Summary
italki is an incredibly versatile and cost-effective platform for finding language tutors. With over 100 languages and a vast selection of teachers, learners can easily find a tutor that suits their learning style, schedule, and personality. Teachers have the freedom to set their own prices and schedules, making it a great option for both learners and educators.
Good
- There is a vast pool of teachers available, even for less commonly taught languages. You can easily find highly skilled teachers at affordable prices.
- The flexibility to schedule lessons at your convenience is a major advantage. With a large number of teachers to choose from, you are sure to find someone who can accommodate your schedule.
- The italki Community offers additional features such as the ability to ask questions, have your writing checked, and find a language exchange partner, making it a comprehensive language learning platform.
Bad
- The italki Community features are exclusively available through the app.
- It may take some trial and error to find a tutor that matches your learning style and personality.
- It can be tempting to skip classes, so it’s important to stay motivated and committed to your language learning goals.
Price
The cost of classes on italki depends on the teacher and language you choose, ranging from as low as $5 to as high as $60 per hour. However, most teachers charge around $10 per hour. Currently, italki is offering a $10 credit for first-time users.
beneficial for language learners, regardless of the language they’re studying. Typically, each language has its own unique resources that are specifically tailored to students of that language.
However, Italki is the exception to this rule.
Regardless of the language you’re studying, you’ll benefit from using Italki. You can find an online tutor for virtually any language you’re interested in learning, including some that you may have never heard of before. In almost every case, Italki is both the most affordable and convenient option for finding a teacher.
What is italki?
italki is essentially a platform that allows you to directly book language classes with tutors. On italki, you’ll discover a multitude of independent teachers offering a wide range of language classes. These teachers have the flexibility to set their own schedules, pricing, and bring their unique qualifications and experiences to the table, representing various corners of the globe.
A somewhat imperfect analogy might be to compare italki to Airbnb, while conventional language schools could be likened to traditional hotels.
italki itself doesn’t provide classes; it serves as a platform for teachers to offer and facilitate classes. Payments are processed through italki, and classes are typically conducted via Skype, although alternative options such as WeChat, FaceTime, and others are frequently available.
Languages and prices
italki stands out as a platform with an unmatched array of language teachers and an extensive list of languages being taught. To give you a glimpse of the incredible diversity of teachers available on italki, here are the numbers of teachers currently offering their services (at the time of writing) for various languages.
For Less Common Languages: Wolof? Xhosa? Yes, you can find a teacher on italki.
- English: 4680
- Spanish: 1916
- French: 834
- Mandarin: 855
- German: 501
- Portuguese: 389
- Korean: 230
- Greek: 76
- Romanian: 47
- Afrikaans: 36
- American Sign Language: 9
- Haitian Creole: 14
- Belarusian: 4
- Sinhala: 2
This list is by no means exhaustive. You can discover a teacher for over a hundred different languages, some of which you may not have encountered before.
The abundance of language teachers available on italki offers you an array of choices and the opportunity to be selective to a degree that might not be possible elsewhere. Whether you prefer your teacher to come from a specific country, fall within a certain age range, be a native speaker, or possess experience in teaching particular age groups, you can find the perfect fit on italki.
One of the key features of italki is that each teacher sets their own prices. As expected, this can result in substantial variations in the cost per lesson. For instance, in the case of Spanish, you can encounter a few teachers charging over $50 per hour. Fortunately, on the other end of the spectrum, there are currently 689 teachers offering their services for an attractive price range of $4 to $9 per hour.
The pricing structure also fluctuates based on the supply and demand for teachers of each language. Furthermore, teachers from economically developed countries will generally charge more than those from regions with fewer economic opportunities.
The extensive pool of teachers, each with their own schedules, makes it feasible to discover your ideal teacher and take online classes without breaking the bank.
What’s more, if your native language is something other than English, you’re likely to find a teacher who can instruct you in your target language while also being proficient in your native tongue.
I personally came to appreciate italki when I relocated to Beijing. I was on the hunt for classes to enhance my Mandarin skills, and I soon realized that taking online classes was more cost-effective than securing an in-person tutor.
This appreciation was further accentuated by the convenience of not needing to travel around the city for lessons. I could attend classes from the comfort of my home and arrange them at my utmost convenience.
Different types of teachers
italki offers two distinct types of teachers – Professional Teachers and Community Tutors.
Professional Teachers possess at least one of the following qualifications, verified by italki staff:
- Professional teaching experience in schools, universities, or language institutes.
- A university degree in education.
- A teaching certificate.
On the other hand, Community Tutors are typically either native speakers of the language they teach or possess an advanced level of proficiency in that language.
While it’s common, though not always the case, that professional teachers tend to be more expensive and have greater teaching experience, they are also more likely to provide additional materials and prepare lessons tailored to individual students.
On the other hand, community tutors are often a better choice if you’re primarily interested in casual conversation practice.
It’s worth noting that I’ve had classes with community tutors whom I found to be exceptionally skilled, sometimes surpassing the proficiency of certain professional teachers. These distinctions are essentially labels, and each teacher or tutor has their own unique strengths and qualities.
Choosing a teacher and scheduling classes
Before diving into selecting a teacher, I’d recommend taking a few moments to contemplate what your ideal language class would entail:
- Do you prefer a teacher who can explain concepts to you in your native language when you encounter difficulties?
- Is your focus on mastering specific grammar points?
- Are you more inclined towards casual conversation practice?
- Do you have particular materials you’d like to use?
- Are there any specific preferences or dislikes you have for your lessons?
There are no definitive right or wrong answers to these questions. Everyone’s preferences differ, and each individual’s ideal class will have its unique characteristics.
Once you’ve clarified what you’re seeking in a class, you can begin your search for the most suitable teacher for your needs.
However, due to the sheer number of teachers available, the task of choosing one can be somewhat overwhelming. Fortunately, italki offers several features to simplify the selection process.
You can view the teacher’s place of origin, which is helpful if you prefer to practice a specific regional variation of the language. For instance, if you’re planning a trip to Peru, practicing with a teacher who specializes in Peruvian Spanish might be more relevant.
You’ll also have access to information such as the number of lessons a teacher has conducted, their ratings, availability schedule, other languages they are proficient in, and both a video and a written introduction.
Clicking on a teacher’s profile takes you to a more detailed page where you can find additional information.
One valuable aspect I’ve discovered when selecting my teachers is reading through the reviews left by other students.
It’s relatively uncommon for individuals to leave negative reviews (as I can personally attest), but you can still gain insights into whether a teacher would be a good fit for you based on the feedback from others.
For instance, I’m not particularly fond of teachers who inundate me with excessive vocabulary or arrive with an inflexible lesson plan they refuse to deviate from. You can often spot comments from other students relating to these aspects in the review section.
It’s important to note that you could easily spend hours sifting through numerous teacher profiles in an attempt to find the perfect match for your language learning needs.
However, I strongly advise against doing so.
While you can gain some insight into whether a teacher might be a good fit for you, it’s nearly impossible to be certain until you’ve actually had a class with them. The positive news is that italki simplifies the process of trying out new teachers.
Most teachers on the platform offer a 30-minute trial class, often priced at half or even less than the cost of a regular lesson.
My recommendation is to schedule trial lessons with several different teachers initially and then continue with regular classes with one or two teachers who align best with your learning preferences.
As we progress, we’ll delve into the process of booking a lesson that accommodates your schedule.