How to learn Korean? What is the best way?
Curious about how you can learn to speak Korean online?
With the explosion of Korean pop culture, many people are now eager to learn Korean because they are looking forward to visiting the beautiful country of Korea, made famous by Korean pop stars and Korean TV series. Now that you are curious about learning the Korean language, you might wonder if it is a difficult language to learn. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), it is quite challenging to learn. However, it presents huge advantages to those who want to learn.
Travelling to new places is one of the best feelings one person could experience. Korea is a country full of beautiful things to do and so many places to go to. Their unique culture is also one factor in your Korean tour to witness. To fully understand their rich culture, you must learn their language, which is equally beautiful as their history. If you plan to visit this country, how to learn Korean should be part of your preparation before travelling. In this post, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide of learning Korean the most natural way.
What is the Most Effective Way to Learn Korean?
The Koreans learned their language with many years of formal study in a school, and others from the elders’ teachings.
Anyone can learn a new language with the proper motivation, tools, resources, and the correct method. If you are travelling to Korea, it would be better to learn at least the primary Korean language. Here are some tips if you want to learn Korean by yourself.
How Can I Learn Korean by Myself?
To learn Korean by yourself, you must know where you should start. You also must have the right motivation, patience, and hard work to fully understand how to learn the Korean language.
Related Articles:
Become Proficient in Hangul
The Korean alphabet is called Hangul. Since the Joseon Dynasty in the 15th century A.D., Koreans used the Hangul, which is composed of 10 vowels and 14 consonants. Hangul mimics almost all sounds humans do with a precision that makes it easier to learn.
You need to learn the Korean alphabet first so that you would be able to read Korean words. The Hangul works perfectly fine for reading Korean words rather than using the Roman alphabet. You need to memorize all the characters and how they sound, and you should also practice writing sets of symbols and pronounce them simultaneously to have an audiovisual connection. You may then proceed with writing words and pronouncing them. Keep practicing to keep your memory sharp to remember the basics.
As a Beginner
You may use actual Korean movie posters and pronounce the titles out loud. You can do this repeatedly to add more motivation in learning the language.
As an Intermediate Learner
Continue learning the Korean language by spending at least ten minutes a day practicing how to read a full Korean text and say it aloud. You may start with simple documents like children’s books then progress to a more sophisticated content after. Repeat this process until you can read the content without stopping.
As an Advanced Learner
As simple as using the Internet with Korean karaoke songs and singing along with the lyrics, K-pop songs are popular nowadays, helping you learn the language. Most K-pop songs dictate the right speed enough for you to read the lyrics with accuracy.
Finding and Investing in Good Resources
Learning the Korean language by yourself can be hard, but there are tons of resources available. You can easily search through the internet about learning materials and even online tutorials. The Hangul Wikipedia page presents a very comprehensive outline of the alphabet.
It is essential to have the right manuals for you to learn Korean properly. Make sure that you get hold of one and practice it every day.
To learn the Korean language progressively, you need to organize everything and plan everything out. A well-planned method must include a carefully designed curriculum with introductions to new words, idioms, and structures that follow a degree of difficulty. The objective is for you to have time to understand new content as you build your base for learning the Korean language.
Study Intently
Securing a curriculum will give you no reason not to study the content. Setting your goals on how to learn the Korean language will make you progress lesson by lesson and build your knowledge actively.
Make it Regular
You should set at least twenty minutes a day to study a new topic or lesson on your materials. It is important to lend your time to have small sessions in studying the language than having three full hours of lessons once a week.
Write Down Notes
Take note of the keywords and try to memorize them. This method will help you familiarize yourself with Korean words quickly.
Additional Methods
There are plenty of ways on how to learn the Korean language. You can find different methods to help you learn faster. These methods will give you options to choose which one is best for you.
Yonsei
The Yonsei method will help you deepen your knowledge of Korean grammar. It focuses mainly on grammar, and these books contain the technical details of a Korean sentence structure, which is suitable for beginners who are serious enough to learn the language.
Sogang
If your goal is to speak Korean immediately, the Sogang method will be best for you. This method focuses mainly on developing speaking the language and building your confidence to master your first Korean words. The books provide excellent visuals and rich content that makes it an effective way of teaching the Korean language.
Get Some Flashcards
Flashcards are excellent materials to help you with how to learn Korean language. It stimulates your memory by activating your visual association with the cards. The visuals will send information to your brain and harness active retention. Your mind will remember what you learned with the flashcards.
You can simply buy new flashcards or create your own. Write down a simple Korean word and attach the translation at the back of the card. It would be best if you include how to pronounce the Korean word also.
Find Language Exchange Groups
Finding a language exchange community will let you open your senses to communicating with others. Communities like this are excellent platforms to learn the language and the culture of Korea.
During your interactions with other members, you are also building friendships, and you are learning faster. It helps you adapt to the long-term dedication on how to learn the Korean language.
Watch Korean Drama Shows
Korean dramas are in demand nowadays because they contain stories that people can relate to every day. The shows are so entertaining that you wouldn’t want to miss a single dialogue of an episode, which is one good way of learning the language as you observe the gestures, facial expressions, and how the actors act in a scene. As they show their emotions on screen, you would understand the translations provided on the show. Over time, you will notice that you become familiar with the words, and soon enough, you would be able to pronounce them fluently.
- Choose a Korean Drama Show You Like: If Korean drama shows are unfamiliar to you, you can do some research on it by going to their websites. Previews of the show are always available, and you will be able to find comments and reviews about it. Reading other people’s opinions about the show will help you decide which ones to watch.
- Tap the Replay Button: While watching the show, try to go over a scene by tapping the replay button multiple times with and without the subtitles. You would be able to understand the language they are saying by doing this.
- Write Down Notes: The beginning of the series is essential for your learning. It contains vital details about the characters and the plot itself. It is recommended that you take down notes on the names, places, time, and the title of an episode. Do some more research outside the show for you to understand those words.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Korean?
Learning the Korean language can be an enjoyable experience, but it will take some time away from your hectic schedule. If you are going to Korea for whatever reason, one of the first things you would do is learn their language for ease of communication.
The primary and most effective way to learn Korean is to sign up in a tutorial class. Tutorial classes provide materials to study, new sets of friends, and face-to-face interaction with your tutor.
The Common European Framework for Reference for Languages estimated the hours needed to learn the Korean language. It says that for every one hour in a classroom session, students should have two hours of study time. Their estimate equates to 1,000 to 1,200 hours of learning the Korean language.
What Are the Key Phrases to Learn in Korean as a Tourist?
For you to get along when you visit Korea, you must learn some basic phrases. Here are some key phrases that are important for you as a tourist.
Basic Korean phrases:
- Neh. – Yes.
- Ah-nee-oh. – No.
- Jwe-Song-ha-ji-mahn. – Please.
- Gahm-sah-hahm-ni-da. – Thank you.
- Chon-mahn-eh-yo. – You’re welcome.
- Sil-le-hahm-ni-da. – Excuse me.
- Ahn-nyong-ha-se-yo. – Good morning.
- Ahn-nyong-hee-ga-se-yo. – Goodbye.
Phrases for greeting and meeting:
- Yong-o-rul hahl-jool asim-ni-ka? – Do you speak English?
- Jeo-nun han-kook-o-rul jo-gum-bah-he mo-tahm-ni-da. – I only speak a little Korean.
- Song-ha-mi o-teo-ke dwe-si-ji-yo? – What is your name?
- Je-i-rum-eun Mee-Yong im-ni-da. – My name is Mee Young.
- Ahn-nyong-ha-se-yo? – How are you?
- Neh jal-i-soum-ni-da. – I’m fine, thank you.
- Gahm-se-hahm-ni-da. – I’m fine, thank you.
- Mahn-na-bwep-ge dwe-o-seo bahn-gahp-soum-ni-da. – I am very glad to meet you.
- Jal mo-dara dut-ge-soum-ni-da. – I don’t understand.
- Mo-ra-go greo-shut-ji-yo? – What did you say?
- Jom-chon-chon-hee mahl-soum-hae joo-se-yo? – Can you speak more slowly?
- Chong-boon-hee i-hae-hah-go i-soum-ni-da – I understand perfectly.
To learn the Korean language as an English speaker can be difficult, but with the right motivation and hard work, you will be speaking Korean fluently like their locals. The key to learning a new language is embracing the beauty of their culture and appreciating the people who will help you. Korean is a powerful language and used around the world. Learning their language is an advantage for you in every aspect you may want to see it.
