Learning a new language is hard – in fact, it’s often VERY hard.
This is more true than ever when it comes to Korean. Although certain aspects of the language are easier than others, Korean is regarded as one of the hardest languages in the world to learn for those of use coming from Latin-based languages.
It is for this reason that today I want to share with you what I believe to be the best way to learn Korean – a website named 90 Day Korean.
In this post I am going to give you an introduction to the website as well as an overview of what you can expect. I think that 90 Day Korean is a fantastic way to learn Korean, and I want to share my experiences with it.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please refer to my affiliate disclaimer. I was given temporary free access to 90 Day Korean for the purposes of this review. However, I would never recommend a product or service that I don’t believe in.
Why 90 Day Korean Is the Best Way to Learn Korean
90 Day Korean is unique in the way that it teaches students, and this is what sets it apart from the competition. The idea behind 90 Day Korean is simple, and best stated on their website:
‘We help people learn to have a 3 minute conversation in Korean in the first 90 days. From there we help people hit their Korean goals using 90 day goalposts.’
In other words, you will be setting 3-monthly goals and working towards them. The most important thing here, however, is the 3 minute conversation within 90 days.
Where many services try to make you memorise grammar, or to teach you largely irrelevant content, 90 Day Korean sticks to the basics. The language parts that you need to know to have a 3 minute conversation within 90 days.
After living in Korea and taking many language classes (including, but not limited to those offered by Ewha University and Korea University) I appreciate the simple goal of this website.
The goal that 90 Day Korean sets is achievable and useful. Where many courses try to advertise how you will be fluent within a year or two, realistically that is impossible for most people.
Being able to hold a 3 minute conversation in Korean within 90 days though, now that’s something that is very reasonable and if you study often, very achievable.
Why wait? Start learning Korean today for free! Learn to read Korean in under one hour!
90 Day Korean Courses
Although the goal of 90 Day Korean is to allow you to hold a 3 minute conversation, this is far from the only course offered.
The courses are divided into many different sections that focus on different aspects of the language. I will cover some of the main courses provided here. However, please remember that things are always changing, and there is always new content!
Inner Circle Courses
These are the bread and butter courses of 90 Day Korean. In other words, these are the core classes that will lead you to the 90 day goal. You will spend the majority of your time on these classes!
At the time of writing, there are 4 modules. The first one (to hold a 3 minute conversation) is a 5 week course that is broken down into achievable parts.
Each module is broken down into ‘weeks’, which are then broken down even further into lessons. This system gives users a clear path to follow and prevents the feeling of being overwhelmed which is all too common when learning a new language.
Each week contains 10-12 lessons, one of which is usually a quiz. Depending on your speed of learning, these lessons can take from 10 to 30 minutes. From there, you can take notes and study further if needed.
Within each week there will be a quiz. These quizzes aren’t the stressful kind that you might be used to, but rather they exist for you to test your skills without pressure. If you don’t do well, you can always study and take the quiz again soon!
The courses are broken down into manageable chunks.
Although the Inner Circle Courses are the basis of 90 Day Korean, they are far from all that is offered.
Korean Gym
The next section of the website is the Korean Gym, and this is the section that is intended for memorisation of words and for shorter study sessions.
Although this section is meant for memorisation, it isn’t the same as what you might be expecting. Where many services simply make you repeat the word over and over until you remember, 90 Day Korean makes many analogies and associations.
This way of studying is proven to be more effective and it feels that way. Although not all associations are relevant for everyone, the website also explains how to make your own.
This way of learning is not only more fun than simple repetition, but it’s also more productive and efficient.
Just a few of the courses available in the Korean Gym.
The Korean Gym is constantly expanding, and you can expect to find new courses over time. Currently, you can learn everything from technology lingo to weather and feelings lingo.
These are repeatable whenever you want, and they are very easily accessible. When you only have 10 minutes and don’t have time to do an Inner Circle Course, the Korean Gym is ideal!
My Korean Coach
The next section of 90 Day Korean is what truly impressed me with the platform. Before I explain why, it’s important to remember that 90 Day Korean is actually a relatively cheap language course.
Your Korean coach will help you not only with the language, but also with goal setting.
My Korean Coach is essentially a private tutor that you get within the platform. While they aren’t always around to help you instantly, they will get back to you with answers to your Korean questions as quickly as they can (and usually this is pretty fast!).
The Korean Coach can also check your work, give you pointers, and tell you what to do next. They are available from Monday to Friday 9am – 9pm.
This is a service that is usually charged at a high premium, and getting personal help is a massive bonus with 90 Day Korean. When I signed up, I was expecting the courses and flash cards. What I didn’t expect was personalised help when I need it!
Community
The final ‘main’ area within the platform is the community section. This section acts as a community forum, however, it also has a few more hidden benefits!
The forum is dedicated to Korean language and culture, and through it you can expect to find sub forums related to learning Korean, Kpop, and life in Korea.
The community has many different sections and topics!
Within the community, however, there are also some extra learning sections. Videos and podcasts are posted here, and many of these are very useful for anyone learning Korean.
On top of this, you will also find invitations for 90 Day Korean members to join events that take place from time to time. Just a few weeks ago, the first live chat was started for members.
Events like this are a great way to learn Korean in a different format. While it’s great to have worksheets and books to study, being able to talk, listen and watch is invaluable for learning another language.
Other Resources
The last section in 90 Day Korean is the ‘other resources’ section. This section contains external resources that are helpful for learning Korean and includes many different websites and platforms.
This isn’t really an official part of the platform, but it is a nice addition and something that many people will find helpful. Even better, many of these resources can be accessed for free!
90 Day Korean App
A big benefit of 90 Day Korean is that they offer an application that functions very similarly to the website. The app has a lot of free resources and also includes access to the members area and the Inner Circle course.
Some screenshots from within the app.
The Inner Circle courses function almost identically within the app and on the website, and this is because both run from the website. However, it’s very convenient to have a separate application as it is not only faster, but also more organised.
The addition of an application is beneficial for a few reasons. The biggest benefit though is that it provides many quick lessons that can be studied while commuting or between other activities.
Cost
One of the biggest questions about language courses is ‘how much does it cost?’.
It’s important to remember that 90 Day Korean is a premium language learning service. You get access to very well designed courses which are some of the best I have ever seen.
On top of this, you get access to all kinds of other things. At times, live chat rooms are held (so you can practice speaking Korean), you get access to podcasts, videos, a community of others also learning Korean and even a language coach.
90 Day Korean costs $35 per month or $239 per year for the non-coaching plan, and $47 per month or $327 per year for the coaching plan. Even better, they also offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you find the platform to not be to your liking.
With that being said, 90 Day Korean also offers some fantastic free resources that you can try before purchasing.
Sign up for 90 Day Korean here!
My Experience With 90 Day Korean
The courses are understandable and manageable.
Although there is still a lot for me to do within the platform, I have done enough to now give my personal experience and review of 90 Day Korean.
As I mentioned earlier, I appreciate that 90 Day Korean takes a new approach to learning Korean. I have done other Korean classes and courses before and they always tend to focus greatly on memorisation.
While memorisation is a very important part of language learning, it’s often inefficient and time consuming (not to mention boring!). 90 Day Korean, however, brings new teaching methods to the table and this is a relief!
The platform provides a fun way to learn in manageable lessons. The addition of a private tutor and community make it even more enjoyable, and also provide a way to get help when you need it.
It is for these reasons that I recommend 90 Day Korean. It’s a valuable platform for anyone looking to study Korean, and it’s also very affordable for all that it offers.
Final Verdict – Is 90 Day Korean Worth it?
I love the sense of community that comes with 90 Day Korean.
Yes, I believe that 90 Day Korean is a fantastic way to learn Korean. Although there are many platforms out there, 90 Day Korean has been well established for many years and is one of (if not) the best when it comes to learning Korean.
The fact that the platform ONLY teaches Korean is a big benefit. All focus is put into the Korean classes, and this is one of the biggest advantages.
Pros
- Lessons and classes are divided into manageable chunks. This is something that I truly appreciated as it made following the lessons far easier. It also gave me daily, weekly, and monthly goals.
- Gamification. 90 Day Korean offers points for doing certain activities. These points then add up to badges which you can show off. This gamification makes the platform a fun and interactive way to learn, and it also provides an incentive to study.
- More than just a textbook. 90 Day Korean offers listening exercises, reading, writing, and even speaking. You also get a language assistant, and a community to help you!
- Friendly community. You aren’t the only person studying Korean, and there are hundreds more on 90 Day Korean. The community is active and you can always discuss Korea or get language assistance here!
- Affordable. Although the platform isn’t free, it’s far cheaper than the alternatives. Especially considering how fully-fledged the platform is!
- Realistic goals. Where many platforms advertise ‘fluent in one year’ or other incredibly hard goals, 90 Day Korean focuses on what’s realistic. This means that you always feel like you are moving closer to your goals.
Cons
- Some sections (such as the Korean Gym) feel like they could use more content. However, I can understand that adding content takes a long time as their courses are the most in-depth that I have seen.
- Until you get used to it, the website can be hard to navigate. It may take you a few days to get fully used to the website and learn how to navigate properly.
Try 90 Day Korean!
90 Day Korean has different courses available depending on what you are looking for, and I recommend looking through them to see which option is best for you.
If you want to try 90 Day Korean without paying, why not refer to their free resources? They have a lot of them and they are very informative! You can find their blog here.
Begin your journey towards Korean fluency today! Sign up here.
90 Day Korean FAQ
Is 90 Day Korean a Good Way to Learn Korean?
In my honest opinion, yes. Not only is it one of the more affordable options (considering the range of resources that you get access to), but it also sets realistic language goals and helps you reach those.
How Much Does 90 Day Korean Cost?
90 Day Korean costs $35 per month or $239 per year for the non-coaching plan, and $47 per month or $327 per year for the coaching plan. This includes access to everything that 90 Day Korean has to offer.
What Are the Benefits of 90 Day Korean?
90 Day Korean provides very complete modules that contain everything that you need to know to learn Korean. You can also get access to a personal coach, a community discussion board, and even online video conferences!
Does 90 Day Korean Have a Free Plan?
Unfortunately not. However, they do have a money-back guarantee so you can rest assured. Further, they offer many free resources on their blog.