Pick the format that fits your goal
| Format | Good fit | What to agree or check |
|---|---|---|
| Peer exchange on Tandem | You want a recurring partner and can help with a language they’re learning. | How you’ll split time, which language you’ll speak first and whether you’ll correct each other. |
| Voice room on HelloTalk | You want to hear several speakers before taking a turn. | Group size, topic and how a new speaker joins the conversation. |
| Timed event from Ohanasi Kagawa | You prefer an organizer to handle timing. Its free events list 15 minutes in each language per round. | The next event time and format. The organizer says some groups may have three people. |
| Conversation lesson on Preply | You want one-to-one practice and can ask for corrections on a specific skill. | Tutor specialty, trial price and the terms of recurring lessons. |
| Host conversation on Hanashi | You want to talk around a shared interest and may need captions or translation to follow along. | Hanashi is in early access. Check current host availability and booking details after learner signup. |
If you’re new to speaking, ask for one small thing
Choose a topic with familiar words, such as weekend plans. Ask to open the call in Japanese for five minutes. Try an introduction, answer one follow-up and ask one question back. Use the rest for a slower conversation or to review a phrase you couldn’t say.
If you know grammar but freeze, rehearse the opening out loud once before joining. The Japan Foundation’s starter materials pair everyday topics with short audio examples. Browse Irodori starter lessons.
If you already chat comfortably, adjust how you get feedback
Ask a partner to keep a short list and give you one or two examples at the end. If you want pronunciation help or corrections mid-sentence, say so at the beginning. A peer can share how they’d say something, while a tutor can explain recurring patterns and design practice around them.
After the call, write down one phrase you heard and one question you want to ask next time. Try the phrase on your next call to see whether you can say it without a prompt.
When curiosity is the reason for the call
Start with a topic you’d enjoy discussing in any language, such as a favorite local walk, a hobby or weekend food. Hanashi, which publishes this guide, describes interest-based host profiles and captions for one-to-one video conversations. Sign up for learner early access if that is the format you want.
Sources
- Tandem Japanese language exchange
- HelloTalk Japanese language exchange and voice rooms
- Ohanasi Kagawa free online Japanese–English exchanges
- Preply conversational Japanese lessons
- Preply subscription structure
- Japan Foundation Irodori Starter lessons and audio
- Hanashi.chat public homepage
- Hanashi terms of service and early access status
- Hanashi privacy notice and service description
- Hanashi host FAQ and pilot plans