Your next class countdown, time zones and the 12-hour clock
While you're signed in, a bar under the menu at the top of every page counts down to your next class.
The countdown bar
- It shows the class starting soonest in the next 7 days: who it's with, its day and time, and Starts in with the time left.
- From 10 minutes before the class, the button changes to Join now and takes you straight into the class. While the class is running, the bar says Live now.
- Before that, View opens My classes (teachers: your dashboard).
- Press × to hide the bar for that class. It comes back for your next class, or when you open the site again.
- It doesn't show inside the classroom, at checkout, or during the placement test or the OTO English Assessment.
Teachers see their next class, 1-to-1 or group, with the learner's name or the group's name.
Parents see the soonest class of any of their children, with the child's name. Open family page takes you to the family page, where you choose your child to join.
Which time zone the times are in
Every class time tells you its time zone, for example "Wednesday 4 November, 3:00 PM (Cairo time)".
- Learners see class times in their own time zone, set from their browser at their first visit. Contact our support team if it is wrong.
- Teachers and parents see class times in Cairo time.
- Account › Time and date shows the time zone your times are in.
12-hour or 24-hour clock
Times are shown in the 12-hour clock with AM and PM (3:00 PM) unless you choose otherwise. To change it, open Account settings › Time and date › Clock and choose 24-hour (15:00). Your choice is saved to your account, so it applies on every device, in your calendar, notifications and emails.
Updated 2026-11-01