Friday, January 17th
2025 Korean Lesson Reviews
Rosetta Stone
- $47.97 for 3 months of Korean lessons
- $126 for 12 months of Korean lessons
- $199 for lifetime access to all 25 Rosetta Stone languages
- Teaches Korean through immersion
- Voice recognition tool helps you practice your accent
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Rosetta Stone is a language learning platform renowned for its immersive and intuitive approach to language acquisition. Founded in 1992 by Allen Stoltzfus, Rosetta Stone utilizes dynamic immersion techniques that mimic the way people learn their first language.
Immersion learning
Rosetta Stone focuses on visual and auditory cues rather than translation. Through interactive lessons, learners engage in real-life scenarios and conversations to develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Rosetta Stone's emphasis on immersion and contextual learning has made it a popular choice over the years.
No free trial, just a 30-day money-back guarantee
Unfortunately, since our last evaluation, Rosetta Stone has done away with the 3-day trial it used to offer. Now, you'll have to pull the trigger and buy a subscription to the platform ($47.97 for 3 months of Korean lessons, $126 for a year, or $199 for lifetime access to all of the languages in the Rosetta Stone catalog), relying on the 30-day satisfaction guarantee if you don't love the way the Korean lessons are structured. Given what a hassle and waste of time it is to cancel things in general, we aren't thrilled that Rosetta Stone doesn't offer that preview anymore.
Immersion is tough when learning a new alphabet
But, here's what we can tell you about the way Rosetta Stone teaches Korean, so you can decide for yourself if you want to give it a go. The intuitive approach that the lessons take is better suited for languages like Spanish or French, where the alphabets are familiar even if the pronunciation isn't. But, that immersive style is downright daunting for newcomers who are trying to tackle Korean's unique Hangeul writing system.
Some help from English prompts would be nice
When you first start the Korean course, you're asked to pick your skill level and learning goals, as well as your speaking profile to tailor the experience. But as you dive into the lessons, you're bombarded with Korean words and images without any English crutches. And forget about getting help with pronunciation - there's no Romanization here to guide you as you try to use the voice recognition tool to practice speaking. So, you're left trying to match sounds to unfamiliar characters without a roadmap, which can be frustrating.
Extras aren't much help
Yes, Rosetta Stone throws in some extra features like the ability to skip around lessons and explore more content. But even these extras don't make the Korean lessons any clearer. The Grammar section, for example, offers more of the same - just more images and words in Korean without any real explanations. It's like trying to solve a puzzle without knowing what the picture is supposed to look like.
Better options available
We used to tell prospective students to try Rosetta Stone's Korean lessons for a day or two before subscribing, to make sure that they wouldn't be frustrated by the immersion-based approach to language instruction. Now, we can't even do that. Our experiences with using Rosetta Stone for Korean were so underwhelming, it's hard for us to recommend it even with a 30-day refund policy to minimize the financial risk of giving the platform a try.
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
