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How a lesson works

Hop on a call, meet face-to-face

Every lesson happens over live video, one-on-one with your tutor. Book a time that works and show up ready to talk.

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What teaching looks like

Teach from anywhere, on your schedule

Set your own hours, meet students face-to-face online, and get paid for every lesson you teach.

A tutor teaching a student over a live video call
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A tutor at her desk, ready for a lesson
How Bantu Plaza works

Reconnect with your mother tongue.

Start speaking in a free 5-minute lesson, no account needed. Then keep going your way: self-study guides, a native-speaker tutor, or — best of all — both. Study builds the words and grammar; a tutor turns them into real conversation.

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Low-cost 30-min trial · No card needed to sign up · Cancel anytime
Your journey

Choose a language, study it, speak it

1
Try a free 5-minute lesson

Choose your language and speak your first real phrases straight away — no account needed. Pick from isiZulu, isiXhosa, chiShona, Ndebele, Setswana, Sesotho, Afrikaans and Ikalanga.

2
Study at your own pace

Work through a self-study pack — interactive lessons, vocabulary, grammar and exercises — whenever it suits you, alongside free phrase guides.

3
Practise with a native tutor

Book live one-to-one lessons to speak, get gentle feedback and build real confidence. Try any tutor with a short 30-minute trial.

4
Combine both & advance

Study, speak, repeat — and climb the A1 to C2 ladder. Learners who do both reach real conversation the fastest.

Why Southern African languages

Why learn the language of home?

Learning Setswana, isiZulu, isiXhosa or Sesotho isn't just vocabulary - it's the jokes at the dinner table, the words your elders use, and the songs you half-remember.

Reconnect with heritage

For diaspora learners rebuilding ties with family and identity.

Work across Southern Africa

Operate in growing markets - from Johannesburg to Maseru - with cultural fluency.

Travel deeper

Trade tourist phrases for real conversations with the people you meet.

Pass it on to your kids

Keep the language alive at home, so it doesn't stop with your generation.

No tutor needed

Or learn on your own, at your own pace

Not ready for a tutor yet? Start free with phrase guides, unlock a whole language for $99, or work through a self-study guide one level at a time. Practise on your own, then book a tutor when you want to hear it spoken.

See all the ways to learn →
Two ways to start today

Are you here to learn - or to teach?

Learn the language of your family, or share yours with the world. Setup takes about 2 minutes.

For students

Have a real conversation with your family - in the language of home.

Free to join. Start with a short 30-minute trial lesson with any tutor.

  • Browse native-speaker tutors and book in minutes
  • Track words, streaks and your goals
  • Lessons in your browser - nothing to install
  • Start with a 30-min trial, then decide if you'd like to continue
  • Kids aged 8–17? Sign up as a guardian and book a "Kids welcome" tutor - they have opted in and passed extra safety checks
Create your free account See tutors first
Free to join, cancel anytime
For tutors

Share your language. Earn from home.

Set your own rates and schedule. Keep 60% of every lesson - one flat rate. Reach learners around the world.

  • Apply in 5 minutes - review in 48 hours
  • Open to native speakers aged 21+
  • Bi-monthly PayPal payouts (1st & 15th)
  • One flat fee - keep 60% of every lesson from day one
  • Built-in classroom, scheduler, payouts
Apply & start teaching See commission
Set your own rates and teach as much or as little as you like
FAQ

Common questions

What is a bundle?
A bundle is a pack of prepaid lessons with one tutor, bought up front at a discount - the bigger the pack (5 or 10 lessons), the more you save per lesson. You redeem one credit each time you book a standard lesson, and your credits never expire. There is no subscription. It is the most cost-effective way to learn regularly with a tutor you click with.
Is there a booking fee?
No. The price you see is the price you pay - there is no separate booking fee added at checkout. Your tutor sets one all-in rate, and that is what you are charged. Prepaid bundles and group seats simply work out cheaper per hour.
What is Bantu Plaza?
Bantu Plaza is an online language school where you take one-on-one live lessons with native African-language speakers. Right now you can learn isiZulu, isiXhosa, chiShona, Ndebele, Setswana, Sesotho, Afrikaans and Ikalanga - with more on the way.
How much does a lesson cost?
Each tutor sets their own price. You will see every tutor's rate clearly on their profile before you book. Most tutors offer a shorter, lower-priced first lesson so you can try things out before committing.
Do I need to download anything?
No. Lessons happen right in your browser - no Zoom, no Skype, no app to install. Just click "Join lesson" a few minutes before your start time.
What if I don't get on with my tutor?
Your first lesson with any new tutor is a short 30-minute trial, so it's a low-cost way to find someone you click with. After the trial you choose whether to continue - there's no obligation to book more. You can also change tutors at any time, free of charge.
How are tutors paid?
Your payment is taken when you book, and your tutor receives their share after the lesson has taken place. Tutors keep 60% of what you pay (one flat rate). Payouts run on a regular cycle, around the 1st and 15th of each month, with the payment reference shown on the tutor's dashboard.
How do I become a tutor?
Click "Teach on Bantu Plaza", fill in our short form, record a 60-second intro video, and choose your prices. We get back to every applicant within 48 hours.
How can I pay?
You can pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX), PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay where it's available.
Can I cancel or move a lesson?
Yes - lessons are booked for set times, but you can reschedule from your dashboard more than 12 hours before, subject to your tutor's availability. Within 12 hours a change needs your tutor's agreement, otherwise the session is forfeited. Missed lessons are not refunded - in a genuine emergency (such as bereavement or hospitalisation) email us and we may reinstate the hour.
Can I learn in a group?
Yes. Some tutors run group classes - a short series of lessons taught to a small group of learners at the same level, with all the session dates set in advance. You buy one seat for the whole series up front, so it works out cheaper per hour than one-to-one. Classes stay small (4–8 learners) so everyone gets to speak. If too few people join by 24 hours before the first session, the class is cancelled and everyone is refunded automatically; if you leave part-way through, you're refunded for the sessions that haven't run yet. Look for "Group classes" on a tutor's profile.
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