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What happens in a first online Korean lesson
A first online Korean lesson is mostly a getting-to-know-you session with real speaking practice built in. In a typical 25-minute 1:1 lesson, you and the tutor introduce yourselves, the tutor works out roughly what you already know, you practice speaking around the goal you brought, and you finish with a plan for next time.
Every tutor runs a first lesson a little differently, so read the timings below as a typical pattern rather than a promise. You don't need to read Hangul, and you don't need to prepare a speech. With complete beginners, tutors often use plenty of English and keep the Korean short and slow.
| Time | What usually happens | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 min | Hello, a quick sound and video check, and introductions. With beginners this part is often mostly in English. | Say 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, "hello") and your name. If the sound is poor, say so straight away. |
| 3–8 min | Finding your level. The tutor asks a few easy questions in Korean and, if you know Hangul, may ask you to read a line. | Answer honestly. "I don't know" is useful information for the tutor. |
| 8–20 min | Guided speaking on your goal: a self-introduction, travel phrases, everyday conversation or a TOPIK question type, with corrections as you go. | Say things out loud, even half-sentences. Ask the tutor to type new words in the Zoom chat. |
| 20–25 min | Recap and a plan: what you covered, what to review, and what the next lesson could focus on. | Ask what to practice before next time, and write down three things you learned. |
If your tutor follows a different order, that's fine. As long as you speak a fair amount, get a sense of your level and leave knowing what comes next, the lesson has done its job.
Before the lesson: choose a tutor, book, send your goal
A first lesson goes better when the tutor already fits your goal. On HaruMeet, every tutor profile is reviewed and approved by the Haru team before it goes live, and new tutor applicants have a short video interview with the team first. Each profile shows the languages the tutor speaks, student reviews, an intro video, the price and the tutor's open schedule.
- Intro video: watch at least the first minute. You'll hear how clearly the tutor speaks and whether their pace suits you.
- Reviews: look for students whose goals sound like yours.
- Languages: as of October 2026, all 19 HaruMeet tutors who teach Korean list English among the languages they speak, which matters most if you're starting from zero.
- Price: as of October 2026, 25-minute lessons cost $7.70 to $20.90 (median $11), student fee included, and your first lesson with each tutor is 50% off.
- Schedule: open slots appear in your own time zone. Check that the tutor has times you could make every week.
How to choose an online tutor goes into more detail. Once you've picked someone, book an open slot from their schedule; how HaruMeet works walks through booking and payment step by step.
After booking, send the tutor a short message in the site chat. Two or three sentences are enough: your level, your goal and how you like to learn. For example:
"Hi, I'm Sam. I can't read Hangul yet. I'm visiting Seoul in March and want to be able to order food and ask for directions. I'd like as much speaking as possible, and please correct my pronunciation."
A message like that lets the tutor plan the middle of the lesson around you instead of guessing.
Tech check: Zoom, microphone and camera
HaruMeet lessons are live 1:1 video calls on Zoom, and you can join in the Zoom app or in your web browser. As of October 2026, you can enter the video classroom from 10 minutes before the start, and a reminder arrives by chat and email 30 minutes before the lesson. Use that window: a two-minute check saves five minutes of "Can you hear me?"
- Test the day before. Zoom's test meeting at zoom.us/test lets you check your camera, sound, microphone and connection before the real call.
- App or browser: either works. In a browser, Zoom's web app needs Chrome or Edge 102 or later, Firefox 105 or later, or Safari 16.4 or later (Zoom's requirements, checked October 2026).
- Wear earbuds or headphones. They cut echo, and your tutor hears your pronunciation more clearly.
- Face the light and keep your mouth in frame. Seeing your lips helps when a tutor corrects vowels like ㅗ (o) and ㅓ (eo), which differ mainly in lip rounding.
- Check your connection. Zoom lists about 600 kbps up and down for high-quality 1:1 video. On weak Wi-Fi, move closer to the router and pause other downloads or streams.
- Use a laptop if you have one. A bigger screen makes it easier to read the chat and take notes at the same time, though a phone works too.
If something breaks mid-lesson, say 소리가 안 들려요 (soriga an deullyeoyo, "I can't hear you") or type in the chat, then rejoin. Frozen screens happen to everyone.
What to prepare: one goal and five questions
You don't have to study before a first lesson. A few minutes of preparation, though, makes the 25 minutes count.
- One goal, in one sentence: "order food in Seoul in March," "chat with my partner's family" or "pass TOPIK I next year." A specific goal tells the tutor what to teach first.
- Five questions. Things you've wondered about Korean ("Why do so many sentences end in -요?" "Do I really need honorifics?"), or five things you'd like to be able to ask in Korean. They fill any silence and show the tutor what you care about.
- Your level, honestly. Pick the line that fits: never studied, can read Hangul, know some phrases, can hold a simple conversation, or studying for a TOPIK level. Overstating it means the first lesson goes to finding your real level.
- What you want corrected. Every mistake, or only the ones that block understanding? Pronunciation, grammar or politeness level? Say so at the start.
For a head start, write a three-line self-introduction with how to introduce yourself in Korean. Bring it to your first lesson and ask your tutor to correct it and make it sound natural. It's an easy first exercise, and you'll use it again and again.
What to say in your first Korean class
These phrases cover the first few minutes and the moments you get lost. All of them are polite: they end in -요 or -니다, the right level with a tutor you've just met. Casual 반말 (banmal), such as 뭐? (mwo?, "What?"), can sound rude to someone you don't know yet.
| KoreanRomanization | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo | Hello | At the start; works with anyone. |
| 처음 뵙겠습니다cheoeum boepgetseumnida | Nice to meet you (lit. "I'm seeing you for the first time") | At a first meeting; formal. |
| 저는 ___입니다jeoneun ___imnida | I'm ___ (your name) | Giving your name; works after any name. |
| 반갑습니다bangapseumnida | Glad to meet you | After introductions. Softer polite form: 반가워요 (bangawoyo). |
| 저는 한국어 초보예요jeoneun hangugeo choboyeyo | I'm a beginner at Korean | Setting expectations early. |
| 천천히 말해 주세요cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo | Please speak slowly | When it's going too fast. |
| 다시 한 번 말해 주세요dasi han beon malhae juseyo | Please say that again | When you missed something. |
| 잘 모르겠어요jal moreugesseoyo | I'm not sure / I don't really understand | Being honest about a gap. |
| 이건 한국어로 뭐예요?igeon hangugeoro mwoyeyo? | What's this in Korean? | Point at something, or say the English word first. |
| 틀리면 고쳐 주세요teullimyeon gochyeo juseyo | Please correct me when I'm wrong | Once, early in the lesson. |
| 소리가 안 들려요soriga an deullyeoyo | I can't hear you (lit. "I can't hear the sound") | When the audio drops. |
| 감사합니다. 다음에 뵙겠습니다gamsahamnida. daeume boepgetseumnida | Thank you. See you next time. | At the end; polite and formal. |
Not sure what to call your tutor? 선생님 (seonsaengnim, "teacher") is polite and safe, on its own or after their name. Many tutors will tell you how they'd like to be addressed.
Quick check.Your tutor is speaking too fast for you. What do you say?
Questions to ask your tutor
The last few minutes of a first lesson are a good time to ask how the tutor works. Teaching styles vary a lot, and the answers tell you whether the next ten lessons will suit you.
- What materials do you use: a textbook, your own slides or conversation topics? Can I bring my own, like a drama scene or a work email?
- How do you balance speaking and grammar? Could we make it mostly speaking?
- How do you correct mistakes: straight away, or at the end? Could you type corrections in the chat?
- Will there be homework, and how much time should I plan for it each week?
- Should I learn Hangul first, or can we use romanization for now?
- Will we start with polite speech (-요 endings) or formal speech (-니다 endings)?
- How many lessons a week would you suggest for my goal?
- Could you send me the new words from today?
None of these questions has a right answer. The answers either fit you or they don't. A tutor who teaches from a textbook is great if you like structure and frustrating if you wanted free conversation.
Complete beginner, intermediate or TOPIK: what changes
The shape of the lesson stays the same, but what fills the middle of it depends on where you start. Here is what a first lesson often covers at each level. If it doesn't match what you want, ask for something different.
| Your level | What the first lesson often covers | Before the lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Complete beginner (can't read Hangul) | Greetings, saying your name, how Korean sounds, maybe the first Hangul letters. Expect plenty of English. | Nothing is required. Where to start learning Korean explains what to learn first. |
| Some basics (Hangul, a few phrases) | A short self-introduction, simple questions and answers, and when to use polite speech. | Your three-line self-introduction, ready to be corrected. |
| Intermediate (simple conversations) | Free conversation on a topic you choose; the tutor notes mistakes you repeat and shows more natural ways to say things. | A topic, plus a few sentences you've written or said recently. |
| TOPIK goal | Which test and level you're aiming for, your test date, your weakest section and a sample question type. | Your target level and test date. The TOPIK prep guide covers the exam itself. |
If you're a complete beginner, a tutor who lists beginner lessons is the safest choice. As of October 2026, 10 of the 19 Korean tutors on HaruMeet do, and you can browse them on the Korean for beginners page.
If you're intermediate, ask the tutor to talk less than you do. At this stage, the value of a 1:1 lesson is speaking time and corrections you can't get from an app.
If you're preparing for TOPIK, say which test you mean: TOPIK I covers levels 1 and 2, and TOPIK II covers levels 3 to 6. A first lesson is a good time to agree on a target and a timeline.
After the lesson: notes, the next booking and the 12-hour rule
Spend five minutes on notes while the lesson is fresh: the new words, one correction you got more than once, and what the tutor suggested for next time. Look over them the next day and again just before your next lesson.
Book the next lesson while you still remember what you worked on. A steady rhythm, such as one or two lessons a week, usually works better than a long lesson now and then, and a beginner study plan can fill the days in between.
If you plan to keep going with the same tutor, a lesson pack lowers the per-lesson price. As of October 2026, 10-lesson packs are 5% off and 20-lesson packs are 10% off; 5-lesson packs have no discount. There's no subscription or sign-up fee, you can keep paying per lesson, and international payments go through PayPal. Current prices are on the pricing page, and what Korean lessons cost puts them in context.
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| You cancel 12 or more hours before the start | Free. The lesson goes back to your balance. |
| You cancel less than 12 hours before | Not refunded. |
| You miss the lesson without cancelling | Not refunded. |
| A valid refund applies | Returned as Haru credit. |
If you're not sure a time will work, decide before the 12-hour mark.
Is this tutor a good fit? How to tell, and when to switch
One lesson is enough for a first impression. After the call, ask yourself:
- Did I spend a good part of the lesson speaking rather than listening?
- Were the corrections clear, and given the way I asked?
- Did the lesson connect to my goal?
- When I got stuck, did the tutor slow down or explain it another way?
- Did I feel comfortable making mistakes?
- Do I know what we'll do next time, and do their open times fit my week?
If the answer to two or more is no, try another tutor. That isn't rude: trying a few tutors is normal on a tutoring marketplace, and you don't owe anyone an explanation. Because your first lesson with each tutor is 50% off (about $5.50 at the median price as of October 2026), trying two or three tutors costs roughly $11 to $17 in all.
Compare profiles on the tutor list and book a first lesson with the next one. Once a tutor clicks, stay with them for a while: a tutor who knows your habits can fix them faster than a new face every week.
Frequently asked questions
What happens in a first online Korean lesson?
Usually introductions, a few easy questions to find your level, guided speaking practice around your goal, and a short plan for next time. In a 25-minute lesson, the speaking practice takes up most of the time. The order and style vary by tutor, so tell them what you want at the start.
Do I need to know Hangul before my first Korean lesson?
No. Many learners start before they can read Hangul, and a tutor can teach the first letters or use romanization at the beginning. Learning Hangul early does make everything after it easier, so ask your tutor when to start.
How should I prepare for my first Korean lesson?
Test Zoom the day before, find a quiet spot and some earbuds, and write down one goal and five questions. Send the tutor a short message about your level and goal before the lesson. If you like, prepare a three-line self-introduction for the tutor to correct.
What should I say in my first Korean class?
Start with 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, "hello") and 저는 ___입니다 (jeoneun ___imnida, "I'm ___"). When you're lost, 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo, "Please speak slowly") and 다시 한 번 말해 주세요 (dasi han beon malhae juseyo, "Please say that again") go a long way. Stick to polite -요 and -니다 forms with a new tutor.
Is 25 minutes long enough for a first lesson?
For a first meeting, usually yes. It's enough to meet the tutor, practice a little and decide whether to continue. There are also 50-minute lessons, priced separately by each tutor and often cheaper than two 25-minute lessons.
What if I'm nervous or don't understand anything?
That's normal in a first lesson, and adjusting is the tutor's job. Say 잘 모르겠어요 (jal moreugesseoyo, "I'm not sure") or switch to English; as of October 2026, all 19 HaruMeet tutors who teach Korean list English among their languages. Mistakes are what the lesson is for.
What do I need to join a lesson on HaruMeet?
A device with the Zoom app or a recent web browser, a microphone (earbuds are ideal) and a camera. As of October 2026, you can join the video classroom from 10 minutes before the start, and a reminder arrives by chat and email 30 minutes before. You can also message the tutor in the site chat beforehand.
What if my first tutor isn't a good fit?
Book a different tutor. As of October 2026, your first lesson with each tutor is 50% off, so comparing two or three is cheap. If you need to cancel a lesson you've already booked, do it at least 12 hours before the start, and the lesson returns to your balance.
