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NOTE TO PODCAST MANIAC READERS:
For years, I've been telling blog readers about using free Spanish podcasts to learn Spanish. I still stand by that (you can check out the links at the bottom of this review). But input is no good without some output, meaning that you can't just keep CONSUMING Spanish content, you need to CREATE some, too. That's why I'm taking 1:1 Spanish lessons on italki, and I'm recommending it to you.
Y'all, I had a breakthrough in my Spanish journey recently. Like, a legitimate lightbulb moment regarding the Subjunctive tense.
I’m a native English speaker, so the Subjunctive doesn’t really exist in my brain. And although I’ve been studying Spanish for over 20 years, I’ve never been able to get over the hump when it came to the Subjunctive.
But my specific breakthrough is really not the point. The reason I’m writing to share this is because I had the breakthrough during a 1-on-1 class with a Spanish teacher from the language learning site italki.
The following is my honest review of italki. I've been using it for a little over a month now. When you sign up for an italki account using my link, and eventually spend $20.00 on paid lessons, italki will reward you with a $10.00 credit towards another lesson. Keep reading to learn how affordable and flexible italki is!
My italki Review
My husband started using italki over a year ago. Because we couldn’t travel to Spanish-speaking countries during the pandemic, he was starting to feel rusty. He needed to use his Spanish skills and speak out loud.
He had tried all the free “chat” apps that are intended to connect people who want to practice their language skills, but he just couldn’t find anyone who was reliable for a weekly meetup (not to mention people who weren’t completely self-conscious about speaking another language with a total stranger!). double that. Enter italki.
Signing up for italki is super easy: you can create a free account and there’s no requirement to pay for lessons. The free online platform and mobile app give you access to a huge community of people who are learning and teaching all kinds of languages (PRO TIP: set your web/app filter to Spanish!).
The best part: italki has Spanish podcasts built right in! This Podcast Maniac loves that feature! Some podcasts are italki original, while others are pulled in from the internet. The podcast description will tell you if the host speaks Mexican Spanish or Spain Spanish, etc.
Learning Spanish with italki
I’ve used the italki mobile app quite a bit just to poke around and see what’s new. There’s a sort of forum in which users can post questions about how to say something in Spanish, and italki’s Community Tutors (native speakers who help students through informal speaking or tutoring) and professional teachers will
answer with helpful details and explanations.
There are also built-in mini-quizzes and writing exercises, vocabulary building flashcards, and cultural info
about different countries.
Signing up with italki is EASY
Using the mobile app, you can even upload an audio clip of yourself speaking in Spanish and members of the community will give you feedback on everything from pronunciation to verb or word choices.
All of these features are fun (and free!), but when it comes right down to it, taking 1:1 lessons with a native speaker on italki is really where you'll start to see a difference in your Spanish level.
The ease of scheduling lessons is probably one of my favorite features about italki. You simply click on your teacher's profile and you can see all of their open class times. There are no back and forth emails to find a time that works for both of you. My teacher's time zone is 6 hours ahead of mine, so it's nice to log in whenever I want to see her availability.
Another thing I like about italki is that you can take your lessons via Zoom, Skype, or italki’s built-in virtual classroom. You just select your preference when scheduling your class.
I highly recommend italki as a way to practice speaking Spanish and getting feedback. And when you sign up for an italki account using my link, and you eventually spend $20.00 on paid lessons, italki will reward you with a $10.00 credit towards another lesson. That's a pretty great deal, considering some teachers charge as little as $7.00 per hour! It's a super affordable option to take classes from qualified, native speakers (who know all the cool slang, btw).
I hope you’ll feel inspired to jumpstart your Spanish with italki. I’d love to hear how it's worked for you, so don't forget to leave a comment below!
Don't forget to supplement your online Spanish lessons with these great Spanish podcasts:
Best Podcasts for Becoming Fluent in Spanish
Duolingo Spanish Podcast Review
Have you tried italki to learn a new language? Would you recommend italki for learning to speak Spanish? Post a comment below to recommend your methods for learning Spanish.