More and more Italian language tutors are choosing to give private lessons online, thanks to technological advancements that are making digital teaching simpler and more flexible. Gone are the days of relying solely on word of mouth or flyers pinned to school noticeboards — we now have convenient platforms where we can post adverts for online tutoring and find students from all over the world!
Content Table
Teaching Italian classes online is a winning strategy in the world of private tutoring, as lessons can be tailored to individual student needs — some learners want to improve their conversational skills, whereas others are looking to focus on exam preparation.
Online classes with a private Italian tutor can provide students with a cultural immersion that they cannot experience through studying alone. The best tutors understand the challenges that accompany the learning process, adapting their teaching methods to their students' learning preferences and language skills.
Offering private lessons is a rewarding job, both personally and financially, but it also comes with great responsibility. If you’re thinking of diving into this world, make sure you’re ready to commit time and effort — rest assured that the results are worth it though.
Whether they're complete beginners or are working towards a bachelor's degree in Italian, you can make all the difference to your students' language learning journey!
✅ Teaching Italian online is a flexible and profitable opportunity, with platforms like FindTutors, GoStudent and Classgap helping tutors connect with students.
✅ Defining your target audience (children or adults, native or non-native speakers) is crucial for offering effective lessons.
✅ Promoting yourself via social media, online adverts and free trial lessons can help you attract more students.
✅ Essential tools include a computer with webcam and microphone, a stable internet connection, and video conferencing software such as Zoom, Skype, or a virtual classroom.
✅ Setting competitive prices and offering personalised lessons improves the quality of your teaching and helps build student loyalty.
✅ Advantages of online teaching: flexibility, wide visibility, no commuting costs and access to digital teaching resources.
Let’s get address the first hurdle — how can you find students for your online Italian lessons?
You need to be clear about your objectives: would you like to teach Italian online to children and teenagers, helping them to speak and write correctly? Or would you prefer to teach Italian as a second language to adult learners?
Here are a few ideas on how to find students for your Italian lessons:
Use social media to let people know you’re offering online Italian lessons.
Sign up to online tutoring platforms such as FindTutors or GoStudent and post an advert.
Create a professional profile on your chosen platform to inspire confidence and interest in potential students.
Offer free trial lessons to attract new students.
Getting started with online Italian tutoring isn’t difficult, but if you’re diving into the digital world, there are a few essential tools you should always have at hand when starting a lesson. Here’s what you’ll need:
A computer, tablet or your preferred device with a stable internet connection. Teaching is much easier via a computer screen than on a phone.
A high-quality webcam for video calls. Most PCs already have a built-in camera, but do a test run to make sure everything works properly.
A microphone and headphones for clear communication. While most PCs have a microphone, headphones are important for blocking out external noise and ensuring a high-quality lesson. For the same reason, it’s a good idea to set up a dedicated teaching space in your home, somewhere quiet and free from distractions.
If your chosen platform doesn’t offer a virtual classroom, you’ll need video conferencing software such as Zoom, Skype or Google Meet. Nothing too complicated—these are widely used and easy to learn. Always do a few test runs before your first online lesson!
A lesson and payment management system. Once you start scheduling lessons automatically, it’s essential to keep track of your sessions and income so nothing gets lost. Some platforms let you manage this within your profile; in other cases, you’ll need to do it yourself—either with a dedicated app or a simple Excel spreadsheet.
FindTutors is a well-known and widely used tutoring platforms in the UK, and it's an excellent tool for starting to teach Italian online. Signing up is simple, and you can post your tutoring advert for free.
Key points:
Wide range of subjects: The platform allows you to teach a variety of subjects — including Italian — as a foreign language.
Flexible teaching formats: You can offer Italian lessons online or in person, depending on both your preferences and what works for your students.
Customisable adverts: Tutors can create personalised listings to attract more students, setting their own prices and lesson locations.
Freedom to choose: Tutors can set their own rates and teaching schedules.
GoStudent is a user-friendly, well-structured platform that specialises in school subjects — including Italian — offered via a flexible online format. Its advanced Virtual Classroom enhances student interaction with integrated multimedia tools.
Key points:
User-friendly interface: The platform is easy to navigate, facilitating smooth interaction between tutors and students.
Flexibility for tutors: Teachers can choose their own schedule and rates, adapting to their own and their students’ needs.
Lesson packages: Students can purchase lesson bundles, supporting continuous learning.
Advanced Virtual Classroom: Equipped with multimedia tools that enhance interaction and learning during lessons.
A great option if you want to teach Italian to school-age students.
Classgap is a well-known online teaching platform that stands out for its innovation, particularly through its cutting-edge Virtual Classroom designed to enhance teaching and increase student engagement.
Key points:
Interactive Virtual Classroom: Offers an online space with advanced tools such as digital whiteboards and file sharing, improving both teaching and learning experiences.
Tech-driven approach: Ideal for those who want to teach Italian using an engaging and modern methodology.
Superprof is an international platform that connects students and tutors for private lessons in a wide range of subjects, including Italian.
Key points:
Extensive subject choice: 500 subjects available, including Italian. A good choice for teaching school-age students.
Customisable profile: Tutors can create a personal profile, set their rates and schedule, and receive reviews from students to boost visibility and credibility.
Preply is a global platform focused on language learning, connecting students and tutors for personalised, flexible, and interactive lessons tailored to individual goals.
Key points:
Language-focused platform: Specialised in language education, it’s a strong choice if you want to teach Italian to international students.
Built-in tools: Offers useful features such as internal chat and screen sharing, making Italian lessons more interactive and effective.
Tutors Live is a flexible platform connecting teachers and students globally, offering both online and home lessons based on personal preferences.
Key points:
Flexible teaching formats: Tutors Live allows teachers to deliver lessons online or at the student’s home, offering flexible teaching approaches.
Direct negotiation: Tutors can negotiate prices and lesson formats directly with students.
Italki is a global platform that enables personalised Italian learning by connecting students with native-speaking tutors for lessons tailored to individual needs.
Key points:
Language specialisation: Focused on language learning, including Italian. An excellent choice if you want to teach Italian to non-native speakers.
Tutor flexibility: Teachers can set their own rates and find students internationally and within Italy. Tutors can offer one-to-one lessons or group classes.
To set your rates for online Italian lessons, remember that the average price in the UK for the subject is £19 per hour. However you should first look at the pricing trends in your region or city and consider the average cost for the subject — use a pricing table as a reference. It can be especially helpful to specialise in a particular area of Italian teaching (e.g. Italian tutoring for children, Italian as a second language, Italian speaking skills etc.) to develop more in-depth expertise in that field.
Create a personal brand and a professional online presence, for example by sharing videos on YouTube, posting on social media, or writing a blog.
Offer high-quality, personalised lessons so that your students—and their parents—are thrilled with the results and recommend you to others.
Is teaching online Italian classes different from teaching in person? Yes and no. Naturally, when you’re sitting behind a computer screen, you won’t be able to go through a physical textbook with your student (although you can always mix in some in-person lessons where possible), but you definitely have lots of other ways to engage your students online:
Find digital textbooks and online teaching materials—there are countless websites offering free learning resources you can use for your lessons. Or even better, create your own! Nothing beats teaching with fresh, up-to-date materials designed by you.
Use audio and video resources to help with pronunciation and listening comprehension.
Prepare interactive exercises and activities — these are especially useful for keeping your students engaged during lessons.
Incorporate games and quizzes to make learning more fun. Platforms like Kahoot! allow you to create fun, educational quizzes that test your students after a theory lesson.
Use a platform where students can leave reviews and feedback. In most cases, the platform you choose for online lessons will allow students to rate and review you—an excellent way to build your reputation and attract new learners.
Why have so many teachers opted for online teaching in recent years? Because it offers a wide range of advantages! Here are just a few—but we encourage you to discover the rest for yourself:
Flexible lesson scheduling and the freedom to organise your work
Access to a wider audience—you can be contacted by students from all over Italy or even abroad
Zero travel costs
The ability to build your own personal brand and a strong professional presence online
A wealth of digital teaching materials available at your fingertips
Studying Italian can be a truly fun learning experience when you have a great teacher. Become an online Italian tutor today and start sharing your language with the world! 🌍💻