Frequently asked questions
Questions parents usually arrive with, grouped by what stage you're at.
Getting started
How does my child start lessons?
Every child starts with a free demo lesson. Octopus English places them into a group afterwards, by age and by level, and there's nothing to pay until the first paid lesson.
Can my child join a group partway through the year, once it's already started?
Placeholder: whether a child can join a group once the school year is already under way, and how they'd catch up if so.
Lessons
How big are the classes?
Groups are small: up to 8 children in every band.
How long are lessons, and how often do they run?
Once a week, all year. Lesson length grows with the band: 30 minutes for Tiny Sprouts, 45 for Little Explorers and Young Learners, 60 for Teens, and 70 for the Egzamin ósmoklasisty group.
My child doesn't speak much English yet — will they understand the lesson?
Lessons run entirely in English from age two up. Meaning comes from pictures, objects, gestures and context rather than a Polish translation, so children stop translating in their heads.
Is there homework?
Just listening: 10–15 minutes a day at home, using the recordings that come with the course.
Will my child have the same teacher all year?
Yes — the same teacher stays with a group for the whole school year.
My teenager needs to prepare for an exam — can Octopus English help?
There's a course of its own for two exams: Egzamin ósmoklasisty (70 minutes a week, groups of up to eight) and Matura (90 minutes, once or twice a week, groups of up to four). For any other exam, get in touch and we'll talk it through.
Can I sit in and watch a lesson?
Placeholder: whether a parent can sit in on a lesson, and if so, which ones.
Money
How much do lessons cost?
Each course has its own monthly fee, paid in ten instalments from September to June. There's a 10% discount for siblings, and a further 10% discount if you pay for the whole year in advance — see Pricing for the current fees for each course.
What's included in the price?
The coursebook, listening recordings for home, progress reports twice a year, and a free demo lesson before you commit to anything.
Is there a registration or joining fee?
Placeholder: whether there's a one-off registration fee on top of the monthly instalments.
How do I pay, and can I get an invoice?
Placeholder: how payment is actually made — bank transfer or cash — and whether an invoice can be issued.
Can I cancel partway through the year?
Placeholder: whether a place can be cancelled mid-year, and how much notice is needed.
Practicalities
What are your lesson times and office hours?
Lessons run Monday–Friday 14:00–20:00 and Saturday 9:00–13:00. The office is staffed Monday–Friday 13:00–19:00.
What happens if my child misses a lesson?
Placeholder: what happens if a child misses a lesson — whether it can be made up or is simply missed.
Is anything running over the summer?
Placeholder: whether anything runs over the summer break, or the school year simply ends in June and starts again in September.