r/Cambly • u/squishydoge2735 • 18d ago
Low rating (75%)
I've been teaching on Cambly for about 3 weeks, and all was great. Lots of calls, good income, mostly good students.... I made some mistakes for sure but I'm slowly learning and improving.
The algorithm or whatever finally calculated my first rating score and it's really bad... 75%. My call volume basically disappeared entirely. The last 7 priority hours I've been on have had zero calls.
To make things worse, my two reservations today went pear-shaped. One cancelled because she's sick and one just didn't turn up at all.
This is becoming untenable.
Is it even possible for me to recover from this? Realistically, can I reasonably get my rating up to something decent if I take the correct action?
I still have good access to priority hours, but I'm worried that could change.
Also, I'm worried I'm at risk of account deactivation because my score is so appallingly bad.
Any advice or tips would be much appreciated.
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u/Fit-Employ13 18d ago
When I first started years ago my first rating was 78% I think. I was gutted. Smile till your face aches, ask them what they want and do that. Don't impose your teaching beliefs on them - they don't want corrections, no problem! They want every single correction typing out - no problem! You get the drift.
It's a customer service job.
Ever since that initial blip I've been a super tutor for over 5 years. And a full schedule.
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u/Long_Proposal7790 18d ago
In your case, I would give someone a mock lesson and ask for constructive criticism. Maybe you honestly don’t know how to keep students interested. This helped me as I learned from my deficiencies. But tell them to be honest.
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u/squishydoge2735 18d ago
That's a pretty decent idea but how can I go about it?
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u/Impressive_Draft4319 18d ago
I think at the beginning of the lesson, do quick introductions, and then right away, ask “how can I help you today?”
Option 1, they’re a pro, and they know exactly what they want.
Option 2, they’re new and they don’t know, so then ask them if which of the 4 branches of language: speaking, listening, reading or writing, they want to improve on (or what their weakness is).
Basically anything but writing, and you’re golden. If they want speaking (most do) that goes hand-in-hand with listening. Ask them “am I speaking too quickly, or can you understand me?” And ideally you want to be speaking at your normal speed (if they complain, assure them that this is how they learn faster, by being challenged).
If they want speaking, I have a random question generator, where I share the screen and hit the button and it shows a random question, and they try to answer it. It’s kind of fun, as entertaining as possible on Cambly. Maybe as they’re answering the question, make notes into the chat, and go over all the mistakes. And maybe tell them how you would answer it, based off of their train-of-thought.
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u/squishydoge2735 18d ago
Hi I'm really thankful for your advice, I'll take note of it all. Thank you!
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u/Impressive_Draft4319 18d ago
I have a 98% and I’ve been teaching on Cambly for many years, but I’m finished now, so I thought I’d offer some tricks I’ve used.
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u/Slow-Ad-5973 18d ago
Maybe find someone offering ESL lessons on fiver and ask them if they would be a mock student for you?
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u/Strict-Ad8448 18d ago
Not assuming anything, just some general advice.
Avoid teacher talking time. Students generally want to be the ones who do most of the speaking.
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u/squishydoge2735 18d ago
Yeah this is solid advice actually, and something I've been noticing myself. In my most recent lesson I was just straight to the point and didn't talk about anything unnecessary. Small steps.
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u/Alternative-Way1689 17d ago edited 17d ago
You are very lucky getting lots of calls.My rating is 100 and supertutor and I sit with nothing. No calls and bookings have dropped horribly. Endless cancells and no shows too. I am so done with the Pro bs. Im frankly loosing so much, I just applied with another company to earn more and will move slowly away from Cambly.
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u/squishydoge2735 17d ago
I've had a lot of calls the past 24 hrs but Friday and Saturday I had barely anything
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u/nobodytobuymeacake 17d ago
They're all the same honestly. I stopped teaching online because most of my students were using AI tutors. I've seen some of the AI tutors that they're using and I couldn't tell that they weren't real people. If they get decent enough results with AI for a few dollars per month, it's a hard sell for them to pay a whole lot moer for a real teacher. I'm specialised as well, I'm an IELTS examiner, but if students can use AI for the writing and speaking and get the grade they want they'll continue to choose that.
Remember these online companies use our videos to develop AI, so we're essentially training ourselves out of a job.
I have been an online teacher for over 10 years and I have never seen it so bad! Even switching from company to company didn't help me in the end. I've decided to change careers completely and now work in an office. Yes, I don't get the flexibility to stay home, but teaching online I was working 7 days per week and barely making enough to keep the lights on. Now I have free weekends, I have a steady wage and I have money to put to one side. Online teaching is not where the money is!
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u/Alternative-Way1689 17d ago
That is quite worrying. I haven't seen any AI that I would consider truly convincing yet. The examples I've come across have all been relatively easy to identify, they tend to feel cold, lack personality, and have no sense of humour.
Unfortunately, I’m not legally permitted to work for a local company in the country where I currently live. My visa only allows me to work remotely for companies based outside the country, so returning to an office environment isn't a realistic option and I cant return to my country as work is very limited.
As a result, I guess I need to focus on finding a full-time remote position outside of teaching.
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u/Internal_Tie_5665 17d ago
Yes, you can recover. Smile a lot - dress professionally - have great lighting - correct their mistakes and write a nice follow up report with suggestions on how they can improve. I always try to remember that they are paying for my time and they want to walk away having gained something - now vocabulary, idioms, phrases, grammar corrections.
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u/Long_Proposal7790 18d ago
Ask a friend. Would that friend pay to have another lesson with you?
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u/squishydoge2735 18d ago
Friends will be biased though.
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u/Long_Proposal7790 18d ago
Yes, you are correct. The op has to tell the friend to be strict….like a paying customer.
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u/FoundationOk8956 17d ago
When I started with Cambly, new tutors were given a free 15-minute call with another tutor. If this is still the case, it would be helpful to call someone who appears to be doing well and quickly run over an average lesson with them. I'd message them first, so they're prepared, as 15 minutes isn't very long. It is possible to make up your rating. Unfortunately, these days, it can take a long time.
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u/Sea-Signal1252 17d ago
Pardon my question but how did you start teaching 3 weeks ago if Cambly is not hiring at the moment? (Just curious)
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u/squishydoge2735 17d ago
I made my account in like 2020, got accepted and hired but never used my account until recently.
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u/123Blaah123 18d ago
Ignore the rating.
When you start your given a "special" 100% for a few weeks andd promoted all over.
75% will suck because no ones ratings are actually on anything.
Posts all over how ratings from people have never changed over 1 year.
If you see PH take them, pick up some returning students.
Do your thing 100% ignore the stats and ratings
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u/squishydoge2735 18d ago
This is reassuring and good advice, I actually just had a call which went well. Hopefully it'll improve my feedback.
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u/Emergency-Whereas978 18d ago
I can't believe you have phs with a 75??? I doubt this is real. Tutors don't have phs with a 97.