Monday, January 13th
2025 Korean Lesson Reviews
italki
- Over 300 tutors to choose from
- Get a trial lesson for as little as $5
- Hourly rates start at $10
- Easy to work with tutors with years of experience
- Customized learning can include homework outside of the tutoring sessions
Learning Korean can be quite the challenge, especially when finding someone to practice with in your immediate circle is tough. But fear not, italki is here to save the day. This awesome service connects you with community tutors (people without official teaching credentials) and professional teachers (those who've got the credentials) for personalized Korean lessons through video. Many of the tutors also have a curriculum for you to follow outside of your one-on-one sessions, so that you can come to your tutoring time after studying your Korean lessons in advance and practice what you've been working on.
Shopping for a tutor is fun
Browsing through the profiles of over 300 Korean tutors on italki is a blast. Watch their intro videos to get a feel for their vibe, see if you can understand them in English, and decide if they're the right fit for you. You can even add your favorites to a list by clicking the little heart next to their name. While there are some filters to help narrow down your search, like other languages they speak or if they're a native speaker of Korean, they don't cover all of the bases we'd like to see (like filters for ratings, number of completed lessons, or how long they've been on italki). In those areas, you'll have to do a bit of digging on your own.
Some tutors have taught thousands of lessons on italki
As you browse, you'll see there are lots of tutors on italki who are just starting out or have only done a handful of lessons. But, there are also plenty who've been around the block and have racked up hundreds (or thousands) of successful student sessions. Take Rosa, for example. Even though she's designated as a "community tutor”, she still had nearly 12,000 completed lessons to her credit and a perfect 5-star average from student reviews. There's also professional teacher "Shinnie”, with 11 years of teaching experience and almost 10,000 lessons completed on italki with a 5-star average as well.
Plenty of info on each profile
When you click on a tutor's profile, you'll find all sorts of info about how they teach Korean, their background, and what kinds of lessons they offer. For instance, Shinnie offers a trial lesson for $22, regular classes for $29 and customized lesson packages. You can see how many lessons he's completed in each category, with his most popular being a 20-lesson package discount (nearly 3,000 people purchased it).
Schedule your Korean lessons via online calendar
Booking lessons is a breeze on italki. The site detects your computer's time and shows you lesson times in your own time zone. Just click on a tutor's calendar to see when they're available. We were able to book a lesson with Shinnie the same day as our review, and there were tons of open slots in the coming week. Just be aware that it shows the calendar in 4-hour blocks, and when you hover over one of them, it'll show you how much appointment time is available within that block (from 8a-12p, there may be two hours of open time, but from noon to 4p there are 3.5 hours open).
Students love their Korean tutors here
italki gets lots of love from users, with both the platform and individual tutors earning rave reviews. It's reassuring to read through student feedback and see just how effective and comfortable it is to learn Korean one-on-one with a tutor. Again, going back to Shinnie as our example, his reviews from grateful students describe his unique methods for teaching, his positive attitude, and his friendly demeanor. Some of his students have worked with him for over a year: solid evidence that italki is here to stay (and so are many of the Korean tutors).
Trial lessons often at a discounted rate
Plus, this could be one of your most affordable ways to learn Korean, especially for conversation. Most tutors offer a discounted-rate trial lesson, to let you get a feel for their teaching style and see if it seems like the right match. In the past, some of those trial lessons were as low as $1, but we're honestly glad to see that that's gone up (because the tutors' time is worth more than that). Most trial rates we saw at the time of this updated review were at least $5 for the first lesson, and hourly rates ranged anywhere from $10 and up after that. What you'll pay will naturally depend on the tutor you select and the type of Korean lessons you choose from what he or she offers. A 30-minute lesson for a child will probably be at a different rate than an intensive prep session for the TOPIK exam, for example.
Not for the shy or for learners in quiet environments
While italki is fantastic for personalized learning, it might not be everyone's cup of tea. If you're someone who feels self-conscious about making mistakes or gets a bit anxious interacting directly with others, learning Korean through italki could feel a bit intimidating. Also, you'll need a decent internet connection and a quiet space to chat freely. These aren't Korean lessons you can quietly study while on the bus or in a library.
Top choice for improving conversational Korean and more
Despite these minor drawbacks, italki gets a big thumbs up from us for helping people learn Korean like a pro. While other platforms might teach you how to read or write Korean, italki really shines when it comes to getting your speaking skills up to speed. So if you're not surrounded by Korean speakers in your community, italki is hands down the best way to work on your fluency.
More Korean Lesson Reviews
The 11 Best Korean Lessons
Where Can You Get the Best Korean Lessons Online?
There are many reasons why people learn the Korean language. Maybe you're a K-drama fan eager to understand your favorite binge-worthy series without relying on subtitles. Or perhaps you're eyeing a career opportunity in South Korea and want to impress your future colleagues with your language skills. And let's not forget the thrill of traveling to Korea and being able to navigate the streets and connect with locals in their own language.
Learning Korean does come with its unique challenges compared to languages like Spanish or French. For starters, there's Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, which is surprisingly easy to pick up - but still requires some practice. Then there's the grammar, with its subject-object-verb word order and intricate honorifics system that adds layers of nuance to your speech.
Korean Lesson FAQ
Continued from above...
But don't let that intimidate you. With dedication and the right resources, you'll find yourself making steady progress in no time. You'll be opening doors to a whole new world of culture, entertainment, and connections that come with being able to speak Korean fluently.
Learning Korean online gives you plenty of options to choose from, each tailored to suit different learning styles and preferences. You can dive into listening-only programs, where you focus on authentic conversations to sharpen your ear for the language. If you're into games, you might enjoy gamified platforms that turn learning Korean into a fun challenge, with points and rewards (and streaks) to keep you motivated.
Interactive courses are another great choice, offering a mix of videos, quizzes, and exercises that give you instant feedback and guidance. They're perfect if you like a structured approach to Korean that covers all the bases, from reading and writing to speaking and listening.
Or maybe you're more of a people person and thrive on interaction. In that case, tutoring platforms would be your go-to. You can connect with native speakers for real conversations and cultural exchange, making learning Korean a social experience.
Ready to get started? There are so many Korean lessons to choose from, it could feel a bit overwhelming to know which one to use. Here are some things to keep in mind as you get excited about learning and want to pick the right platform:
- Current fluency level. Do you already speak (or read) some Korean? Or are you a newbie? No shame in that game. Make sure you choose the Korean lessons that match where you're at.
- Method of language instruction. How are the Korean lessons delivered? Is it through an app, audio files, an internet browser on your laptop, or something else? What do you think will work best for your learning style?
- Listening, speaking, reading, writing. Do the language lessons teach you Korean mostly through listening and speaking, through reading and writing, or a mix of all four modalities? We're all for being well-rounded language learners, and because Korean uses a different alphabet than the one you're reading right now, you can't fake your way into reading it unless you know how the letters are pronounced and combined to make syllables and words. Keep that in mind if you're using Korean lessons that are primarily audio-based.
- Cost. What will you pay for your Korean language lessons? Is it a one-time fee or an ongoing subscription? If there's a free option, what do you get at no cost and is it worth it to upgrade?
- Learner reviews. Pay close attention to what other Korean students say about their experience with the lesson platform. Did they experience a meaningful improvement in their fluency by using it? How long did it take to see improvements?
To help you find the right Korean lessons for your language goals and favorite way of learning, the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have tried some of today's most popular options and given you an honest take on what you can expect from each one. So what are you waiting for? Dive in and start your Korean learning journey today!
Compare Korean Lessons
Select any 2 Korean Lessons to compare them head to head
Trending Korean Lessons News
Related Korean Lesson Reviews
Since you're interested in Korean Lessons, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.
Newest Reviews
