How to Successfully Learn Korean

The Korean language is complex and sophisticated. Learning it can be fun and can bring a tremendous sense of achievement when one can confidently carry a conversation with a native speaker or effortlessly read from a restaurant menu. As in learning any other language, learning Korean requires patience, enthusiasm and an aim for accuracy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Korean is a dynamic and constantly evolving language, and there are constant additions of new slang and colloquialisms. One can stay updated by corresponding to native speakers. You can look for an e-mail and video chat pal who lives in Korea who can help you improve your written and oral skills. You can subscribe to various media available over the Internet like newspapers and streaming videos. You can also view and participate in Korea-based newsgroups and forums.

2. Practice reading in Korean regularly. Get a good language textbook or short novel and read through passages two or three times to make sure you understand the context. Build your vocabulary as you take note of commonly used words and phrases.. You will soon be able to recognize patterns in the order of words and construction of sentences. You will also learn certain expressions such as idioms.

3. Practice writing in Korean. Get a notebook and try writing down your thoughts or experiences in Korean. Try translating a piece of text or a story in English into Korean. Keep a dictionary and grammar textbook handy to check sentence structure and grammar.

4. Study out loud. Imitate the sounds peculiar to the language. Don’t be embarrassed if you sound different as you try out accents. Allow yourself to mistakes and take risks. A good exercise would be to label common objects around you in Korean.

5. Create flashcards to aid you in memorizing words. Take a 3"-x-5” card and write a Korean word or phrase on one side and its English meaning on the other. Go over these cards once or twice over the course of a day until you have successfully memorized the word or phrase.

6. Watch Korean TV shows and movies to get a feel of how ordinary people converse with each other. Listen carefully and then try to pronouncing snippets of the conversation to yourself until they sound correct.

7. If you are in a language class, form study groups with class members. Reinforce each other’s learning goals by working on assignments, preparing for tests and practicing the language together.