@Becky Thank you for sharing as well. I agree with you to some extent, in case there were attempts and both couldn't find what they were looking for, then google translate is welcome (though I prefer dictionaries, I love wordreference.com). But I wouldn't agree with the "stressful moment where the student is prevented from expressing himself ", I see in a different way, as I wrote to Lea, it's much more profitable in my opinion if the learner tries in different ways to express themselves (let's imagine he's in the country of his target language without internet and he has to buy something in the supermarket, he'll find a way, right?), then once my student is done with the different way of saying something, I'll give him the natural or correct way to express it with the right vocabulary, verb, structure and etc.. that's when I know my student is on the road to success, when he made an extra effort than in a matter of a quick click. It can be convinient, but these students of mine who do it, they are likely to forget this quick vocabulary search!

I am an active student as well on Italki, and I study a damn hard and unlogical language to me (Russian) and I always ask my teachers because that way I retain better. But again, I never said that google translate should be avoided, but that during a session, it's better to pretend your teacher is your living google translate! :)

@Lea Thanks for sharing. I understand that sometimes we don't have the right vocabulary and we desperately feel like going to google and "solve our problems", but first I try to make my students find another way to say the same thing, most of the time it works, and then we find the appropriate vocabulary and trust me, they memorise way better this way. In case we don't find the word we want, then it's perfectly fine to go to dictionaries or google, but I would encourage people first to try by themselves. Some years ago people learnt language without these facilities, and they seemed to succeed, right? 

There are 2 reasons that I support the use of Google with my students: the first is that I am a former special education teacher and I have a great deal of experience working with students who need to use "crutches". As the student learns to walk more confidently in his language learning, he will throw away his "crutches" himself because they hold him back. My job is to be a guide and help that student to be stronger. My goal as a teacher is to work myself out of a job; in other words, if I am a good teacher, eventually the student will not need me as much, (and sometimes may actually move on because he is ready for the next step).

The second reason I support the use of Google with my students is that I work with many students who are beginners or VERY unconfident in themselves in general, even if they are speaking in their native tongue. I have had students tell me they feel very relaxed speaking with me and that is what I want. When a student is relaxed he can remember more of what he already knows, and that increases his confidence. When a student is rewarded, (with more confidence), for speaking, he wants to continue. Students are so proud when they able finally able to tell me, "I wrote this without Google!"

Students drive the market here on italki - if they don't like the service provided, they will choose a different teacher. My job is to provide a service for my customers, not to tell them where, when, and how they should use that service. I don't see how it could be an issue for me if a student wants to use Google - everyone is responsible for themselves. If someone wants to learn like that, I have no say in the matter.

I agree with you, Murillo, that if someone is, "in the country of his target language without internet and he has to buy something in the supermarket, he'll find a way", however, the Internet is a totally different medium than having physical context to work with.  Students learning on-line don't have the same options that someone learning face-to-face does.  I have been learning Spanish for 19 years now, and I still prefer to converse in person because I have tangible things to work with - I can point to something, I can draw a picture, I can take the person by the hand and drag them over to what I want(!), etc.  When I go to El Salvador to visit my in-laws, I go shopping in the street market by myself, and although I am completely bilingual, I still point to things when I don't know what they are, (for example, in the pharmacy, when I recognize the box I want, but I don't know the name of the medicine in Spanish).  Abstract concepts are especially hard on-line.  I tell my students that Google is unreliable, and sometimes I will even joke and ask, "Did you get that from Google?", however if a student wants to use it that is his business.

To be continued . . . 

@Michael K - I agree with you, we need to have something to fall back on, but during the session, you have your tutor or teacher, right? Why not try him/her first? ;D

@Kim - Awesome post! I totally agree with you that in a casual language exchange or even for self-studies, relying "sometimes" on google translate can be helpful, I do prefer dictionaries instead. As for your last statement, I notice that, they got used to the wrong that when they hear the right, they get a bit disappointed and don't want to realise that, maybe. But once you're learning and especially with a teacher, I do think it's better to rely on him or her first as I mentioned to Michael. As I said, they go on google translate, type all those complex sentences, read out the unnatural way and I'll break the news "That doesn't work" and then it's more stressful for them, I think.