• no - and more than that - we don’t love that framing in the language learning space! 🤦🏾‍♂️
• at somos, we don’t see language as a fixed construct with rigid boundaries but more like open source technology that’s constantly shaped by people, culture, experience and movement.🌷
• we love it when people innovate with how they express themselves. ✊🏾
• this is something to be embraced and celebrated. it’s why we’ve built a platform to help you share what you know!
• as teachers on the platform, we want you to…
• have the opportunity to share your personal stories, experiences, and credentials in a way that resonates with your students, and
• feel empowered to teach languages and the cultural context they operate in.
• however you have come to teach the language(s) you do, we want somos to be a place you can do so on an equal footing.
• if you’d like to find out more about our approach to linguistic diversity you can read more here.

• 🎓 nope, not necessarily! we believe that what matters most is that you provide high-quality, human-centered learning experiences for your students. 🌟
• at somos, transparency is key! we want teachers to be upfront about what they offer and how they work. 💡
• there are many routes to becoming a great teacher, and we celebrate that diversity! 🚀 whether you've pursued formal qualifications or developed your teaching skills through informal means, we value your unique journey.
• our goal is to give you the tools to express yourself and share your story in a way that resonates with your students. 🗣️ it's all about creating a connection!
• this may involve showcasing your professional qualifications, continuous personal development, or highlighting your valuable experience. it's about what you bring to the table as an educator. 🌈

• you'll need a good internet connection and a device to access our platform. we also recommend having a good microphone and headset for online teaching, although it's not essential.

• absolutely! we want to make somos accessible for all teachers, including refugees and asylum seekers.
• please note that there are some limitations regarding payment options at this stage and we want to be as transparent as possible about them:
1. to teach on somos and receive payments, you'll need to connect with stripe and pass their verification procedure. depending on local immigration restrictions where you are based, it may not be possible for you to open a bank account or e-wallet.
2. we're actively exploring other avenues to make somos more accessible to refugees and asylum seekers.
3. if you choose to complete the onboarding process, you'll be added to a mailing list for refugee teachers, where we'll keep you updated and provide additional support like free training in the future.
4. we will, of course, be looking into a broader set of payment options too.
• if you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.
• thank you for your patience!

• yes, you must be at least 18 years old to join somos as a teacher.
• we will verify your age and id during the sign-up process.

• 🛜 a good internet connection
• 🎙️ a good microphone & headset for online teaching (recommended, not essential)

the set-up 🏗

• 99% (less stripe’s payment processing fee) goes straight to you.
• 1% goes to our impact fund.

• setting your prices.
• defining your own refund policy
• creating early bird promo codes and discounts.
• managing your payout schedule from your stripe dashboard.

• you're responsible for collecting and/or paying any applicable taxes (e.g., income or sales tax/VAT) in your local jurisdiction.

why is somos structured like this? 🤔