Korean From Zero! Review: Great for Beginners, but Has a Limited Scope

In my view, Korean From Zero! is a resource that doesn't get enough credit for those interested in learning Korean. It's particularly excellent for complete beginners with little to no prior knowledge of the language.

But is it suitable for other learners? Let me guide you through the complete details of this Korean learning program.

How to Use Korean From Zero!

Many second-generation Korean diaspora individuals like myself (and first-generation who grew up outside Korea) recall a time when the language was viewed as uncool and impractical during the '80s and '90s.

Some of us were actively or subtly discouraged from learning the language as children. Consequently, many are only now starting to think about learning or relearning it as adults. That was my situation not too long ago.

At that time, we were developing a Korean learning program at Lingflix, which is now fully operational.

I was enthusiastic about Lingflix launching a Korean program, and while waiting for the video platform, I searched for resources to build my basic language skills. I wanted something simple, somewhat thorough, practical, and ideally low-cost or free.

This proved more challenging than I expected, but I eventually began using the online version of Korean From Zero!, and it was the first program that truly resonated with me.

I'll explain more about its functionality shortly, but first, here's how you can access it.

Purchase the books on Amazon.

Korean From Zero! is available as a series of three books you can purchase on Amazon. You can buy them as e-books or paperbacks, and the website provides accompanying audio files.

Or use the materials online (free).

Some learners might prefer physical books, and I'm certain the creators appreciate compensation for their effort.

However, a key reason learners should know about Korean From Zero! is that it's a completely free learning option if you have a computer and internet access. You can begin learning right here.

The Goods: What You Get with Korean From Zero!

Three full courses that start at the very beginning and take you through the basics.

Whether you use the website or purchase the books, you gain access to three course levels designed to teach you the Korean language.

Lessons in each course are numbered, but the first course also includes a section of lettered lessons intended to teach you Hangul.

If you already know Hangul, you can skip these lettered lessons and begin with Lesson 1. Here's a general overview of what each level covers:

• The first course covers Hangul, numbers, self-introductions, questions, basic sentences, and other foundational topics.

• The second course explores polite, formal, and casual speech more deeply, and covers adverbs, periods of time, emotions, and more complex expressions.

• The third course teaches honorific forms, comparisons, indirect speech, and other advanced concepts that build upon knowledge from the first two courses.

Additionally, while not mandatory for the courses, there are helpful videos for learners on the Korean From Zero! YouTube channel (though it is no longer updated).

The Talk, Talk, Talk! series addresses various aspects of language and culture:

And Learn Korean in 5! offers brief lessons on language topics:

Concise explanations of Korean language concepts.

The explanations in Korean From Zero! are practical and not overly academic. They seem designed to support the language examples rather than dominate them.

Furthermore, charts and clean, simple graphics are frequently used to illustrate language concepts. The lessons are structured more like study notes than a formal lecture.

Lists of vocabulary and examples.

Each lesson focuses on one language concept and includes vocabulary lists and example sentences mixed with brief explanations.

The program explicitly acknowledges that you might want to learn practical phrases without first mastering all grammatical details. Therefore, each lesson strikes a good balance between understanding how the language works and learning the language itself.

Accompanying audio clips you can play when you need them.

All vocabulary lists and examples come with audio clips. You can choose to play an entire list of vocabulary or sentences continuously, or listen to each word or sentence individually.

The Pros: What Korean From Zero! Does Well

It’s hands-on.

With Korean From Zero!, you can start applying information immediately without lengthy preliminary explanations.

What I appreciate about Korean From Zero! is that it doesn't over-teach—it's there to assist you in teaching yourself. It provides the reasons behind language rules and a learning sequence, but the program isn't intrusive about it.

It’s flexible. You can move at your own pace.

Since the program's audio is organized into separate clips and playlists, you don't have to keep up with an entire audio lesson. You can use the audio alongside the text as required and replay clips as many times as you need.

It’s context-heavy.

Korean From Zero! provides numerous example sentences.

While there are explanations to read, every single point is immediately supported by examples.

The Cons: Limitations of Korean From Zero!

The courses will only take you so far.

These courses will teach you a considerable amount, but they won't lead you to fluency in Korean.

However, a significant advantage of Korean From Zero! is that it works very well alongside other materials. I would recommend that users also explore authentic resources.

The online version can be a little buggy.

I suspect this is likely because they are continuously working on program improvements. I've occasionally seen bits of code displayed on a page and experienced minor navigation issues within a lesson. But these have never stopped me from learning, and I'm not inclined to criticize material that allows me to learn Korean for free.

Also, there is a button you can use to report any bugs you find. I've never used it because nothing has been significantly disruptive, and any issues have typically been resolved quickly.

There’s no app version.

The lessons can still be used on a smartphone, though you will probably need to zoom in and out occasionally. The website isn't optimized for mobile use.

You could pair Korean From Zero! with a Korean learning app to have a resource readily available when you're away from your computer.

There are virtually no online practice exercises.

One of the most surprising aspects of the online version of Korean From Zero! was the absence of practice exercises.

Yes, the website excels at explaining Korean grammar, providing ample audio, and showing words in context, but without practice exercises, it can be difficult for the material to solidify.

Because of this, the online version of Korean From Zero! essentially functions as a reference guide for grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Who Korean From Zero! Is Good For

Those who want to learn from authentic media with a little bit of structure.

Authentic media is excellent, whether you're learning from Korean music, Korean movies, or Korean books. But diving straight into these can be challenging for beginners, and as Korean is a language isolate, learners often need more structure than with other languages.

If you prefer learning that isn't too academic or complicated, but find that K-dramas alone aren't sufficient as study material, Korean From Zero! could be a good fit for you.

Another alternative, if you're interested, is the Lingflix Korean program.

Those who prefer learning independently.

When deciding if Korean From Zero! is right for you, consider the perspective of this review: I've studied other languages independently and dislike being overly restricted in my learning methods. I don't enjoy resources that focus excessively on grammar before showing practical examples. Other Korean programs have frustrated me by emphasizing how difficult everything would be.

You might prefer detailed introductions to new topics and find the explanations in Korean From Zero! too brief. In that case, you might benefit from using it alongside another course.

Those who enjoy a straightforward format.

Learning Korean might not be as hard as some claim, but acquiring any language is challenging. We don't need programs that add unnecessary complexity.

With Korean From Zero!, you will still face difficulties, but you won't have to learn how to use the program on top of the language itself. You can quickly skip what you don't need and spend more time on challenging points. It's easy to follow and simple to customize to your needs.

If Korean From Zero! seems appealing, you risk very little by trying the online version or sampling an e-book from Amazon.

As it's such an adaptable and easy-to-access resource, it's probably useful to have available even if it doesn't become your main learning tool.

So consider having some KFZ with your KFC (that's Korean Fried Chicken).

Happy learning!