As Kpop and Korean drama has rapidly become the mainstream of the western world, many have started to pick up Korean nowadays. To learn Korean online has always been the first action for beginners. The starting point of learning a new language has always been the most challenging part of your study. It is always more efficient to have someone lead you initially, as Korean has so many differences no matter in grammar, structure, or pronunciation with English. Countless online Korean courses you can choose from the internet. This article will help you select the most suitable for each individual and explain each platform in detail.
Table of contents
Useful self-study resources to learn Korean online
Before jumping into online platforms, I believe most of you would prefer to test the water before dipping into Korean deeper. However, there are many ways you can start learning Korean as a beginner. Here are some collections from mine. The best practices, to begin with, will be textbooks, apps, and Youtube channels. Most of them are free and straightforward to understand.
Textbook
Talk to me in Korean series (Best material in conversational)
From saying the basic greetings to counting numbers and having natural yet straightforward conversations in Korean, you can learn the basics of the Korean language with this textbook. Total ten books from beginner to advanced and grammar focusing. You can also combine the materials with the online podcast from their website—a complete solution for Korean beginners with fundamentals.
500 basic Korean verbs (Best textbook for vocabulary)
This book contains 500 most common vocabulary words in Korean. Each of the 500 most important Korean verbs is presented in a convenient single-page format that gives the verb’s meaning and pronunciation and displays the verb’s 48 essential tenses, speech levels, and moods (all accompanied by romanizations). At the same time, it also included is a handy guide to the Korean language and verb conjugation and reference tables of basic Korean verb types, along with three indexes (Romanized, Hangeul, and English). Why not give yourself a try, and let’s see if you will be obsessed with Hangeul.
Topik (Best textbook for Topik exam)
Topik- The Test of Proficiency in Korean is a Korean language test for non-native speakers of Korean. The test is offered six times annually within Korea and less often to people studying Korean in other countries. This book is a comprehensive workbook for foreign students preparing for TOPIKⅠ. Preparation stage, type analysis, problem analysis, and application. You can choose different levels depending on your needs.
Ewha Korean (Best comprehensive material)
Ewha Korean is a perfect material for a more functional Korean learning seeker. Comprehensive explanation and details from speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Ewha Korean is a series of textbooks and workbooks, comprising 26 volumes from level 1 through level 6, for students learning Korean as a foreign language. Plus, The “Try it” section in each chapter is designed to help students improve their conversation skills without memorization by creating their dialogue according to a given situation and explaining the flow of the conference and vocabulary. Ewha is less focused on the culture but more focused on modern life.
Learn Korean with BTS (Most entertained material)
Do I need to explain more on this? (Any BTS fan here?) This is the most enjoyable way to learn Korean. The package includes an audiobook and touch pen, which can help you with Hanguel. Additionally, You can also learn Korean online with BTS. They provide free episodes online by each member of BTS explains all the details in the book and teaches you how to pronounce. Isn’t that great? And I am sure that most of the army will get this and keep your learning motivated.
Free Apps (Free learn Korean online resources)
- Lingodeer: if you are looking for something free of charge, you can try Lingodeer. There is a free section in the Lingodeer App called Travel Phrasebook, you can use this as a great way to memorize some basic Korean Phrases on the go. They also have a paid session where they designed 100 lessons for beginners in Hanguel and vocab.
- Hellotalk: HelloTalk app is a language learning app that lets you exchange your knowledge about a language with others. It aims to connect language learners to native speakers to facilitate different learning languages. Many Koreans use the app to find a language partner to practice with on Hellotalk.
- Duolingo- This app includes the most commonly used Korean vocabulary in the app and allows users to study. Duolingo Korean covers the most common language and phrases to communicate and write basic thoughts and ideas in the present, past, and future tenses. it is wholly free, but it doesn’t go into grammar details that much.
- Talk to me in Korean App- A creative and fun app to study with, most of the resources in the app are free. Many videos and audiobooks are in the app. Also, you can connect your study with the app, textbook, and website. However, it is excellent for academics but not much practice in the app.
- TenguGo hangul- Perfect app for Hangul (Hanguel) study. It teaches you from Korean cultures to each historical meaning of the Hangul. Many practices, quizzes, lessons, and flashcards are included in the app. In addition, the app provides vowel and consonant charts and instructions for reading and writing in Korean. This app is built for beginners, and you can pick up the language quickly by using the app.
Great Youtubes for beginners
Best platforms to learn Korean online
I will generate the list by the price from the lowest to highest. Information will include the lessons styles, teacher’s quality, and some unique features of the platforms. You can check all the pros and cons of them and find your favorite one. These six platforms are my personal favorite regarding learning Korean online.
Coursera- FREE!
Coursera is an online platform that offers a variety of different kinds of courses online with professor instructors from world top universities. First step Korean offered by Yonsei University, one of the top universities in South Korea. First Step Korean consists of five lessons, each class covers speaking, reading, writing, and listening. While the course is not interactive, it does provide a solid foundation in preparation for further study. Also, this course is free but you can pay an additional 49 dollars to get a certificate. If you need it to upgrade your resume, this course is definitely for you!
Teacher’s quality: This course is offered by one of the associate professors of Korean Language Education as a Foreign Language- Seung Hae Kang.
AmazingTalker – From 5 USD
AmazingTalker is an online teacher marketplace from Taiwan offering a variety of language specialisms to students globally of all ages. We offer personalized one-on-one online tutoring that can help you master Korean more quickly and know your needs more clearly. Trial classes start from 2 dollars, regular classes starting with 5 USD every 50 minutes. flexible schedules with no joining fee. It’s a great way to start your Korean learning more systematically with a low budget.
Teacher’s Quality: You can choose from selected certificated native Korean teachers from Korea or with choices of who can speak your mother tongue as well.
Udemy- Free to 199.99 USD per month
This well-known platform, Udemy offers different courses online, and the price will be alerted depending on the course. It is a beginner-friendly online platform that offers many lessons for beginners in other areas. You can learn at your own pace and choose the area you would love to study more. However, it has less interactive and has a limited scope of the content. You can find many free courses on Udemy for Korean, and the average paid courses are within 100 bucks.
Teacher’s quality: Depending on the course.
Italki – Starting from 10 USD per hour
The platform hosts over 15,000 teachers in 130+ different languages and focuses on human connection through mainly private video lessons. Italki is very similar to AmazingTalker. You can choose a list of Korean teachers from native to non-native with different years of experience. Starting from 10 USD per hour, prices also changed depending on the tutors.
Teacher’s quality: All teachers on Italki also set trial rates at a fraction of the price of hourly rates to ensure student satisfaction. Depending on your needs, teacher quality might be uncertain.
Talk to me in Korean- 12.99 per month or 93 use per year
If you are starting to learn Korean, you must have heard about TTMIK. If you are already an advanced learner, you must have learned from TTMIK once. TTMIK is a Seoul-based Korean team providing Korean online lessons for Korean learners. They have a wide range of free classes and paid products for beginners to advanced levels, including online audio and video courses, textbooks, Youtube channels, and podcasts. Reviews of TTMIK are primarily positive online, and it’s probably one of the most well-known Korean learning resources among Korean learners! You can study with your TTMIK app or online.
Teacher’s quality: Native Korean teacher with teaching experience.
90 days Korean- 35 USD per month or 240 USD per year
90 days Korean has ranked the best online course for Korean learners. The platform uses strategic goal-planning to help students create traction to propel them forward in their journey. It is a beginner-friends course that motivates beginners to complete their first stage of Korean learning in a year. In addition, this course is divided into four modules that last for 90 days, with weekly lesson plans. All four modules can be completed within a year. The core of 90 Day Korean is the Inner Circle, where each of the lessons is delivered via text, audio, exercises, and interactive games. However, You can also pay an additional fee for a private coach for your study.
Teacher’s quality: Trained professional native Korean teachers
The first three months are always the key to learning a new language.
Those are the top-ranking platforms for learning Korean online. Each of the platforms has its unique features and specialty. You want a more solid fundamental beginning, definitely go with 90 days Korean or TTMIK. If you want a more supportive and personalized start, you should choose AmazingTalker or Italki. If you’re going to learn Korean for a certificate, you can go with Coursera. Lastly, if you want to learn Korean for fun and are unsure what’s best for you, you can try Udemy for a one-time course.
I wish you all the best in your study!