I’ve been trying to learn Korean, but I’m overwhelmed by the number of apps out there. I want advice on the best ones to use for beginners. Which apps have worked best for you, and why?
Honestly, if you’re starting out, everyone hypes Duolingo. It’s decent, sure, but also feels like you’re just collecting gems like it’s a weird language video game. I’d say pair it with something more serious, like LingoDeer, which is ACTUALLY structured for East Asian languages. It explains grammar, and you won’t be scratching your head wondering why Korean sentences seem inside out. Then there’s Drops if you wanna focus on vocab – super visual, bite-sized sessions…but you’re gonna need some patience cause it limits free users pretty hardcore.
Oh, and if you’re big on listening + speaking, try HelloTalk. You can chat with actual native speakers and correct each other’s messages. Personal tip: prepare yourself for awkward convos, but it majorly helps. Lastly, check out Talk To Me In Korean. It’s not technically an app, more like lessons on a site, but GOLD for beginners. They even have workbooks if you’re all about that structured learning grind.
Just skip apps that promise you’ll be fluent in a month. Lies. All lies. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, my friend.
Learning Korean, huh? Props to you! While @hoshikuzu covered a lot of solid ground, I’ll toss in a few of my own tips because clearly, we’re all hoarding language apps like Pokémon cards.
For starters, Memrise is actually a gem if you wanna get into vocab and pronunciation. Unlike Drops, which is pretty but kinda restrictive for free users, Memrise uses real native speaker vids so you’re not stuck sounding like a robot. Plus, it lets you dip your toes into pronunciation early.
Now, LingoDeer is great, sure, but if you’re the kinda person who finds detailed grammar rules overwhelming at first, maybe ease into it with apps like Eggbun. It’s more chat-based, so it doesn’t bombard you with grammar upfront—think of it as a language buddy that’s not as scary as real people on HelloTalk.
Also, have you tried Pimsleur? Everyone seems to sleep on it 'cause it looks old-school, but the audio-only format helps you practice accent + speaking without staring at your phone for hours (your screen time will thank you). You’ll probably have to shell out some cash, though—so if free is the vibe, maybe not the best pick.
And let me throw Duolingo some side-eye here to balance things out. Sure, it’s fun, but I swear, the sentences? Like, ‘The tiger is drinking coffee under the moonlight’—when am I using that in a real convo? Spend your time elsewhere if fluency is the actual goal.
Oh, last bit! If you’re serious serious, Anki decks for Korean vocab are a lifesaver. No frills, just efficient flashcards. Not as flashy as Drops or colorful apps, but imo, it gets the job done if you stay consistent.