Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the questions we are often asked about the Hey Lady! and membership to our women-only English speaking community.

How do I find a speaking partner inside Hey Lady!?

There are many ways to find a speaking partner inside Hey Lady!

  1. The easiest way is to join any of the 'group conversation' events happening each day. These are wonderful places to get to know other members and build your network of friends around the world! Browse through our event list to find a conversation that interests you. Each event will be hosted either by someone from the Hey Lady! team or by other community members. When the event starts, they will help with the introductions and facilitate the conversation so everyone has the chance to meet and participate.
  2. Another way to find a speaking partner is to reach out directly to other members through our instant messaging feature. All members are able to update their profile to let the community know if they are open to meeting new speaking partners. You are welcome to send a message to anyone on the platform and say hello!
  3. You can also create and host your own events, choosing a pre-defined topic from our monthly conversation theme or deciding your own topic. If you see or know of another member who might be interested, you can invite them to come along.

Remember, just like any friendship, your relationships in our community will grow stronger with time and attendance. Many of our members have made life-long friendships in this community.

Why is it only for women? Why can't men join?

Hey Lady! offers a safe and supportive space to practise English for anyone identifying as a woman.

Watch this short video where Emma explains why we created Hey Lady! for women.

Speaking in a second language is challenging—for anyone. There can be all sorts of negative emotions at play: fear, anxiety, doubt, frustration, awkwardness, to name just a few. At Hey Lady! we do our best to create a space that reduces this as much as possible so that our members are not only able to participate, but thrive as they interact with others in their non-native language. We've chosen to create a women-only community for four main reasons:

  1. Women thrive together: Women tend to be natural 'cheerleaders' for their families, loved ones and, for each other. This tendency means that working through challenges and overcoming negative self-belief is best done with the love and support of friends—our very own circle of cheerleaders! It's easier to stay motivated during tough times and genuinely enjoy the experience of learning English and experiencing life, together.
  2. We can connect on a deeper level: By exploring topics that focus on womens' issues and interests, we can have deeper, more meaningful conversations about things that really matter to us.
  3. Cultural and social beliefs/norms can make it difficult for women to participate equally in mixed-gender classrooms. For some women, being in the presence of men can feel a little (or quite) intimidating. It may make it difficult to speak up or speak openly, disagree or contradict; all essential skills to building confidence as an English speaker.
  4. Study with less distraction: Despite the incredible opportunity that online learning provides, it also disproportionately exposes women to bullying and humiliation, which can ultimately silence them or inhibit their ability to participate. Hey Lady! creates a space to learn English skills and communicate confidently, in a positive, inspiring environment.

Knowing the above to be true, it's no surprise that many of the ladies in our community have been introduced to us by a kind and supportive man in their lives—a loving husband, kind father or sweet son—who want to see them succeed. Love and respect to you, from all of us x

Who can join?

Hey Lady! is a community for women only.

Firstly, you must be over 18 years of age to join—our diverse community welcomes women of all adult ages, social status, religion or culture. Expect to meet a diverse range of women inside Hey Lady! You need to come willing and open to meet people who may have had vastly different life experiences to you.

Secondly, you must be at an intermediate to advanced level of English. Everything that we do inside our community is done in English, and the Hey Lady! experience has been designed around communication skills and speaking confidence. Unsure about your English level? Complete this simple online test to find out!

Lastly, you need to be ready to practise speaking in a group environment where we have our videos turned on and be ready to encourage and support other women who are working to become confident English speakers too!

How long will it take to improve my English? Will it help me become fluent?

The short answer: To make the kind of improvement you can feel will take around 3 months of regular practise.

Hey Lady! has been designed to help women build confidence and improve English fluency as naturally as possible.

How long it truly takes and how quickly you improve depends on a few different factors:

  • your current level of English
  • your experience speaking in English
  • the languages you already speak
  • how actively you study and practise English
  • your English goals (being 'fluent' can mean different things to different people!)

There's a lot of research that suggests that an intermediate English learner needs approximately 500 hours of conversation practice to achieve fluency.

We provide a range of tools and opportunities to practise, along with a community of motivated, inspiring women to cheer you on! Hey Lady! has been designed to help you build confidence and improve English fluency as naturally as possible. We strive to ensure that the time you spend in the community is effective and maximises your progress—even when you don't have a lot of time.

How much time do I need to spend practising each week?

Hey Lady! allows you to study and practise as much as you can, it's a flexible learning experience. If you have 2 hours per week, we'll help you make the most of it. If you have 8 hours per week, we'll help you develop skills quickly. We have recommended study/training schedules for members with limited or extensive time, tailored to different learning goals.

As an example, Faridah, has a busy work schedule. Her priority is to spend two hours per week speaking with her speaking partners or study group. If she has extra time, she downloads the workbooks to study and review vocabulary. When Faridah is on holiday (and away from her regular routine), she sets herself a challenge to join one conversation every day so she can join more events and meet other ladies.

What does it include?

Your membership includes:

  • Access to our online platform and global network of English-speaking women
  • Introductions to other members at our community events
  • Structured lesson content that explores different conversation topics over 12 weeks
  • Unlimited speaking practice opportunities; one-to one or in small groups via built-in video chat
  • Creating and hosting your own one-to-one calls with other members
  • Live events with our expert English language coaches such as guided conversations, grammar lessons and 'office hours' to ask your questions
  • Live events hosted by our Community Success Team and other Hey Lady! community members

This will give you plenty of things to do with your new English-speaking friends.

Over time you will soon learn we offer other experiences as well. These include:

  • Advanced conversation training with our coaches
  • 'Deep dive' functional language activities
  • Creative writing workshops
  • Training on how to create and host your own group conversations with other members
  • The chance to create or join 'study groups'
  • Additional conversation themes with new and engaging topics

How long does it take to complete?

As Hey Lady! is not a course, there is no start or end date. You can join and stay for three months or stay for three years! (In fact, many ladies in our community have stayed for years, continually improving their speaking skills and making new friends around the world!)

By staying active, building consistent speaking habits and creating a strong network of English-speaking friends, you will transform your English conversations before you even realise it. Most of our active members genuinely felt positive changes after 3 months and reach a level of fluency or personal transformation at around 12 months.

How can I pay?

There are three (3) ways to pay: 

1. We accept credit card payments through our secure online payment system (Stripe). Please note that all payments are calculated in US Dollars and will convert to your local currency at the time of each transaction.

2. We accept payment via PayPal. With a PayPal account (check if your country is eligible here) you can connect your bank account to Paypal. This means you do not need a credit card to pay.

3. We can arrange for payment in advance by bank transfer. To pay by international bank transfer you will need to pay upfront for a minimum of 3 months membership to Hey Lady! please contact hello@heylady.io if you wish to use this option.

Sign up today and start your membership!

Can I pause my membership?

Great question! As much as you want to commit to regular English practice, we understand how important it is to be flexible when you need it to be!

You will be able to pause your membership for 2 weeks, up to two times per year.

Are there native English speakers in Hey Lady!?

Fantastic question! Many English learners are convinced that the only way to become fluent is to practise with native English speakers. This simply isn't true! Holding onto this belief will hold you back from reaching your fluency goals faster.

To become fluent, it's more important that you gain experience speaking English as often and with as many people as possible.

In fact, the more diversity you can expose yourself to (accents, cultures, expressions) the better! 

Hey Lady! is a community of English speakers, not native English speakers and we offer a unique and proven approach to helping you become fluent.

We provide structured learning materials so you have all the 'tools' you need for interesting conversations and then offer unlimited opportunities to practise having those conversations with others!

And because all the women in our community are eager to develop their conversation skills, that makes them willing, enthusiastic and reliable speaking partners! You both have something to gain in every conversation.

Our community members range in proficiency from intermediate all the way to fluent, just like you, they are not beginners.

You can also be sure that our diverse community offers a very realistic experience of English. That's because more than 75% of people who speak English in the world today are actually non-native speakers.

Hey Lady! exposes you to people who have different accents, cultural expressions and mannerisms which gives you a significant advantage in the real world of English.

Don't worry! After just a few months following our unique methodology, you will be able to understand and communicate with anyone, including native speakers!

What is the age range of Hey Lady! members?

We have members from all age groups, the minimum required age is 18 and there is no upper limit - it’s never too late to improve your English!

What English level is best for Hey Lady!?

Hey Lady! has been designed for ladies who have Intermediate (B1), Upper Intermediate (B2), Advanced (C1) and Proficient (C2) level English.

For each level, our live events, lessons and learning experiences will help you the build confidence to communicate in different contexts. Our goal is to help you expand your comfort zone step-by-step to help you reach a level that meets your personal or professional needs.

Please note: Hey Lady! is an immersive English experience, everything we do is in English. That also means we don't teach 'the basics'.

To participate fully, you will need to have at least Intermediate (B1) level English or above. If you are still a beginner, we recommend you continue your studies until you reach the required level.

Can I get one-to-one lessons with a teacher?

No, Hey Lady! does not offer one-to-one lessons with a teacher.

There are two very important reasons for this:

1. Private lessons are expensive! To become fluent in English, the average learner needs approximately 500 hours of "actual speaking practice". When you consider the average hourly cost of a teacher ($19USD per hour) to work with you privately, it would cost thousands of dollars to become fluent!

No wonder so many people quit because of the cost of private lesson!

At Hey Lady! our members share the cost of our coaches which means they get significantly more access to coaching, guidance and feedback for a fraction of the cost. That means they are more likely to continue their jo urney, than quitting due to the cost.

2. Group learning offers more benefits. From our experience, we know that the fastest way to become fluent is by speaking to different people, in different contexts about different topics.

"Learning" happens faster and more dynamically when you interact with multiple people, not just one tutor.

That's why in Hey Lady! you will find plenty of opportunities to get support and help from our coaches in small groups, to maximise the impact and the results!

How many people are in the classes & conversations?

We off both one-to-one and group conversations and group classes.

Group classes vary in size because some are more popular than others.

When it comes time to practise speaking, large groups will always be divided into smaller groups using 'breakout rooms'.

Breakout rooms are a feature of our video calls, allowing the event host or coach to divide everyone into groups of 2 to 4 ladies. This ensures everyone has the opportunity to participate and practise.

Can I practise professional English (for work)?

Yes! Absolutely.

You will find many opportunities to improve your English for work inside our platform.

Our philosophy about developing your English for work focuses on effective communication skills, rather than 'corporate vocabulary'.

In the modern workforce, success is measured by your ability to communicate effectively to build relationships, contribute, motivate others and influence decisions.

And for this reason, our members use our platform to collaborate and discuss topics relevant to these skills.

You will find members hosting events to improve public speaking and presentation skills, practising for a job interview or talking about their industry.

Hey Lady! members regularly share their professional knowledge and experiences about time management, managing stress and dealing with conflict in the workplace.

As a Hey Lady! member, you can host your own events about any topic you choose. That means you can choose a topic that is relevant to your career and invite others to join you to help you practise.

Throughout the year our Coaches also offer a group coaching program called "English for Work".

Enrolling in this optional 3-part program gives you the advantage of personalised support from a coach, specifically to improve your effective communication skills for work, in English.

What happens after I sign up?

Once you sign up, we will guide you to log in and get started inside the platform.

When you first log in, you will find 4 simple steps to follow including:

  1. 3 short videos to learn the "Hey Lady! Way"
  2. A quiz
  3. Setting up your profile
  4. Recording a 20 second video to get verified.

Once you complete these steps, you will unlock access to all the features of the platform and can start talking right away!

The first 'event' you join will be a welcome event for new members. This is a place to meet someone from our team and to be introduced to other ladies who have just joined.

Very soon, you'll discover the 'magic' of our community as you have the opportunity to meet and learn with women from different cultures, countries and careers.

What is Hey Lady!? How does it work?

Hey Lady! is a social learning platform that helps women who are learning English to meet, make friends and practise speaking together.

This might be a completely different approach to improving your English than you have ever experienced. No exams, no certificates.. and we like it that way! It removes the pressure of wanting to be 'perfect' before you try something new.

It means you can practise in a supportive place without fear of judgement, rather than in real-world situations.

Everything we do begins with the connection between two people. Our online platform and the events we host are designed to encourage our members to meet and get to know each other so they have English-speaking friends to practise with, whenever they like!

Our system for learning is 'member-led' and 'teacher supported'. We believe that with the right connections, conversation tools and a safe, supportive space to practise in, you can progress at your own pace and achieve your English goals!

And because everything we do happens live and face-to-face via video, you will gain real experience in real conversations every time you log in!

What else can I learn besides fluency? What about writing, grammar or pronunciation?

There is so much you can learn with Hey Lady!

Yes! We offer the chance to practise writing.

Our community has it's own online magazine where you can write an article and have it published for others to read, comment and give you feedback. Our Coaches regularly provide feedback on the articles as well.

Yes! You can learn more grammar. We have a Grammar Library of video lessons and workbooks. Our Coaches provide live grammar classes where you can learn new grammar, bring your questions and have them answered.

Yes! We offer pronunciation training. Every conversation topic provided by our Coaches includes a lesson to help you improve pronunciation.

We also run pronunciation challenges and training events throughout the year.

And there is so much more! Hey Lady! members host events to discuss hundreds of different topics from time management to self care, psychology theory to movie reviews to deep discussions about global issues. These events give you the opportunity not only to improve your fluency but to learn something new every week, beyond just English.

When time are the classes? Are there any in my time zone?

Inside Hey Lady! you will find live events happening in every time zone, every day!

That means that no matter where you live, or what time it is, you will always have someone to talk to or something to study.

Some Hey Lady! events are opportunities to practise speaking about different topics. Others give you the chance to learn something new.

Hey Lady! events range from 15 minutes to 2 hours in duration and your membership includes access to all of them.

Our Coaches also host live lessons and workshops in every time zone, every week. You can attend these events to learn new grammar, practise pronunciation or get feedback and answers to your questions.

We also provide a huge library of recorded lessons with workbooks that you can study in your own time, at your own pace, and then put what you learn into practice in real conversations

If I'm not satisfied, can I get a refund?

We offer a 7-day Money Back Guarantee. This means that if you feel Hey Lady! is not right for you, you can cancel your membership within 7 days of sign-up and receive a full refund.

To request a refund you simply need to email hello@heylady.io

Our team will process your refund request and return 100% of your payment as soon as possible.


I don't have a credit card and PayPal is not available in my country. What can I do?

The Monthly Plan (including the free trial) is not available without a credit card or PayPal account.

However, if you’d like to sign up for a Yearly Plan, we can arrange payment by bank transfer. Please contact us via the contact form at the end of the page or email hello@heylady.io and our team will be glad to assist you.

How long will it take until I can speak fluently?

Fluency is a journey, not a destination.

It's something that you feel, not something you can take an exam for. It's about your capacity to speak freely and confidently about any given topic by drawing on the words and grammar you already know.

And because there are so many topics you could possibly speak about, it's a skill that you develop with regular practice over time.

Over time, you will expand your fluency into different areas: your personal life, your career, your industry, music, the arts, science, technology, global issues.

How quickly you become fluent will depend on how frequently you practise and the goals you set to epxand your vocabular range.

We recommend starting with 15 minutes per day, 3-4 times per week and adjusting to your goals from there.

The total number of hours really depends on your goals and how quickly you want to reach them.

From our experience of helping thousands of women on ther journey, we know that members who commit to 3-4 hours per week can achieve excellent results in just 3 months of regular English speaking practice!

Within 12 months, Hey Lady! members can generally talk to anyone about anything!

Why is a payment method required for a free trial? Isn't it free?

Hey Lady! is a private community where our members support our coaches, team and platform by paying membership fees.

Without the support of our members, Hey Lady! would not be possible.

By signing up for the 7-day free trial, we assume that you are seriously considering a membership.

The trial is not available on it's own and is not for people who aren't really interested in becoming a member. This protects the quality of our community and the experience we offer.

For these reasons, we request your credit card information so we can ensure a smooth experience between the trial and your paid membership.

Please note: There is no obligation to buy. You can cancel easily at any time during your trial and you will not be charged. We do not store your payment information if you cancel.

Will someone correct my mistakes? How will I get feedback?

Yes! There are two ways this happens; through our coaches and through other members of our community—your friends!

Our language coaches are here to support and guide you on your English journey; our philosophy is not to "teach" as in a traditional classroom, but to empower you to take your journey into your own hands. They provide lessons, tools and experiences designed to develop your English language skills and accuracy. In group conversations, they're on-hand to offer support and provide whole-of-group feedback.

However it's not only our coaches who are here to help, at Hey Lady! we thrive on helping each other!

In our community you'll be surrounded by non-native English speakers of all different levels, some of whom have academic English or are studying to teach English themselves. Your speaking partners will give you feedback, ask for clarification and, over time, help you to relax your accent and speak clearly.

Meeting and practising your speaking skills with non-native English speakers is a wonderful opportunity for you to identify errors and self correct—the ultimate tool that you can develop to empower yourself as an English learner.

Please note that if you are looking for a private tutor or personal language coach, Hey Lady! may not be the right place for you.

Will someone correct my mistakes? How will I get feedback?

Getting feedback and learning from your mistakes are important aspects of learning and fluency development.

Inside Hey Lady! you will find feedback and corrections happening in many different ways, and not always as you might expect.

The main three ways are:

  • Through our coaches;  
  • Through other members of the community - your friends!
  • Through self correction

Our coaches are here to support and guide you. In group conversations your coach will be there to offer clarification and support to all participants. You can also attend live classes where your coach can help to answer any questions you might have.

But our coaches are not the only ones who can help you!

In Hey Lady! you will find English speakers of all different levels, some who have academic English or are studying to teach English themselves. Through their experience they have so much to offer and are here to help you! Your speaking partners will give you feedback, ask for clarification and help you relax your accent and speak clearly.

And finally - you will learn to correct yourself! Just by participating in real conversations you will be receiving instant feedback about whether you are being understood by the reactions and responses from the people you are talking to. Although that may seem strange right now, you will soon discover that self-correction and 'reflection' are even more powerful ways to improve than getting corrections from a coach.

If you do need more personalised feedback and support, we offer specialised group coaching programs throughout the year including Speak English With Ease or English For Work!

Please note: If you are looking for a private tutor or a personal language coach, Hey Lady! may not be the right place for you. We recommend looking to other platforms where you can pay for a private tutor by the hour.

How many hours per week does it take to get results?

The number of hours really depends on your goals and how quickly you want to reach them. Our research shows that members who commit to 3-4 hours per week can achieve excellent results in just 3 months of regular English speaking practice!

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