How does everyone use online tutoring?

[SCMT]

Forgive me if this has been asked and answered, as I did not find this exact question in search, but I was wondering how experienced language learners have used, and recommend using for best results, online tutoring services like italki. Do you use one primary tutor, or do you have more than one? How long do you stay with a teacher? Do you use professional teachers for structured study in conjunction with community tutors for conversation? How often is optimal? How long are the lessons?

In my case, I am learning Spanish, my first foreign language, and am somewhere between advanced beginner and the least of the intermediates. I'm ready to move on beyond the study methods that have gotten me this far, but I'm not quite sure how to optimize this wonderful resource that puts experienced, native teachers in my living room, so any help is appreciated.

[Bex]

I used italki once a week for about a year. I usually booked 1 hour lessons although to start with I preferred 45 mins because I found the sessions hard work until I settled into a routine with my tutor.

I found most of the professional teachers were the same, they either worked through a book or their own curriculum with you. It is helpful but not anything that you couldn't do yourself at home with a good workbook/course. The main advantage was the speaking practice and being able to ask questions if I didn't understand. Oh and it does force you to stay on track with your learning which many people appreciate.

If you like this type of one-on-one tutoring then italki really does it well, but I can't say I like it much myself.

I also did try quite a few (10+ different tutors) community tutor sessions, but really only had 1 that I liked. It was like talking to a friend so I really enjoyed the sessions and I think this is what italki is great for. If you can find a good community tutor who you get on well with, they push you a bit, make it fun and help you to express yourself with no pressure then you will really develop your Spanish with ease.

The problem with not sticking with one or 2 community tutors is that otherwise they tend to ask you the same questions (to get you to talk) and you end up repeating the same things over and over, so the conversation never really develops any further.

Unfortunately my favourite community tutor left italki so I don't use it anymore but I am planning to do a few sessions at the end of this year just to use up my credits. I'll be using a community tutor.

Really it's all about finding someone you like and connect with...it makes so much difference. It doesn't really matter what type of tutor they are.

[Iversen]

Everyone? Not me...

[Speakeasy]

Yes, this question has been -- quite understandably -- asked a number of times. I have quoted my own reply, as well as IronMike's, from June 2018 to a similar question. The acronyms LLORG and HTLAL mean "A Language Learners' Forum" and "How To Learn Any Language Forum" respectively.

Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail
Although the above adage has been ascribed to John Wooden, Benjamin Franklin, Yoda, and many others, I suspect that the notion itself has existed since the dawn of time. I am a strong believer in preparation, as I would assume are most gold-medalists.

Structured / Unstructured
As you and your language partner are still at the Beginner’s Level, I suggest that you agree beforehand on a small selection of specific topics of conversation and that you prepare yourselves by reviewing the basic vocabulary associated with these topics. You might even agree to work with specific materials such as a small collection of dialogues drawn from courses or phrase-books to which both of you have access. For example, you could act as a “tutor” for each other’s selected dialogue, explaining a few elementary alternatives for expressing the same ideas. From there, while still remaining within the specific topic, you might wish to expand the conversation into something having less structure; that is, some form of role-playing.

Related Discussion Threads (Some Near, Some Distant)
There are a number of discussion threads on the HTLAL and LLORG that touch upon the question of how to work with a tutor or language partner. While none of those listed below provide a specific “hit list” or “how to” guide on how to proceed, merely reading through them might help you develop your own approach. Good luck!

Anyone learn from a private tutor? – HTLAL – December, 2001
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30492&PN=27

Find conversation partners – LLORG – June, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2943

Are most tutors useless for advanced learners? – LLORG – May, 2017
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5790

Finding a language coach – HTLAL – August, 2012
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33559&PN=21

How to prepare for a first Skype session? – LLORG – January, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1923

Skype classes – LLORG – August, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3277

Skype Lessons – Tips for Best Workout with Native Speaker – LLORG – October, 2015
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1454

Skype Speaking Practice – HTLAL – March, 2014
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38289&PN=11

When to start with tutors – is it suitable for pure beginners? – LLORG – May, 2017
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5795

Tutoring activities to activate or automate – LLORG – October, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4671

Why do teachers like to teach? (rant) – LLORG – November, 2016
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4969

How to Study? – HTLAL – February, 2009
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13841&PN=49

CanadianLinguist’s FORCE Cycle – HTLAL – May, 2015
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40507

Beyond C2 and diminishing returns
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35186&PN=21&TPN=1

Since you're meeting weekly, each of you take turns "running" the meeting.

a) Inform your partner that next meeting you'll be going over "family" vocabulary. Bring a list of vocab that will help with talking about your family, and maybe even have a short 4-5 sentence blurb on your family.
b) Prepare a list of questions speakers of your TL would ask about your family.
c) Watch a video and/or listen to a clip of someone talking about their family.

Then the next time, before your partner starts running the meeting, review what you went over last time and/or have your partner give his/her 4-5 sentence blurb on their family.

Or something along those lines. Maybe once in a while (every 4-6 weeks?) invite a native speaker to come to your meeting, go over things you guys have talked about and ask for his/her feedback on your pronunciation, grammar, word-choice, whatever. Maybe buy that person lunch or a coffee as their fee.

Sounds like this could be very productive for you and your partner. Definitely report back so we know how you're doing. Good luck!

[chove]

I usually do an hour of Spanish and Polish on alternating weeks, and I did a bit of German on iTalki before I left for my holiday. My Spanish is my best language so I do "Conversation With Correction" which is pretty much what it sounds like. Sometimes the tutor goes into grammar points with me if there's something specific I'm struggling with, but mostly what I need in Spanish is just practice using it. We don't tend to choose topics in advance, but that's always an option. I did a similar thing with my (much weaker) German, though I did struggle more with that because I have a small vocabulary to work with.

My Polish tutor is working through a curriculum that I think she made herself, and it's indeed something I could do with a textbook but I like the speaking and listening practice, as well as pronunciation help, and having a scheduled lesson keeps me studying when the language isn't one I need for my current degree.

[David1917]

I think the most "prolific" language exchange user here might be our fearless admin @rdearman. His log can be found here:

https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... =15&t=1836

Obviously, it's about 100 pages to sift through, but I'm sure there's some very valuable information in there. Moreover, he just gave a presentation at the "Polyglot Gathering" discussing the topic "What I learned from 500+ Language Exchanges." While the Gathering is notoriously slow at uploading videos of speakers (I'm talking up to a year later), I would still recommend watching out for it on Youtube in the coming months.

User @eido has used lots of tutors for Spanish as well as Korean, and her old logs showed a bit of the best & worst you can get. That is, in one case a Korean tutor, despite her being a beginner, insisting on trying to teach only in immersion, etc. So there is a bit of sifting through that you need to do before finding the one(s) that suit you best.

[rdearman]

"Polyglot Gathering" discussing the topic "What I learned from 500+ Language Exchanges."

The presentation is on Google Drive here. The question and answer period of the presentation was very good, with a lot of great questions coming in from the audience. I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have.

[SCMT]

Thanks to all for the responses. I appreciate everyone who shared their strategy.

Speakeasy, those links were very helpful. I especially liked https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... =17&t=3277 which asks pretty much the same questions I did here. I could not get the HTLAL links to load, but it may be a firewall problem; I will try again later.

[Speakeasy]

... I could not get the HTLAL links to load, but it may be a firewall problem; I will try again later.

Hmm, I just tried to access the HTLAL without using the above links and Google returned the following error message. I have reported this to the administrators.