Pave Your Korean Learning Path

First things first: Why are you learning Korean?

Figure out your goals

Perhaps you’re looking to conduct business with Korean partners. Maybe you’re knee-deep in the K-pop  fandom. Or maybe you just think the language is cool (it is!) and want to add it to your lingual repertoire.

Whatever your reasons, understanding the “why” of your studies will help to provide motivation throughout your studies. Consider your motives as the rock that will ground you even when learning can get a little tough.

1. Create a study plan. Determine how much time you can dedicate to learning Korean each day and create a schedule that suits your availability. This will help you stay organized and motivated.
2. Find learning resources. Explore different resources such as textbooks, language-learning apps, and websites to find the ones that work best for you. Consider your learning style and preferences when selecting these resources.
3. Practice writing and pronouncing Hangul. Spend time practicing writing the characters of the Korean alphabet and pronouncing their sounds. Start with simple words and gradually increase the complexity of your practice.

To continue your Korean learning journey, it's important to immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. Try watching Korean TV shows or movies with subtitles, listening to Korean music, and practicing speaking with native speakers. Additionally, consider joining language exchange groups or finding a Korean language tutor to further enhance your language skills. Keep practicing and don't be afraid to make mistakes - language learning is a process, and with dedication and perseverance, you'll make progress!

Settle on a schedule

Having a consistent agenda is half the battle when it comes to self-studying. Without a concrete plan of action, things can fall apart very quickly.

These tips are key to follow, no matter which study system you choose.

• Study up! Follow your chosen curriculum and be sure to fully assimilate novel content before you move on to the next lesson. The goal is to make new knowledge active, not just passive.
• Be regular. Try to keep the time consistent for both when and how long you study, preferably daily. It’s critical that the time is measured enough to be productive, but is also tolerable.
• Stay realistic. Make sure it’s reasonable enough to do two things: be long enough so that you can learn enough new things, and be comfortable enough that it won’t add stress to your other everyday tasks.
• Take notes and review them. There’ll be a bunch of new elements to memorize quickly, so make sure that after you take notes, you spend some time memorizing them!

Gather your resources

At this point, focus on the kinds of resources you typically prefer for studying. You don’t have to go nuts and gather everything you can, but do collect enough comprehensive ones to keep you occupied for the coming weeks.

💡 If you're looking for additional resources to enhance your Korean learning journey, consider joining online language learning communities and forums. These platforms provide opportunities to connect with fellow language learners and native speakers, allowing you to practice your Korean skills through conversations, language exchanges, and receiving feedback on your progress. Remember, language learning is a continuous process, so embrace the opportunities to engage with the language and keep practicing consistently.

You may like the traditional approach and settle for the dependable Korean textbooks  and workbooks. If you’re into digital learning, you may opt for nifty Korean learning websites  or convenient Korean language-learning apps .

Master the Korean Alphabet

한글   or Hangul is the Korean alphabet.

It’s been used since the Joseon Dynasty in the 15th century A.D. and was made at the behest of a Korean king, King Sejong the Great , who wished to create a writing system that was readily accessible to commoners.

Before Hangul, only a few privileged folks could write in Korean society, and that was with Chinese characters! Composed of 14 consonants and 10 vowels, Hangul is said to be the most scientific alphabet in the world .

Memorize the characters and sounds

Learning Hangul is straightforward—all you need is to memorize the characters and the sounds that are associated with them!

• Spend time writing the series of symbols and simultaneously pronouncing their sounds to create an audiovisual connection. Make sure that you also practice vowel and consonant combinations .
• Then, proceed to writing simple words. Make it easy and fun, and keep practicing no matter what your level of Korean is. Don’t stop writing, even after you’ve mastered the strokes and sounds.

There are free mini-courses  to help you ease into it gradually. Aside from teaching you the alphabet, the lessons will help you understand how to build a Korean syllable, how to handwrite in Korean and how to pronounce Korean sounds and basic Korean words.

Practical immersion tips

Next, practice some reading.

It’s okay if you don’t understand everything (or even anything). Remember, this is Hangul practice more than comprehension practice. Keep practicing until you’re able to read the text without pausing!

• If you’re an absolute beginner with Hangul, use real Korean movie posters  and read the words out loud. There aren’t so many words that it becomes overwhelming!
• If you’re at the intermediate level, spend five to 10 minutes a day reading a full Korean text out loud. Start with perhaps children’s books, and move on to more difficult content later.
• If you can read Hangul with ease, use karaoke songs on YouTube  with lyrics in Korean at the bottom and sing along. The pace is just fast enough so you can practice reading quickly and accurately!