Korean music, Korean dramas and Korean film have pulled a lot of people toward the language, and most of the big apps have a Korean course ready for them. Babbel does not.
That gap is real, and it is not an accident. Here is what sits behind it, the two apps worth using instead, and where to start.
Does Babbel Have Korean?
No. Babbel does not offer a Korean course, and it has not announced one. Its course list is built around European languages, with Indonesian as the only Asian language on it, so Korean learners need a different app.
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Why Is There No Korean On Babbel?
With Korean media being so popular, it would seem like a no-brainer to have Korean lessons available to help those wanting to learn the language. So why does Babbel not offer Korean? Let’s try to work this out.
Which Languages Does Babbel Teach?
A quick glance at the Babbel website shows that the number of courses they offer is actually quite limited. In fact, only (arguably) one language from Asia is on that list: Indonesian. This leads me to believe that Babbel either is not particularly focused on Asian languages or otherwise it has not yet expanded its library to cover it.
Essentially, their focus is not on Korean or other Asian languages, but elsewhere instead. Are they continuing to build up their portfolio of available European languages first before moving onto the Asian region? Only time can tell. For the time being, prospective Korean learners will need to look elsewhere to get their fix.
Does The Korean Alphabet Make A Course Harder To Build?
Another interesting thing to point out is that Russian is the only language offered by Babbel that uses an alphabet other than the Latin one (Cyrillic in this case). As you may know, Bahasa Indonesia uses an adapted version of the Latin alphabet. This means that, in terms of teaching, there can be a lot less focus on this aspect of the language. This may play a part in things.
The use of a unique alphabet in Korean, however intuitive it has been designed, may be another consideration that is preventing them from creating lessons for Korean. The process of teaching how to identify, recognize, and pronounce this aspect of the language may be time-consuming beyond everything else that must be taught.
What Are The Alternatives To Babbel?
Two apps cover Korean properly, and neither of them is waiting on Babbel to catch up.
Ling
There is one very obvious recommendation that can be made here, and that is the Ling app. It uses native Korean speakers, so the words sound the way they will sound in the country. What the Korean course gives you:
- Flashcards with images, translations and native speaker audio
- Writing lessons that take Hangul stroke by stroke
- Dialog, for interactive conversation practice
- Mini-games and a review that brings back the words you miss
For an introvert like me, it helps to build up my courage to eventually feel confident enough to use it when out and about. What sets Ling apart from the other apps is the focus on practical vocabulary, sentences, and phrases that you will use in everyday speech.
Seemile
Seemile is a Korean-only app built by Korean teachers, and it covers Hangul, grammar, vocabulary and TOPIK preparation. It is narrower than Ling by design, so it works best as a second app next to a full course rather than on its own.
What Else Can You Use To Learn Korean?
There are quite a few different apps and websites that work great to help you to learn Korean. Each one goes about its own way to replace the hole made by the lack of Korean on Babbel. Ultimately, it is a case of finding which option works best for your case.
As we said before, it is good to make a language learning plan and mix things up if you are serious about this. If you are just looking for a more casual experience before traveling, start with a handful of basic Korean words and phrases, or work through the Korean alphabet first.
Frequently Asked Questions About Korean On Babbel
Does Babbel Have A Korean Course?
No. Babbel does not teach Korean and has not announced a course. Its list is built around European languages, with Indonesian as the only Asian language on it.
Which App Teaches Korean Best For A Beginner?
Ling, because it starts with Hangul in its Writing lessons and pairs every word with native speaker audio. Seemile is a reasonable second app if you want TOPIK practice alongside it.
Is The Korean Alphabet Hard To Learn?
Hangul was designed to be intuitive, so it is not the obstacle it looks like from the outside. Learning to identify, recognize and pronounce its letters still takes practice, which is why a good app teaches the alphabet before anything else.
No Need To Wait To Learn Korean
It is a bummer that Babbel does not offer Korean, but that is no reason to put the language off. You can start this week with an app that does teach it.
- Writing lessons that take you through Hangul stroke by stroke
- Flashcards with images, translations and native speaker audio
- Dialog, for interactive conversation practice
- Mini-games, streaks and daily goals to keep you going
Plans start at $16.99, with $64.99 and $89.99 options, and there is a 7-day free trial if you want to look around first.
If Korean is the one you have been waiting on, start learning the Korean language with Ling today.
