Learn Korean! - Hangul 4+

Great for Beginners

I was a complete beginner with no experience in Korean language at all and learned the writing system in one 2 months from doing one of the lessons a day. If I had applied myself I could have learned it much faster. The program does give examples later in the third section that allude to some of the weird quirks but it will take some learning outside of the app to understand specific quirks like ‘when something says S but is pronounced as a T’ etc. there are times I’d have to sit and think “why is that?” Maybe only after the 5th time doing it in the app then I’d go online and read about Batchims. So this app gets you about 3/4th of the way there then you’ll learn the specifics if you’re interested afterward. Nearly perfect app, can’t recommend it more highly.

Not recommended

The app uses inconsistent romanization and crappy computerized pronunciation audio, making it impossible to actually learn how the Hangul syllables should be romanized or pronounced. It doesn’t explain any of the rules around voiced and unvoiced consonants, aspiration, consonant doubling, or pronunciation changes in final consonants - the hard parts of learning Hangul. Sections 2 and 3, on final consonants and vowel combinations, have their labels swapped. The writing exercises sometimes reject correct input for no discernible reason. The timing of the spaced repetition system is not explained anywhere, so you just have to guess when new reviews are coming up. If a character is incorrectly recognized as correct, there is no way to mark it wrong. The exercises include pretending to input Hangul on a keyboard, but the app highlights the correct keyboard buttons, so you don’t have to actually internalize how a Hangul keyboard is laid out. Most of the multiple choice questions do not require you to decipher the entire Hangul syllable - they can be answered if you know only the initial consonant of the syllable. In conclusion: useless!

Developer Response ,

Thank you for your feedback!

The audio files have been updated and the level descriptions have been fixed in the most recent update.

The keyboard quizzes highlight the key to hit the first time you see it but after that they are not highlighted so that you need to pick them by memory. If you miss a key it will highlight it as a reminder.

I am working on adding instructions for voices/unvoiced etc which will be out soon.

I will add a description for the SRS system. That’s a good idea.

I will work on making the multiple choice options trickier.

Love

Omgosh! I love this app! But now I want more combinations available for the sounds— especially the sounds difficult for Americans. I feel like repetition is so key. I would also like each letter separately with the name of the letter and perhaps a pronunciation tip, like sounds like g in front, k in middle and hm isn’t placed at end or like that at the end of a syllable. Advanced app like this would be SO VALUABLE!! practicing the kinesiology of tracing the letters is so great. The voices are nice. Being able to repeat them is awesome sauce. Please make an advance app like this!!
Maybe could also start with writing and pronouncing names and places.
I love you all for creating these apps!!