VIPTeacher Reviews

I know teaching English is at our core but this most recent app update feels like a classic example of a situation where an American might say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I have been using the VIPKID teacher app for well over a year now and in the past it has served me well. In fact, I really loved VIPTeacher and used it more often than the online Teacher Portal. However, this update feels like a step backwards - not forward. Ever since it updated on my phone, VIPTeacher has been buggy with pages not opening right when buttons are clicked. It is not as responsive. The main tab where you could see the booked lessons has been moved and replaced with a less useful workshop page that now uses prime screen-real estate. I have noticed a substantial increase in battery drain even just having VIPTeacher just running in the background since the last update. I much preferred the orange-color branding on the old app layout. It felt more like classic "VIPKID" whereas this new white app design feels less brand-like to me. In my personal opinion, it somehow disconnects me from the very company I am proud to work with. I want to see Orange again- not white. I liked the old appearance and layout better. I would much prefer to see the previous app make a comeback. I only wrote this review because the change was just made and I suspect others may feel similarly. I want only the best for VIPKID.

I started working with VIP kid and I was extremely excited to join. During my application, they send you tons of emails and phone calls to push you to complete the application quickly, which is fair because everything is online and I could see people slacking. However, after I had passed my mock class and submitted all my documents INCLUDING MY SOCIAL SECURITY INFO, VIPkid deactivated my account because they claimed that I hadn’t finished all my documents in time. However, I’m certain I did, because I double checked. I tried to contact them, but you can’t actually respond to the email address they use to spam you, and the only way to reach them is to write them a ticket through your account (which I’m locked out of). So I try reaching out on Instagram and Facebook, but I’m ignored. Then I create another account to try to write a ticket. I got an email that someone responded, which seemed promising at first, except every time I attempt to open it, it shuts me out. When I try to see my tickets, none shows up. I’m also mysteriously no longer allowed to send them tickets in that “category” anymore. So I’m absolutely stunned. I did EVERYTHING they asked me for in a timely manner, and after they got my super confidential info, they essentially block me?? Is this even legal???

I’ve been teaching with VIPKID for 2 years and have loved all the updates to VIPTeacher . It is so convenient to review your classes in the palm of your hand while putting your kids to bed the night before but recently there have been issues.
First, the interactive slides were off center and enlarged which cut off important views of the slides and impaired the ability to read TD. I sent in a ticket and they made me feel as though it was on my end but I noticed that other teachers complained as well. Recently, this has been remedied.
Now, I have an issue viewing trial slides. This has been ongoing for about a month. No matter what trial I am scheduled for I only see Level 2/Unit 1 with no way to change this (and I’m not even certified for L2 anymore). Again, after sending a ticket I am being led to assume this issue is on my end. I have restarted my phone, uninstalled/ reinstalled VIPTeacher . Nothing seems to help. I know this is, once again, on their end. Hopefully, this is fixed soon as well.

I really like being able to see how many class I had for the full day especially after the frenzy. Now, I have to see I have 3 classes and click to see and count the rest of them. This is very frustrating and does anyone really have time for that? Also, I loved the fact that the class I was in (along with some of the following classes) use to show on the home screen. This location was VERY beneficial when needed to instruct a student on how to drag/drop and click. I could easily see the class I was in , click it, easily find the slideshow, and go to that slide. Now, I have to see the 3 classes, click "all classes", navigate to the student and the slides, and finally get to the slide I'm on. It wastes a lot of unnecessary time and sometimes this is the only way the student (and even the parent) understands what to do. Please bring back the true class number and a way to click to the current class to the home screen!

I used to love VIPTeacher. Today’s updates have made it nearly useless. I can’t see all my classes for the day without multiple screens. I hate that it always only shows my next 3 classes. The alarm did not work properly. I thought the new “booking” screen would finally show all my booked classes for the week on the same page, but no such luck. It still only shows day by day. I like that the last 8 hours is always visible at the top of the page now. That is nice. Please keep that. My only complaint about that is I have to scroll up to see it when VIPTeacher opens. We can get rid of the scrolling ad banner. That is useless, distracting, and takes up space. I’d rather have that out of sight at the top than the last 8 hours activity, which is the most useful part of VIPTeacher . I also do not like the pull-up “To Do” list. It’s much nicer when it’s clearly visible on the start screen. Please go back :(

Great app except for the fact that I wasn’t notified about a short notice booking on April 21, 2020 and again April 27, 2020. I also have an Apple Watch and it didn’t come through my watch either. I noticed your recent update said it fixed some alarm issues and other issues as well. My alarm never worked at night, but did each morning. This also caused me to miss a class on April 9th as I was working on my masters and lost track of time. Can you show that there have been issues with VIPTeacher or is there a way you can gather data on those particular dates that might reveal there was a glitch within VIPTeacher ? I have contacted Apple and they said to contact the developer of VIPTeacher through VIPTeacher support. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have always enjoyed using VIPTeacher to check my classes and write reviews for students but the latest update to their alarm has made it one of the most frustrating apps I have ever used. First of all VIPTeacher already reminded you 15 minutes before your next class by sending you a single notification. Now, it floods your iPhone with 15 minute notifications until you open VIPTeacher and turn off their alarm. When I mean flood, I don’t mean 3 notifications. I mean non stop notifications to infinity until you shut it down by opening VIPTeacher . Also, it comes with an annoying sound. So when I am teaching multiple classes right at the 15 minute mark my phone makes all kind of noises and since I am in class I can not attend to it. I hope they add an option to turn off this feature because I am about to delete this off my phone.

Overall, VIPTeacher can be useful; however, the most important features — notifications for short notice classes and the alarm 15 minutes before a class begins do not consistently work. This month, the notifications and alarm have failed multiple times, and I’ve needed to proactively check my schedule on both desktop and mobile to ensure I don’t miss a class. I received more than 1 teacher no-show due to no sounds/ alerts even though the phone was not on silent, the volume was at 100%, and I have the most updated version of VIPTeacher . Losing this time and money (VIPKid charges you $10 for a no-show) is rather frustrating, especially since the technical difficulties are not my fault.

I love VIPTeacher! The ability to send the students cards is great! I love being able to check my bookings, add/close time slots, review material, etc. Please add the date back into the booked classes notifications. Currently it just had the lesson, student, and time. And, it would also be great if we could see the student that cancels the bookings. It’s only shown in the lock screen notification and then goes away. It does not show in the cancellations tab on the home screen. I am tracking my new students to see a pattern of bookings to maintain the right quantity of open slots. This would be helpful.

It gives so many alerts, but not one alert is to say, “remember your feedback.” We should be able to choose alert times on VIPTeacher to notify us on the phone (not just a silly email that doesn’t get looked at) so we have every opportunity to do our feedback in the right 12 hour time frame provided.
Also, we should be able to submit ALL feedback from VIPTeacher , not just the older, antique lessons.
These added inconveniences means less money in teachers’ pockets.
It seems there is an alert for parents to cancel prior to the 24 cancellation period because I often get cancelled 25hrs in advanced on the dot. 🤔
VIPKID, please help teachers earn money rather than taking it from them. Thank you for your ongoing help and support.

I had to log back into my app yesterday. I NEVER log out of it! After that, I have not been getting notices of new bookings and had a TNS last night because of this. I rechecked bookings using the portal and found 7 bookings I never received notices for. It's not even registering classes booked, cancelled - just found another new booking made in the past 5 hours, but "classes booked" says 0. Also, the alarm function (15 minutes until class) is hit or miss. It almost NEVER sounds for a class at 12:00 AM and 12:30 AM. I also find the new format on time slots confusing, but I figured it out.

Up until about 2 weeks ago, I would receive my notifications with sound. Now, I do not have any sound alerts for notifications. Very frustrating. I like to get alerts for new bookings/15min before class time starts/cancellations, etc. Maybe your most recent update took that away?? Please fix it!

VIPKid has obviously put more into developing the phone app than the computer app. You can only send cards, answer surveys from the company, and participate in promotional deals from VIPTeacher on the phone. It works well, but I wish you could turn the phone sideways to see a small version of your schedule like it appears on the computer with the name of the child and the whole week shown. This week view gives me a better idea of how many classes I have to prepare for than how it is currently in VIPTeacher .

2017 November Update: love that we can offer make up classes for great students if we have to cancel. This is really nice. We love our students.

So, I am honestly impressed how many updates you guy put out. The last update with the PPT pdfs so teacher's can review the lesson on mobile before the class is really going to help new teachers. I recommended this last year to your staff, and frankly I am surprised to see it implemented 6 months later.
Also, the ability to do class reviews, or just check the To DO list on your phone really is a benefit to the teachers.

If your goal was to make our lives easier, then mission accomplished. I expect that this reduction of friction in preparing and finishing classes will lead to better work experiences, happier teachers, happier students, and a win-win for everyone.

VIPTeacher was awesome until about a month ago. Since then I haven’t been able to log in consistently or review materials for my classes. I can’t open or close slots. I just deleted and redownloaded VIPTeacher to see if that would fix things and now I can’t log in. I downloaded it on my husband’s phone too and it says the same thing, “network error” though everything else on the phone and network is fine. Please fix! I want to be able to use VIPTeacher again. It made my life so much easier and because it was easier to prep for classes I was a better teacher. Will definitely change this review to a 5 star if you fix the existing issues.

I spend WAY too much time on VIPTeacher! It is so helpful! I really like the most recent updates too where you can see your level certifications. I like to use VIPTeacher to check during class to see if a class finish type gets changed when we are having IT issues or a student doesn’t show up. I love the update feature (what happened in the last 8 hrs). Thank you for such a streamlined app for us!

Here’s a recap of my troubles with VIPKid: after a month of preparation to become a teacher with the program, VIPKid mistakenly locked my account and said they lacked the technical ability to reopen it. Two months later, a representative called me and asked why I stopped my application (I was apparently a good candidate) and I explained that they locked me out. It’s been two more months since I followed the representatives instructions to reopen my account, and no response from VIPKid.

In short: they are very poorly run and other programs offer better teacher support as well as better pay/perks

For me this was a really terrible experience. Probably one of the worst methods of interviewing I’ve ever encountered. The hours and hours of prep time including finding props to use during ‘ mock demonstrations’ of my ‘potential ability as an ESL teacher were a waste of precious time, energy and added unnecessary stress during an already stressful situation. The ‘judges’ for the demos had different measures to rate candidates!
I did not get an offer. And yet I have done similar work and have maintained exceptional student feedback ‘ consistently’. Once this ordeal was over, I thanked karma I was not depending on this employer for my livelihood.

Sadly, the newest update (August 25, 2019) removed the ability to see my historical feedback for 10-15 lessons. It only shows the last class. Please return this feature ASAP.

I use my old feedback to see (1) if I’ve used a certain secondary reward for my student before, and (2) which secondary reward system I used for another student when they were in the same unit.

The mobile app says to look on the desktop app for additional feedback, but the desktop app only keeps 4 lessons’ worth per student, so it is likewise limited. In fact, the mobile app was better for showing my older feedback to parents than the desktop app, plus I could plan my lessons and rewards from anywhere.

Please restore this important feature. I’d like to not have to maintain a separate record on every student as to which secondary reward I used, when the data is available and easily provided by VIPKid. Thanks!

I love VIPTeacher ! Recently problems with random alarms going off, but there is an on/off switch to stop getting alarms. My favorite tool is viewing most everything on the VipKid website from my phone. Fast, easy, and stress free! I LOVE the option to send e-cards to students! This is done only from VIPTeacher ! It gives a second chance to contact the firemen.

After the latest update, I can no longer add classes to my calendar. When I click on the calendar to select which one to add it to VIPTeacher shuts down. I deleted VIPTeacher and reinstalled it but that did not work. This is the first time I have had any difficulty with VIPTeacher. Hopefully the developer will see this and squish that nasty bug!!

Please make a way to search student by name! Just add a search bar. I don’t like to have to scroll through pages of students to find one I’m looking for. It’s too time consuming. Also, please add a higher character limit for the notes space on our students. Or no limit at all! I like to add a lot of information and all my previous rewards I have used with them and after seeing them five times or so, I ran out of space to write anymore info.