How to Begin Learning Korean
About three months ago, I decided to learn my fourth language — Korean. Totally different in structure and syntax from the French and German I previously picked up, it’s been a challenge to say the least, but one that I’m enjoying nonetheless. Whether you’re STAY, Army, or just really digging Alchemy of Souls, here are some tips to get you started.
Learning Korean can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also feel quite daunting. For many language learners, getting started with the basics of a new language is often the hardest part. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to help anyone interested in beginning their journey into learning Korean.
Hangul - The Korean Alphabet
The first step in learning any language is to gain an understanding of its basic structure. Knowing how sentences are structured and what words mean will give you a strong foundation on which to build your knowledge of the language. Start by familiarizing yourself with the Korean alphabet – hangul. Although it may appear intimidating at first, it’s actually quite simple once you understand its structure. There are only 24 letters in hangul, making it much easier to learn than many other alphabets.
Key Words and Phrases
Once you’ve got the basics of hangul under your belt, it’s time to start learning some basic vocabulary words. Websites such as Duolingo and Memrise have lots of free resources to help beginners learn some key Korean words and phrases. You can also find plenty of vocab lists online by simply searching for ‘Korean Vocabulary Lists’. Try practicing a few new words each day until you feel confident enough to move on to the next level.
Grammar - Everyone’s Favorite
In addition to vocabulary, try learning some simple grammar rules and sentence structures too. This will give you a better understanding of how sentences are constructed in Korean and help you begin forming your own sentences. Many websites, such as Talk To Me In Korean and KoreanClass101, offer free lessons on the basics of grammar and sentence structure. Watching videos or listening to audio recordings can also be a great way to get familiar with how Koreans speak the language. Remember, when you were a kid learning your own language you didn’t toil away for hours over perfecting the grammar rules. Once you understand the fundamentals, move on to listening to how natives use the language in day-to-day situations.
Speak Up
The next step is to start practicing speaking the language. If you have access to native speakers, then forming conversations with them will help you gain confidence in using what you’ve learnt so far. Alternatively, there are lots of online communities where natives from all over the world gather together to practice different languages – it’s a great way to make new friends while learning Korean at the same time! As you become more experienced in speaking Korean, try reading some books or magazines written in the language too. This will help you get used to different words, expressions and writing styles.
Treat it Like an Experiment
Finally, don’t forget to make sure you have fun along the way – learning a new language should be an enjoyable experience! You can watch Korean dramas or films with subtitles to pick up new words and phrases, listen to music or even play some online games. It’s important to keep your motivation levels high so try doing activities that make learning fun for you.
Learning a new language is never easy but it’s not impossible either. With hard work, dedication and a bit of fun, you can become a confident Korean speaker in no time. Don’t forget that the best way to learn any language is to immerse yourself in it – so get out there and start making friends who speak Korean. You never know where learning this amazing language could take you!
