Wanna know an interesting trivia about the Tamil language? Well, here you go: Tamil is the only classical language that has survived all the way to the modern world, with a literary tradition spanning over 2,000 years.
Isn’t that mind-blowing?! A modern-day living language that has survived and thrived for thousands of years! That is such a cool feat to boast. No doubt, Tamilians wear their pride in their native language like a badge of honor. Modern technology is further helping language enthusiasts across the globe learn Tamil online by offering the best Tamil online courses.
Therefore, in this roundup article, we at the Ling app will take a look at online Tamil language classes and other platforms that provide the best ways of learning Tamil. But before starting with the roundup, let’s get to know more about the Tamil language.
List Of Best Tamil Online Courses
Quick Summary:
Best For
App
Ling
- All in one learning experience
- Choose form 60+ languages
- AI Chatbot to practice conversation
Preply
- A panel list of 50 tutors
- Schedule lessons at your convenience
- Tailored lesson plans to meet learners’ goals
iTalki
- A wide range of Tamil teachers
- One-on-one learning approach
- Schedule lessons at your convenience
1. Ling: Best For All-Round Learning
At the forefront of the best language-learning apps is the Ling app, which provides many benefits that make it an excellent choice for a successful language-learning journey. With its gamified interactive activities, the app makes learning enjoyable and proves effective at overcoming reading and writing challenges.
Stand Out Features
- Ling provides interactive tools such as a chatbot, mini-games, and quizzes to enhance speaking skills, grammar understanding, and essential vocabulary, adding a dynamic and engaging aspect to the learning process.
- Suitable for all levels, Ling caters to learners of all levels, from beginners to those with average knowledge, ensuring comprehensive coverage by offering various fluency levels.
- User-friendly interface, making it accessible and easy to navigate for learners, whether they are tech-savvy or new to using smartphones and gadgets, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
Pricing
- Monthly: $14.99
- 6 Months: $39.99
- Yearly: $79.99 (7-day free trial available)
- Lifetime: $149.99
2. Preply: Best For Finding Native Speaker Tutors
Preply is a platform that facilitates personalized learning experiences by connecting students with tutors across various subjects, including languages. It also offers resources (paid) for language exams like TOEFL, IELTS, TCF, TEF, and so on for European languages.
The best part about Preply’s online Tamil course is that apart from English, it also offers this course in seven other languages such as French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, and German. The course structure is highly customizable, allowing learners to focus on specific language skills like speaking, listening, reading, or writing. In fact, the platform claims that learners can gain a good grasp of Tamil by putting in 44 weeks or 1,100 hours of study hours.
You can read the in-depth Preply review on the Ling blog.
Stand Out Features
- The platform has a panel list of 50 tutors prominently based out of India and Sri Lanka, the two countries where Tamil is the official language.
- Learners can schedule lessons at their convenience, making it suitable for those with busy lifestyles or demanding schedules.
- Tutors on Preply create tailored lesson plans to meet individual learners’ goals and needs, ensuring efficient and effective learning.
Pricing
- The cost of Preply’s Tamil courses varies based on the tutor’s qualifications and experience. The average rate per hour session varies between $10-$12.
3. iTalki: Best For Live Lessons
iTalki is one of the most popular platforms for learning Tamil and the most flexible, according to me. To find a good match as your Tamil tutor, you simply have to use a filter based on your preferences, availability, proficiency level, and budget. And voila, within minutes, you are ready to attend your first Tamil language class.
The best part about iTalki is that you can opt for a trial session at a minimal cost to find out if you gel well with the tutor. For an in-depth iTalki review, head straight to the Ling blog.
Stand Out Features
- iTalki provides access to a wide range of Tamil teachers with diverse backgrounds and teaching styles, allowing learners to find the perfect match.
- Learners can schedule lessons at their convenience, making it suitable for those with busy lifestyles or varying time zones.
- iTalki’s one-on-one approach ensures that lessons are tailored to the learner’s strengths, weaknesses, and goals, promoting efficient and effective learning.
Pricing
- The fees for Tamil courses vary ($5-$15) depending on the teacher’s qualifications and experience.
4. Tamil Virtual Academy: Best For Academic Courses
Tamil Virtual Academy (TVA) is a prominent online platform founded by the Government of Tamil Nadu, India, to promote and facilitate the learning of the Tamil language and its rich cultural heritage. Formerly known as Tamil Virtual University, the platform’s online courses range from shorter certificate programs intended to teach conversational skills to more comprehensive courses that delve deeper into the language and culture.
These academic-oriented courses and certificate/ diploma programs are suitable for beginners, intermediate learners, and those who wish to advance their proficiency in Tamil. The platform’s inclusive approach welcomes students, professionals, and Tamil enthusiasts from around the world. Moreover, these courses are designed to provide a holistic learning experience, and that’s the reason that they incorporate both written and spoken Tamil.
Stand Out Features
- TVA benefits from the support and resources of the Government of Tamil Nadu. This ensures the authenticity and reliability of its content.
- The online course also emphasizes the cultural aspects of Tamil Nadu by offering insights into traditions, history, and art. This makes for a well-rounded educational experience, especially for non-Indian students.
- TVA utilizes multimedia tools, including video lessons and interactive exercises, to engage learners effectively. This dynamic approach makes for an interesting and engaging learning experience.
Pricing
- Since this is a government initiative, the course registration fee is zero. Most of the courses are offered at a price as little as $5.
5. TamilCube: Best For Cultural Immersion
TamilCube is an online platform that offers a comprehensive Tamil language course accessible to learners worldwide. Founded by Dr. K. S. Ananda Kumar, an educator and a passionate advocate for the Tamil language, the platform aims to promote the Tamil language and culture. It caters to a diverse audience – beginners, intermediate learners, and those looking to enhance their Tamil language skills. Whether you’re a student, traveler, or anyone interested in Tamil, the platform has resources suitable for various needs.
TamilCube’s courses are well-structured as they offer lessons covering essential aspects of the Tamil language. These include Tamil grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and script. The platform offers a step-by-step approach to learning, making it suitable for self-paced study.
Stand Out Features
- TamilCube offers a substantial amount of free resources, including lessons, quizzes, and dictionaries, allowing learners to get started without financial barriers.
- The platform offers a range of courses well suited for different categories of learners. This allows learners to progress at their own pace and choose the level that suits their needs.
- In addition to language learning, it also provides insights into Tamil culture. For instance, the portal offers short courses and free services regarding astrology, horoscopes, and the Tamil calendar. It also offers a good selection of Tamil books.
Pricing
- Many of TamilCube’s resources and lessons are available for free.
- The platform also offers premium courses for those who desire more structured and comprehensive learning with reasonably priced fees.
6. Learn101: Best For Travelers
Learn101 is an online platform that provides a Tamil course designed for learners seeking a basic introduction to the language. The platform provides accessible introductory courses to beginners who want to gain a foundational understanding of the language. It’s suitable for learners who are curious about Tamil, perhaps for travel or cultural interest.
The course structure is designed to introduce learners to basic Tamil vocabulary and phrases. It covers essential topics such as greetings, numbers, common phrases, alphabet, and basic grammar. The lessons are relatively short and focus on practical language skills.
Stand Out Features
- Learn101’s Tamil course is entirely free. One simply has to open the website, click on the lesson and start learning. There is no registration required. This makes it an accessible Tamil learning option to a wide audience without any financial commitment.
- It is specifically designed for beginners, providing a gentle introduction to the Tamil language without overwhelming learners with complex grammar or vocabulary.
- It focuses on practical language skills that can be useful for everyday communication. This makes the platform relevant for travelers or those with casual language interests.
- It has a pretty useful section on Learning Tips that offers a ‘How-to’ guide for making the optimum use of a language course.
Pricing
- Free
Why Learn Tamil?
Tamil is an ancient and vibrant language with a captivating history that spans over 2,000 years. Originating in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka, the Tamil language is like a linguistic time capsule that is preserving centuries of culture and heritage. And because of this reason, Tamil has also been classified as a classical language.
This South Indian language is part of the Dravidian language family, which includes other Dravidian languages, such as Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, spoken in the southern regions of the country. In India, over 75 million people speak Tamil as their mother tongue, primarily hailing from regions like Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. But worldwide, it’s not just restricted to India alone. Tamil spread its linguistic charm to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and even pockets in other countries. In total, there are around 85 million native Tamil speakers across the globe.
Doesn’t that make Tamil seem like a delicious stew – blending flavors from various cultures? With so many fascinating features attached to it, Tamil is definitely a language to be learned. If not for its linguistic marvels (which are aplenty, no doubt), one may try to learn it simply in order to discover and explore the rich heritage and culture related to it.
Learn Tamil With Ling
All these were some platforms with which you can either kickstart your journey of learning Tamil or improve your spoken language skills. However, if you are looking for a fun and interactive tool to help you with your Tamil skills or aid as a supplementary tool to your online classes, why not try your hand at the Ling app? After all, it is one of the best apps for learning Tamil.
Ling is one of the fastest-growing language-learning platforms that boasts a fantastic app fortified with the latest technology (hello there, AI chatbot!) and a well-curated language-learning blog. Not only that, Ling is also the market leader when it comes to South Asian and Southeast Asian languages. The app offers learning courses for 60+ languages!
So, what are you waiting for? Head straight to your App Store or Play Store and download Ling now!
