iTalki is a language learning platform that connects you with another real-life person to help you learn a language. If your goal with language learning is to communicate with others, then this is the platform you need to gain confidence speaking in another language.
What is the iTalki Platform?
iTalki is a language learning platform that helps you connect with a native speaker or an expert in your target language. Sessions can range from 30 minutes to an hour and are typically held over Skype or Google Hangouts and they are one on one. Unlike other language learning tools, this is not an app where you go through drills. You are actually speaking to a real human who can help you along your language learning journey.
How does it work?
You make an account, look through teacher profiles, add some funds, and then book a lesson. You and your instructor then meet on a video platform such as Google Hangouts or Skype. Once the lesson is complete, iTalki asks you to confirm that the lesson took place.
I have only used the platform for Spanish and there are a lot of instructors to choose from. It can be overwhelming at first but keep in mind that the lessons aren’t that expensive and you will likely have to go through a few teachers until you find someone you enjoy working with.
Sessions can be booked one at a time so there is no long-term commitment. If you don’t like the person you connected with, then you don’t have to meet again. It’s nice to be able to try classes with a variety of people until you find one that you really like.
My Experience with the Platform
I love this platform because they have made it effortless to connect with a native Spanish speaker. I went to a Spanish immersion school growing up and now I have been looking for ways to retain my fluency while living in the United States. Finding resources for advanced speakers can be challenging. For a while I was using travel to keep me motivated to learn but that becomes expensive and then wasn’t a possibility during the pandemic.
The economics are also very favorable with the iTalki platform. You can find classes for $5 an hour and sometimes even less. The person I talk to charges $8 an hour. I think it’s pretty incredible to have a personalized and live conversation with a native Spanish speaker from home for $8 an hour.
The hardest part for me was booking my first lesson. I kept putting it off because it sounds like it can be an awkward experience. There is also an element of vulnerability because you will be making a lot of mistakes and nobody likes to be judged. However, I have spoken with about five different people and they have all been extremely nice and forgiving. They are very encouraging and welcome mistakes. They are very grateful that you have decided to learn your language and make you feel very comfortable.
Talking to an actual person rather than using an app or using a book has a ton of advantages:
- Start speaking in your target language. The only way to get better at speaking is to speak. While Duolingo is fun to use, it won’t make you a better conversationalist.
- Getting over your fear of making mistakes. Mistakes happen all the time. I’m fairly fluent at speaking Spanish and I make a ton of mistakes. Mistakes can feel embarrassing and you have to get over the fact that they will happen. The opportunity to make mistakes should not prevent you from doing anything.
You can connect with two types of teachers on iTalki. The first is a community tutor who is a native speaker or an advanced speaker. They are the most cost-effective. The other teacher type is a professional teacher who is someone who is a certified language instructor.
Community Tutors
Community tutors are native or advanced speakers. They are generally less expensive than professional teachers. I booked a trial lesson for $2 and most you can book for around $5 for 30 minutes.
Community teachers are great for general conversation practice with a native speaker. If you want to skip the grammar exercising and just have a regular conversation, this is a great option.
Tutors are also great for connecting with someone in a specific country to just learn more about the country and culture. Since Spanish is spoken primarily in 20 countries, I can filter for a speaker in Colombia, for example, if I am interested in learning more about it.
The tutors I’ve spoken with typically don’t have advanced grammar knowledge so don’t expect them to help you with your homework. Look to professional teachers for that help.
Professional Teachers
Professional teachers are more expensive but you get a lot more value. The biggest difference is that you can just show up to a lesson and they will guide you through a conversation or a topic of interest. With tutors, you may have to do more work prepping for the lesson to get the most out of it.
Professional teachers can help with specific areas of focus like using Spanish for work. That was my primary motivation for choosing them for my lessons. They can also give you really detailed feedback when making a mistake. If you conjugate a verb incorrectly, they can tell you what you did wrong and give you good examples of how to express what you wanted to say. It’s a really quick feedback loop and it is a personalized way to learn a language fast.
Professional teachers will are also better at spotting your mistakes and providing the correction. Another reason why a live person makes learning a language very efficient – the feedback loop is immediate.
Final Thoughts
Language learning apps can be a great way to get started when you are an absolute beginner. However, after a few weeks or months, you should be ready to take the next step into conversing in another language. iTalki needs to be in your tool belt for language learning.