Finding a reliable native speaker to practice your conversational skills with is a vital step in your language journey.

Many learners turn to online tutoring marketplaces to find native speakers.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to navigate these platforms effectively.

I’ll also share my personal top recommendation for your daily Afrikaans studies.

The best platform for learning Afrikaans

Before you spend money on hourly tutors, you need a solid foundation in the language.

I highly recommend using Talk In Afrikaans as your primary learning tool.

Our platform gives you structured lessons, native audio, and comprehensive vocabulary training.

You can learn at your own pace without paying expensive hourly tutoring rates.

Once you’ve built your core vocabulary with us, you can use a tutor for live conversation practice.

What iTalki is and how it works

iTalki is an online language tutoring marketplace.

It connects language learners directly with native speakers from all around the world.

You browse through teacher profiles, watch their introduction videos, and check their schedules.

Then you simply book a time slot that works best for you.

Your lessons take place over video chat software like Skype or Zoom.

How to choose the right Afrikaans tutor

There are two main types of tutors available on the platform.

Professional teachers have formal degrees in education or language teaching.

Community tutors are native speakers who offer casual conversation practice.

If you’re using Talk In Afrikaans for your main studies, a community tutor is usually all you need.

Community tutors are generally much cheaper than professional teachers.

You should also pay attention to the tutor’s regional background.

Afrikaans sounds very different depending on where your tutor lives.

The accent of a tutor from Cape Town will sound distinct from someone living in Pretoria or Windhoek, Namibia.

I recommend listening to a few different introduction videos to see which regional accent you prefer to learn.

Read the reviews from past students to make sure the tutor is patient and reliable.

Booking your first trial lesson

Most teachers offer a discounted trial lesson for new students.

This allows you to test their teaching style without a large financial commitment.

You should book trial lessons with two or three different people.

This gives you the chance to compare their personalities and teaching methods.

A good tutor will spend the trial lesson assessing your current Afrikaans level.

They should also ask you about your specific language goals.

Don’t feel obligated to stick with a tutor if you don’t enjoy the trial lesson.

Making the most of your conversation practice

You should always come to your lessons prepared with specific topics to discuss.

Don’t rely on the tutor to plan every minute of the conversation.

A bad tutor will spend the entire hour lecturing you about grammar rules.

A great tutor will encourage you to do at least eighty percent of the talking.

You shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes during your sessions.

Making mistakes is the only way you’ll naturally improve your spoken Afrikaans.

Use your time with the tutor to actively practice the new phrases you learn on Talk In Afrikaans.