Italki.com
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italki.com mainpage
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| Web address | www.italki.com |
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| Slogan | Become fluent in any language |
| Commercial? | Yes |
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Type of site
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Language Learning |
| Registration | Required for contacting members |
| Available in | English, Spanish, French, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Japanese, Arabic, Korean, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Bahasa (Indonesian), Swedish, Polish, Hindi, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese |
| Owner | italki HK Limited |
| Launched | December 2006 |
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Alexa rank
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 10,151 (April 2015[update])[1] |
| Current status | active |
italki is an educational technology website that helps foreign language learners connect with online teachers and native-speaking language partners. italki users are able to search for a freelance teacher, schedule and pay for language lessons. italki teachers are able to create a profile, and build a personal reputation. italki also produces a free online publication of language articles written by its staff of teachers around the world for additional reading and learning. italki articles are written in English, but targeted for people studying English, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic and Esperanto. The articles are generated by certified italki teachers and offers a more in-depth look into the writing, speaking, grammar, culture, history, and customs of a foreign language.
Contents
Concept
italki has features to support synchronous language learning. Membership on italki is free, but registration is required to contact other members. Payment is required to schedule lessons with online teachers.
Teacher Marketplace
Paying users on italki are able to take lessons from freelance online teachers. Teachers on italki are designed as "professional teachers" or "community tutors", the former having professional teaching experience or certifications. Both types of teachers are able to create a teacher profile, and set their own rates for payment.[2]
As teachers conclude lessons, they receive feedback and ratings from italki students.[3]
Most lessons take place on Skype or other VOIP systems. italki charges a 15% service fee for successful lesson transactions.
Social Language Learning
italki users are able to make friends for language exchange, ask questions about language learning, write essays and receive corrections, and enter into language discussions. These features depend on responses from native speakers that are also members of the italki community.
Development
italki was founded by American and Chinese entrepreneurs in 2007. italki is officially registered in Hong Kong, and there is a development center in Shanghai, China.[4]
In August 2012, italki completed a round of financing for an undisclosed amount from angel investors.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "italki.com brings language teaching to market," Ryan McLaughlin, CNet Asia, http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/thetechdynasty/post.htm?id=63009740, March 24, 2009
- ↑ "italki launches marketplace for language tutors," Camille Ricketts, VentureBeat, http://venturebeat.com/2009/03/25/italki-launches-marketplace-for-language-tutors/, March 25th, 2009
- ↑ italki | CrunchBase Profile
- ↑ "Six Years In, Language Learning Site Italki Finds Its Angels", Hamish Mackenzie, Pando Daily, http://pando.com/2012/08/09/six-years-in-language-learning-site-italki-finds-its-angels/, August 9, 2012.
