Terms and Conditions

Enrollment in Speak! Language Academy grants the Student a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access the online courses, educational materials, and resources included in the purchased program. Access is provided solely for the Student's personal educational use and remains subject to these Terms of Service. The Company reserves the right to suspend or revoke access to the Online Academy for violation of these Terms, misuse of the platform, unauthorized sharing of account credentials, or unlawful activity.

The Company may, at its sole discretion, modify, amend, or update these Terms at anytime. Any such changes shall become effective immediately upon posting the updated Terms on our website or otherwise providing notice to you. However, any changes to the dispute resolution provisions set forth in the Governing Law and Jurisdiction section below will not apply to any disputes for which the parties have actual notice on or prior to the date the change is posted on our website.Your continued enrollment in or use of the Company’s services after modifications have been made constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must immediately discontinue enrollment in and use of the Company’s services.

The Student is expected to attend all scheduled lessons and classes consistently and on time. For individual (one-on-one) lessons, if the Student needs to cancel or reschedule, then the Student must notify the instructor at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance. Lessons canceled with less than twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, or missed without notice, will be deemed completed. The Company and the instructor may, in their sole discretion, grant exceptions to this requirement in cases of emergencies or sudden illness; however, the grant of an exception does not constitute a waiver of the twenty-four (24) hour notice requirement.The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or terminate lessons if the Student repeatedly cancels with less than twenty-four (24) hours’ notice.

The Company does not offer makeup sessions for missed group classes. If the Student misses a group class, instructors will make reasonable efforts to provide a summary of the material covered, either by email or prior to the next scheduled class.The Student must remain responsive to communications from instructors or staff. If the Student is absent from scheduled lessons and fails to respond for more than two (2) consecutive weeks without prior notice, the Company will not guarantee continued instructor availability.

If the Student remains absent and uncommunicative for more than four (4) consecutive weeks, the Company may, in its discretion, treat the course as concluded, requiring re-enrollment for future lessons and possible assignment to a different instructor.

Payment is due in full prior to the start of the first class for group courses, individual lessons, and lesson packages. Lesson packages are non-transferable and must be completed within the agreed-upon time frame.

The Company may approve monthly payment plans for long-term courses if arranged in advance. All installment payments are due on or before the agreed-upon date, and failure to pay on time may result in interruption of lessons. If payment is not received within ten (10) business days of the due date,

The Company may suspend lessons until the account is brought current.Corporate, government, and university clients whose tuition will be paid by their institution may arrange alternative payment terms in advance. Any such arrangement must be agreed to in writing and confirmed by the Company prior to the commencement of lessons.

Online Course Access Unless otherwise specified at the time of purchase, access to online courses begins once payment has been received and continues for the access period identified at enrollment. Some courses may provide lifetime access, while others may be subscription-based or available only for a specified period. The Company reserves the right to modify or discontinue courses, provided that reasonable efforts will be made to preserve access for currently enrolled Students whenever practical.

Tuition and fees paid to the Company are non-refundable except if an instructor becomes unavailable and the Company cannot provide a reasonable replacement in which case the Company will refund to the Student a pro rata amount of the Student’s unused tuition. If the Company cancels a class session and the session cannot be rescheduled, the Student will receive a pro rata credit equal to the value of the cancelled class. Upon request from a Student, the Company may, in its sole discretion, grant refunds which it will consider on a case-by-case basis.

Once the course begins, tuition for group courses is non-refundable, and the Company will not provide refunds for missed classes. If the Student misses a lesson or cancels without proper notice (as defined in the Attendance & Cancellation Policy), then the Company will deem the lesson complete and non-refundable.

The Student acknowledges that language acquisition depends on many factors, including the Student’s commitment, practice, and attendance. While the Company is committed to providing high-quality instruction, the Company does not guarantee specific learning outcomes or results, and lack of progress or dissatisfaction with outcomes shall not constitute grounds for a refund.

Refunds, when issued, will be made using the original method of payment unless otherwise agreed in writing. Processing times may vary depending on the payment method and financial institution.

At Speak! Language Center, we are committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and enriching learning environment for everyone. Our programs are rooted in mutual respect, cultural exchange, and professional collaboration. To ensure the success of all involved, you agree to the following Code of Conduct:

1. Respectful Communication: The Student must communicate with instructors, staff, and fellow learners in a manner that is respectful and conducive to learning. The Company recognizes that communication styles may vary based on cultural, linguistic, or neurodivergent differences. However, in the interest of maintaining a safe and productive learning environment, the Student must not engage in communication that is aggressive, threatening, or continually disruptive.

2. Professional Boundaries: The Student must maintain appropriate boundaries with instructors and respect instructors’ personal time and privacy, including, but not limited to, avoiding excessive or unsolicited communication outside of scheduled lesson times, and refraining from invasive questions regarding instructors’ personal lives.

3. Appropriate Behavior: The Student must not engage in behavior that disrupts the learning process, causes distress to others, or creates an unsafe environment including, but not limited to, harassment, discrimination, and inappropriate physical or verbal conduct.

4. Scheduling & Communication: The Student must communicate directly and promptly with their instructor regarding scheduling, illness, or other changes.

5. Adherence to Code of Conduct: The Student shall always comply with this Code of Conduct. If the Student fails to comply, the Company may, in its sole discretion, issue a warning, pause instruction, and/or terminate enrollment.

The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. If a learner has accessibility needs, they are encouraged to inform the Company upon registration so we can work together to provide appropriate support. While we strive to be understanding of communication and learning differences, the Company requires everyone to practice respectful conduct and adherence to professional boundaries. Accommodation does not permit behavior that is threatening, harassing, or disruptive to the learning environment.

All course materials created by the Company, including, but not limited to, content developed for our Online Academy courses, B-Speak! English curriculum, lesson plans, slide presentations, videos, audio files, worksheets, assessments, handouts, and any other instructional content or proprietary programs, are the intellectual property of the Company. These materials are provided solely for the personal educational use of registered Students and may not be copied, reproduced, shared, distributed, modified, uploaded, or used for any commercial purpose without the prior written consent of the Company.

Use of third-party materials (e.g., textbooks, published articles, or videos) is governed by the rights and permissions of the original author or publisher and the Company does not claim third-party materials as its intellectual property.

License to Use Course Materials

The Student shall not record, photograph, or otherwise capture audio or video of any class, lesson, or session conducted by the Company without the prior written consent of both the Company and the instructor. The Company may record classes for quality assurance, training, or promotional purposes.

Online Platform Use

Students are responsible for maintaining compatible devices, internet access, speakers or headphones, and updated web browsers necessary to participate in online courses and live lessons. While the Company makes reasonable efforts to maintain uninterrupted access to the Online Academy, occasional interruptions may occur due to scheduled maintenance, software updates, internet outages, or third-party platform failures beyond the Company's control. Such interruptions shall not constitute a breach of these Terms.

Student Account Security

Students are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials. Accounts are intended for individual use only and may not be shared with family members, coworkers, or other individuals unless expressly authorized by the Company. Students must promptly notify the Company of any suspected unauthorized use of their account.

The Company reserves the right to modify course content, schedules, instructors, ordelivery methods (including shifting from in-person to online) when reasonably necessary, including, but not limited to the following reasons:

1. Accommodating instructor illness or scheduling conflicts; or

2. Adjusting for low enrollment; or

3. Cancellation due to inclement weather, technical issues, or unforeseen circumstances; or

4. Changing the Student’s instructor. If the Company changes a Student’s instructor, then whenever possible, the Company will notify the Student promptly and make reasonable efforts to identify and assign a suitable replacement instructor. However, instructor replacement is subject to instructor availability, and the Company cannot guarantee an immediate or exact match.

The Company is not responsible for delays or interruptions in service caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, strikes, government restrictions, or technology platform outages. In such cases, the Company will make reasonable efforts to reschedule affected lessons.

The Company may, in its sole discretion, suspend or terminate the Student’s enrollment in any or all classes, lessons, programs, or services for any reason, including, but not limited to the Student’s failure to comply with these Terms or otherwise comply with the Company’s policies. The Company further reserves the right to deny future enrollment to any Student who has previously violated these Terms or otherwise failed to comply with the Company’s policies.

NOTHING IN THESE TERMS SHALL AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER OR EXCLUDE OR LIMIT ANY LIABILITY, WHICH CANNOT BE LEGALLY EXCLUDED, OR LIMITED.THE COMPANY, ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, REMOTE, OR OTHER SIMILAR DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF REVENUES, LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (HOWEVER SUCH LOSSES ARE QUALIFIED), ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE ITSELF, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Failure by the Company to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver by the Company must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the Company.

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state courts located in Charlottesville, Virginia, or, if federal jurisdiction applies, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Student expressly consents to the jurisdiction of such courts.

In the event of any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and any prior versions thereof, the provisions of these Terms and Conditions shall prevail unless it is expressly stated otherwise.