Berlitz Online Review Summary

Berlitz offers 1v1 and group online instruction in 30+ languages to adults and children. No teaching certificate/experience is required, only a Bachelor’s degree and minimum commitment of 15-20 hours a week. Pay varies by position, though can be as low as $7.5 (equivalent), and you must follow their teaching method.

Berlitz Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Very well-established company
• Lots of open positions (at time of publication)
• No teaching certificate or experience required
• Application and interview is straightforward and not too arduous
• Training and lesson materials provided

Cons:

• Pay information not transparent for all positions, and is reported to be low for some
• Must be comfortable following the Berlitz Method of teaching, which won’t suit
• Minimum hours commitment

Is Berlitz Legit?

Berlitz is one of the most well-established names in language learning, having been in existence since its 1878 founding in Rhode Island, USA. Since then, it has grown to over 350 centers in 70+ countries across the globe. The company’s legitimacy is reinforced by being ISO 9001-certified for professional quality management since 2006, while it has a Trustpilot score of 3.4 out of 5.

Is Berlitz Accredited?

Berlitz certification comes from several official bodies internationally, depending on the location of its centers, and includes the British Council (UK), SEVP (USA), ACELS (Ireland), ÖCERT (Austria), and EduQua (Switzerland).

What Is the Berlitz Method?

The Berlitz teaching method was devised by the company’s founder, Maximilian Berlitz, in 1878, and is designed around 3 core principles:

1. Immersion: Teaching is conducted solely in the target language, presented in the context of real-life scenarios that focus on vocabulary and grammar.
2. Goal orientated: Lessons are task-based around specific learning goals.
3. Present, practice and perform: All lessons follow this structure, with the instructor presenting, the student taking part in guided and general practice before they perform what they have learned.

This video provides an overview of the the Berlitz Method:

About Berlitz Online Teaching

Over 30+ Berlitz languages can be studied online. All Berlitz online courses include some level of input from actual teachers, with students choosing from 3 options:

1. Online Self-Study + Private Lessons: includes access to instructor-led, one-on-one speaking sessions
2. Private Instruction Online Language Classes: delivered live one-on-one via online video call, with more flexibility from the student to schedule and customize the lessons based on their needs, goals and interests
3. Small Group Live Online Language Classes: led by a Berlitz instructor, following structured learning plans and schedules

Here is a videoed (albeit staged) example of how a Berlitz virtual class is conducted:

Does Berlitz Provide Lesson Plans?

Berlitz teachers receive training and lesson plans, though some prep is still expected in reviewing the materials before class and thinking about them in the context of the student’s particular needs.

Berlitz materials are included in the Instructor Guide for each Unit, providing specific directions on how to structure the lesson and the content that should be covered. For example:

Teachers provide direct feedback and document the progress of their Berlitz students.

Here is another video showing more of the Berlitz virtual classroom:

How Many Levels Are in Berlitz?

There are 10 Berlitz levels, which are pitched to correspond with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

1. Berlitz Level 1 | CEFR Level A1 (Functional) = Knowledge of language is sufficient to communicate in a very limited way, with the simplest oral and listening tasks and situations.
2. Berlitz Level 2 | CEFR Level A 2.1 (Functional) = At the functional level, the student has a basic command of the language needed in a limited range of simple, routine, and familiar tasks and situations.
3. Berlitz Level 3 | CEFR Level A 2.2 (Intermediate) = The student can handle most uncomplicated communicative tasks and routine social and work situations. They can follow the general meaning of a conversation about familiar subjects.
4. Berlitz Level 4 | CEFR Level A 2.3 (Intermediate) = At the intermediate level, the student is able to refashion and combine learned material to meet their immediate communication and learning needs. They can comprehend information on familiar topics in contextualized settings and produce sustained conversation with others on an expanding variety of general topics.
5. Berlitz Level 5 | CEFR Level B 1.1 (Upper Intermediate) = The student can, to an extent, initiate, sustain and conclude most routine communicative tasks for personal and work needs.
6. Berlitz Level 6 | CEFR Level B 1.2 (Upper Intermediate) = At the upper intermediate level, the student has assimilated the essentials of the language. They can communicate competently and comfortably in many professional and personal contexts, and can find different ways of formulating what they want to express.
7. Berlitz Level 7 | CEFR Level B 1.3 (Advanced) = The student begins to create with the language in more complex and demanding conversations and can deal comfortably with most subjects over the telephone.
8. Berlitz Level 8 | CEFR Level B 2.1 (Advanced) = At the advanced level, the student can communicate effectively and appropriately even in demanding oral tasks and situations, like conducting a meeting. They can participate easily in social and professional conversations, and can deal comfortably with most subjects over the telephone.
9. Berlitz Level 9 | CEFR Level B 2.2 (Professional) = The student communicates effectively with various audiences on a wide range of familiar and new topics to meet most personal, academic or professional demands – including many which presume experience in public speaking and critical listening.
10. Berlitz Level 10 | CEFR Level C 1/2 (Professional) = At the professional level, the student has full command of the language. They understand and can use virtually all linguistic structures; as well as a range of vocabulary items as broad and deep as that of most educated native-speakers. Communication is fluent, appropriate and well organized – they develop ideas in speech clearly and coherently.

How Much Does Berlitz Pay Teachers?

Information regarding the Berlitz online teaching salary is not openly shared for every job listing. For example (at the time of writing), the descriptions for part-time German Instructor or Taiwanese Instructor positions specifically mention pay of $18-$20 an hour, but this information is not provided for prospective Remote English Instructors or Spanish Speaking Instructors. This suggests that Berlitz offers different pay rates depending on a candidate’s language and/or location. Anecdotal accounts on Facebook and other forums support this, where teachers report being offered figures as low as €7-9 (approximately US$7.5-$9.6) and ZAR140 (around $8).

Berlitz Schedule and Hours

Berlitz working hours vary depending on the position applied for, but they generally look for a minimum commitment of 15-20 hours a week.

Berlitz online classes last between 45-90 minutes.

Berlitz Requirements

The Berlitz online teaching requirements for most candidates are:

• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• The ability to speak English and the language of instruction fluently
• Exceptional communication skills
• Basic administrative skills and computer knowledge in order to deliver lessons and maintain student records
• Flexibility with work hours and availability
• A PC or laptop running Windows 7 or higher, or Mac OS X.1 or higher (not Linux)
• A webcam and USB headset
• Wired internet connection with a minimum 5Mbps upload and 2Mbps download (according to Speedtest.net)

Though an advantage, it is not mandatory to have prior teaching experience in order to work for Berlitz.

This video provides some additional details about the kind of candidate that the company looks for:

Berlitz Hiring Process

Dozens of Berlitz online teaching jobs are advertised on the company’s website (at the time of writing). An ‘Apply Now’ button is located within each job description, where you will then be taken to a Consent form, before being asked to Register for an account with your name, email address, password and phone number.

Once your account has been created, you will be redirected to a Berlitz application form, where you need to submit the following details:

• Upload Resume
• Contact Information:
  • Title
  • Name
  • Primary Phone
  • Country
  • Address
  • City
• Work Experience:
  • Job Title
  • Company / Organization
  • Location
  • Dates From / To
  • Description
• Education:
  • School Name
  • Level of Education / Degree
  • Major / Minor
  • Dates From / To
  • Description
• Skills (e.g. language, writing/reading, etc.)
• Behaviors (i.e. ‘What is your work style?’)
• Motivations (i.e. ‘What gets you out of bed in the morning?’)
• Licenses and Certifications:
  • License / Certification Name
  • License Number
  • Date Achieved (MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Renewal Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
• Links (URLs)
• Documents (Upload)
• Availability (i.e. ‘Which days are you available to work?’)

At the bottom of this form is a ‘Questions’ section, which may vary depending on the position you are applying for. These are what are asked, at present, for a Remote English Instructor:

• Questions:
  • How did you hear about this opportunity?
  • Were you referred by a current employee? (Yes/No)
  • When can you start? (MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Are you able to provide verification of the right to work for the country where you currently reside? (Yes/No)
  • Are you 18 years of age or older? (Yes/No)
  • What is the highest level of education you have obtained to date?
  • Are you certified to provide language instruction? (‘If yes, list the certificate(s)’)
  • What is your fluency level of the language you are applying to instruct? (Beginner –> Expert)
  • Do you have a web camera available? If not, are you willing to purchase one? (Yes/No)
  • Do you have a USB headset available? If not, are you willing to purchase one? (Yes/No)
  • Provide a link to a 2-minute video describing yourself. You can talk about whatever makes you feel most comfortable. Hobbies, family, even the weather. When sharing your link you can use services such as Youtube, Google, or Cloud to facilitate the recording. It is important that this video is not scripted or rehearsed. Also, ensure that you are in a quiet environment so you can be heard clearly without background noise or distractions.
  • Copy and paste your System Information. You can find this by searching for ‘System Information’ within your computer. As a reminder, you require a PC or laptop running Windows 7 or higher, or Mac OS X.1 or higher (Linux is not supported) and a processor that has a base speed of at least 2 GHz.
  • Obtain your internet speed using Speedtest.net. Once completed, copy and paste the URL as your answer to this question. As a reminder, you will need a minimum of 5 Mbps download speed / 2 Mbps upload speed.
  • Write a few sentences about your favorite teacher. You can write about the subject they taught, the school they taught at and what it was that you like about them.
  • Are you willing to work [insert schedule]?

Berlitz Interview Questions

Candidates whose applications pass screening are invited to an online interview lasting between 15-30 minutes. Here you will receive additional information about the role and face questions that might include the following (based upon what previous candidates were asked):

• Tell us some things about yourself.
• Tell us about your experience/training/education.
• What challenges did you encounter in your years of being a teacher?
• Why are you interested in this role / Why did you choose this company?
• What experience qualifies you for this position?
• How did you learn [insert language]?
• What experience do you have teaching business English/Adults?
• Have you ever worked with children?
• According to our web page, where was our company founded?
• Have you had any contact with our methodology / Have you taught the Berlitz Method before?
• How would you manage going straight from a lesson teaching children to a lesson teaching a corporate manager?
• What is an adverb, what is an adjective?
• What is the difference between the imperfect and the past tense?
• What is the difference between ‘I’m reading’ and ‘I read’?
• Has a student ever been dissatisfied with your teaching? How did you react?
• How do you keep students engaged / How would you deal with younger learners being disinterested?
• Can you teach me something?
• How would you teach this illustrated page if I was one of your students?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses / What is your greatest weakness?
• What are your desired working hours and flexibility?
• What’s your expected hourly pay?
• Where do you see yourself in ten years / What is your long-term goal?

Successful interviewees must undertake a 6-day training course on how to perform the Berlitz Method before they are fully accepted as teachers.

Berlitz Reviews – What Is It Like Teaching at Berlitz Online?

The Berlitz Glassdoor page currently gives the company an overall rating of 3.2 out of 5, with 56% willing to recommend them. Comments have been extracted below, specifically from Berlitz online teaching reviews (as opposed to those working in physical centers) that have been written over the last year; these praise the flexibility, materials, students, management and support, though criticize the level of pay, occasional technical glitches, and unstable hours during certain periods:

• Advantages:
  • “Training – flexible working hours – extra training options
  • Great management. Provides learning material
  • Great students, ample support and pre-made lessons.
  • Flexible schedules for all of us
  • Everything is flexible
  • Independence, flexibility, good pay and great staff
  • Employee support is first class. Materials are varied and interesting. Hours are flexible
  • Great work atmosphere within the company
• Disadvantages:
  • Unstable as every week differs – summer months are slower
  • The low pay is the only con
  • Low salaries for all of us
  • Salary could be better and they could improve on the training
  • Salary is uncompetitive. Occasional glitches when uploading materials (much improved recently)
  • Payment is not enough for the number of hours to work”

Conclusion – Is Berlitz Good for Online Teachers?

In contrast to the vast majority of online teaching companies that have flooded the market in recent years, Berlitz has been a reputable name in language learning for well over a century. While this provides a degree of reassurance over the company’s credibility and stability, it does not mean to say there are not issues with working there. The biggest problem is certainly the level of pay, though this is a common complaint in this line of work and is relative to your cost of living. Online teachers certainly review Berlitz more favorably than those working in their centers, and the availability of positions, the basic requirements, and straightforward application process, makes this an opportunity worth considering.

You can apply for Berlitz jobs online.

A full list of other online teaching companies can be found here.