Commonly Asked Questions
Before your first lesson, we highly recommend you go to the Lessonspace demo area in order to test your settings.
Demo link: Make sure to join with video and audio to ensure that your computer has the correct settings.
Golden rules:
* Always use the Chrome broswer
* On iPads (and iPads only) use Safari
* Make sure to allow browser use the camer and microphone.
* The video session is a browser based, so when you close the browser tab, it means you have left the meeting. (Always possible to come back in, though.)
* If you find permissions have been blocked, you may be able to adjust that within the Chrome broswer navigation bar.
* Make sure other video programs such as Zoom or video editing software are closed, as they may interfere with the video conferencing software.
* If you are using a Mac, you may need to change some privacy settings. Here is an article that deals with this extensively: https://helpdesk.thelessonspace.com/article/112-enable-screen-recording-permission-for-macos-catalina-10-15-and-later
* Just as with other video software, you may need to try any of the following if you are experiencing issues: leaving the meeting and re-entering; turning computer off and on again; changing broswers. (Again, Chrome is ideal.)
* In order to blur your background, go to settings by clicking on the gear icon. From there, you may set the screen to background blur and noise cancellation.
* In case of problems with your connection, switch to “relay mode.” Relay mode will take you out of the meeting and right back into it. If there are connection issues, or issues with latency, this typically solves the problem.
When you are added to a Ciao Languages course, you will receive an email confirming course details.
You will also receive a welcome email from your SCHEDULING ACCOUNT. The scheduling account will ask you to confirm your email and to set up a username and password.
To log in to your account, go to the log in page here and select “Scheduling account“.
Once you are in the scheduling account, you’ll be able to see your lesson calendar.
To access the lesson, click on VIEW and then LAUNCH ONLINE at the appointed time.
By clicking on Launch Online, you will be taken to waiting room of the lesson, where the teacher will admit you when it is time to begin.
If it is your first online lesson with Ciao Languages, we recommend you try out our web-based video confering software beforehand in order to ensure a seamless beginning. Here is the link to the VIDEO CONFERENCING DEMO.
Shared Notes Feature
After each lesson, your language teacher will send you a message with notes about what was covered as well as the subject of study for the next lesson.
Often the message will contain an attachment of the whiteboard that you and the teacher worked from during the lesson.
If you cannot locate the email and would like to check the notes and/or attachment, go to the calendar view of your lessons and click on view.
After that, click on NOTES and you will see the shared notes and whatever attachment the teacher had sent after that lesson.
The learning account is a separate area for students to study independently between lessons.
In some cases, for some select languages and levels, there are ready-made slide decks and digital exercises for you to practice the language covered in your lessons with your native speaking teacher.
When you enroll in a course, you will be sent a separate email with instructions about how to access your language and level.
Step 1 – Create a user profile on the learning area
To create a user profile, go to the Ciao Languages log-in page and select the learning account.
Add your information to create the profile.
When the system sends you an email, make sure to confirm your email.
Step 2 – Look for the course and use the enrollment key to add yourself to the course
Before the course begins, you will receive information about the learning area. The email will give you specific information about the course to join.
The email will also provide a randomly-generated enrollment key.
Once you have enrolled in the course within the learning area, you will be able to download course slides that your teacher uses during your live sessions, do homework assignments, play around with digital exercises to reinforce your learning. (Availability of materials will depend on the language and level.)
Important note about accounts
It’s important to note that there are two separate accounts – the scheduling account and the learning account.
The scheduling account allows you to check your course balance, adjust your schedule, check your shared notes and access the live lesson.
The learning account for independent study between lessons and is tied with the language and level of your course.
These are two separate accounts and so you may end up with two different usernames and passwords. To avoid confusion, it is recommended that you create the same usernames and passwords for both.
Please check out our complete FAQs page for any questions.