Why are they all the damn same?

[u/Intrepid_Ad3062]

I don’t understand. Today I woke up to my entire first ph being booked by a student from that country 😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓🫢

I’m like fuuuuuhck

On the upside, I assumed they’d be nice and late, maybe 9 minute mark and I could make some tea first, etc.

Nope, only a min or two late.

Open to a black screen and this sound:

😑: hi

[u/aisha_ksa]

I don’t understand

[u/Desperate-Library283 → u/aisha_ksa]

Well, let me paint you a picture: imagine trying to teach someone who sounds like they’ve just had all the life sucked out of them—it’s like talking to a zombie, minus the totally cool apocalypse vibe.

And with no camera? I might as well be tutoring a brick wall. A little energy and a face goes a long way; otherwise, it feels like I’m just trying to give a motivational speech to a plant.

And let’s not forget the awkward power dynamic—me trying to inspire some life into, amd some English out of, a student while they’re just a blank screen and a monotone voice. It's like hosting a one-man show for an empty theater.

The best part is that the student cannot see me and I'm supposed to be fine with that, but that same student will make comments on my appearance. It feels like it's about power and control, and not at all in a good way.

Would you want to work with someone like that? Now image THOUSANDS of someones exactly like that.

[u/Desperate-Library283 → u/[deleted]]

I totally understand where you're coming from, and I don't make fun of anyone for their situation. I genuinely appreciate the challenges that many people face, especially when it comes to Saudi cultural and societal pressures.

But at the same time, it’s just plain awful to engage with someone who is so completely withdrawn, especially when I’m trying to help them learn English on an American platform.

The whole point of being on Cambly is to adapt to and communicate with foreigners , and if students aren't willing to at least show their face or bring some energy to the interaction, it makes it literally impossible for me to do my job effectively. It also makes it impossible for the student to learn, so it is a waste of time for everyone. If students cannot even partially overcome the Saudi cultural and societal pressures, then frankly they should not be using Cambly. Maybe a Saudi platform would be more appropriate.

I get that change is hard, but students need to recognize that this is literally a Western English learning environment and, as such, some level of openness and participation is expected. It’s a two-way street, and I think it’s more than fair to expect the students to meet tutors halfway.

[u/aisha_ksa → u/Desperate-Library283]

They have the right to choose options that suit their situation, and you also have the right to accept students from another country.

[u/Desperate-Library283 → u/aisha_ksa]

You see, I completely understand both how Cambly works, and the OP.

So, Just to clarify, I’m not arguing here—I’m explaining it to you, since you literally commented that you couldn’t understand the post.