Bridging the Classroom and the World with Talkabroad
Our language learning programs pride themselves on communicative excellence, and some of our courses include the use of the platform as a class requirement. Partnered with more than 500 universities,TalkAbroad is an online language-learning platform that connects students with native speakers from 30 countries around the world for real-time video conversations. While other programs focus on vocabulary and grammar drills, we have selected TalkAbroad because of its emphasis on authentic communication, allowing us to embed immersive, real-world interactions directly into the curriculum of Intermediate Italian, Intermediate French, and Beginner Spanish for Native Speakers.
Talkabroad is designed to support the ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages) .
How It Works
🔷Pre-Conversations: We have designed pre-task classroom and tutoring activities to allow students to practice sample questions and responses and to review key vocabulary and cultural information in preparation for conversations.
🔷Conversations: Depending on the assignment, students book 15- or 30-minute sessions with a conversation partner or participate in Conversation Tables, group-based alternatives that are designed to feel like a casual language coffee hour.
🔷Post-Conversations: We implement post-task activities in the classroom, and we assign homework and AI‑enhanced tasks that support student reflection on performance and communication skills, while reinforcing session‑specific vocabulary, language structures, and intercultural insights.
Why We Love Talkabroad
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Intercultural Authenticity |
Allow students to experience a real cultural exchange with people from diverse backgrounds, who provide real-time insights into daily life, news, and cultural information of target countries directly from the target countries. |
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Negotiation of Meaning |
The spontaneity and immediacy of the conversation bring students to ask for clarifications or apply circumlocution strategies unknowingly. These mental gymnastics are exactly what breaks language barriers, build linguistic flexibility and fluency. |
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Low Pressure |
Private Conversations reduce the stage-fright of speaking in front of an audience of classmates and the professor. Talking to a friendly stranger who isn't grading in real-time seem to allows students to take more linguistic risks than other communicative types of assessments. |
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High Engagement |
Whereas in traditional classroom settings, students often wait to be called on by the professor, in Talkabroad the student is the primary driver of the conversation and must remain actively engaged to keep the flow of real-time interaction.
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Digital Literacy |
TalkAbroad helps students frame language skills in the global digital world. Students learn to collaborate and communicate effectively using an international digital platform, learn to work with video/audio material and applications, use AI for educative purposes and complete AI-enhanced tasks. |
Who Are Talkabroad Partners?
TalkAbroad partners are vetted, native speakers who live in 30+ countries around the world. TalkAbroad centers on impact sourcing and career development for conversation partners. Rather than traditional tutors, partners are trained in speech adaptation, circumlocution, recasting, and different strategies specifically intended to maximize learners' conversational skills. All conversation partners receive also extensive training on creating a supportive environment, avoiding conflict and sensitive topics, facilitating a healthy conversation, and adapting to the learning needs of the learner. Talkabroad employs regional directors who recruit, screen, and monitor partners locally to ensure quality and reliability to our students. Partners are students, artists, teachers, professionals, retirees and more, to allow our students to choose based on shared interests or professional backgrounds.
Career Readiness Competencies using Talkabroad
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Career & Self Development |
Proactively enhance linguistic and cultural fluency through immersive practice. Gain cross-cultural awareness and improve communication skills. |
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Communication |
Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with a speaker of another language. Develop the ability to articulate complex thoughts, ask clarifying questions, and use non-verbal cues to maintain a fluid dialogue despite linguistic barriers. |
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Critical Thinking |
Navigate spontaneous linguistic challenges and cultural nuances. Learn to adapt your communication practices and skills based on the situational context. |
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Equity & Inclusion |
Engage respectfully in interactions and collaborations with partners from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Build the skills necessary to work in a globalized environment by acknowledging and valuing perspectives that differ from your own. |
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Leadership |
Take initiative to direct conversations and achieve learning objectives. Practice "leading through listening" by facilitating a balanced exchange and ensuring mutual understanding. |
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Professionalism |
Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, and professional demeanor during scheduled sessions. Understand and apply the "code of conduct" for international digital interactions. |
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Teamwork |
Collaborate with your conversation partner to co-create successful exchanges. Share the responsibility of the conversation to overcome communication breakdowns and achieve the session’s specific goals. |
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Technology |
Ethically leverage digital platforms to facilitate international collaboration. Adapt to virtual workspace norms. Master a new software interface. Work with audio/video. |
Real Conversations, Real Results
Testimonials Coming Soon