Cafetalk

Most of us have probably studied Japanese in conventional language classes at some stage. While such classes are helpful, there is now a plethora of alternatives available via the Internet that allow you to study Japanese on a one-to-one basis from the comfort of your own home at a time that suits you.

One website I’ve found very useful for improving my conversational Japanese is Cafetalk.com. It’s a service that connects students with teachers for lessons via Skype. To take a lesson, you first need to purchase points by credit card, money transfer, or PayPal. You then search for a teacher who looks suitable for your needs and book a lesson with them. There’s plenty of choice—about 200 teachers are currently registered to teach Japanese. You can narrow the selection by choosing options such as price range, teaching qualifications, and countries of origin and residence. Each teacher’s page has a profile written by the teacher as well as feedback left by students. I’ve had lessons with eight teachers so far and they’ve all been very good. It’s advisable to try a few teachers to find those that bring out the best in you.

A wide variety of lessons are offered. Some are based on the teacher’s preferred textbook (e.g., Minna no Nihongo or Japanese for Busy People), while others use the teacher’s own material or material supplied by the student. Other classes focus on grammar or activities such as reading manga or writing emails. Students intending to sit the NLPT tests can find lessons to help them in their preparation. I invariably take free-talking lessons because conversation is the area I need the most help with.

The lessons range in price depending on the teacher, but it’s generally possible to find good lessons for about 1,200 yen per hour. It pays to check the coupon page for discounts, as teachers sometimes offer reductions on some lessons. Several teachers offer free trial lessons or discounts for first-time students. Also, Cafetalk refunds half the points spent on lessons taken on the 19th of each month.

Cafetalk is particularly suited to people who find it hard to leave the house (for example, those with small children), those on home assignment or living far from Japanese people, and students wanting individual attention in their language learning.

Also, for anyone seeking to supplement their income, Cafetalk provides opportunities to teach various languages, or numerous other subjects. Anyone can apply to be a teacher (qualifications are helpful but not essential). The application process involves a short interview. Teachers are initially paid at 60% of the lesson price but that percentage can rise over time.

If you feel you need more help with learning Japanese, I’d strongly encourage you to give Cafetalk a try.

Disclaimer: I received three free lessons from Cafetalk earlier this year in exchange for writing teacher reviews.

Image is a screenshot of Cafetalk.