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Tutor policy definitions All violations — alphabetical order |
| Violation | Definition |
| Aggression (towards students or staff) | Cambly is a safe space for learning, built on mutual respect and psychological safety. Any behavior that causes fear, distress, or emotional harm, or any aggressive conduct towards students or staff that undermines the safety of the learning environment, is a fundamental breach of the Tutor Agreement and is not permitted on the platform. |
| Audio issues | Tutors are responsible for ensuring their audio allows students to hear and interact with them clearly. This includes maintaining a functioning microphone, correctly configured audio permissions and platform settings, and a stable internet connection sufficient to support clear real-time communication. Audio that is persistently distorted, echoed, or otherwise unclear to the point of preventing students from hearing the tutor does not meet Cambly's platform participation requirements. |
| Background issues |
Tutors are responsible for ensuring their background and surrounding environment do not interfere with a student's ability to receive the tutoring service. This includes ensuring the background is free of inappropriate or significantly distracting content, that sessions are conducted in a private setting, and that the environment is free of audio disturbances that prevent students from clearly hearing the tutor. Backgrounds or environments that consistently interfere with a student's ability to receive the tutoring service do not meet Cambly's platform participation requirements. |
| Camera off/covered | Tutors must maintain an active, clear video feed throughout every session. Your camera should remain on and unobstructed at all times. Your face should be fully visible and directly facing the camera; this includes ensuring your mouth is not covered and your speech movements are clearly visible. Tutoring with your camera obscured, pointed away, or turned off is not permitted. |
| Child wellbeing & safeguarding | Cambly is committed to providing a safe environment for children. Tutors working with minors are subject to elevated platform requirements in accordance with applicable child safety laws. Any act that endangers a child's physical safety, psychological wellbeing, or development is strictly prohibited. |
| Connection issues |
Tutors are responsible for ensuring that Cambly works on their systems. Tutors must ensure their internet connection is free from persistent or severe issues that disrupt the productivity of a lesson. Tutors should avoid "dropping" calls or experiencing frequent disconnections, avoid severe "Packet Loss" which leads to grainy video or "robotic" audio, and ensure their hardware meets the minimum requirements for a stable video conferencing environment. We recommend a hardwired (Ethernet) connection whenever possible to minimize the "Signal Interference" often found in wireless networks, and we also recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome as it is the most platform-compatible web browser. |
| Culturally insensitive remarks or behavior | Cambly is a global bridge between cultures. Remarks or behaviors that disregard or demean a student's cultural, religious, or national identity can cause student discomfort and harm, and are not permitted on the platform, even when unintentional. |
| Drugs/alcohol | Cambly maintains a Zero-Tolerance Policy regarding actively using, being under the influence of, or being impaired by drugs or alcohol while performing lessons or interacting with students. |
| Ending sessions abruptly | To maintain platform participation requirements, sessions should run for their full scheduled duration. Ending a session before its scheduled duration without notice to the student is not permitted, unless the student is behaving in a grossly offensive way. If a session must end early due to an unforeseen circumstance, students should be informed before the session ends. |
| Escalation of contentious topics | Cambly connects people from every corner of the globe, spanning diverse cultures, beliefs, and geopolitical perspectives. To maintain a safe learning environment, persisting in contentious or sensitive discussions against a student's wishes, or attempting to influence student viewpoints, is strictly prohibited. |
| Expressing frustration towards students | Language learning can be a vulnerable and challenging process. Conduct toward students that belittles, demeans, or persistently dismisses their efforts or ability does not meet Cambly's platform participation requirements, regardless of intent. |
| Fraud | Cambly operates on a foundation of honesty and mutual trust. Any attempt to manipulate student behaviour or platform systems, misrepresent session data, or engage in deceptive practices is a violation of the Tutor Agreement and is strictly prohibited. This includes deliberate or repeated misuse of Cambly tools (as seen below) with the intent of committing fraud. |
| Frequent early ends |
Every minute of a scheduled session is a paid investment by the student. Ending sessions before their scheduled duration reduces the time students receive and affects their ability to get full value from their session. Tutors must maintain an Early Ending rate of 10% or less in any given month for sessions where the student did not specifically request an early stop. Tutors who consistently exceed this threshold do not meet Cambly's reliability requirements and may be subject to review or removal from the platform. |
| Frequent late starts |
Every minute of a scheduled session is a paid investment by the student. Late starts reduce the time students receive and affect their ability to get full value from their session. Tutors must maintain a Late Start rate of 10% or less in any given month. Tutors who consistently exceed this threshold do not meet Cambly's reliability requirements and may be subject to review or removal from the platform. |
| Graphic or violent content | Cambly is a safe environment for learners of all ages and backgrounds. The presence or display of graphic violence, weaponry, or imagery intended to cause shock or distress during lessons or interactions with students is strictly prohibited. |
| High no-show / late-cancel rate |
Students plan their schedules around their sessions, and missed or last-minute cancelled lessons create a disruptive experience that affects their ability to use the platform effectively. Tutors must maintain a combined No-Show/Late-Cancellation (NS/LC) rate of 10% or less in any given month. Tutors who consistently exceed this threshold do not meet Cambly's reliability requirements and may be subject to review or removal from the platform. Exceptions may be made only in cases of extreme extenuating circumstances. Cambly will consider a maximum of one such exemption per tutor, per year. |
| Improper romantic or flirtatious conduct | The relationship between a Cambly tutor and student is strictly a service relationship. Any attempt or allowance to transition an interaction into a romantic or private personal context (whether initiated by the tutor or the student) is strictly prohibited. |
| Inappropriate content (non-malicious) |
To ensure a safe learning environment, tutors are responsible for all visual and auditory content shared during any and all interactions with students. This includes your screen, your tabs, files or links, and the physical space visible on camera. Allowing inappropriate content to enter the conversation, even accidentally, does not meet Cambly's platform participation requirements. In the event of accidentally sharing something unintended with a student, tutors are expected to immediately contact Tutor Support for assistance. Tutors also must double-check before sending anything via chat or Cambly messaging since any text messages sent on the platform are irreversible. |
| Lewd or indecent behavior | Cambly has zero tolerance for conduct that is lewd, sexually suggestive, sexualized, or indecent during lessons or interactions with students. Such conduct creates an unsafe environment for students and results in immediate loss of platform access, regardless of intent. |
| Misuse of Cambly tools | Cambly provides tutors with several tools designed to help you manage your sessions effectively, such as the 'Return' feature, the 'Schedule' tab, and the 'Report' button. To maintain a fair environment for all tutors, all Cambly tools must be used strictly for their intended purposes. Misuse, whether intentional or due to a lack of familiarity, can disrupt a student's learning experience and is therefore strictly prohibited. |
| Multiple accounts |
To ensure a fair and transparent marketplace for all tutors and students, each tutor is permitted only one account. Creating multiple accounts is strictly prohibited. Likewise, to keep your profile, ratings, and history organized, Cambly uses a "One Account" system. Whether you are tutoring adults or kids, all your activity is tied to your single verified identity. This ensures you never lose track of your progress or student connections. Tutors are required to maintain only one account on the platform. |
| Offensive remarks or behavior | Cambly is a diverse, global community. We have zero tolerance for hate speech, slurs, xenophobic remarks, or any form of targeted hostility based on a person's identity. |
| Poaching | Cambly provides a global marketplace connecting tutors with students. To protect the security and sustainability of this marketplace, attempting to move Cambly students or their contact information to external platforms, or soliciting Cambly students for services or payments outside the platform, is strictly prohibited. |
| Previously deactivated tutor | To maintain the integrity of our community and the consistency of our tutor pool, once an account is deactivated (whether by Cambly or through a tutor's own request) creating a new account to re-enter the platform is not permitted. Tutors who have previously been deactivated or who have self-deleted an account are not eligible to reapply. |
| Privacy policy violations | Respecting student privacy is a cornerstone of the Cambly community. Tutors must protect the personal information, likeness, and identity of every student they meet on the platform. Recording, photographing, or sharing any student information or communication is strictly prohibited. This includes using any software, hardware or devices (including AI note-takers) to capture any part or element of a lesson without documented student consent. |
| Profanity | While casual conversation is encouraged, the use of profanity during lessons or interactions with students can cause student discomfort or complaints and is not permitted on the platform. |
| Profile issues |
Tutors are required to maintain a compliant and up-to-date profile at all times. Requirements include, but are not limited to: Authentic Identity: Your profile must have a photo and video which are of you only, showing your full face clearly. Drawings, digital renderings, or photos of other people are not permitted. Framing: Use a clear headshot for your photo (not a full-body shot) with no other people present in the frame. Content Requirements: Ensure all text, photos, and videos in your profile are free of political, sensitive, or inappropriate content or other people. This includes any videos or snippets demonstrating your teaching style. Video Quality: Your profile video should be at least 30 seconds in length and spoken in English, as Cambly is an English language tutoring platform. It should also clearly demonstrate your tutoring approach and communication style in a clean, distraction-free setting. Display Name: Your display name should include a recognizable first name and should be free of political, sensitive, or inappropriate content or misrepresentation. Please see this Help Center Article for more information on profile requirements. Please also note that additional platforms (such as Cambly Pro, Cambly Kids, and Cambly Groups) may have their own platform-specific profile requirements. |
| Severe / sustained distraction | Remaining unengaged or participating in unrelated activities that impact your lessons is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: using your phone, browsing the web, performing household tasks, eating a meal, or failing to provide active feedback or guidance because your attention is directed elsewhere. |
| Severe / sustained eating | As an English tutor, your primary mission is to provide a clear and understandable model of English speech. This includes both the sound of your voice and the visual movements of your mouth. To ensure students can follow your pronunciation and remain focused on the lesson, eating or chewing during sessions is prohibited. Drinking non-alcoholic beverages, on the other hand, is permitted and encouraged, in order to protect your voice and throat. |
| Severe / sustained low energy | Because language learning is a highly social and cognitive process, students rely on your energy to stay engaged and motivated. Tutors are expected to be fully rested and capable of maintaining an active instructional presence for the duration of their scheduled sessions. Consistent low energy that impacts your lessons is prohibited. |
| Shared account |
Your Cambly account is assigned exclusively to you based on your successful application and identity verification. To maintain the security of our platform and the trust of our students, all account activity must be conducted exclusively by the original approved applicant. Likewise, students book lessons based on your specific profile, qualifications, and identity. For the safety of our community and the integrity of our platform, your presence in lessons must be exclusive; any involvement by another person during a session — regardless of duration, is strictly prohibited. |
| Silent/fake sessions |
Conducting sessions that offer little to no instructional value is prohibited. To ensure every minute counts toward your student's goals, you must remain actively engaged, speaking or listening, and instructing. Sitting in silence or appearing "away" while the timer runs is not permitted. This also includes sessions with friends or family members where there is no instructional value. Likewise, tutors must remain active and continuously present throughout the lesson. Leaving the camera view and/or remaining silent during a session is prohibited. While brief educational materials are allowed, they cannot replace your active tutoring. |
| Smoking / vaping / tobacco use | The use of any smoking or vaping products — including e-cigarettes, vaporizers, chewing tobacco, and all associated paraphernalia — is not permitted in lessons or interactions with students. |
| Solicitation | Cambly is a dedicated space for language learning and cultural exchange. To maintain the integrity of our community, using the platform to solicit, urge, or entice students or tutors toward outside activities, external personal or commercial interests, or any engagement for personal, financial, or private gain is strictly prohibited. |
| Tutoring in an altered state | To provide a safe learning environment, tutoring while impaired or otherwise unfit to deliver the tutoring service is strictly prohibited and may result in removal from the platform. If you are experiencing a medical emergency or a temporary condition that prevents you from meeting Cambly's platform participation requirements, please prioritize your health and take a break from tutoring until you are able to do so safely. |
| Unwarranted banning |
The misuse of the "Report" feature to inappropriately ban students from the platform is prohibited. The last two reasons on the "Report" feature (Abusive or Inappropriate & Inappropriate or Sexual) permanently ban students from all of Cambly and these options should only be selected in cases of severe student misconduct, such as harassment, graphic content, or threats to safety. |
| Visual issues | Tutors are responsible for ensuring their equipment and settings allow students to see and interact with them clearly. This includes maintaining an unobstructed camera, sufficient lighting, stable internet connectivity, and correctly configured hardware and camera permissions. Persistent or significant visual interference that prevents students from clearly seeing the tutor does not meet Cambly's platform participation requirements. |
| Workstation issues | Tutors are responsible for ensuring their workstation provides a stable, fixed setup that allows students to see and interact with them clearly. This includes conducting sessions from a stationary position with a fixed camera. A consistent pattern of unstable or moving setups that interfere with a student's ability to receive the tutoring service does not meet Cambly's platform participation requirements. |
Questions about a specific violation or policy decision? Please contact the Cambly Tutor Support team.