How to Study Korean: Easy and Effective Ways

Well yes, Korea is more than BTS and delectable ramen, even the Korean language is widely loved by a massive population across the world. But how to study Korean and learn the language fast?

Learning the Korean language can be helpful in many ways, may it be for personal or professional reasons. So, let’s start, shall we?

1. Is it Important to Study the Korean Language?

We humans always tend to learn new things, languages, and words, both subconsciously and consciously. There might be many reasons to learn them for fun, while some learn to understand and build communication with the other person.

Well, most people who are all set to learn a new language face the confusion on how and when to start. Hence, they are forever stuck in the loop of whether to take that step to clear that confusion and start learning something.

This article is for all the people stuck in that loop but want to try it and start the journey. At least start it to study something new and unique, which will set you apart from many others.

Do give it a try to learn something new and make a better use of it for a better you!

2. Start your Journey with the Road Map to Learning Korean

2.1. Goal-Setting for Language Learning

Understanding the purpose of determining the objectives and motivation for learning Korean is essential before beginning the language program.

Every human being has some motivation behind learning the Korean language. Be it their immense love for K-pop idols or K-dramas, some might want to study Korean to get their dream jobs that require or demand the Korean language available globally.

Do you remember how we were taught English at our schools? We started from scratch with the alphabet, words, grammar, interacting sessions, and improving our vocabulary.

As you can see, it is a process, and every language has its learning process. But it takes patience, lots of time, and dedication to the language.

Suppose you are a person who needs a company and a language partner for it. In that case, you should motivate your friends or family who are also interested in the language.

Eventually, this will boost both of your confidence, and learning will be much more fun and exciting with a learning partner.

Moreover, a language partner can also be found online as in modern times, people of the same interest are easily found where we can connect and learn.

In some instances, we could also learn other languages from the person we meet online, as through social media, we can explore and exchange languages, culture & traditions, foods, and everything.

Before getting into technical things, it is important to know the language’s history and culture, and then comes the basics like alphabet, words, and grammar explanations.

2.2. Get Familiar with Culture Before Learning Korean

Studying Korean culture also becomes important as it familiarises them with different cultures and traditions, this helps to connect with their similarities.

Although the religion practiced initially since ancient times is Shamanism, it still holds value to the people residing even today. Apart from Shamanism, other religions emerged in South Korea due to cultural exchanges, including Buddhism and Confucianism.

2.3. Korean Language – History

Let’s take just a moment to understand the origin and history behind the Korean language.

The origin of the Korean language can be traced back to ancient times, with its long history influenced by Chinese characters and cultures.

Hangul, also called Hangeul, is a Korean alphabet known as an official writing language system. Hangul is acquired from a Chinese character that means ‘Han,’ which refers to Korean, and ‘Gul,’ which refers to a letter.

It would help if you first get comfortable with the Hangul script, which is also Korean. As a result, learning to read Hangul is crucial if you want to gain an understanding of Korean.

2.4. Important Korean Alphabets

The Korean language learning alphabet system is entirely based on Hangul letters. Additionally, this has been formally followed by North and South Korea. Therefore, the Korean alphabet is composed of consonants and vowels similar to English.

The Korean alphabet includes 14 consonants with 10 vowels; altogether, they add up to 24 Korean Words/letters.

2.4.1. Consonants

• ㄱ : [g/k]
• ㄴ : [n]
• ㄷ: [d/t]
• ㄹ: [r/l]
• ㅁ: [m]
• ㅂ: [b/p]
• ㅅ: [s]
• ㅇ: [ng]
• ㅈ: [j]
• ㅊ: [ch]
• ㅋ: [k]
• ㅌ: [t]
• ㅍ: [p]
• ㅎ: [h]

2.4.2. Vowels

• ㅏ: [a]
• ㅑ: [ya]
• ㅓ: [eo]
• ㅕ: [yeo]
• ㅗ: [o]
• ㅛ: [yo]
• ㅜ: [u]
• ㅠ: [yu]
• ㅡ: [eu]
• ㅣ: [i]

2.5. Common Words and Phrases Used in Korean

Here are a few example words which are very basic and commonly used in daily life:

• annyeong haseyo (Hello)
• annyeonghi gaseyo (Goodbye)
• ne (Yes)
• aniyo (No)
• eomeoni (Mother)
• abeoji (Father)
• gamsahabnida (Thank You)

2.6. Weekdays in Korean

The weekdays in Korean are a mixture of Sino-Korean and native Korean words, the days are:

• Wuh-ryo-il – Monday
• Hwa-yo-il – Tuesday
• Soo-yo-il – Wednesday
• Mo-gyo-il – Thursday
• Geum-yo-il – Friday
• Toh-yo-il – Saturday
• Ee-ryo-il – Sunday

2.7. Loan Words Used in the Korean Language

Loan words are words derived from foreign languages, such as English words with minimum changes. The growth in Western culture has raised the bar for loan words used in daily life.

• Chokollit (Chocolate)
• Seumudi (Smoothie)
• Daenseu (Dance)
• Paseuta (Pasta)
• Pija (Pizza)

2.8. Understanding Korean Grammar

Learning Korean is simple, but the grammar could be challenging. However, it is a fun task to study in Korean.

As we all know, the English language follows the grammar structure of the pattern SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT. 

However, in Korean, it will differ as the order of the sentences is SUBJECT-OBJECT-VERB, which means the subject comes first, then the object, and then the verb comes next.

For example, the Korean version of “I ate an apple” would be “Naneun sagwareul meogeoyo”.

Every spoken language has a distinct predetermined set of guidelines and restrictions. Similarly, Korean sentences are grammatically proper, and they follow specific guidelines.

A few grammar books recommended for beginners are:

Korean for Beginners: Mastering Conversational Korean, My First 500 Korean Words, Korean Grammar in Use: Beginner to Early Intermediate, and Korean Made Simple. 

These are a few books available that can be your partner in helping you learn the Korean language fluently.

2.9. Unravelling the Intricacies: Insights from a Linguistic Scholar

Clifford Barkley, Founder Of English Synopsis and a dedicated Professor of English with a rich academic background from Vassar College and UC Berkeley, shares fascinating insights into the complexities of Korean compared to other languages:

“Korean [language] presents distinct challenges, particularly its complex honorific system, which requires learners to understand varying levels of speech based on the social hierarchy.

This aspect is relatively absent in many Western languages, making it a novel concept for learners.

Additionally, the Korean writing system, Hangul, though scientifically designed and efficient, poses initial hurdles due to its unique phonetic and syllabic structure, differing substantially from the Latin alphabet used in English.

Another intriguing aspect is the agglutinative nature of Korean, where words often comprise multiple morphemes.

This structure significantly differs from the isolationist nature of English, requiring learners to adapt to a completely different approach to word formation and sentence construction.

From a cognitive perspective, acquiring proficiency in Korean involves developing new neural pathways, especially for native speakers of non-East Asian languages.

The language’s syntax, often subject-object-verb, [is] a reversal of the more familiar subject-verb-object pattern found in English, presenting an engaging cognitive reorientation for learners.

Korean’s unique linguistic features, from its honorifics and Hangul to its syntactic structure, provide a rich and challenging experience [for learners], distinctly setting it apart from other languages.”

3. Implementing Resources and Apps for Language Learning

3.1. Workbooks and Reading Books to Study Korean

A beginner’s best guide to studying Korean is to start with words followed by the alphabet. Additionally, they can practice it in the workbook to become familiar with new words and memorize them well.

As learners learning Korean, we must maintain a few resources, like workbooks, flashcards, and online platforms.

Also, practicing writing Korean isn’t our goal, but speaking fluent and efficient Korean isn’t our goal. Not ignoring the fact that it would be beneficial to know Korean vocabulary better.

If you are very passionate and enthusiastic about learning Korean, sitting back and learning the language hardly takes a few hours from your daily life. While studying, you must follow up with a small test to understand how much your brain remembers it.

Here, you can use flashcards as they play an essential role in self-study sessions that ensure you memorize the alphabet or words well.

3.2. Online Platforms: One of the Best Platforms for Studying Korean

For instance, a learner can take Korean classes offered by many online professionals that provide courses with systematic curricula, for example, ‘Talk To Me In Korean‘.

Learning from a professional with a proper Korean course is helpful to learn much better than just on your own. Another benefit of getting expert lessons is that you will be awarded a certificate once you have finished.

You can also use online forums and social media groups focusing on learning Korean, which is an efficient way to start your language learning process.

Platforms like these bring interest to people and keep them engaged while they learn Korean by interacting with each other, asking questions, etc.

You will also find many language learning apps you can use to start your Korean online learning sessions. To learn Korean, the apps you can consider are Duolingo, Kakao Talks, and Naver Dictionary in Korean-English.

These mentioned apps are the most popular platforms that offer efficient ways of Korean learning from basic to moderate levels.

After you are familiar with the alphabet, words, and phrases, your next aim or step is to build your vocabulary using flashcards with flashcard apps or through physical flashcards.

These flashcards will play a role in memorizing them through visual associations. Visual associations help the new learners/create their own stories and imaginations about particular words or alphabets or make grammar more uncomplicated to learn.

It becomes very important for you to have self-study Korean sessions while learning the Korean language. This will assist you in absorbing the use of flashcards during evaluation.

Both of these are very helpful in self-study Korean Sessions as they will help you memorize the words and sentences faster and better.

3.2.1. How to Tech Apps and Platforms to Learn Korean?

Jack Vivian, the Chief Technology Officer at Increditools, shares their Korean language learning experience:

“I believe when technology began to expand by leaps and bounds, the last thing people postulated was that it could help someone learn a foreign language.

Take that concept up a notch and enter digital mediums such as learning apps and online platforms that can [be used] as an educator and translator in your pocket!

One of the most popular languages, Korean, has [exploded as] a second language for many English-speaking individuals.

Because I am in a C-level position at a successful all-tech organization, [I] frequently hear about different language teaching tools.

Especially in the business world, such offerings have opened doors for professionals through easier business communication.

For me, I use technology to learn languages like Korean for both personal enjoyment and professional benefit. Practical tips I have used in mastering another language include [making] it a priority in both time and practice.

While it is helpful to recognize words and sounds, it is necessary for successful two-way communication to [be used] and practiced, too.

Find groups that give you a chance to craft spoken and written responses. I have also found it helpful to dedicate a specific time of day to my studies so it [is built] into my busy schedule.

My favourite language-learning software to get started is Babbel. Its cost is comparable with in-person tutoring, and it offers live classes to its students (to get the hands-on practice that fluency requires).”

3.3. Communicating with Natives to Enhance Your Korean Languages

If you are a resident candidate in Korea, then it’s much better to converse in Korean as you will have to practice speaking with native speakers of Korea.

It is said that when a person travels from one region to another, they adapt to the changes quickly. Once you start learning Korean, you must keep going without taking long gaps in between the learning.

In addition, you should keep learning new words or phrases in Korean very frequently, which gives your brain time to register them for a long time.

4. Enhancing your Korean Vocabulary through Context

A candidate can seek help from language exchange partners or their Korean friends to improve their fluency in the Korean language.

Listening to K-pop songs, audio files, K-dramas, Korean movies, Korean songs, and Korean dramas can enhance a learner’s listening skills.

4.1. K-drama Recommendations

1. Boys over flowers

2. The legend of the blue sea

3. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim

4. Descendants of the Sun

4.2. Music Recommendations

1. Gee – Girls Generation

2. Fake Love – BTS

3. As if it’s your Last – Black Pink

4. Dynamite – BTS

5. Bang Bang Bang – Big Bang

6. Sweet Little Kitty – Cherry Filter

The above recommendations are some of the famous and popular ones of South Korea and trust me, these are some of the best K-dramas and music, which are super interesting.

Further, most of us binge-watch movies, series, and music from all across the world with the help of subtitles, this can be an effective way of learning Korean as a language just by watching it.

We can pick up on a few basic and easy Korean words that will end up becoming beneficial to understanding the words and the usage of the setting in a more transparent manner.

Also, enthusiastic learners like you can even read books with English translations of each Korean word and sentence translated into English words, improving their reading skills and understanding the underlying meanings of many words used in that particular book.

Additionally, few people are hooked on books, while few don’t feel like reading. In cases like those, the best thing they could do to study Korean is to watch some YouTube videos.

If you are a person who is interested in watching vlogs or insights and more tips about Korea, you can surf through YouTube channels like “Pooh in Korea” and “Breanna Quan” for exciting and fun videos related to Korea and life in Korea.

Enhancing Language Learning Through Cultural Immersion: Insights from a Learning & Development Specialist

Elizabeth York, a psychologist, coach, and learning and development consultant at BPTLAB, discusses how cultural immersion (K-dramas, K-pop) enhances language learning:

“Learning a language through immersion in Korean content like K-dramas and K-pop offers unique advantages beyond traditional textbooks.

While it may not suffice as the sole method for language acquisition, it significantly enhances one’s ability to understand the language in a more natural context than conventional learning materials provide.

Unlike scripted [conversations in textbooks], K-dramas and K-pop expose learners to authentic language use, incorporating colloquial expressions, slang, and cultural nuances.

This exposure enhances listening skills, helping individuals grasp the natural rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation. Additionally, the content provides valuable cultural insights, offering a richer understanding of societal norms and values.

While not without challenges, such as the lack of structured learning patterns and the potential for distraction, the immersive experience allows for a more dynamic and engaging encounter with the language.

The ability to pause, rewind, and rewatch scenes enables learners to absorb language nuances at their own pace.

Thus, incorporating Korean media into language learning proves instrumental in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical language use in authentic, real-world scenarios.”

5. Advantages of Studying the Korean Language

5.1. Personally

Firstly, the Korean language, or any language learning, is known to have benefited people as they can have a better understanding and perspective about the global world.

Learning Korean is beneficial in a personal sense as the learner can understand Korean customs and interact with the natives efficiently.

5.2. Professionally

In a professional sense, language learning is essential as it adds value to your personality. Besides this, Korean language learning has benefited students as they have received well-off jobs in many MNCs and big companies, which boosts a person’s career.

Also, many people based out of South Korea are fascinated by Korean cities and their people, so many try to find Jobs in and out of Korea or Korean-based companies.

So, learning the Korean language will be advantageous for the person’s future and career.

Korean learning can lead to job seekers working for direct translations, such as identifying Konglish words and phrases.

Also, who knows, you might even get an opportunity to work to translate Korean to English for Korean entertainment companies.

EndNote

So, summing up, this was it from our end as we reached the end of this article, but I hope this article provided you with an insight into learning the Korean language and gave a clear objective on how to start studying Korean.

The language has many benefits and advantages, with many opportunities awaiting you.

So, take the first step and go on this beautiful journey of learning something new with the resources available with proper dedication and consistency. All the best!

6. FAQs

Q.1 How much time is required to learn Korean?

It usually takes 2200 hours of study and 88 days of severe study sessions to converse basic Korean, but it takes more than the estimate given by FSI.

Q.2 Is learning Korean hard?

According to FSI, Korean is rated as a complex language for English speakers. Although Korean as a language might seem particularly intimidating, it isn’t hard to decode if learned with dedication.

Q.3 How do I study Korean all by myself?

Learning it without someone’s guidance isn’t that hard. Moreover, you have to start from the basics, like the Korean alphabet, and then learn everyday words in Korean.

Q4. From where do I start Studying Korean, Words or Alphabets?

If you learn the vocabulary words of Korean first, you will be able to grasp the language better and more precisely than if you start it from the alphabet. So, you’d better start with words and then go with the Korean alphabet.

Q5. Is it possible to study Korean by viewing and observing Korean music and dramas?

Yes, you can learn Korean by watching K-Drama, K-pop music, and movies. Watching these will increase your listening skills as your key point is understanding the pronunciations of the language and improving the learner’s vocabulary.

Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Janhavi Ramesh Kowligi