Italki Review

Of the many social networking websites created for language learning, Italki ranks among the top that I have come across. It is not the perfect solution for in-person communication, but there is something to be said about this type of learning.

In class, my group wrote this review:

Italki is a site for practicing the target language. From an initial glance, the site seems to have many active users, especially in the discussion boards and notebooks. There are many languages available to practice on this site, and users can also change the language used for instructions and layout. Users can build a profile, which allows them to upload pictures and share about their interests and backgrounds. Although there isn’t a strong speaking and/or listening component (as far as we could tell), there are many options for practicing reading and writing. By using personal tutors/instructors, finding friends, posting on discussion boards, chatting, and creating notebook entries learners can improve their language skills. However, the personal instructors and tutors require the user to pay a fee. In addition, users can buy tests and Skype sessions using Italki Credits (ITCs). Users can buy 10 ITCs for 1 USD. Prices of the features available vary substantially. Besides this feature, learners can access the site for free. Users can also provide feedback to other users who are trying to learn a language they know. It seems that the best use for this site is as a supplement to in-person instruction.