OBE was founded by language teachers and educators who wanted to create better standards in the industry while using their teaching skills to help important causes. Our love and professional knowledge are reflected in the quality of our courses.

We also make sure that our instructors earn fair wages, and any extra money we make (after covering our operating costs) will be donated.

Each language course includes 24 hours of structured language learning, 24 hours of seminars that are led by academics, community organizers and student researchers. In the seminars, we discuss social issues, history, politics, literature, art, and linguistics—especially how language connects to society and its speakers.

In addition, you’ll receive 24 hours of help sessions, optional homework plus feedback. You can also join our Discord community where we address language learning related questions and share learning resources.

A language course typically lasts 12 weeks. Content courses may range from 8 to 12 weeks. If a class is canceled, we will extend the course by the same amount of time, scheduling the makeup session on the same recurring date.

Homework will be provided, but it is completely optional. Our instructors will offer feedback to students who choose to complete their homework. We understand that life can be challenging and busy, which means that there may not always be enough time. However, consistent practice outside of the limited classroom hours will ensure steady progress.

No. We practice the principle of ungrading and differential learning.

“Ungrading” is a practice that emphasizes detailed feedback related to course learning goals, instead of assigning a letter grade. It focuses on “grading for growth,” aiming to enhance students' knowledge and skills. Sometimes instructors may ask students to complete a self-assessment upon completion of a course.

“Differential learning” acknowledges each student's distinct background, experiences, culture, language, personality, interests, and attitudes towards learning. Instructors will modify and diversify their learning activities to accommodate the varying needs of students.

If you have indicated prior learning experience with a language on your application form and you’re not sure about which course to take, we will contact you to discuss which level would be suitable for you.

We currently accept only adult learners who are 18 years old and older.

In addition to 2 hours of classroom learning per week, we also offer help sessions. We encourage students to spend additional time reviewing and previewing the content at their own pace, using their preferred studying methods. It's important for students to take ownership of their learning.

All classes are conducted online. The number of enrolled students per course can range from 8 to 25, depending on the course content.

If you are interested in scheduling online one-on-one lessons, please contact us. We also hope to provide in-person group lessons in Tkaronto ("Toronto") in the future!

Since students have different learning needs and preferences, we strive to diversify our teaching methods. You may encounter a variety of approaches used in a single class or just a few, depending on the learning objectives.

We provide sliding scale options for all courses. Students can contribute as much as they wish and are able to. If you need further accommodation, please contact us.

You will receive a full refund for any course fees you've already paid if:

1. The course has not started yet;

2. You have found out that there are no courses that suit your current level during the first week.

If you wish to withdraw from a course that has already begun, please contact us within 7 days from the start date of the first class. Please note that full course fees are non-refundable after 7 days from the start of the first class.

Refunds will be issued to your original method of payment. Kindly allow a minimum of two weeks for processing, though processing times may be longer during peak periods.

We will issue a full refund provided that it’s NOT a donation course where course fees are directly donated to Palestinian families, aid networks or other initiatives.

In rare cases where a student miss out on 75% of the classes due to unforeseeable circumstances, we will invite the student to join another course of equivalent value at a later date. Students are allowed to re-enroll ONCE in a different course.

Please be aware that for courses conducted in collaboration with mutual aid initiatives, charities, or non-profit organizations, you'll be asked to donate your course fees directly to the beneficiaries (e.g., to Palestinian families with urgent needs in Gaza). In these cases, course fees are non-refundable.

If a course is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, students will be invited to join another offering or another course of equivalent value at a later date.

Please contact us if you find your current course too easy or too difficult. We will do our best to help accommodate you. Please submit your request before the 14th day, starting from the first class.

​​​​​​​All learning materials will be provided by the instructor.

We're going to send invitations to students who have registered to join our Discord server. This server is a place where teaching assistants host help sessions.

Students and teachers can also share study materials, ask questions, and organize study groups on the OBE Discord server.

Our goal is to build an active learning community where language learners feel supported and connected.

Unfortunately we CANNOT issue charity donation receipts, since we are a worker-cooperative.

We are currently addressing this issue and will provide an update soon.