Italki
| File:Italki logo 2017 3200x2025.png | |
| Available in | Multilingual
|
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
| Founder(s) | Kevin Chen, Yongyue Jiang |
| Industry | Language Learning |
| URL | www.italki.com |
| Launched | 2007 |
| Current status | active |
italki /ˈaɪtɔːki/ is an online language learning website which connects language learners and teachers through video chat. The site allows students to find online teachers for 1-on-1 tutoring, and teachers to earn money as freelance tutors.[2]
One can choose online language lessons taught by a professional teacher, who provides structured learning plans, or a community tutor. [3] Students may also use it as a platform for mutual language exchange.[4]
History
In 2007, Kevin Chen and Yongyue Jiang cofounded italki as an online language exchange community.[5][6] At the start, the site was focused on building free features for the community.[7][8][9] In 2009, the site launched its teacher marketplace, allowing teachers to earn money by providing online tutoring services.[10][11] Teachers on italki set their own price and time schedule.[12]
In 2012, italki raised angel funding from independent investors.[13][14] In 2016, italki raised $3 million from Hujiang, a Baidu-invested Chinese education company with over 100 million users.[15][16][17][18]
As of July 2017, italki has more than 3 million users from more than 100 countries, and 5000 teachers.[19][20][21] English is the most popular language being studied, followed by Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. The site offers more than 100 languages,[22] including endangered ones such as South African Xhosa.[23]
See also
- Language education
- Online education
- Community language learning
- Online platforms for collaborative consumption
References
- ^ "italki.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ "Online alternatives to language classrooms open up to students," Nik Peachey, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jul/05/online-english-language-learning-peachey, July 5th, 2011
- ^ https://support.italki.com/hc/en-us/articles/206352758-What-is-the-difference-between-a-Professional-Teacher-and-a-Community-Tutor-
- ^ https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-strangers-helping-each-other-learn-a-new-language-via-whatsapp
- ^ "italki.com Free Skype VoIP and IM Language Partner Community," Freelanguage.org, https://freelanguage.org/learn/italki-com-free-skype-voip-and-im-language-partner-community, 2007
- ^ "Redes Sociales Para Aprender Idiomas" [Social Networks For Language Learning] (in Spanish). El Pais. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "Social networking sites take language learning out of classroom". South China Morning Post. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
- ^ "How to Successfully Learn a New Language This Year," Benny Lewis, Lifehacker, https://lifehacker.com/5974670/how-to-successfully-learn-a-new-language-this-year/, October 1st, 2010
- ^ “Secrets of Learning a language - quickly,” Benny Lewis, BBC, http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20150225-secrets-to-learning-a-language, March 3rd, 2015
- ^ “italki launches marketplace for language tutors," Camille Ricketts, VentureBeat, https://venturebeat.com/2009/03/25/italki-launches-marketplace-for-language-tutors/, March 25th, 2009
- ^ "Professores deixam salas de aulas para ensinar línguas online" [Teachers Leave Classrooms to Teach Languages Online] (in Portuguese). Diario de Noticias. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "6 Legit Ways to Make Money From Home That You’ve Never Heard Of,” Bob Lotich, HuffingtonPost, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-lotich/6-legit-ways-to-make-mone_b_4638907.html, January 25th, 2014
- ^ “Language Learning Marketplace italki Gets Seed Funding,” Steven Millward, Tech in Asia, https://www.techinasia.com/italki-seed-funding/, August 3rd, 2012
- ^ “Six Years In, Language Learning Site Italki Finds Its Angels,” Hamish Mckenzie, Pando, https://pando.com/2012/08/09/six-years-in-language-learning-site-italki-finds-its-angels/, August 9th, 2012
- ^ “Shanghai-based startup italki raises US$3M to help Chinese students find language tutors,” Yon Heong Tung, e27, https://e27.co/this-shanghai-based-startup-has-raised-us3m-to-help-chinese-students-find-language-tutors-20160624/, June 24th, 2016
- ^ “China: Hujiang invests $3m in ed-tech startup Italki,” Anirvan Ghosh, Deal Street Asia, https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/45301-45301/, June 23rd, 2016
- ^ “China’s Learning Site Hujiang Now Has Over 100M users,” technews.co, TechNews, http://technews.co/2016/01/14/chinas-learning-site-hujiang-now-has-over-100m-users/, January 14th, 2016
- ^ “China Minsheng Investment Joins $157M Series D Round In hujiang.Com," chinamoneynetwork.com, China Money Network, https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2015/10/29/hina-group-joins-157m-series-d-round-in-hujiang-com, October 29th, 2015
- ^ “The 10 best language products,” Samuel Muston, Independent, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/further/the-10-best-language-products-7729087.html, May 9th, 2012
- ^ “ITALKI: THE HUMAN CONNECTION, pglsinc.com, PGLS, https://pglsinc.com/2017/07/17/italki-the-human-connection/, July 17th, 2017
- ^ “italki Kevin Chen：做语言学习的“淘宝”, 陆家嘴, Sina, http://finance.sina.com.cn/money/lczx/2017-07-13/details-ifyiakwa3999680.shtml, July 13th, 2017
- ^ "I signed up for an Italki account to see why it's a leading platform for online language learning",Connie Chen, Business Insider,http://www.businessinsider.com/italki-how-to-learn-a-new-language-online-2017-9, September 26, 2017
- ^ ”Shanghai-based startup italki raises US$3M to help Chinese students find language tutors,” Yon Heong Tung, e27, https://e27.co/this-shanghai-based-startup-has-raised-us3m-to-help-chinese-students-find-language-tutors-20160624/, June 24th, 2016