Get 40% OFF with the You Can Speak sale! Hurry! Ends soon!
Get 40% OFF with the You Can Speak sale! Hurry! Ends soon!
KoreanClass101.com Blog
Learn Korean with Free Daily
Audio and Video Lessons!
Start Your Free Trial 6 FREE Features

Archive for the 'Site Features' Category

Premium PLUS: The Golden Ticket for Language-Learning

Thumbnail

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with languages?

Do you desire to learn or advance in Korean quickly and effectively?

Then you need a Korean tutor.

A common question that first-time language-learners ask is “Where do I begin?” The answer? Guidance.

For native English-speakers who want to learn Asian languages, for example, timelines provided by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute can appear discouraging. However, defeating these odds is not unheard of. If you want to beat the odds yourself, one of the best learning options is a subscription to Premium PLUS from Innovative Language.

As an active Premium PLUS member of JapanesePod101.com and KoreanClass101.com myself, I have an enjoyable experience learning at an accelerated pace with at least thirty minutes of study daily. The following Premium PLUS features contribute to my success:

  • Access to thousands of lessons
  • A voice recorder 
  • Spaced-repetition system (SRS) flashcards
  • Weekly homework assignments
  • A personal language instructor

As someone who decided to make Japanese her second language one year ago, I am extremely grateful for Premium PLUS.

Allow me to emphasize on how these Premium PLUS features strengthen my language studies.

Gain Unlimited Access to Audio and Video Lessons!

Woman learning a language with Premium PLUS on a tablet

As a Premium PLUS member, I have full access to the lesson library and other Premium features. Best of all, I’m not limited to one level; I can learn to my heart’s content with upper-level courses.

There are lessons on various topics that tackle crucial language-learning elements, such as:

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Conversation

Specifically, there are pathways. Pathways are collections of lessons that center on a specific topic. Some Innovative Language sites, like JapanesePod101.com, even have pathways geared toward proficiency tests. For example, the JLPT N3 Master Course pathway.

Because of the abundance of lessons, I’ve found pathways in the lesson library to help me prepare for certain events. Thanks to the “Speaking Perfect Japanese at a Restaurant” pathway, I spoke fully in Japanese while dining in Japan. Additionally, I participated in conversations at language exchange meetups in South Korea after completing the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway.

Each lesson has lesson notes, which I read while simultaneously listening to the audio lesson. This strategy enables me to follow along on key points. Lesson notes generally contain the following:

  • Dialogue
  • Vocabulary
  • Grammar points
  • Cultural insights

As someone who’s constantly on-the-go, I heavily benefit from mobile access to lessons. Podcasts and lesson notes are available on the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS.

All lessons and their contents are downloadable. Prior to my flights to Japan and South Korea, I downloaded lessons on my iPhone. The apps make learning more convenient for me during my commutes.

Practice Speaking with the Voice Recording Tool!

a young man practicing his pronunciation with a microphone headset

Pronunciation is an essential ingredient in language-learning. Proper pronunciation prompts clear understanding during conversations with native speakers.

Prior to learning full Korean sentences, my online Korean language tutor assigned the “Hana Hana Hangul” pathway to me. It demonstrated the writing and pronunciation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Throughout this pathway, I submitted recordings of my Hangul character pronunciations to my language teacher for review.

I was given a similar task on JapanesePod101.com with the “Ultimate Japanese Pronunciation Guide” pathway. My Japanese language teacher tested my pronunciation of the Japanese characters kana. My completion of the two pathways boosted my confidence in speaking.

Speaking is one of the more challenging components of learning a language. The voice recording tool in particular was a great way for me to improve my speaking skills. Further, because the lesson dialogues are spoken by native speakers, I’m able to practice speaking naturally.

This feature is also available for vocabulary words and sample sentences. Being able to hear these recordings improves my pronunciation skills for languages like Japanese, where intonation can change the meaning of a word entirely. The voice recorder examines my speed and tone. I also follow up by sending a recording to my online language tutor for feedback.

A great way to boost one’s speaking confidence is to shadow native speakers. During the vocabulary reviews, it’s helpful for me to hear the breakdown of each word; doing so makes a word that was originally difficult to even read a breeze to say!

Some lessons create opportunities to speak your own sentences. For example, the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway presents opportunities to answer questions personally. This helps you gain the ability to give answers as the unique individual you are.

Example Scenario:

The host asks the following question:

어디에 살고 있습니까?

eodieseo salgo isseumnikka

“Where do you live?”

If you live in Tokyo, you would readily say the following:

도쿄에 살고 있습니다.

Tokyo-e salgo isseumnida.

“I live in Tokyo.”

Increase Your Vocab with Spaced-Repetition Flashcards and More!

A child learning words with flashcards

Imagine having a conversation with a native speaker and hesitating because you lack a solid vocabulary base.

Premium PLUS offers various features to expand learners’ vocabulary, including Free Gifts of the Month. KoreanClass101’s free gifts for April 2020 included an e-book with “400 Everyday Phrases for Beginners,” and the content is updated every month. When I download free resources like this, I find opportunities to use them with co-teachers, friends, or my language tutors.

An effective way to learn vocabulary is with SRS flashcards. SRS is a system designed for learning a new word and reviewing it in varying time intervals.

You can create and study flashcard decks, whether it’s your Word Bank or a certain vocabulary list. For example, if you need to visit a post office, the “Post Office” vocabulary list for your target language would be beneficial to study prior to your visit.

In addition to the SRS flashcards, each lesson has a vocabulary slideshow and quiz to review the lesson’s vocabulary.

There’s also the 2000 Core Word List, which includes the most commonly used words in your target language. Starting from the 100 Core Word List, you’ll gradually build up your knowledge of useful vocabulary. These lists can be studied with SRS flashcards, too.

With the SRS flashcards, you can change the settings to your liking. The settings range from different card types to number of new cards per deck. Personally, I give myself vocabulary tests by changing the settings.

After studying a number of flashcards, I change the card types to listening comprehension and/or production. Then I test myself by writing the translation of the word or the spoken word or phrase.

The change in settings allow me to remember vocabulary and learn how to identify the words. This is especially helpful with Japanese kanji!

Complete Homework Assignments!

A woman studying at home

Homework assignments are advantageous to my language studies. There are homework assignments auto-generated weekly. They range from multiple-choice quizzes to writing assignments.

Language tutors are readily available for homework help. Some writing assignments, for instance, require use of unfamiliar vocabulary. In such cases, my language teachers assist me by forwarding related lessons or vocabulary lists.

In addition to these auto-generated homework tasks, language tutors customize daily assignments. My daily homework assignments include submitting three written sentences that apply the target grammar point of that lesson, and then blindly audio-recording those sentences. My personal language tutor follows up with feedback and corrections, if needed.

Your language tutors also provide assignments upon requests. When I wanted to review grammar, my Korean teacher sent related quizzes and assignments. Thus, you are not only limited to the auto-generated assignments.

Every weekend, I review by re-reading those written sentences. It helps me remember sentence structures, grammar points, and vocabulary to apply in real-world contexts.

Furthermore, I can track my progress with language portfolios every trimester. It’s like a midterm exam that tests my listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Get Your Own Personal Language Teacher!

A woman teaching pronunciation in a classroom

My language teachers cater to my goals with personalized and achievable learning programs. The tangible support of my online language teachers makes it evident that we share common goals.

Once I share a short-term or long-term goal with my teacher, we establish a plan or pathway that will ultimately result in success. I coordinate with my teachers regularly to ensure the personalized learning programs are prosperous. For example, during my JLPT studies, my Japanese language tutor assigned me practice tests.

Your language tutor is available for outside help as well. When I bought drama CDs in Japan, I had difficulty transliterating the dialogue. My Japanese teacher forwarded me the script to read along as I listened.

Additionally, I often practice Korean and Japanese with music. I memorize one line of the lyrics daily. Every time, I learn a new grammar point and new vocabulary. I add the vocabulary to my SRS flashcards, locate the grammar in the Grammar Bank, and study the associated lessons online.

I send my teachers the name of the songs, making them aware of my new goal. One time, my song for Korean was “If You Do” by GOT7. My Korean teacher revealed that she was a huge fan of GOT7 like me! For Japanese, it was “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA,” also known as the Dragonball Z theme song. My Japanese teacher excitedly told me that she sang the song a lot as a kid!

A remarkable thing happened to me in South Korea. I was stressed about opening a bank account with limited Korean. I sought help from my Korean teacher. She forwarded me a script of a bank conversation.

After two days, I visited the local bank. It all started with my opening sentence:

은행 계좌를 만들고 싶어요

eunhaeng gyejwaleul mandeulgo sip-eoyo.

I want to open a bank account.

Everything went smoothly, and I exited the bank with a new account!

The MyTeacher Messenger allows me to share visuals with my teachers for regular interaction, including videos to critique my pronunciation mechanisms. I improve my listening and speaking skills by exchanging audio with my teachers. In addition to my written homework assignments, I exchange messages with my language teachers in my target language. This connection with my teachers enables me to experience the culture as well as the language.

Why You Should Subscribe to Premium PLUS

It’s impossible for me to imagine my continuous progress with Japanese and Korean without Premium PLUS. Everything—from the SRS flashcards to my language teachers—makes learning languages enjoyable and clear-cut.

You’re assured to undergo the same experience with Premium PLUS. You’ll gain access to the aforementioned features as well as all of the Premium features.

Complete lessons and assignments to advance in your target language. Increase your vocabulary with the “2000 Core Word List” for that language and SRS flashcards. Learn on-the-go with the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS users.

Learning a new language takes dedication and commitment. The Premium PLUS features make learning irresistibly exciting. You’ll look forward to learning daily with your language tutor.

As of right now, your challenge is to subscribe to Premium PLUS! Complete your assessment, and meet your new Korean teacher.

Have fun learning your target language in the fastest and easiest way!

Subscribe to Posted by KoreanClass101.com in Feature Spotlight, Korean Language, Korean Online, Site Features, Team KoreanClass101

Your Learning, Streamlined – The New Lesson Interface

Click Here to Get Your All Access Pass at KoreanClass101

Your Learning, Streamlined – The New Lesson Interface

Your learning is about to get a whole lot easier.

More than ever, learners are choosing mobile as the platform to study Korean. Mobile has always been a part of our DNA. We began our life on your iPod, and have remained by your side ever since.

In our 11th year, we’re returning to our roots as a way to learn Korean on-the-go. How? With a brand-new lesson interface just for you.

Hint: It will launch in beta later this month!

If you want to secure access to this brand new upgrade, take advantage of the upcoming All Access Pass Sale! Click Here to Get 25% OFF All KoreanClass101 Subscriptions!

(example taken from japanesepod101.com)

It’s built from the ground-up to be a great experience on your phone, tablet, and computer.

You don’t have to compromise anymore.

Take the whole lesson experience with you wherever you go.

Our lessons are the heart of our learning system and now they’re the heart of the interface as well. Just tap the big play button to start learning right away.

(example taken from japanesepod101.com)

As you scroll through the lesson contents, the player sticks with you at the bottom of your screen.

Pause, rewind or adjust your speed and volume without losing your place.

(example taken from japanesepod101.com)

Navigation is also just a tap away.

Quickly jump to the dialogue, vocabulary, or lesson notes with our new lesson navigation bar. Available at the top of your screen wherever you are.

(example taken from japanesepod101.com)

And for the first time ever, you don’t need to download a PDF or jump between tabs to read the lesson notes and transcript. Read it all on your mobile browser as you listen.

(example taken from japanesepod101.com)

There are many more small improvements but the end result is this: a drastically improved lesson experience on mobile and desktop.

Spend less time squinting at your screen and more time reaching your Korean goals.

The new lesson interface will launch in beta this month.

We can’t wait to hear what you think. Keep on studying!

Sneak peek! And if you take advantage of our upcoming 25% OFF All Access Pass Sale, you secure full access to this new update! You unlock our complete Korean learning program – ALL Audio/Video Courses from Beginner to Advanced, Premium Study Tools, Bonus Apps and much more!

Click Here to Get 25% OFF All Plans until March 31st, 2017.

To your fluency,

Team KoreanClass101

P.S. Get 25% OFF ANY Plan! Master Korean with YOUR All-Access Pass!

Want to learn Korean fast with an ALL-ACCESS PASS to our entire learning system? Get 25% OFF Basic, Premium and Premium PLUS and unlock ALL audio/video lessons, study tools and exclusive apps that you’ll ever need. And with Premium PLUS, you get your own teacher! Just $3 a month & up to $137 in savings. Ends March 31st, 2017.

Get Your Korean All-Access Pass! Click here to get 25% OFF ALL Plans!

KoreanClass Free Lifetime Account: Is it really free?

You want to learn Korean but you don’t want to spend a cent. You don’t want to lose time creating an account if they ask you for your credit card just after. For you Korean learner, we tell you how you will access great resources for free for life and without card or having to pay. This is your unique path to fluency for free.

free lifetime account koreanpod101 benefit

KoreanClass101 is not really free, is it?
Although there are paid plans, yes, it is FREE. Every single lesson that we have ever created has been free for a certain period of time. And every new audio and video lesson (we publish 3-5 lessons a week) is completely free to access for 3 weeks before going into our lesson library.

What’s a Free Lifetime Account?
A Free Lifetime Account is – simply put – a free membership at KoreanClass101.

What do I get with this Free Account? How can I learn for free for life?
Here’s how you learn every day without paying a cent at KoreanClass101. You have access to all of these features for life:

  • New audio and video lessons every week – 3-5 new, free lessons a week
  • The first 3 lessons of every single series – 100+ lessons in total
  • New Daily Dose of Korean lessons – a new free lesson every day
  • Korean Word of the Day lessons – a new free lesson every day
  • Throwback Thursday lessons – a free random lesson every Thursday
  • The Innovative Language 101 App for the Android, iPhone and iPad
  • The 100 Most Common Words List to get a head-start on learning vocabulary
  • Vocabulary and phrase lists for topics, themes and holidays
  • Bonus resources and mobile apps in the Korean resources section

    Start speaking Korean for free now!

    Do I need a credit card to sign up?
    No. All you need is a valid email address to join. The only times you’d require a credit card (or another payment method such as PayPal) is if you want to upgrade to a Basic, Premium or Premium PLUS subscription.

    To sum-up, you create a free account only with your email address, you’ll get a 7-day trial to experience Premium access to KoreanClass101, and after this period you will stay on as a “Free” member accessing all our tool and resources mentioned before. So what are you waiting for?

    It will take you only 30 seconds and a valid email, no credit card, no money asked, to create your free lifetime account and get on the way to reach Korean fluency!

  • Special Invitation To Get Our New App & Free Daily Korean Lessons

    Get Your Daily Dose of Language for the iPhone & iPad!

    Hello Listener,

    We’re inviting you to download your new secret weapon for learning language in 2016. You’ll learn Korean in minutes a day, every day, guaranteed, with mini-lessons delivered directly to you. Learn Korean words, phrases, grammar and more with a quick daily dose!

    Easy to learn. Easy to finish. Easy to keep going, every day.

    All you have to do is download our new, free App.

    Click Here to Get the Daily Dose App for the iPhone & iPad!

    Click Here to Get the Free App, Daily Dose, for the iPhone & iPad!

    How does the Daily Dose work? Every day, you get a new, free lesson!
    And every day, it’ll be different – you’ll learn phrases, slang, vocabulary, cultural points and much more. Reviewing it will take a minute or less. Then, you can go about your busy day. Tomorrow, there’ll be a new lesson, your daily dose of language, to keep you going.

    And the results?

    • You learn in minutes a day
    • Your Korean improves easily
    • You get addicted to learning every day
    • You don’t get overwhelmed

    Let’s take a look at what’s inside your Daily Dose App:

    • Daily Alerts for New Mini-Lessons: Every Day is Different!
    • Lessons Covering Grammar, Phrases, Vocab, Slang, Culture & More
    • Native Pronunciations, Translations and In-Depth Explanations
    • How to Say Today’s Date in Korean
    • A Calendar Overview of Your Lessons
    • Audio and Video Lessons for Every Mini-Lesson (Requires Subscription)
    • Access to Past Mini-Lessons (Requires Subscription)

    Click Here to Download the Daily Dose App!

    Premium and Premium PLUS users: You have FULL access to this App! This means you get the library of past mini-lessons as well as the bonus audio and video lessons.

    The Daily Dose App is currently available on the iPhone and iPad and in 10 languages – Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Thai. Don’t worry, we’ll be adding even more languages soon, so stay tuned. Download the App right now and let us know what you think! Android version coming soon.

    To your fluency,
    Team KoreanClass101

    P.S. You’ll Learn Korean in Minutes a Day, Every Day, Guaranteed. And you’ll never feel overwhelmed. The Daily Dose App is designed to make language learning quick and easy so you can progress fast. Be sure to download it right now.

    Click Here to Get Your Daily Dose of Language for the iPhone & iPad!

    Starts Now! Save Up to 45% with the 12-Month KoreanClass101 Challenge

    Starts Now! Save Up to 45% with the 12-Month KoreanClass101 Challenge

    Welcome to 2016, listener!

    Making New Year’s resolutions is easy. Keeping them? Well, that’s usually a lot harder, but if your resolution was to learn Korean in the next year – then we’re about to make your resolution a LOT easier and more affordable thanks to:

    The 12-Month KoreanClass101 Challenge!

    The “Challenge” is quite simple: Learn AND master Korean in the next 12 months.

    How is this possible?

    Because we’re providing FULL ACCESS to our Premium or Premium PLUS plans at up to 45% OFF, so your dream of learning Korean has never been more affordable

    But wait – we’re not done!

    To ensure you stay motivated and have the support you need to keep to your New Year’s Resolution and learn Korean this year: We’re throwing in a BONUS for all Premium and Premium PLUS members who sign up for the Challenge by January 15th, 2015:

    12 Months of Free Access to Our Exclusive Inner Circle!

    Click here to get up to 45% OFF & Inner Circle access!

    Click Here to Buy & Save!

    This special bonus includes: Monthly audio lessons with tips, tricks and tools to help you get motivated, stay on track and improve your Korean all the way to December 2016. For Challenge subscribers only!

    This special bonus is in addition to the 240+ hours of high-resolution audio and video lessons by real teachers, learning tools and special resources available to both Premium AND Premium Plus members!

    Click Here Save Up to 45% or More Than $100 & Take the Challenge Now!

    Ready to transform your resolution into reality and open up a new world of opportunities by learning Korean in the next year? Then sign up now for Premium and gain 12 months of unlimited access to these tools and resources for less than $2.00 a week:

    Your Premium Plan Includes:

    • Exclusive! 12 Months of Free Access to the Inner Circle
    • Exclusive! App for the iPhone, iPad or Android
    • Full Lesson Library Access: 1,430+ Audio & Video Lessons
    • PDF Lesson Notes for Each Lesson to Read Along With
    • Instructor Feedback & Comments on Each Lesson
    • Progress Tracking: See Your Korean Progress GROW
    • Learning Guidance: We Guide You Through the Lessons
    • Korean ONLY Tracks & Line by Line Dialog Breakdown
    • Full Lesson Transcripts, Translations & Review Tracks
    • Lesson Review Quizzes for Extra Practice
    • Smart Flashcards To Master All The Korean Words You Need
    • 2,000 Top Korean Words List (enough for conversational fluency)
    • Word Bank to Store Your Key Vocab & Review
    • Voice Recording Tools to Perfect your Pronunciation
    • 24/7 Access via Any Media Device with Internet Access
    • Season Vocabulary Lists To Review All Vocab From Lessons
    • For Members! New Audio & Video Lessons EVERY WEEK!
    • Exclusive! Custom Lists App to Create Your Own Word Lists

    Click Here to Get 12 Months of Premium at a BIG 45% OFF!

    As great as our Premium plan is, however, nothing helps you learn and master Korean faster than our uber-exclusive PLUS Plan.

    New! 1-on-1 Interaction with Your Own Korean Teacher

    What’s so special about our Premium PLUS plan?
    Well, you know all the lessons, tools and resources in the Premium plan? You get those plus a few secret weapons to help you learn and master Korean even faster, including:

    • 1-on-1 Interaction with Your Korean Teacher: Learn directly with your teacher via Premium PLUS My Teacher. Get help with all your questions and problems.
    • Ongoing Professional Assessment: Get an assessment of your Korean. Understand your strengths and weaknesses so you know what to study next.
    • Your Own Personalized Learning Program: Your teacher will create a study plan based on your needs. If speaking is your weak point, your teacher will work with you to get you speaking like a native speaker.
    • Voice Analysis to Perfect Your Speaking: Learn to speak like a native speaker with the help of a real native speaker! Record yourself with Premium PLUS My Teacher and your teacher will give you crucial feedback on what to improve and how.
    • Weekly Assignments & Achievement Badges: You get assignments every week from your teacher. With every completed task, you unlock badges to mark your Korean improvement and accomplishments.

    Plus, and exclusively for Premium PLUS members who sign up for the 12-Month Challenge:

    New! 1-on-1 Learning App: Take Premium PLUS with You Everywhere!

    For the first time ever, members of our Premium PLUS plan can access every tool, resource, AND 1-on-1 instruction with our new Innovative Language 101 App! This means you can learn with your very own teacher, anywhere, anytime!

    Click here to get 12 months of Premium PLUS for just $199.

    But hurry: We have VERY LIMITED slots available for Premium PLUS due to a limited number of available Korean teachers.
    And you don’t risk a cent regardless of which plan you choose because joining is risk-free. Every purchase is backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not speaking Korean as fast as you’d like, contact us for a full refund.

    No questions asked.

    With more than 500 million lesson downloads, 10,000s of success stories and the world’s most advanced language learning system, KoreanClass101 can and WILL transform your new year’s resolution into reality and having you speaking Korean from the very first lesson!

    Click Here to Join the Challenge Today & Save On Premium or Premium PLUS Now!

    To Mastering Korean,
    Team KoreanClass101

    P.S. Remember, anyone who joins the 12-Month Challenge will also receive 12 months of free access to our exclusive Inner Circle. But hurry: Our 12-Month Challenge ends on January 15th, 2016 so ACT NOW!

    What are you waiting for? Click here to get UNLIMITED Korean lessons and be part of the exclusive Inner Circle!