Social networking sites take language learning out of classroom

Many would suggest the best way to learn a foreign language is to be surrounded with native speakers. If travelling abroad is not an option, a broadband-connected personal computer may do the job - bringing native speakers within reach over the internet for hours of practice.

That is the idea behind Shanghai-based italki.com, a free social networking website focused on language learning, and Beijing-headquartered Idapted.com, which supports professional language training.

'It's a twist to the original Web 2.0 concept,' said William Bao Bean, director of the privately held italki and a partner at venture capital firm Softbank China and India Holdings. 'Instead of just making friends online, why not find a language partner who can teach you English or Spanish, while you teach him or her Chinese?'

Launched last December after receiving its first round of funding in July, italki has joined a nascent group of social networking sites integrated with language-learning services.

Competitors include United States-based Livemocha.com, established in September, and VoxSwap.com, set up in Britain in January.

These language training-dedicated, free social networks enable their users to practise with other members - aided by online communications tools like Skype, and essential peripherals such as webcam and microphones attached to their personal computers. Quality of training is not guaranteed, but the service is free and more interesting than traditional classroom language programmes.

So far, italki has attracted 250,000 registered users. In April alone, the site attracted 45,000 new users. About 20 per cent of its users are from the mainland and the rest spread across the globe, including 7 per cent from the United States, 4 per cent in India and 2 per cent in France.