10 Tips for Having a Productive Italki Conversation Lesson

If you're considering the popular language learning platform Italki, this article is for you. And if you're already using Italki, here are some tips to enhance your lessons.

1. Have Topics Ready: Feel free to lead the conversation by picking topics and questions. This helps steer the lesson in directions that interest you, especially useful since not all tutors have a wide range of topics ready.

2. Bring Some Questions With You: Now is the perfect time to ask any questions you've been pondering. Whether they've been floating around in your head or noted down in an old notebook, don't hesitate to bring them to your lesson.

3. Bring a Pencil With You (or an Empty Google Document): Note-taking is crucial. Write down new words, phrases, or explanations your teacher provides for later review. If you have me as your teacher I will take the notes for you. 😀

4. Pay Attention to Pronunciation: Conversations with native speakers are golden opportunities to improve your pronunciation. Take advantage of this and ask for feedback on your pronunciation when you’re unsure.

5. Ask Questions: Embrace the mindset that there's always something new to learn. You can’t learn anything that you think you already know. If you have doubts or don't understand something, just ask.

6. Don't Try to Show Off - Use New Words, See How It Goes: Practice is better than perfection. This is your chance to try out new words and grammar structures. If you want to focus on certain areas, let your tutor know ahead of time and they can help you so much more than if you only ask them in the moment.

7. Don't Pretend You Understand if You Really Don't: It's crucial to be honest about your comprehension. Ask for clarification when you hear new words, and don't be shy to ask your tutor to speak slower or to use simpler words.

8. Have a Goal and Tell It to Your Tutor: Before starting your lessons, define why you're taking them and set realistic, incremental goals. Share these objectives with your tutor to ensure the lessons are tailored to your aspirations. This not only provides you with a clear direction but also enables your tutor to prepare material that aligns with your goals, making each lesson more focused and productive.

9. Make a Plan With Your Tutor and If They Don't Seem Eager Find a New Tutor: Collaboration is key. Work with your tutor to develop a structured plan for your lessons. If your tutor isn't interested in planning with you, it might be time to look for someone more aligned with your learning style. A dedicated tutor should be as invested in your progress as you are, offering structured guidance and adapting to your learning needs.

10. Tell Them if You Want to Talk About a Specific Topic and Feel Free to Change the Subject as You Wish: Your interests should guide the lessons. Don't hesitate to introduce new topics or shift the conversation to areas you're curious about,or you can just ask the tutor to do this part for you 😀. This keeps the lessons engaging and ensures you're learning about things that genuinely interest you. Moreover, it can help simulate real-life conversations, where the ability to navigate different subjects fluently is invaluable.

By following these tips, you can maximize the productivity of your Italki conversation lessons, making each session a stepping stone towards fluency.