Elena Mutonono/A Speaking Program for Language Teachers

  • $350

A Speaking Program for Language Teachers

  • Closed
  • Course
  • 48 Lessons

This program is a simulation of an asynchronous speaking program that online language teachers can run to reduce the number of hours they teach, create more flexibility for themselves and their clients and increase their business capacity beyond their immediate group of 1:1 clients.

All teachers immerse themselves in this format so they can promote, sell and run their own asynchronous programs with confidence.

The program is available for free for the Smart Teacher's Library members. Outside of the Library, the availability is tight. Remaining spots will be announced to the email subscribers only, in spring and fall.

The overview


If you’ve tried to move away from 1:1 lessons but found yourself spending too much time creating/checking assignments, giving too much feedback and struggling with your students’ motivation, maybe you decided that this format isn’t for you. Perhaps you tried selling your programs, but your students don't understand what it is and now you doubt you can explain it well.

What if you tried it again, not as a teacher but as a student? What if you worked with a group of other online language teachers, completed speaking prompts and got unlimited feedback from me, weekly?


If this sounds exciting, my speaking program is a great place for you.

"It feels more sustainable and worth it..."

Anne Haggerson, the exam prep instructor from Spain.

Who is this for?


  • Online language teachers who teach at least 10 1:1 lessons online weekly.
  • Teachers who are open to trying asynchronous teaching models.
  • Teachers who are working or want to work for themselves, not platforms.
  • Teachers who have tried asynchronous teaching formats but didn’t get good results.
  • Teachers who work with adults who need more speaking practice.
  • Online teachers who currently generate at least $10,000 a year in revenue from their online teaching business.

"During this week I will have 3 hours to myself!"

Chris Pontiroli, an English teacher from Argentina.

P.S. Chris has sold over 30 programs in a matter of months. That reduced her load by 100+ hours!

More details about the program

  • Dates: October 7 - November 6, 2025

  • A 4-week program to help you learn the asynchronous format from the inside.

  • 10 short audio lessons on how to run and market an asynchronous program + self-coaching tips.

  • 5 recorded Q&As from the past years.

  • 2 speaking prompts a week (for 3 weeks) focusing on your business (see below).

  • Unlimited feedback + audio coaching for the first 3 weeks of the program via Telegram.

  • Voice chats + group chat (we’ll be using Telegram app). 

  • A workbook with weekly prompts, templates and journaling spaces.

  • Unlimited access to the content of the program with permission to use the structure in your program. 

  • The 4th week’s focus on marketing and selling your program + reflections.

  • 1-hour group coaching session via zoom (+recording).

  • Marketing guide/checklist.


The theme of the program is Defining your Business Purpose. You will spend 4 weeks responding to prompts about your business, experiencing how an asynchronous speaking program works from the inside and getting unlimited feedback from me. Your daily time commitment is 15-25 minutes, 4-5 times a week (you can take weekends off!).


Note that all personal feedback will be sent through private messages, and generic announcements and reflections will be discussed in a group chat.

"I thought I knew everything about asynchronous learning..."

"My programs became less time-consuming."

“I decided to join this program because I wanted to improve and develop the way I run programs and make the asynchronous less time consuming for me, and at the same time, more worthwhile for my clients.
I liked the way the programme was structured and it gave me some good ideas to transfer to my own programs. I also clarified some aspects of my business thanks to the speaking prompts provided by Elena.” ~ Ermy Pedata from The Language Rose.


More feedback...

Well, hello!

I'm Elena Mutonono, and I help online language teachers make their work sustainable, which means I teach you how you can continue delivering your incredible services while spending less time in front of the screen or on prep.

I started training online language teachers how to work smarter back in 2016, and since then I've helped hundreds of teachers work less, make more money and spend more time doing what they love -- teaching and learning languages, practicing creativity and traveling!

I'm from Ukraine originally and am currently living in New Orleans where I spend most of the year enjoying vibrant food, chicory coffee and live jazz music outside rustic coffee shops, and 5 months surviving the unbearable humidity or escaping it altogether.

"I saw what it's like from the inside."


I first learnt about asynchronous programmes from Elena, so I was thrilled to join this program. Since then I had been curious about how a non 1:1 speaking program works, whether it's effective and how much feedback I should provide for my clients. Being in this program and doing it as a “student” myself helped me see it from the inside and understand its benefits. I was able to see how it frees up time for the teacher and gives the student more time and freedom to practise until they feel comfortable before submitting their task. The live Q&A session at the end of the programme helped clarify our questions.” ~ Elborg Nopp.

"Highly recommended."

“I joined this program because I wanted to learn more about how to run an asynchronous 1:1 speaking program. I joined with some questions in mind: how much feedback should I give to the student? How long should the recordings be? What benefits are there in terms of language learning? I found the answers to all these questions and now I know how to run a pedagogically sound program to help my clients. I also got a better insight into my business mission thanks to Elena’s speaking prompts and questions. I’d definitely recommend this program to online language teachers who want to move away from 1:1 and would like but feel intimidated by switching to a non 1:1 approach.” ~ Fabio Cerpelloni, a writer and the owner of a non-fiction book club.


Take a peek inside

FYI: Most of the content of the program is uploaded weekly. Before the program starts you only see the sections that are available upon joining.

Bonus section: How to Run and Sell an Asynchronous Program (an overview).

AP Lesson 1 A program or a course.m4a
AP Lesson 2 Main benefits of a program and who's it for.m4a
AP Lesson 3 Tiny steps theory and how it helps with motivation.m4a
AP Lesson 4 How to create a program.m4a
AP Lesson 5 How to sell a program.m4a
AP Lesson 6 Who to sell your first program to and why.m4a
AP Lesson 7 How to grow your audience faster.m4a
AP Lesson 8 The logistics of delivering a program.m4a
AP Lesson 9 Pricing your asynchronous program.m4a
AP Lesson 10 What to do after you run an asynchronous program.m4a
AP Lesson 11 Positioning and niching.m4a
AP Lesson 12 Values in business.m4a
Access recordings in a private channel on Telegram

What to expect

A quick introduction
Setting intentions for this program
Tools and resources
Weekly tasks
A copyright note
The timeline
Q&A sign up: Sunday, October 26, 2025.
Download the workbook + marketing guide (October/November 2025)
Join our group on Telegram (starts October 7, 2025)

Week 1: How my passions are reflected in my business.

Prompt 1
Inspiration for week 1: How great leaders inspire action
Week 1 prompt 1 passion and personality.m4a
Prompt 2
Week 1 prompt 2 3 most challenging things.m4a
BONUS: Download this program template

Week 2: How my values align with my business practices.

Prompt 1
Inspiration for week 2 aligning your values with practices
Prompt 1 (my sample) My top 3 values
Prompt 2
Prompt 2 (my sample): aligning values and practices

Week 3: The change I seek to make

Prompt 1
Inspiration for week 3: The change I seek to make
Prompt 1 (my sample) the change I seek to make
Prompt 2
More inspiration for week 3 (notice how tension is built)
Prompt 2 (my sample)

Week 4: How to market an asynchronous program

Sign up for the Q&A
A marketing plan
Q&A about running programs (fall 2022)
Q&A about running programs (spring 2023)
Q&A about running programs (fall 2023)
Q&A about running programs (spring 2024)
Q&A about running programs (fall 2024)
Q&A about running programs May 2025 (book clubs)
Q&A about launching programs October 2025

Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions people usually ask.

I just started teaching on italki/preply/verbling. Is this for me?

If you never taught online and are just learning the ropes, this is not for you. This program is for exhausted, burned-out teachers who primarily work 1:1 or in groups and have no idea how to make money if they're not in front of the screen. This program is also for teachers who tried launching courses but didn't succeed and now need to try out a format that's in between 1:1 and a self-study online course.

I ran a "smart program" once but it didn't work. Should I join this?

Absolutely. They program may not work the first time, but there're ways to fix it. This program will show to you how long the speaking prompts can be and what feedback sounds like. Not all programs "work" on the first time. Sometimes it helps to put yourself into your client's shoes.

How much time does it take a week?

Between 10-30 minutes a day, 2-3 times a week. You can always give it more time, but the goal is to practice in short increments throughout the week.

Can I do the program on my own?

No, this program runs at certain times throughout the year and you follow along with a group of teachers. I've chosen this format so everyone is on the same page and can experience how the program is structured, what the pace feels like, how big the assignments are, etc. Only join if you can participate weekly between October 17 and November 10. You don't have to be in front of the computer but you'll need your phone to follow along. All assignments will be posted inside the course dashboard and inside our Telegram group. After the program is over, you get access to all the materials and can revisit them at any time. But to experience what your clients will experience, you need to follow within a specific timeframe. 

I don't have the time!

Perfect. That's how many of your 1:1 students feel, and if you learn how to deliver your programs asynchronously, you'll be able to help them make progress with their language learning even if they practice 10 minutes a day. Seriously though, we all make time for what matters to us, and if you want to work sustainably, now is the best time to start!