Interview with an Online School Manager — Olga

How do you choose the right teacher? What is the best age to start learning a language? And what does an online school manager actually do?

We discussed these and other questions with Olga, a manager at the online school Skype-Language.com. She communicates with students every day, helps them find the right teacher, and supports them throughout their learning journey.

It turned into an honest conversation about work, people, and a love for languages.

— Olga, let’s get acquainted. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello! It’s a pleasure for me to talk about a job I truly love and to represent the online school Skype-Language.com today. By education, I’m a manager, and my hometown is Lipetsk. I graduated from our technical university. I remember one of my professors in production management once said: *“Managers are born, not made.”* Over time, I realized that this really applies to me. I believe that my sense of responsibility, my commitment to fairness, my love for people, and my passion for foreign languages have helped me fully realize my potential. During my school years, I studied at a humanities-focused gymnasium. That’s when my interest in languages first appeared—especially English. To me, it sounds both beautiful and very businesslike. It was thanks to the language that I found my job at the online school, met international friends, and we still keep in touch to this day.

— What else are you passionate about?

I’m quite an active person. I enjoy skiing, skating, cycling, table tennis, and board games. Sometimes I draw—just for the soul. And sometimes I crave quiet: wrapping myself in a blanket, reading a good book, or watching a quality detective story. And of course, I love traveling. I enjoy discovering new places and getting to know different cultures.

— Let’s go back to the school. How long has it existed, and how long have you been part of it?

Our school has been around since 2009, and I joined about a year after it was founded—and honestly, it was a very happy coincidence! At first, I signed up for a speaking club as a regular student. Back then, online schools were just starting to appear, and I was curious to try this new format and improve my English. The atmosphere in the club completely won me over: warm communication, enthusiastic hosts—native speakers—and the feeling that you weren’t a “student,” but rather part of friendly gatherings where you could chat about anything. I have only positive memories of that experience. At the same time, the school was forming its team of managers. As I mentioned, working with people is my element, so I пput myself forward—and everything fell into place! Sometimes I think it was fate, and that I came to the school at exactly the right moment. Gradually, I became part of the team, and to this day I proudly represent the school that I once fell in love with as a student. For me, it truly feels like home.

It turns out that I’ve spent most of my professional life working here, at our online school Skype-Language.com. Just imagine—already 16 years!

— That’s amazing! What do you find most appealing about your job?

I really enjoy helping clients achieve real results. I’m genuinely happy when they reach the goals we set at the very beginning. Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of people with very different needs: some need a language for studying, others for travel, and some for work. Different languages, different levels, different timelines—I know how to listen, understand clients’ needs, and offer the best possible solution. And when we receive positive feedback as a result, it inspires me tremendously.

— You mentioned “offering the best solution”—I assume that includes choosing a course and a teacher?

Yes, and this is probably the most important and delicate part of my job. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know our teachers very well—their personalities, communication styles, pace of work, sense of humor, and level of strictness. When a new student comes to me, I don’t just sign them up for lessons—I try to truly understand them: their past experience, what didn’t work before, what learning pace suits them, whether they prefer a structured lesson or a more flexible, conversation-focused approach. When personalities and expectations match, lessons stop feeling like a burden and become enjoyable—and results come much faster.

— Can a student choose a teacher on their own? 

Yes, of course—we always take the client’s preferences into account. On the school’s website, you can find profiles of all teachers: their education, experience, introduction videos, pronunciation, and reviews from other students. Some people want a native speaker, others prefer someone who explains grammar in their native language. For some, it’s important to connect personally—sharing interests or a similar sense of humor. I always try to consider all of this. And if a student isn’t sure who to choose, I’m always happy to help. Sometimes a short trial lesson is enough to understand whether the learning process will be comfortable and effective. And if for some reason the teacher isn’t the right fit, we can easily find another one—it’s important to us that the student enjoys the process.

— Your school is multilingual. What opportunities does that create for students?

It’s incredibly convenient. You can study several languages at once, so we often have entire families joining us. For example, a mother studies English, a father learns German for work, and their child takes Spanish or Greek. At the same time, all communication goes through a single manager—me. There’s no need to keep track of different schools, teachers, or administrators. For busy families, this is a huge advantage.

— Can you recall a client story that particularly touched you?

There are actually many such stories. Since the school has been around for over 16 years, we’ve had cases where parents studied with us first, and then 8–10 years later, their children came to us. It’s incredibly приятно when people keep your contact and return years later. We’re often recommended to friends and relatives, and that’s the greatest sign of trust for us. We’ve also had families preparing to relocate: adults studied business language, while children focused on conversational skills for school. Later, they wrote to us saying that their adaptation was much easier thanks to the lessons. Feedback like that is truly inspiring. And speaking of something more personal—there was one moment I still remember warmly. We often work irregular hours because of different time zones. Sometimes conversations with clients continue late into the evening—you just want to help, clarify everything, and organize things as quickly as possible. And once, a client wrote to me: “It’s already very late where you are—go get some rest, you don’t need to work this late.” It was so unexpected and touching.

I’m very grateful to our clients for this mutual care. It’s wonderful to feel that the respect and attention go both ways.

— Have there been situations where you couldn’t help a client?

Yes, that does happen sometimes. Most often, it’s due to mismatched expectations. For example, someone may want to achieve a very serious result in a very short time—like preparing for an important exam almost from scratch in just a few months. In such cases, we always assess the situation honestly and explain that success depends not only on the teacher but also on the student’s own effort. I think it’s important to be transparent: learning a language requires time, consistency, and engagement. If a student is ready to work, follow recommendations, and study systematically—we will absolutely support them and do everything we can. But if a person isn’t ready to put in the effort, or their expectations are unrealistic, we have to honestly admit that cooperation won’t work. For us, it’s important to maintain professional integrity and not promise the impossible.

— By the way, we didn’t discuss age. Are there any age limits for studying at your school?

You’re right—that’s an important point. In general, we work with students of all ages. The lower limit is around 8–9 years old. At this age, parental involvement is often needed—helping with organization, logging into lessons, managing the schedule, and completing assignments. After all, the online format requires a certain level of technical ability. As for the upper limit—there isn’t one. The most important thing is to be comfortable with technology! Among our students are schoolchildren as well as retirees who continue learning for themselves, for travel, or simply for enjoyment. You can learn languages at any age—the key is motivation.

— What would you say is the main advantage of your school?

Probably the human approach. We don’t work on a “conveyor belt” basis. It’s important to us that each student feels supported and understood. The online format offers convenience and flexibility, but behind it are real people who genuinely care about the results. We strive to make learning not only effective but also comfortable and supportive, which is why we remain open to dialogue throughout the entire learning process.

— What would you say to someone who is just thinking about starting?

The most important thing is to clearly share your goals and expectations from the very beginning. And we will подобрать the right teacher and format so that the language becomes a natural and enjoyable part of your life.

Don’t be afraid to try—we invite you to a trial lesson!