of EF (Education First), aimed at adults who want to speak English with more confidence at work, while traveling or in everyday life. It combines live classes with teachers, small group conversation classes and self-study exercises on one platform that is open 24/7. The home page counts 20 million learners taught, 2 million classes per year and 60 years of teaching experience, and describes the school as "the first and largest online English school for dedicated learners". It also says the method was "Originally envisioned with Apple and supported by Cambridge University". Courses run at every level from A1 to C2, and the school says it has over 3,000 native and bilingual teachers who can teach every level.

How the courses work

Every learner starts with a personalized learning plan. According to the FAQ, a course consultant tailors the plan to the learner's goals, schedule and budget, and the plan then mixes three things: private classes, small group classes, and self-study exercises meant to keep learners practicing between lessons. Learners choose how many lessons they attend, and in private classes they can choose the subjects they study with their teacher.

EF's teacher recruitment site, EF Teach Online, describes the two live class types in more detail:

• Group lessons last 45 minutes and are conversation classes focused on speaking practice, with small classes of 6-8 students so everyone participates. They run daily topics across business, travel and general interest themes, pitched to each level.
• Private lessons last 40 minutes and are one-on-one. Each session usually begins with a task based on the course content; the teacher gives feedback, corrects errors and introduces new language, and the student then repeats the task to improve. Private lessons complement self-study, previewing new material or reinforcing difficult topics.

Teachers have optional materials and lesson plans for both formats, and students can join from a phone, tablet or computer.

Classes take place in Efekta Hyperclass, a virtual classroom that EF says was developed by academic, technology and video gaming experts. It uses a conversation-based, interactive environment to put learners in real-life scenarios, and the teacher site adds that it blends interactive tools, live webcams and green screens. The wider approach is called the Efekta Method, built on what EF calls experiential language learning: speaking from day one through real-life scenarios and role-play, learning from mistakes, and conversation before perfect pronunciation. The home page puts its promise simply: "We will not only teach you words and phrases, we will teach you speaking confidence."

Teachers

Learners rate their teacher after every class. The home page calls the teachers certified Efekta Teachers, native or bilingual, trained to personalize lessons to each student. The teacher recruitment site lists what EF asks of English teachers: a bachelor's degree in any field, fluent English at C2 level, and a minimum 40-hour accredited TEFL certificate completed before teaching. Freelance teachers work from home on a laptop or desktop with a green screen and noise-canceling headphones, and EF also runs teaching centers in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Courses on offer

The FAQ lists five courses:

• General English, for complete beginners, people who have tried learning English before, or anyone with a big trip planned;
• Business English, built around real-world business scenarios such as meetings, presentations, interviews and persuasive e-mails;
• TOEFL exam preparation;
• TOEIC exam preparation;
• Travel English.

The footer also links to English for Companies, the EF English Live app and an English level test.

Certificates, progress and the guarantee

After every completed level, learners take an exam, and those who pass receive a certificate that, in the FAQ's words, "you can put on your CV or share on LinkedIn". The General English course card lists "A1-C2 Certificates". On progress, the FAQ is candid that there is no definite answer to how long a course takes, but says students who follow their plan, attend their planned private and group classes and complete their self-study exercises "on average, level up every 12 weeks", while noting that this depends on how much time they can commit.

The satisfaction guarantee is conditional and stated exactly: "Complete at least one teacher-led class and one self-study unit every week. If you are not satisfied after your first 12 weeks, you get your money back." The school also cites 5,218 five-star reviews and a "GREAT" rating on Trustpilot.

Price and what a learner needs

EF English Live does not post a price table. The FAQ explains that the price is personalized like the plan, and depends on which course a learner chooses (Business, General, TOEFL, TOEIC or Travel), how many private and group classes they want, and their budget and available time. Plans and prices come through a "Get plans & prices" sign-up or a conversation with an expert. Everything needed is on the platform from day one, with no extra cost for printed material or books. A learner needs a computer or smartphone with the app, internet access and a headset with a good microphone.

Two learner reviews on the teacher site give a flavor of the experience. Christina writes that "The private lessons helped me improve my skills and made me feel more confident when speaking English." Amélie writes that she had been using EF English Live "for 3 months and I was able to measure my progress, with real help from worldwide teachers."

Who it suits and who it does not

EF English Live suits adults with irregular schedules who want live practice with a teacher rather than an app alone: classes run around the clock, group lessons cover daily topics, and private lessons can be booked around a working week. Professionals preparing for meetings, presentations and interviews get a dedicated Business English course, and learners heading for TOEFL or TOEIC have exam preparation courses. The level exams and A1-C2 certificates give a clear marker of progress, and the conditional money-back guarantee lowers the risk for a learner willing to commit to one class and one self-study unit a week.

The main caveat is price transparency. Because every plan is personalized, there is no way to compare costs before talking to the school, and the guarantee only applies to learners who keep up the weekly minimum for the first 12 weeks. The school is clear that progress depends on effort, so it fits committed learners better than someone looking to dip in occasionally. It teaches English only, and its classes are online, so learners who want a physical classroom need a different school.