Pimsleur Korean Review: How Effective is Pimsleur for Learning Korean?
Korean is the national language of both North and South Korea, and is spoken by more than 80 million people worldwide – mostly in the Korean Peninsula, but also in diaspora communities across the world.
And given the language’s surge in popularity, thanks to the K-wave or 한류 hallyu (growing international interest in Korean culture through K-dramas, K-pop, K-lit, K-beauty, fashion, and cuisine), new Korean speakers are surfacing around the globe.
If you’re interested in learning Korean, you’ve come to the right place. The Pimsleur Method™, our scientifically-proven technique for acquiring foreign languages, gives you the tools, resources, and confidence to learn Korean quickly and efficiently.
Pimsleur’s Korean reviews cite our app’s easy-to-learn format, well-rounded features, audio-focused approach, and much more. With so many learning apps available, it’s beneficial to understand The Pimsleur Method for learning Korean and how we compare to other language learning platforms.
The Pimsleur Approach to Learning Korean
Is Pimsleur® good for learning Korean? With our unique, proprietary techniques for acquiring a new language, we certainly think so! And so do thousands of our customers all over the world.
Developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur, his method emphasizes learning organically, the way a child learns their first language. The success of his approach, detailed below, is reflected in the Pimsleur reviews of our Korean courses.
Audio-first, Conversation-focused Learning
If you have 30 minutes to spare per day, you have enough time to learn Korean with Pimsleur. Our courses and lessons develop and strengthen your ability to speak and listen to Korean naturally. Relying on aural (listening) and oral (speaking) skills, Pimsleur’s Korean lessons help you develop the rhythms and intonations of Korean. Instead of passively repeating phrases and words, we help you actively learn Korean by anticipating what comes next in a conversation. With lessons anchored to real-life conversations, you’ll be learning Korean in context, which helps your brain create long-lasting associations with new vocabulary.
Daily Lessons That Fit Your Schedule
Many Pimsleur reviews of our Korean lessons call out the accessible, flexible, on-the-go learning opportunities built into our app. The Pimsleur app makes anytime a great time for learning Korean. Pimsleur’s hands-free driving mode is ideal for busy professionals, students, or anyone looking to learn Korean in those in-between moments of the day. With core audio lessons as the backbone of Pimsleur’s courses, it’s easy to build core vocabulary and conversational phrases without being tied to a screen.
Structured but Flexible Progression
There are five levels in our Korean program, with 30 lessons per level. That’s 30 core audio lessons plus all the features that come with each audio lesson. These features, our AI Voice Coach, Digital Flash Cards, Quick Match, Readings, Speak Easy, and Speed Round, deepen and extend learning. They incorporate new vocabulary from the core audio lesson for additional practice, and add text, speed, and rhythm to enhance your learning. In our Korean courses, Readings introduce Hangul, the modern Korean alphabet. Pimsleur lessons build upon each other, so as you progress, lessons reinforce concepts already covered. This allows your brain to convert new vocabulary into core vocabulary, retaining it in long-term memory. You’ll quickly see why Pimsleur is great for learning Korean.
Pros and Cons of Learning Korean with Pimsleur
Pros
The Pimsleur Method for acquiring Korean draws a direct line between you and the language. Our easy-to-follow platform is scientifically proven to build genuine conversational fluency. Ideal for anyone looking to learn Korean, Pimsleur is especially perfect for learners who’d like to build conversational skills; increase a high-frequency, contextualized vocabulary; and improve their pronunciation. With our core audio lessons and supplemental features, your Korean language skills will be modeled after expert, native speakers. Pimsleur allows you to develop the natural melodies of a language.
Cons
Some Pimsleur Korean reviews mention that our app is not free. Our platform provides high-quality native speakers, lessons aligned with research-backed methods, and frequent updates to our content. So, in this case, reviewers will note that you get what you pay for…and with Pimsleur, you’ll be pleased with how far your purchase goes! Others note that they prefer more writing and grammar exercises. Pimsleur infuses our audio lessons with applicable grammar rules so that learners hear them in action. We are not providing the grammar drills from your middle school foreign language class, rather we tune your ear to picking up on these language structures in context. Finally, the controlled pace of Pimsleur’s lessons can frustrate some learners; however, you can always accelerate your own learning curve as needed.
Korean Course Structure and Features
Number of Lessons & Levels
Pimsleur’s Korean lessons, as part of the lifetime Korean subscription, focus on practical, real-world, conversational applications. You’ll learn how to jump into a real-life conversation by listening and speaking from the first lesson. Each 30-minute lesson (there are 150 in all, a positive theme in Pimsleur Korean reviews) homes in on correct phrasing, pronunciation (supported by our AI Voice Coach), and vocabulary expansion—all to get you speaking conversationally quickly.
Key Tools and Practice Features
In addition to core audio lessons and courses, Pimsleur offers helpful practice features, all geared toward increasing your conversational capabilities. These include:
- Digital Flash Cards
- Quick Match
- Speed Round
- Speak Easy
- Bonus Packs
- Reading Lessons
- AI Voice Coach with real-time pronunciation feedback
How Pimsleur Korean Compares to Other Apps
Rosetta Stone
Pimsleur reviews of Korean show a marked contrast with Rosetta Stone, which provides heavy visual immersion, meaning lots of screen time. Meanwhile, Pimsleur’s core audio lessons require no screen time and get you listening and speaking the language from the first day.
Duolingo
Duolingo eschews conversational practice for a more gamified approach to acquiring Korean. While this process can increase the fun factor, practical application and real-world speaking skills are hard to master in this format. Pimsleur’s realistic, conversational audio lessons provide opportunities to grow your speaking skills – and use them right away!
Babbel
While Babbel focuses on grammar skills, Pimsleur takes a more well-rounded approach. Our grammar notes are brought up in the audio lesson, in context. And we have a couple of Korean Minis that focus specifically on grammar topics. Because of this grammar focus, Babbel offers less oral repetition than Pimsleur offers.
Busuu
While Busuu caters more to those wanting to write a new language and pick up critical grammar skills, Pimsleur is best for true language retention – critical for applying newly-learned concepts to practical conversations.
Is Pimsleur Worth It for Learning Korean?
Pimsleur’s proven language acquisition techniques are perfect for any learner who thrives in a speaking and listening environment – and studies show this is a proven way to learn Korean effectively.
Simply put, Pimsleur is one of the most effective tools to speak Korean confidently. And we provide more than Korean, if you’re ambitious. The Pimsleur catalog has more than 50 languages, all accessible immediately with an All-Access Subscription.
If you’re ready to hit the ground running with your Korean studies, and you’d like to start speaking the language conversationally in a matter of weeks, get started today!
