If you teach a 16-week course, and you want to use it every single week, then yes, it would be $160. But like the other person just responded, you can do something like 5 or 6 conversations total (for $50 or $60).
We do 4 conversations per semester (it's for a specific project). I guess it depends on the course and the level, but I wouldn't do one every single week. I would do 10 in the whole semester at most, unless students are not having any other interaction in the target language at all (e.g., an asynchronous online course).

Another alternative: conversations in pairs. Students work in groups of 2; each one buys 8 conversations (if you're still thinking of doing 16... although, I think that's too much!). They both chat at the same time with the native speaker. They would need to coordinate schedules, which can be challenging, but I figured I would I would mention it.

In our case, students don't buy a textbook for the course where we use it, so it's easier for us to tell them that's what they need to buy. Even then, some students do complain because it's an extra expense that they incur later in the semester, rather than at the beginning and at the bookstore when they buy all of their materials. They are also more aware of how much they are paying, and they think that $10 for 30 minutes it's too much. I wish it came packaged with some textbooks so students wouldn't even realize the cost. I told Todd many times... and I know that's not going to happen anytime soon :)

Last but not least: consider trying it out for "free" through one of their grants https://talkabroad.com/index/grants
The deadline is coming up in July. Once you have students raving about it, it will be easier to convince future generations that it's worth it. Just a thought!




Florencia G. Henshaw, Ph.D.
Director of Advanced Spanish
Director of the Center for Language Instruction and Coordination
4017 Foreign Languages Building
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
http://www.spanport.illinois.edu/people/henshaw2
http://clic.illinois.edu/

________________________________
From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Derek Roff [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2018 10:30 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Using TalkAbroad?

I hope that some of the people using TalkAbroad will comment on how you integrate the cost into your educational program.  The lowest price I found listed on the website is $10 per student for a 30-minute session.  That seems reasonable to me from the value perspective, but using it once per week would add ~$160 per student to the cost of the class.  This would be a challenging cost increase for many programs and students.  However, cutting the number of sessions decreases the advantages.  I’d love to read more about the practical choices that you have made, to make Talk Abroad work in your language classes.

Derek

Derek Roff
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>




On May 16, 2018, at 1:19 PM, Hammond, Thomas <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:

We have just completed a year-long pilot of TalkAbroad here at Harvard, and it has been very well received by students and faculty alike.

I have been impressed with the speed and helpfulness of their support, both for our faculty and students and for my Center's team when some small issues arose with prepaid subscription codes, etc. We are adopting TalkAbroad full-steam ahead now that the pilot has been completed, and based on the "buzz" from faculty who participated in the pilot, I have received a number of queries from other language groups. They are just rolling out the option of shorter conversations (10 minutes, I believe), which might provide a very useful start for beginning-level students.  Couldn't be happier with the program or the company.

Hope this helps,

Thom

--
Thomas Hammond, Director
The Language Center, Harvard University
Lamont 430, Harvard Yard
Cambridge, MA  02138