The Power of Real Human Connection at Preply

In the race to automate education, Preply is placing its biggest bet on something timeless: human connection. For more than a decade, we’ve supported learners around the world — not just with smart technology, but with even smarter people. Our tutors are the heartbeat of every breakthrough: empathetic, insightful, and deeply committed to their students’ success. Because real progress doesn’t start with an algorithm. It starts with trust.

We spoke with Francine Pinto, VP of Customer Experience, and Sofia Tavares, Chief Brand Officer, about why Preply’s most powerful innovation has always been human.

The Irreplaceable Magic of Human Tutors

While Preply’s features are powered by technology, it’s the humans who make the difference. Tutors aren’t simply facilitators — they’re motivational architects. They tune into learners’ fears, hopes, and ambitions. They adjust their pace, celebrate progress, and spark that moment of ‘I get it!’ — the magic that can’t be coded.

“Real progress doesn’t always follow a straight path. It’s a mix of uncertainty, small wins, and breakthrough moments,” Francine notes. “Tutors are there for all of it. They make learners feel seen. They know when to push, when to slow down, how to unlock those “a-ha” moments💡”

Whether it’s helping a business exec master negotiation phrases or guiding a teenager through tricky grammar, tutors humanize the learning journey. They bring both rigor and warmth, and that’s what turns a student into a lifelong learner.

How Preply Empowers Tutors to Deliver Their Best

At Preply, tutors aren’t just part of the platform; they’re partners in progress. Our Customer Experience and Tutor Operations teams work behind the scenes to ensure that educators feel equipped, supported, and inspired to teach with confidence and impact.

“We think about how support fits into the entire customer experience,” Francine says. “It’s not just about solving issues, it’s about listening to our tutors and creating opportunities that enable their success. That means tools, training, and community.”

Here’s how we support tutor excellence✨

• Intuitive teaching tools: From lesson insights to personalized learner progress dashboards, tutors can easily track impact and tailor content.
• A connected global community: Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, monthly webinars, dedicated forums and our annual conference help tutors grow their practice and exchange ideas.
• Recognition & reward: We spotlight high-performing tutors and gather regular feedback to shape new features: from session timers to classroom upgrades.

“When a tutor gives us feedback and we can turn it into something that actually helps their day-to-day work, that’s a win,” Francine says. “It’s not about building for them, it’s about building with them.”

The Better Duo: Why Real Connection Still Wins

“So, whenever you ask me why we invest so heavily in tutors, I always say that tutors are at the core of our brand,” says Sofia, Chief Brand Officer at Preply. “They embody trust, consistency, and quality. While other language learning platforms race toward automation, Preply is doubling down on something rarer and far more powerful: real human connection.”

This approach is illustrated through our latest campaign, The Better Duo, which was born from a simple belief: real learning happens in an actual duo. Not an algorithm and a screen, but with you and your tutor. In contrast to the promises of AI-only self-learning apps, we set out to spotlight the magic that happens when a real person guides your journey. This campaign celebrates the people at the heart of learning. Our tutors. The ones who motivate, personalise, and show up with heart and humor.

At the core of the campaign are four videos, concepted and produced fully in-house by our brilliant creative team. But The Better Duo doesn’t stop at storytelling. We took it to our community, launching a social competition where tutors and learners shared what makes their partnership special. Over 100 real duos stepped up, demonstrating living proof of the power of human connection. We also celebrated some of Preply’s longest-standing pairs in a series of interviews, highlighting the progress that only consistency, and care, can build.

Take pairs like Gustavo and Mónica, who’ve built eight years of inside jokes and a friendship that led to his promotion. Or Daniel, who now counsels patients in Spanish after 1,400 lessons with Jose Luis. These aren’t case studies — they’re real life proof.

“We’re not anti-AI,” says Sofia Tavares. “We’re just proudly pro-human.The numbers back it up: learners who stick with a tutor complete more lessons, stay motivated longer, and hit conversational fluency faster than those flying solo.”

Sure, AI can quiz you. But it can’t laugh with you, cheer you on, or gently push you past the fear of speaking out loud. AI can fill in blanks. Our tutors fill in the confidence.

Creative Moments

We couldn’t close without a nod to the brilliant team behind the campaign. “I’m always amazed by what our team pulls off,” Sofia says. “This started as a small idea, and through incredible collaboration: from copy to shooting, editing, and those final motion touches, it became something really special.”

“Some of our team members made it into the ads,” Sofia reveals. “Want to guess who’s who? 😉”

If you’re inspired by our mission to power people’s progress through human-led, tech-enabled learning, and want to help shape what comes next, explore our open roles and make your mark at Preply.