Learning English Online: Goodbye Skype, Hello Zoom, Google Meet and Teams
After two decades of connecting people across the globe, Skype is shutting down. For anyone who has been learning English online, it marks the end of an era, and the start of a better one.
The tools change, but what actually helps you improve does not. Here is what the switch means for your lessons, and how to move to Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams without missing a beat.
Goodbye to English Lessons via Skype
At Live English, Skype played a real part in our story. For 18 years it let our students connect effortlessly with native English teachers on the other side of the world.
Back in 2007, when English lessons by Skype were still a novelty, the technology changed how people learned languages. For the first time, students could have real-time, face-to-face lessons with teachers from English-speaking countries without leaving home. We rarely used the webcam back then because connections were slow, but it still brought the world closer than we had ever imagined.
Learning English Online Today: Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams
As technology moved on, so did our tools. A year before the pandemic we switched to Zoom for a more stable, feature-rich platform, especially for group lessons. Today we also teach on Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, so every student has a reliable way to connect with our teachers.
Each platform does the job well. Here is a quick guide to help you choose:
| Platform | Best for |
|---|---|
| Zoom | Our default. Stable video, screen sharing and breakout rooms make it ideal for both one-to-one and group English classes. |
| Google Meet | Runs in your browser with nothing to install. A great choice if you like to keep things simple or already use Google at work. |
| Microsoft Teams | Perfect if your company already runs on Teams, so your English lessons sit alongside your working day. |
Why the Platform Was Never the Point
Platforms change, but our mission does not. What we do was never about the technology, it was always about the learning. The real value is the human connection: the guidance of a native English teacher who helps you master English conversation, small talk, presentations, meetings and phone calls in English.
Practising for Real Life, Whatever the Platform
This balance between technology and human interaction is what makes Live English different. We welcome new tools that improve the experience, but we never lose sight of what matters: real conversations, personal guidance and the confidence that comes from practising in a safe, supportive setting. No platform can replace the motivation a skilled teacher brings to a lesson.
So while we say goodbye to Skype, we keep finding better ways to help our students thrive in a global world. Here is to the next chapter of online English learning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving from Skype
I use Skype for my English lessons. What should I do?
Which platform should I choose?
Will my lesson schedule change?
Do I need to install new software?
What if I have trouble with the new platform?
Keep learning, wherever you are
We have coached 10,000+ professionals since 2007 with experienced native teachers. Practise real conversations, at your level, on the platform that suits you, in a free trial lesson, no credit card required.
