FAQ/ Terms and Conditions

Please read carefully those FAQ as they are also terms and conditions to which every student should agree with before registering to the courses.

If I am already studying English with Philippe through a language school, can I use his service in private?

No, you can't

The reason is simple: I have a contract with language schools or institution that you hired for your lessons or trainings. If you registered for those courses or trainings at that language school or institution, it means you are legally THEIR student, not mine. Deontology implies that I should not give you private lessons with you as long as you are under contract with them and me with them. That would be "stealing customers", which is illegal and might cost me a lot in court.

Why do I have to buy books and material?

I know that if you concluded a contract with an institution, the contract stipulates that they will provide with the material.

The problem is that this material is not included in the price. Not all of it, that is. I explain:

A lot of schools and institutions have taken the (awful) habit to phototcopy books and material and distribute it to their students. But international laws and codes on copyrights stipulate that only the material mentioned as free, photocopiable or available for free on the internet (from the owner's site only - this excludes pirates copies, they are illegal) can be given for free to students.

I am an author myself, and for an author, the only salary we have for our long hours writing the books is the money you give when you buy them.

So, I am a protector of copyrights and author's rights, that is why I will always promote you to buy the material (books, cd, etc.) and will provide the freebies for free.

On the other hand, anything that I create, imagine, say or write for your class or in the classroom is for free, because it is mine to give.

Why do I have to pay in advance for my private lessons?

It is not to go away with your money :-)

It is a practical way for different reasons:

A lesson is not a product that you buy just when you need it, but a part of the service to you. A lesson includes more work than just spend some time with you in a classroom
For some students, as I always adapt the courses to the specific needs of my students, I will need to buy new books. It means that if you buy a book with an audio CD, for example, I will need to buy the same plus other material as a teacher's book, where there are more than just lesson explanation, if I have never used that book before. For some books, they have new editions and, although I would have the first edition, it does not mean that that edition is still on the market, so I will have to buy the new edition because you will have that one only.
We all have to pay some things in advance in life: a repair in the house, the rent for the house, a room in the hotel, the tuition for our children's schools.
And finally and most importantly, by experience, I have noticed that, when students do not pay in advance, they miss lessons, do not do their homework, or do not have the money to continue. Studying a language is an investment that should be taken seriously, and, so far, I have noticed that by asking advance payment, I stimulated those students who really wanted to learn a language, while others who were not ready or serious about the matter, just did not even start because they thought it over.

Can I adapt my schedule?

Yes, you can, as long as you agree with your teacher enough in advance and as long as your new schedule can fit the teacher's schedule.

If I cancel a lesson, do I pay for the lesson?

You can cancel a lesson 24 hours before the time of the lesson at the latest, after that your lesson will be lost.

What happens if I forget the lesson or cannot be at the lesson?

Your lesson will be counted as given, that means you will lose the lesson.

Can I postpone a lesson?

You can postpone a lesson at the limit of availability, to arrange with the teacher. nevertheless, it has to be done 24 hours before the lesson if you don't want to lose it.

Is there a limit to the number of lessons that I cancel or postpone?

Yes. You pay for a certain number of lessons a week. You can cancel lessons 24 hours before the lesson at the latest without losing them at a limit of 80% of them. For example, if you pay for 3 lessons a week, that means 12 lessons for 4 weeks, and you miss 6 lessons, you will have a credit for three lessons. That means that you will pay for 12 lessons minus 3. So, you will have lost 3 lessons.

Why do I lose lessons if I can't have them and I have informed my teacher on time?

Because, when you pay, you pay to book time in the timetable for 4 weeks, if, for example due to any circumstances, you inform the teacher on time, but it comes that you have a lesson once a week instead of three, it means that you are booking twelve weeks instead of 4. Since your time is allotted to you, the teacher has no right to give this time to another student, that means you have to be there or you lose the time that you reserved for yourself.

I am going on holiday, will I lose the lessons paid in advance?

Holidays and vacations are planned in advance too, so, you should tell your teacher in advance as well. That way, you do not book that time for lessons and the teacher can adapt his schedule and timetable. That means you DO NOT LOSE your lessons but can take them after you come back with no extra charge or get them as lesson credits for the next month.

I have a last minute business trip, what should I do?

The same as any lesson cancellation: warn your teacher at least 24 hours in advance. You can postpone the lesson to a better time at the same conditions as the conditions mentioned before.

What are online lessons at 1 euro?

These are self-studying lessons, each cost 1 euro. You get access to lessons depending on your progress and the number of lessons you have paid for.

Included in the price: corrections of your homework and tests and support (technical or pedagogical).

Not included in the price: Conversation lessons, speaking lessons/tests or other extra lessons that require the teacher's presence online (all by Skype). Their price is at the same rate as Skype individual lessons.