Why I Enjoy Teaching On Italki

     I first joined Italki in 2017, not knowing what to expect. I had never taught online before, preferring to teach in person. Although I taught English, the majority of my in-person students were studying calculus and statistics. English students constituted less than a quarter of teaching time. 

     After I applied and was accepted as an Italki teacher, teaching English online replaced in-person teaching and became my main source of students. I averaged 3-4 students per day, mainly advanced students looking for conversational practice. What I like so much about Italki’s platform is its freedom. Not only can I set my own rates, lessons, and schedule, but I can also choose my preferred online venue. Skype was my preference at the time, but now I feel equally comfortable with both Skype and Zoom. Italki now has its own online venue called Italki Classroom, equipped with numerous tools to assist teachers and students. 

     I really like the ability to design my own classes and curricula. I currently offer 2 structured courses with personalized lesson plans and 2 conversational courses. One of my two structured courses is a traditional English course geared more towards beginner and intermediate students. I also offer a structured English-Language literature course with an emphasis on critical understanding. My conversational courses are similar. One is just a general conversation course designed to encourage speaking. The other is called “virtual coffeehouse” and tries to create the feeling of being in an intimate coffeehouse setting, discussing world events and other in-depth topics. This last course also encourages students to bring guests allowing for more discussion. I serve as moderator, ensuring the constant flow of English conversation. Italki allows teachers to create up to 6 courses, though I usually only offer 4 at a time. 

     Teachers also can offer lower-priced trial lessons so potential students can try out different teachers before settling on one. As I mentioned earlier, Italki lets teachers set their own schedules. You can choose to teach when it is most convenient. There is also the option to make yourself available for “instant lessons”. These lessons begin 5 minutes after you accept a lesson request from a student. 

     I would definitely recommend Italki to both teachers AND students due to its simple interface and variety of options for everyone.