Pick the format that fits your goal
| Format | Good fit | What to agree or check |
|---|---|---|
| Hanashi | You want to choose a Japanese host around a shared interest and use captions or translation when a word gets away from you. | Learner signup is open in early access. Check current host and booking availability before making plans. |
| 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. |
Why choose Hanashi?
You’ll have more to say if you already care about the question. Choose a host by the things they enjoy and take one question with you. If they like hiking, ask about a favorite route, then tell them about a walk near your home. The topic makes it easier to keep going after the first answer.
Hanashi is built around a conversation rather than a lesson or an equal swap of practice time. When you’re ready, start in Japanese and let the captions help you recover words. If you want someone to diagnose your conjugation errors and set a practice routine, choose a tutor.
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.
Get specific questions and phrases with the Japanese conversation starter generator.
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.
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