Early Retiree Learns Italian on Preply Over Two Months

A recent firsthand account details the experience of an individual who, after decades of speaking French, turned to the online platform Preply to learn Italian over a two-month period. The learner, who recently entered early retirement, sought both mental stimulation and practical conversational skills for an upcoming trip to Rome.

The platform distinguishes itself by connecting users with human tutors for live video conversations, moving beyond the repetitive exercises common in many language-learning applications. Users can select from a reported pool of over 100,000 tutors offering instruction in more than 90 languages. The onboarding process involves setting goals, timeframes, and a preferred budget, with lessons conducted in a dedicated virtual space called the Preply Classroom, which features video chat, screen sharing, and a digital whiteboard.

A key feature highlighted is the program's flexibility. Students can book and manage 50-minute lessons directly through a tutor's calendar, with options to cancel, reschedule, or change tutors without penalty, provided sufficient notice is given. In this case, the learner selected a mid-priced Italian tutor, paying 29 per session.