When it launched, italki was a game-changer in online learning. Tell us about italki and its mission.
The idea behind italki is that we can use technology to create the kind of immersive experience you get from living or studying abroad. Instead of having to fly somewhere to learn a language, you can use video chat to connect with people around the world online and learn from each other. A lot of technology is about replacing people, but italki is all about connecting people. Ultimately, that’s the only thing that’s going to get you fluent. With italki, we’re also applying the concepts of social networking and marketplaces to the language learning process.
How has the pandemic impacted online learning with italki?
The New Normal – COVID forced the world to experience a totally online life, which accelerated the adoption of online technologies in every industry. The idea that people can learn with teachers online is no longer a strange idea — it’s now normal.
Smart Solutions – At italki, we’ve seen tremendous growth. In an environment where people couldn’t go to school, we were a place where people could continue to learn. In a time when some teachers couldn’t work, we were another source of income. A lot of people also saw the pandemic as an opportunity to change their lifestyle and achieve their goals — like learning a language.
What are the advantages of online learning with italki?
Geography and Access – There is no reason to require that a language teacher should conveniently be living in a location near you. With italki, you can get a great teacher for any language to teach you from anywhere.
Flexibility – With online learning, a student can learn in any place at any time. You can be at home or at work. You can learn on the weekend, at night, in the morning, or at lunch. So long as you have an internet connection, you can be connected to the world.
Personalization – Perhaps you want a teacher who is focused on grammar or a teacher that shares your love of sports. The world is a huge place, and italki has a teacher who can help you learn. This personalization is a key element in how education is changing.
Efficiency and Motivation – A study with the City University of New York concluded that italki was the most efficient method they tested for language learning. Additionally, italki motivated the participants: 98% enjoyed learning with teachers so much that they planned to keep learning after the study.
Cultural Connection – italki helps people connect, understand different perspectives, and learn about other cultures.
Where do you see online learning going next?
Education Growth – I think we’ll see education become a growing proportion of people’s time and investment. Education is a critical differentiator for productivity, income mobility, and health and life outcomes.
Globalization – Being able to communicate is a critical skill in the global economy, and this will extend beyond English to other world languages.
Data Insights – I see education and technology becoming more integrated, with data being used for real insights to help people learn faster, make more progress, enjoy the process, and avoid low-efficiency methods.
What’s next for italki?
Growth – We’re expanding around the world and reaching more people. We believe many people in the world still have never tried an online lesson with a live teacher or spoken with a language partner in another country. Our aim is to change that.
Innovating – We are continuing to build features that make italki the best platform around, including our improved italki Classroom plus new tools that take lessons to the next level. All of this will build into a more comprehensive language learning experience that will help more students succeed in their journey to fluency.
