In the online learning market, there are thousands of platforms that promise “innovative” methods for teaching English, each one attracting attention through advertisements that offer a supposedly unique experience.
One such platform is English Live, whose training method and interface seem promising enough to make many users wonder whether it truly works and meets quality expectations.
That’s why we at Papora have created this article, to analyze the service English Live offers and determine whether it truly functions as an effective course for those who want to learn English from scratch.
What is EF English Live and how does it work?
EF English Live is an online language learning platform that offers live English classes with native-speaking teachers. It is owned and operated by EF Education First, a global education company known for its language learning, educational travel, and study abroad programs. EF English Live serves as the company’s online learning option.
The course provides a variety of resources, including live and recorded lessons, interactive exercises, and assessments designed to help students improve their English skills both inside and outside the virtual classroom.
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Classes can be taken individually or in groups with others who are also interested in learning the language. The platform claims to offer 24/7 access to recorded classes. In addition, it provides a certificate for each completed level, which can be useful when applying to new companies.
Specifically, this center offers options for individual learners, exam preparation (such as TOEFL and TOEIC), business or workplace English, and English for travel purposes.
To enroll, you must fill out a form on the website with basic information such as your first and last name, email address, phone number, and age. However, the next step can be somewhat tedious, as you have to wait for an advisor to call and discuss your goals, course content, and structure.
The issue is that if you don’t respond, their representatives may keep calling you repeatedly.
Most of the lessons include audiovisual material and aim to encourage pronunciation through real-life situations and grammar practice.
Progress is tracked using a points or grading system designed to keep learners motivated.
What Are EF English Live's Prices and Plans?
The prices of EF English Live vary depending on your location, as the platform adjusts its fees based on the economic conditions of each country. The price we mention here is only an approximation.
However, the platform tends to create a rather uncomfortable experience for potential users. Their website does not display any clear pricing information. Instead, you can only find out the cost after receiving repeated calls from their agents trying to sell the service.
EF English Live offers two types of plans:
| Plan | Services | Price |
| Classic | 30 group classes + teacher and interactive lessons | $40 usd approx. per month | Premium | What is included in the premium plan + private lessons | 70 usd approx. per month |
Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying with EF English Live
Before investing your money and trust in an English course, it’s essential to carefully weigh both the advantages and disadvantages. Understanding what the platform truly offers and where it falls short. This will help you make an informed decision about whether it suits your learning goals.
Advantages:
Advantages of EF English Live
1. Mobile App Accessibility
EF English Live offers a downloadable mobile app, available on both the Play Store and App Store. This feature significantly enhances accessibility, allowing users to learn on the go and stay consistent with their lessons from any device.
2. Flexible Learning Schedule
The platform allows you to access lessons and complete exercises at any time of the day. Additionally, you can join group classes and follow along with the topics being explained, making it suitable for learners with busy or irregular schedules.
3. Native-Speaking Teachers
Many users have praised the presence of native English-speaking teachers, stating that it has positively impacted their learning experience. These instructors are also noted for being well-prepared and professional, adding value to each class.
Disadvantages:
1. Group Classes Fall Short of Expectations
Several users have reported that the group classes do not live up to what is advertised. They describe the sessions as lacking dynamism, with conversations that often feel repetitive and not particularly engaging or interactive.
2. Poor Customer Service
Customer support is a major concern for many users. Whether it’s handling complaints, resolving payment issues, or processing unsubscriptions, EF English Live has received negative feedback for being unresponsive and offering ineffective solutions.
3. Misleading Payment Offers
Some users have pointed out that the platform’s advertised payment facilities are misleading. They claim they were charged more than originally agreed upon, and that the process of unsubscribing is far more difficult than it was made out to be.
4. Excessive Sales Calls
One of the biggest complaints is the aggressive sales strategy. Once a user fills out the website form, they often receive constant follow-up calls—even after expressing disinterest in the service. This repeated calling to promote “deals and promotions” has been described as intrusive and frustrating.
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Opinions of its users
To truly understand what the platform offers, it's important to consider the experiences of those who have already studied with English Live. That’s why we’ve decided to include their reviews in our analysis.
“I recently arrived in Spain from outside Europe and was sold the course during Black Friday for just €1, with the promise that 'you can cancel whenever you want.' I decided to try it, but due to personal reasons, I wanted to unsubscribe. However, they refused to cancel my subscription unless I paid a €450 penalty. For clarification, the sales representative conveniently ‘forgot’ to mention that little detail during the phone call.”
While the course does have its strengths, issues with misleading promotions and poor customer service undeniably create a significant drawback for many users.
“This course has been a truly positive experience. I've significantly improved my pronunciation. Highly recommended.”
Moreover, their constant and repetitive calls can feel intrusive and even harassing.
“They scheduled a phone call that never happened, and later set up another one via email without confirming whether I had even seen it. I appreciate the teachers, but the onboarding process for new students needs improvement.”
While it's great that the exercises are practical and fun, it's not a particularly strong advantage, especially since platforms like Papora offer the same.
“So far, I’ve only taken one private class and I loved it, I’ve already scheduled my next one. The platform and its exercises feel practical and closely reflect real-life conversations with friends and acquaintances.”
They don't provide reliability in what they offer. Students are promised one thing but receive something entirely different.
“I enrolled in this course to prepare for my TOEFL exam, and I would not recommend it under any circumstances. I was promised private speaking lessons tailored specifically to TOEFL preparation, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite following all the instructions and putting in my best effort, I was only able to take a few classes and not the ones I actually needed.”
Is it worth learning English with EF English Live?
EF English Live presents an interesting approach to learning English, but it doesn’t offer significant advantages over other platforms, especially when considering its notable drawbacks in customer service, unclear pricing, and overall user experience. There are more affordable, practical, and user-friendly alternatives available that deliver similar or even better educational outcomes without the associated frustrations.
In fact, EF English Live seems to share many of the same issues as platforms like Open English, issues that carry too much weight to confidently recommend it as a reliable or functional learning option.
What is the Best Option for Learning English Online?
If you’re looking to learn English in a fun, flexible, and self-paced way without spending a fortune, Papora stands out as an excellent choice.
Papora offers expertly designed content tailored for real-life communication, created by professionals who understand the importance of student comfort and confidence in the learning process. Their approach focuses on everyday situations to help you build practical English skills with ease.
With unlimited live classes led by native-level teachers and access to a self-guided course with over 300 lessons, Papora ensures you stay engaged and continually progress, at your own pace.
What’s more, you’ll receive a certificate upon completing each level, a valuable addition to your CV that can open doors to better job opportunities.
Don’t miss the chance to boost your English skills, start learning with Papora today!
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Frequently asked questions about EF English Live reviews
They claim that an adult can reach an advanced level of fluent English in as little as one year, but the timeline entirely depends on how much you’re willing to pay.
EF English Live follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which classifies language proficiency into six levels, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (advanced). While the level a student reaches ultimately depends on their own effort and consistency, the platform claims it can guide learners all the way to an advanced level of English.
This will depend on how you purchased the course, whether through a promotion or at the regular price. The truth is that unsubscribing from English Live can be really difficult and the platform may even charge extra fees that were not notified to the customer.
