In addition, more than 77 million people speak Korean , and Korea ranks 21th in the list of languages by the number of speakers. If you may want to learn a language for work, just for fun, for watching dramas in the original, or for understanding songs and singing along to your favorite Korean artists. There are several approaches that will advance you to be fluent in the language. And so, I would like to present to you 10 tips.
Learn Hangul At the very beginning of learning any foreign language, you need to thoroughly master the alphabet. This will be a great start on your way to language acquisition. In fact, the Korean alphabet is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance compared to the other Asian languages.
Unlike other languages that evolved from pictograms, Hangul was invented by King Sejong in It was created with the aim of being as simple as possible for the people. Prior to the adoption of Hangul, Koreans used Chinese characters. Hangul alphabet consists of 24 letters 14 consonants and 10 vowels. The shape of the consonants is based on the form that the mouth takes at the time of pronunciation.
Vowels simply consist of vertical and horizontal lines. To say that you can learn Hangul in just two hours is no exaggeration. Another plus is that Hangul is a completely phonetic language. That is, it almost always sounds like it is written with the exception of a few pronunciation rules, but they can be learned very quickly. Hangul in this regard is much simpler and easier to master. Depending on the status of the interlocutor, you need to choose a speech style.
If you are a beginner, then you should start with an officially polite style. Build your vocabulary Having once mastered Hangul, you can begin to form your vocabulary. Better to start with numbers both Korean and Chinese numerals are used in Korea , days of the week, and simple conversational phrases. Then add words that are related to your reason for learning a language. If you decide to learn Korean for the upcoming trip, pay more attention to the words related to the direction of movement and transport.
Do you like Korean food? Then work on food-related words. And be sure to write the words in a notebook as you learn new ones. This will help you practice writing and capture words in your memory. The effect of memorization will be much better if you imagine a picture or a funny story.
Such words make up a significant part of everyday vocabulary. Borrowed words are words that sound and mean the same as English words. They are easy to remember, because they sound like English, though with a Korean accent. The main point is to be aware of this trick so you recognize it when you see it!
The phrases in these books sometimes are direct translations, instead of taking into account the differences in the languages. Therefore, you end up in mass confusion when you try to say even the simplest things. You can use Korean phrases to compliment your studying , but make sure they are up to date so people will definitely understand you.
Everyone goes through ups and downs with studying. The one thing you can do to make sure you always get in at least a little bit of studying each day is to use a flashcard application, such as Anki , Quizlet , or Memrise. We strongly recommend going with an SRS system so you can make your flashcards as efficient as possible.
No matter where you are in the world, you likely have chances to use Korean daily. You just have to be creative! A good strategy for helping you remember this word is to add it to your flashcard deck. So instead, make sure you take a screenshot of the word when you look it up in the Korean dictionary.
Then, when you have focused time to sit down and study Korean, you can go through your screenshots and add them to your deck of flashcards. If you want serious results from your Korean studies, then you need a solid plan. There is a paradox in learning Korean. In order to learn Korean, you need to know the language so you can choose what content to study and how to study it.
In order to know Korean, you have to learn it. Just like the chicken and the egg, one is required for the other. Or you can choose a Korean course from the chickens who know how to lay eggs!
You can also piece together a course from various Korean learning resources. A language exchange is a fun and interesting way to practice your Korean. Not only do you get to exchange languages, but you can also exchange interesting points about each of your respective cultures. For example, you may meet for coffee twice a week for two hours. During the first hour, you may speak only in English. During the second hour, you might speak only in Korean. There is an art to doing successful language exchanges!
A few quick guidelines:. With the increasing popularity of sites like meetup. A few ideas:. Make sure you use language exchanges as a supplement to a regular learning course and not in place of it. KakaoTalk is the most widely used messenger application in Korea. Koreans use it as their main means of contacting people. This is the perfect way to practice your Korean! Since Koreans are already using the app, you easily communicate with your Korean friends all the time.
Joining language exchanges or introductions through friends is one way. Another is through pen pal sites such as PenpalKorea. He or she may be nice and talk with you for a short while, but you may not get many responses soon after.
Would you be interested in doing a language exchange? Much more appealing and both people benefit. You will learn Korean fast, and your partner gets access to an expert on your native language you! Instead, figure out what has worked for other people you know. Ask friends, participate in Facebook groups, and search on the internet. Give Korean language programs a test drive before you enroll in them.
You need to mix in things that will keep your language learning journey interesting so you stay motivated. Learning a language is very similar to going on a diet or starting an exercise plan. If you have the time and resources, the best way to learn Korean fast is through complete immersion in Korean culture. Although many Koreans will be able to speak to you in English, commit to only speaking in Korean. If you have to, explain that you are trying to learn the language.
If visiting Korea is not a possibility, try to find a way to have a complete immersion experience locally. Is there a Korean town nearby? Pick up books, magazines, and newspapers in Korean, and see how far you get. Start with stories you already know and work your way up to current events and more challenging content. Once you have mastered the Korean alphabet , begin by keeping a daily journal and only writing in Korean. What did you do yesterday? And what do you plan to do tomorrow?
As you sit down to do this exercise, keep a Korean dictionary on hand so you can look up any words you are not familiar with yet. Doing so will help you commit them to memory. You already spend the majority of your time on your smartphone, so why not let it help you learn Korean?
The good news is that there are so many great Korean language learning apps out there that can help make learning this language fun. Download a couple of apps until you find one that you like best. Be sure to log in for daily practice. Every little bit of studying helps! After all, there are so many reasons to visit Korea.
Go on a solo adventure or join a group tour group, which is a prime option for those who are still learning the language. Depending on the tour group, the guides may even plan the entire trip for you, from your accommodation to your meals. You might just be surprised at how many people are willing to help you practice. This is also a great way to strike up conversations with locals and get more comfortable speaking the language.
You may even pick up some slang or local lingo! Set SMART goals to create a learning strategy that includes healthy milestones and will keep you motivated to achieve the next steps. Native speakers will appreciate your efforts and enjoy helping you learn!
While some sources say it can take over 2, hours to master Korean, the above tips are sure to speed up the process. You can do it! To kick off your progress, sign up for Korean lessons with us today. Guest Post Author: Jade B. She holds a B. Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for affordable private lessons today! Your email address will not be published.
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