Are you looking for ways to learn the Japanese language? If yes, one of the learning opportunities you can consider is italki. But what is italki? How can it help you to learn Japanese? Is the platform worth the hype? These are some of the questions that will be answered in this article.

1. What is italki  Is italki any good?

Simply put, italki.com is a simple website that is dedicated to connecting language tutors to students. This language learning platform has numerous native-speaking tutors who are looking for people to teach their languages. In exchange for the language knowledge, the students have to pay learning fees. On italki, you can learn different languages such as English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and so on.

Notably, this online language learning site is based on one-on-one teaching. Hence, you will be in direct contact with your teacher throughout the lesson.

This platform was established in 2007 and has been growing in the number of tutors and students. Currently, this online learning platform has more than 5 million individuals that are learning one or more languages. Also, there are more than 10,000 professional teachers with a wide range of language proficiency and experience.

On italki, you can learn from two types of teachers:

1. Professional teachers

Professional teachers are individuals that have been verified by the staff of italki to have professional teaching experiences in a language institute, school, or university. Also, a professional teacher might have obtained a university degree in education or a teaching certificate. Professional teachers tend to be better at helping students to master the Japanese language. However, many of them charge more than the other type of teachers.

2. Community tutors

Generally, these are native speakers or individuals with a great understanding of a particular language. Although they are more affordable, most of them don’t offer the same level of experience and learning resources that you can get from professional teachers.

However, the caveat is that community tutors are usually better for individuals that want to learn how to have casual conversations. In fact, some community tutors are more skilled than a few professional teachers.

To make learning comfortable for the students, italki.com comes with some nice features. These features include:

• Teacher intro video

Since there are numerous teachers on italki, it can be quite challenging for a student to select one. Luckily, this online platform enables the teachers to introduce themselves through videos. Students can watch the intro videos of different teachers to decide the teacher they want to work with.

If you are learning Japanese, you should focus on the teachers’ dictions in English and Japanese. This helps you to note whether you will be comfortable with using the teachers’ services.

• My Teachers

After using the services of a teacher, you can decide to add him/her to your favorite teacher’s list. Whenever you are back on italki, the teacher’s name will be listed on a block for you. With this, you can quickly rehire any teacher you enjoyed learning from in the past.

• Availability calendar

Another important feature of italki is its availability calendar. This calendar helps you to learn about the availability of a particular teacher without contacting them directly. If you are available when the teacher is available, you can schedule a lesson and start learning Japanese.

• Lesson info and ratings

How do you know whether a teacher or a language lesson is good or not? You have to check the lesson info and ratings. The rating is done on a five-star scale. A teacher will a high rating is likely better than another with a lower rating.

However, you should also consider the lesson information. The lesson info will let you know the number of students and lessons that have been rendered by a teacher. This can also give you an aggregate experience of all students taught by the tutor.

2. Is italki good for learning Japanese?

After learning about what italki is, it is important to know whether it is good for learning the Japanese language or not. Foremost, this depends largely on your preferred teacher. However, since you will be tutored directly by a native Japanese speaker, it is almost certain that your learning will be exceptional.

Lots of Japanese teachers on italki have a good command of the English language. Hence, you will not have any issue with understanding what they are saying or trying to explain to you. Similarly, you can explain what you want to say or learn to them since they understand English. Being native speakers, Japanese tutors on italki can also assist you to understand the culture of Japan and find real-life examples from the comfort of your home.

If you want to self-study and improve your conversational Japanese without living in Japan, italki is a good place for learning Japanese. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t hesitate to shop around the platform for a Japanese tutor. Don’t just settle for any teacher; take the time to look for the best one at affordable fees.

3. Is italki worth it for JLPT?

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the #1 test for evaluating a person’s understanding of the Japanese language. This test is often conducted in Japan and several other countries around the world. If you are planning to take the test, you may want to know if italki is worth it.

Again, there is no straightforward answer to this question. Everything depends on your selected teacher. Generally, italki will just allow you to meet tutors that can teach you the Japanese language. Your selected tutor will show you the basics of the language, correct your mistakes, and help you to learn different aspects of the language. Unfortunately, this may not be enough to pass any level of the JLPT.

However, some teachers on italki focus mainly on teaching students to pass various JLPT levels. Such teachers will use different JLPT prep books that will touch the specific areas you need to pass the test. Therefore, if you are using such tutors, italki will be likely good for taking JLPT.

So, if you want to use italki to pass JLPT, you should look for teachers that focus on teaching students to pass JLPT. Check the ratings and comments of the previous students of such tutors. With due diligence, italki will be worth it for JLPT.

4. Is Italki reliable Pros and cons

Below, we will take a closer look at the pros and cons of using italki.com to learn Japanese.

Pros

Here are the good things about using italki:

1. It is easy to use

When it comes to learning Japanese or another language via italki, you don’t need any experience or expertise. Even novices can register on the online platform, get credits, find a teacher, and start learning Japanese. There is no complication with the process of using the site or scheduling a class with any available teacher.

2. You can choose any teacher you want

If you are attending a physical class with other students, you usually cannot select the teacher you want. So, even if a teacher doesn’t seem engaging to you or continues to ask you irrelevant questions, you may not be able to do away with them. However, the reverse is the case with italki. 

On this online learning platform, you can choose the specific tutor you want. But if you have any issue with learning from the teacher, you can stop learning with them immediately. Besides, you are allowed to research different Japanese tutors before selecting one. As a consequence of this, you are in total control of your learning experience on italki.

3. You can enjoy a shorter trial lesson

On italki, most of the Japanese teachers provide free short trial lessons. Others don’t offer free trial lessons but provide a short trial lesson at a relatively cheaper price. For instance, if the normal 1-hour session of a tutor is $20, you can get a trial lesson for only $5. 

The essence of these lessons is to help you to have an idea of what it feels like to learn from a teacher. Using the trial lessons, you can decide whether you want to learn Japanese from a particular teacher or not. Besides, these trial lessons can save you lots of time when you are still looking for a tutor on italki.

4. You will learn from a native Japanese speaker

When learning Japanese from a textbook, the textbook grammar will likely look unfamiliar to you. This can make the learning process frustrating, discouraging, and time-consuming. Fortunately, italki solves this problem by connecting you with native Japanese speakers.

Rather than reading difficult-to-understand textbooks, you will talk directly with the teachers. The conversations with your teachers will make you adjust quickly and learn the language as quickly as possible. Without a doubt, italki will cover the areas where your Japanese textbooks have failed.

5. It is convenient

Do you have a busy schedule but still want to learn the Japanese language? Well, learning in a physical class alone or with other students may not work for you. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn Japanese. Take advantage of italki to schedule Japanese lessons at periods that are convenient for you. This doesn’t only help you to make the most of the lesson fees, but it also assists you to learn at your desired speed.

6. It is affordable

Unless you have tons of money to spend, affordability is an important factor to consider when learning Japanese. The majority of the tutors on italki don’t charge exorbitant fees to teach the Japanese language. When compared to offline Japanese tutors, you will likely pay less to learn Japanese through this online learning platform. Hence, you cannot use money as an excuse when it comes to using italki. 

In addition to the affordability of the fees, each learner can decide how often they want to take lessons. Therefore, you are not under any pressure to learn Japanese when you are not financially buoyant. However, you should try to learn frequently to improve your understanding of the language.

7. It is customized to suit each user’s needs

Although there are millions of users on this online learning platform, this doesn’t take away its individuality. In other words, the site has been designed to tailor its services to suit your specific needs. You can schedule one-on-one classes and get a personalized learning experience. There is hardly any online platform with such amazing offers.

8. It has a community for learners

As you are learning Japanese on italki, you can also use the italki Community. This community is meant for the members of italki to improve their understanding of any language they are learning. You can ask questions and also find people to correct your writing.

The italki Community has different tabs. One of the tabs is “Discover”, which is for you to check out different content provided by italki teachers, learners, etc. Similarly, look at the “For You” section to see various posts and topics that may be of interest to you. You can learn about languages and other topics like cities, books, food, and lots more.

Unfortunately, some of the features of the community are only available to those using the mobile app. So, you should download the app to maximize your experience.

9. It allows you to find language exchange partners

Are you looking for a partner to share your learning experience with? Then, you should consider finding a language exchange partner on italki. This is entirely free and can help you to master Japanese.

Cons

Despite the good things about italki, the site has its downsides. Check out the following cons of learning Japanese via italki:

1. Some teachers are not just good enough

Every Japanese teacher on italki claims to be the best you can ever get, but this is far from the reality. In other words, some teachers are not just good enough to help you to learn Japanese. This could be because of so many reasons. Foremost, some tutors have a poor command of the English language; hence, they will struggle to communicate with you.

Similarly, some teachers are always looking for ways to cut corners. This means that they will not dedicate enough time to teach you what you want. A few teachers may have an outdated and boring teaching method that will make you lose interest in learning Japanese. Others may just be overpriced or too rigid.

However, teacher intro videos and ratings can give you an idea of what it feels like to learn from some tutors.

2. Availability of the teachers may be a problem

After checking the introduction videos and ratings of some teachers, you may find out that they are the best. Of course, you want to use the services of such teachers, but you may not be able to do so. Why? This is because such tutors are rarely available. As expected, other students would have booked the teacher; hence, you may not even get a chance to learn from the best teachers. In fact, some of the best teachers could have been booked for several months.

As a result of this, you may have to settle for one of the average Japanese teachers on the online learning platform. So, you should be mindful of this reality when you are trying to find tutors.

3. There may be a disconnect

Basically, the Japanese language is quite complicated. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that learning the language can be somewhat limiting. In other words, you may not have an in-depth understanding of the language when learning via italki or other online platforms. Learning kanji, hiragana, or katakana characters, mastering the vocabulary, etc. can be quite difficult.

Also, poor internet connection, sound or video issues, etc. may lead to some technical difficulties for you and/or the tutor. You may even struggle to see the things written on the board by your teacher. All these factors can lead to a disconnect in your learning experience. Factually, they may discourage you from continuing to learn Japanese on italki.

4. The learning structure may be a big issue

To learn Japanese, you need to have a detailed structure of the language. This structure should cover the most important Japanese writing system, vocabulary, grammar, etc. Unfortunately, some tutors on italki don’t have a comprehensive structure that can help students. As a result of this, a student may struggle with understanding the lessons.

At the start of your learning process, you can deal with this issue by going for a tutor that teaches with Genki 1, 2 or any other well-structured Japanese textbooks.

5. You may struggle to connect with a tutor

Regardless of the experience or skill of a teacher, you may not connect with them. This could be because of the personality or teaching style of the tutor. Therefore, you may need to try out a couple of teachers before settling for one.

6. You cannot get a refund

In general, italki uses a credit-based system. That is, you will buy credits and use them to join any class of your choice. Unfortunately, once you have bought the credits, they cannot be converted to cash. Resultantly, it is not possible to get a refund. 

Therefore, your fund is kept with italki forever. It is either you use the credits or just forget about them. You are advised to buy only the credits you need at any particular time. So, if you don’t want to continue using the platform, you won’t need to worry about your money.

5. How much does a Japanese tutor cost?

To learn Japanese on italki, you need to find a Japanese tutor. So, how much will it cost you to use the service of a Japanese tutor? It is worthwhile to understand that different Japanese tutors have varying rates. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all cost for a Japanese tutor.

Generally, the charges are based on an hourly rate. On italki, some Japanese tutors can charge as low as $5 or $10 for one hour. On the same platform, you may find teachers that will charge you around $15, $20 or $40. However, some of the best and most sought-after teachers may charge more per hour.

Before paying any teacher, check out their introduction video and ratings to be certain of what you are paying for. Always remember that you cannot get a refund of your money on italki. Therefore, you must be careful when selecting any teacher.

Therefore, the exact amount you are going for working with a Japanese tutor depends on who you are working with. Nonetheless, if you are struggling with finding an affordable Japanese tutor on this online learning platform, you should hesitate to use the filter options to find tutors according to their charges.

6. How to find JLPT Tutor on italki

If you are preparing for any level of JLPT and want to find a suitable tutor on italki, the process is quite straightforward. To look for a JLPT teacher, you have to visit the site and select “Japanese” as the language you want to learn. Then, you should hit the “Category” tab. On the next interface, you will be given a chance to search for Japanese tutors that suit your needs.

Here, you should click the “Test Preparation” option. Once clicked, just tap “JLPT” and choose “Apply” to start your search. You will be shown the tutors that can help you to prepare for JLPT.

You can also search for tutors based on the times and days that fit your particular preferences. When going through the profiles of the teachers, you need to pay attention to their major areas of concentration. In the introduction video, any tutor that is into JLPT lessons will specify it.

Afterward, you should schedule a lesson with the preferred teacher and start learning Japanese.

In a nutshell, italki is an astounding online learning platform for different individuals. You can learn Japanese on this website without much stress. Although italki has numerous pros, it comes with certain cons that may have adverse impacts on your learning experience. Overall, you should not hesitate to try out this learning website and see how it can assist you.