Still need help?

We're still improving the teaching platform, and we're really interested in getting your feedback.

How much do lessons cost? And what are free trials?

Teachers on italki set their own prices. The prices are always set on a italki credit per hour (ITC / hour) basis. Therefore, if you agree to a 2 hour lesson, the cost of the entire session will be 2 x the hourly rate.

Many teachers are happy to offer a free trial. If you want a free trial, make sure you ask the teacher to change the price of the lesson to 0 ITC / hour. It is up to the teacher to agree to this.

Once you and the teacher agree to the terms, these details are like a contract between the teacher and the student. It's important to get these details right!

Schedule a Session

Once you've seen a teacher (or two) that you think would be a good fit, then you should try to contact them.

In order to minimize surprises and misunderstandings, we do recommend that students try to at least contact the teachers through italki email or through chat ahead of time. Some teachers will even offer a free first lesson. This allows the students and the teachers to assess if they would be a good match.

Here is what a Session Request looks like:

italki recommendations
Please check to make sure you are satisfied with the teacher price. In addition, if you are a beginner and are expecting the teacher to do the lesson in your native language, please check what language the lesson will be conducted in.

italki recommendations
Please check to make sure your teacher is available at the time you request. Given that many teachers are not in the same time zone as you, it is important to check the schedule to see if there is a time that is more convenient or both sides.

italki recommendations
italki recommends using Skype, a very popular voice and video chat software in the United States and many other countries. It is free for computer to computer, video and audio calls. Many users also use MSN or Yahoo. Since italki is not responsble for the quality of the connection, it is important that both teacher and student use the best communication tool they have.


Your lesson proposal was sent to the Teacher

Once you hit send, you will send your lesson proposal to the teacher. The lesson still needs to be confirmed by the teacher. Sometimes a teacher may be very busy, or have other reasons why he or she cannot teach you at that time.

If the lesson is confirmed, then you and the teacher have agreed to have a lesson on italki!