Make friends + learn Thai
The app is available on Android and iOS and has become very popular all around the world with millions of users.
This is good news because it means you can probably quickly find someone that meets your Thai language learning needs.
Easy Thai language exchange
Thai text + voice chat
HelloTalk allows you to interact with others using a variety of means including text and voice chat.
Also included is the ability to share images while talking or texting.
Speaking, texting and sharing images are all free.
Thai grammar correction
Another cool feature of HelloTalk is the ability to have your language partners simply tap on incorrectly written Thai and correct it on-the-fly.
On the flipside, you can also correct their grammar as you interact.
It's that easy to share your knowledge and learn from a native speaker for free.
Feature-rich Thai language app that's easy to use
One of the greatest things about HelloTalk is that it is just so darn simple to use despite its many Thai learning tools.
The HelloTalk team keeps the app's interface streamlined, making all the features easy to access.
You can view screenshots of many of HelloTalk's features in an older blog post of mine.
Locate Thai speakers near you
It's possible to filter your search for native Thai speakers by distance from your location, making it super useful for finding people you can actually meet with in person after establishing contact via the app.
Translate Thai with text-to-voice
The built-in translation feature allows you to quickly translate text from your native language into Thai. Great for people just getting started!
This feature also also makes it possible for people that just want to make friends who speak other languages and be able to communicate with them despite having no common language.
Thai transliteration
Built-in transliteration tools make it easy to work between writing systems of all kinds, including Thai.
If your native language uses a non-Roman script or you are learning a language that doesn't use Roman script, this is amazingly helpful!
Tools for effective Thai language exchange
Language exchanges are great, but what happens when you feel like you are giving more than you are receiving? Or that your partner is just not as good at teaching as you would like?
HelloTalk is introducing features that will allow for much better exchanges to take place.
Thai language channels
Also in the works for HelloTalk is the ability to have a channel which people can join. This makes it possible for one person to teach Thai to many people at once, or simply for groups of people with similar interests to share with each other more easily, all focused around language learning.
Beyond Thai learning: 125+ languages!
The possibilities with HelloTalk go beyond Thai language exchange: over 125 languages are available via the app!
Another creative use for the app is something done by a musician who is using HelloTalk to make a friend in every country.
Interview with HelloTalk CEO Zackery Ngai
In November of 2015, I interviewed Zackery Ngai about HelloTalk for the Free Language Podcast.
In the interview, Zackery takes us behind the scenes of HelloTalk, its origins, how it has evolved through feedback from users, the method behind the app as well as some cool things that are in store for the future.
Zackery also shares his own experience and advice learning languages.