What is italki?

italki is the leading online platform for personalized language learning that connects students with tutors for one-on-one lessons.

Since 2007, the platform has connected over 5 million learners with more than 20,000 teachers across 150+ languages.

The platform works differently from language learning apps. Instead of following pre-set lessons or gamified exercises, you work directly with a real person who adapts each lesson to your goals, corrects your mistakes in real time, and helps you practice speaking from day one.

You can find teachers for popular languages like Spanish, French, Japanese, and English, or less common ones like Icelandic, Swahili, and Tagalog.

italki uses a pay-as-you-go model with no subscriptions or long-term contracts. You choose tutors based on teaching style, availability, and price, then book lessons when it suits your schedule. Some learners stick with one tutor for years, while others explore different teachers to practice various accents or approaches.

Ready to become fluent in any language? Find your perfect match from qualified Spanish tutors, French tutors, Japanese tutors, English tutors and more.

How does italki work?

You create a free account, search for tutors by language and preferences, book a trial lesson, then meet your teacher via video for live practice.

Here’s the process:

1. Create your free italki account

Sign up takes less than two minutes. You can use email, Google, or Apple login.

2. Search for teachers

Use the Teacher Search page to browse tutors by language. Filter by price range, availability, whether they’re native speakers, and teaching style. Each teacher has an intro video where you can hear their accent and teaching approach.

3. Book a trial lesson

Most teachers offer discounted trial lessons, often 50% off their regular rate. This gives you a chance to see if their teaching style fits your learning goals before committing to regular lessons.

Trial lessons typically last 30 minutes, letting you test chemistry and approach without a big investment. You can book upto 3 trial lessons.

4. Meet your teacher

At your scheduled time, you’ll join via italki Classroom (the built-in video tool) or Zoom, depending on what you and your teacher prefer. Your lesson materials, chat history, and feedback all save to your account automatically.

5. Practice and progress

After your first lesson, you can book more sessions with the same teacher or try someone new. Many learners schedule weekly lessons and practice between sessions using the italki Community features.


What is italki used for?

Most learners use italki for conversational practice with native speakers, building confidence to use their target language in real situations.

Beyond general conversation, italki supports specific goals:

  • Exam preparation – Prepare for IELTS, TOEFL, DELE, JLPT, TOPIK, and other standardized tests.
  • Accent and pronunciation training – Work with tutors who identify and correct specific sounds.
  • Business or travel language – Learn vocabulary and phrases for professional contexts or upcoming trips.
  • Cultural understanding – Learn idioms, slang, customs, and and everyday culture directly from native speakers.
  • Language maintenance – Keep skills sharp when you can’t practice in daily life.

How do you book your first lesson on italki?

Search for teachers on the Teacher Search page, watch intro videos, read student reviews, then select a time slot and confirm your booking.

Step-by-step booking process:

  1. Go to the Teacher Search page and select your target language
  2. Apply filters: price range, availability, native speaker status, and lesson type
  3. Watch teacher intro videos to hear their accent and teaching approach
  4. Read reviews from other students to understand their teaching style
  5. Check the teacher’s calendar and pick an available time slot
  6. Choose your lesson length (30, 45, or 60 minutes)
  7. Select italki Classroom or Zoom as your video platform
  8. Purchase italki Credits if you haven’t already (more on this in the FAQ)
  9. Confirm your booking

You’ll receive an email confirmation and calendar invite. The lesson appears in your student dashboard where you can enter the Classroom at the scheduled time.

What to expect in your first lesson:

Your teacher will introduce themselves and ask about your learning goals. They’ll assess your current level through conversation, then explain how they can help you improve.

Most teachers ask what you want to focus on: conversation practice, grammar, pronunciation, or exam preparation. This helps them plan future lessons around your specific needs.

Don’t worry about being nervous. Teachers work with beginners every day and know how to make you comfortable.

What languages can you learn on italki?

You can learn 150+ languages on italki, from widely spoken languages like Spanish and English to less common ones like Icelandic and Tagalog.

Popular languages include:

  • Learn Spanish
  • Learn English
  • Learn French
  • Learn Japanese
  • Learn Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Other popular options include German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Less common languages are also available: Welsh, Yoruba, Farsi, Hindi, Swahili, Hebrew, and dozens more. If people speak it, you can probably find a teacher for it on italki.