Frequently Asked Questions

Who can benefit from the LinguiSteps Program?

- Skilled professionals who aim to immigrate to, or work in, English speaking countries.

- University students planning to apply for a Masters or PhD Degree abroad in English speaking countries and will need an IELTS or TOEFL score.

- University students who are planning to sit for a national language test.

- High school students who seek to earn their Bachelor’s Degree in English speaking countries.

- Skilled professionals who want to gain the language skills which will provide them with better job opportunities and increased earning potential.

- Educated people who have attended several language institutes and/or studied with several tutors and need a system which can bring together all    their learnings in a holistic manner.

How does the LinguiSteps Program work?

The LinguiSteps Program is a tutor-led online distance-learning program designed to enhance your skills in the areas of speaking, listening reading and writing. It uses an adaptive method of teaching so as to provide an optimum training plan which adjusts dynamically to align with each student’s ongoing personal commitments. Each week you will be given a set of integrated exercises relating to some, or all four, of the language skills. At the end of the week you will submit a report confirming what you have completed from the assigned tasks and, based on the assigned tasks, you may be required to submit some of your verbal (recordings) and written (photos) productions. You will also confirm what level of workload you wish to take on for the following week. Based on the work you have actually completed, the quality of your productions and your workload request, your LinguiSteps Tutor will provide you with feedback about your completed work and send you your next week’s assignment. This is the great value of the LinguiSteps Program, it constantly adjusts to accommodate your latest skill level and personal needs. All interactions are carried out online. You will receive notifications of your assignments via email and you can access details of your assignments, as well as submit your report and productions, via the online LinguiSteps Application.

How do I enroll into the LinguiSteps Program?

Step 1: Click on the “Create Profile” link at the top right hand corner of the LinguiSteps Home Page and follow the instructions to activate your profile.

Step 2: Complete your profile. The information you provide in your profile will be used by your LinguiSteps tutor for your initial assessment and to map out a study plan optimized to your specific needs and individual goals.

Step 3: A LinguiSteps tutor will review your profile details and carry out a preliminary assessment to determine whether the LinguiSteps method of skills improvement is appropriate for your level and goals (this can take up to 3 days).

Step 4: Confirm your start date.

Step 5: Pay the tuition fees for your first month.

Step 6: You will receive your first week’s workload, and access to an online orientation video which will guide you through your workload and familiarize you with the tactics and strategies you should use in the LinguiSteps language skills improvement system.

What happens if I don’t complete my assignment in a given week?

Do not worry. Your assignment for the following week will be adjusted accordingly. When you provide your weekly report, you should list in detail what was uncompleted from your assigned workload. Your Tutor will then select the next week’s tasks so as to allow you to catch up. We aim to avoid you building up a huge workload if you are struggling with your time and correspondingly we increase your workload if you are able to handle it.

What happens if I wish to stop my program for a while?

You may start, pause (temporarily stop) and restart at any time you wish. However, you must give a minimum of 7 days’ notice. This means that whenever you pause your program, you will receive the next workload and your program will be paused. You can restart you program whenever you have finished your last workload and feel ready to continue.

How do I pause my program?

You can do this by simply selecting the pause date and pressing the pause button on the LinguiSteps web site. The pause date is the date of the last workload you will receive.

How long is each term?

There are no “terms”. You can start, pause or restart your language skills program anytime you like. Of course you will achieve your goal as soon as possible if you have continuity and try to study 11 weeks out of every 12 weeks. Your LinguiSteps Tutor will design your training program to help you achieve your target goal (e.g. a score that you need) in the best time possible. However, you can increase or decrease your weekly workload as your circumstances change. You and your tutor will regulate the pace of your program to ensure continuity.

How much does it cost?

The current tuition chart for the LinguiSteps Program is given in the table below.

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Our tuition fees are regularly adjusted to accommodate inflation and operational expenses to enhance the program, so you can expect the fees to increase by approximately 10% every six months.

When should I pay the fees?

You are required to pay one month of tuition fees in advance. Your LinguiSteps account is credited at the start of each payment cycle and as you are given each assignment, every week, your account is debited by the corresponding amount (refer to tuition chart). If you are late with your payment you will not receive your next assignment and you will be charged an additional administration fee of USD 5.00 (or IRR 50,000 in Iran).

What payment options do I have?

At present we do not have an online payment option. We aim to have the online payment facility available by 1st July 2015. Students in Iran may transfer their payment to the following account: Pasargad card no. 5022-2910-1882-5487 Account no. 2228009862291 In the name of: Farhad Zellipour For students based outside Iran, you will need to transfer the payment to the following account: Swift Code: XXXXXXX

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What type of Internet connection do I need?

In order to gain the best out of the LinguiSteps Program we recommend you to have a broadband connection of at least 1Mbps. Without this you will face challenges with uploading your productions and for any online discussions you might need to have with your LinguiSteps Tutor.

I don’t have a Skype account, what shall I do?

All direct communication with your LinguiSteps Tutor will be via Skype. Therefore, it is very important for you to create a Skype account. Pls. go to www.skype.com and create a new account. It’s quick and easy!

What is Exam Mode?

When you get closer to your exam date (typically 8 to 14 weeks before your scheduled exam date) your LinguiSteps Tutor will shift you into Exam Mode. Your tutor will then increase your workload (if possible) and give you a minimum of 1 complete test a week.

Which day of the week do I need to submit my weekly report?

When your enrollment is completed, the LinguiSteps Administrator will assign your reporting day based on the workload of the available Tutors. You may change your reporting day later. You are then required to submit your report and associated productions by this day, each week. You can submit your work earlier if you wish but your work will only be assessed on your official reporting day.

What is an Audio Production?

As part of your speaking exercises you will sometimes be required to record your voice. You will need to upload these audio productions to the LinguiSteps website. Your Tutor will review your production and provide you with feedback.

What is a Writing Production?

As part of your writing exercises you will sometimes be required to scan or take photos of your written work. You will need to upload this image to the website in your weekly report. Your Tutor will review your production and provide you with feedback.

I have trouble understanding the Instruction Sheets in English. What shall I do?

Do not worry. The instruction sheets are also provided in Farsi (and later we will also include Arabic and Chinese versions). You can select the language by clicking on the relevant link at the top right hand corner of each instruction sheet. However, we do recommend that you use the English versions as much as possible so as to further contribute to your language improvement.

Who has access to my personal contact details?

We aim to protect your privacy as much as possible. Your personal details are only visible to the LinguiSteps Program Director. Your LinguiSteps Tutor will only be able to see your initials, and any communication between you and your Tutor will be handled automatically via the LinguiSteps web application. However, if you schedule a Skype call with your tutor then he/she will have visibility of your details normally visible via Skype. If you have any concerns you may always contact the LinguiSteps Program Director via the Support link on the LinguiSteps web site.

How often can I update my profile?

You can update (change the information in your profile) as often as you wish.

How successful is the LinguiSteps Program?

Due to its adaptive approach, the LinguiSteps Program has proven to be quite successful. Some typical statistics are as follows:

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