1. Case Study of Italki Ling Bi

2. Brief story about iTalki  Italki is an educational technology website that helps students establish the relationship in foreign-language study with some professional teachers/ partners.  Italki users can search for a self-employed/part-time teacher based on his/her profile, teaching experience, personal reputation, and so on.  Users can also interact with some native speakers by language exchange.  An ideal place to learn and practice foreign language.

3. Find an ideal professional teacher  You can easily find your satisfied language tutors by using the filter system on website.

4. Find an ideal professional teacher  The details of each teacher, like background, teaching language, timetable, and cost are clearly presented.  Example video of his/her teaching class is also available online to help Italki users make their decision.

5. Outside the class? Find your partner!  Outside the class, you can also find a partner and help him practice your native language and vice versa.

6. Language partners system  You are free to chat or have online conversation with your language partners about any interesting topics.  This help you to practice your language in a relaxing way, and make new friends simultaneously!

7. Language partners system  In addition, you can improve your writing skills by leaving some letters, diaries or short essays to your partners for suggestions.

8. Strengths  High efficiency in finding teachers/ language partners (LPs) a. Able to search for more than 1500 Teachers as well as more than ten thousands LPs in different language. b. Detailed information about each candidate help you find the satisfied teachers/LPs easily and make contact with them.  Spontaneity and motivation a. Most LPs register on italki for their own interests in foreign language, so they will hold a positive attitude when using italki b. The operation of italki is based on “exchange”, so everyone can get benefit from this process.  Low cost a. It is much cheaper to find an online teachers than going to the class. b. The interaction between LPs are totally free.

9. Weaknesses  Lack of face-to-face interaction a. Online teaching may not be able to explain the knowledge as clear as the case of face to face. b. It is easier to loss the attention when learning online than in class. c. Some people may feel shy or defensive when talking to strangers for the first time.  Hard to find a long-term language partner a. Each people has their own plans, habits or timetable. b. Regional time difference made it hard to get in touch with each other anytime you want.

10. Opportunities  Business value a. Provide more opportunities to the people who want to get teaching jobs in language. b. All of the teachers, students as well as the website operators benefit from the inherent low-lost advantage of the online system.  New ideas/model for language learning a. People share language learning skills and practicing time with each other spontaneously. b. Efficient platform for language learning that is available to the people at different age or from any part of the world.

11. Threats  Divulge personal information a. Personal information is open to the public. b. Lack of effective methods to ensure the security.  Lack of structure to ensure regular class attendance a. No fixed schedule and too much flexibility. b. No negative repercussions for missing class.  Disturbed by some non-language learners a. Some users register italki for other purpose, like finding a relationship, rather than learning foreign language. b. People may gradually addict in online chatting rather than language learning itself.