Learning Korean is such a wonderful journey! Before you get started, let us know if you have any goals or interests in learning Korean. For example, do you want to understand Korean dramas or movies? Or maybe you want to learn basic conversation for your trip to Korea? Knowing your goals will allow you to tailor your advice.
Here are some effective ways to learn Korean in general.
1. Learn Korean:
- Korean uses Hangul, a scientific and systematic writing system. Hangeul consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels, and all sounds can be written by combining them.
- At first, it is important to learn each letter and pronunciation of Hangul. Use various online resources or learning apps to practice writing and pronunciation consistently.
- It can usually take 1~2 weeks to learn Hangul, but it is important to practice consistently.
2. Learn basic vocabulary and grammar:
- Basic vocabulary: Learn basic greetings such as hello, thank you, welcome, yes, and no, as well as frequently used nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
- Basic Grammar: Learn basic sentence structure (subject-object-verb), investigation (is/is, i/ga, e/a), tense (present, past, future), exaltation, etc.
- It is recommended to use various learning materials such as online lectures, textbooks, and learning apps to systematically learn vocabulary and grammar.
3. Practice listening and speaking:
- Listening: Familiarize yourself with Korean pronunciation and accent through Korean dramas, movies, music, podcasts, and more. It can be difficult to understand at first, but it's important to keep listening.
- Speaking: Practice speaking using the vocabulary and grammar you learned, starting with simple sentences. It's also a good idea to find a language exchange partner or use an online tutor to practice real-life conversations.
- It is important to be confident, not afraid to get it wrong, and practice speaking actively.
4. Practice reading and writing:
- Reading: Read easy fairy tales, news articles, webtoons, and more to improve your vocabulary and sentence comprehension. It is better to start with a short and easy article at first and gradually increase the difficulty.
- Writing: Use the vocabulary and grammar you learned to write simple sentences or journals. With the help of online correction tools or language exchange partners, you can check and improve your writing skills.
5. Keep it steady and fun:
- Consistency is important in language learning. Make it a habit to keep learning a little bit every day.
- Take advantage of your favorite Korean cultural content (dramas, movies, music, etc.) to make learning fun and keep you motivated.
- It's also a good idea to set learning goals and reward yourself when you achieve them.