One year on Italki: A review from a Spanish teacher

It’s been almost a year on Italki. And It’s been nothing but a great experience.

I wouldn’t have thought there’s a way of teaching just like that. So easy, comprehensive, personal and international. I’ve been working as a teacher for a year, and I always felt that there was something missing in the classroom. How could I guide my student to a better learning if I had other 8 people waiting for me to finish? I ended up just telling how the Indefinido form of the past works, and then correcting drills. Being able to speak a language is a skill, and it needs to be learnt by practice, as you learn how to ride your bike. That model didn’t work for me.

Finally, I decided to try Italki, and it was worth it. The experience is much more similar to a real speaking practice, and the student gets to talk to me and I get to teach them what they need to know about grammar, vocab, etc. Better for both the student and the teacher.

In addition, Skype conversation is a very native-like experience – ask to all my relatives back there in Spain! If I got my mom to use Skype, you can do it for sure!

What I love from Italki:

• Diversity: The excitement of knowing a new student. She can be from anywhere, any kind of background, student, worker, young or old… It’s super rich and interesting for me.
• Convenience: I can work with students from America, Germany, Australia and Rusia the same day. That’d be impossible for face-to-face private lessons. And they get to have lessons from home or their workplace!
• Easiness: everything is set up. You just have to register, pick up a teacher, buy your credits and start learning. It’s easy for teachers too.
• Community: probably the best aspect. There’s a huge community of language learners and lovers willing to help you out and improve their and your language ability. Both in the form of conversation partners or community answers, they’re there for you. In zero schools in the world, there’s this diversity. Just great.

What I don’t love from Italki:

• Scheduling process: Sometimes hard to manage, especially when making last time changes or bookings.
• Learning materials: Italki doesn’t have any learning process record, or activities or tests, which you can record your learning with. A good learning software will make the learning process much easier and unified.

Where are my students from?

Last word

Italki is a very dynamic community, continuously growing and with great future. If you want to make a move in your language learning, spend some dollars in any of the professionals that will help you at home.

Teachers like me are available 24/7 in Italki. Half the price than in “real life”. Go ahead and try this link four your first free Italki credits!