How To Learn Korean as an Absolute Beginner

Embarking on a journey to learn a new language is an exciting and rewarding endeavor, and if you've chosen Korean as your destination, you're in for a linguistic adventure. Korean is a captivating language with its own script, culture, and rich history. This article will serve as your comprehensive guide to learning Korean as a total beginner, providing you with the essential tools, strategies, and resources to get started on the path to fluency.

Master the basics

1. Learn Hangul - Korean Alphabet

Your first step is to become familiar with Hangul, the Korean script. Don't be intimidated; Hangul is one of the easiest alphabets to learn. Start by recognizing the characters and practicing their pronunciation.

Here are some of the resources that helped me to learn Hangul in a few days:

• Learn Korean with Go! Billy Korean (This is the longer version)

• Korean Lesson 101 (This video is short and you can master Hangul in 20 minutes)

2. Practice Reading and master your pronunciation

Korean pronunciation can be tricky, so invest time in mastering it early. Listen to native speakers, and repeat words and phrases. You can do that by listening to podcasts or watching K-dramas.

Here are some of my Podcasts recommendations:

• TTMIK: Real-life Korean conversations for beginners

• Choisusu's Easy Korean

Although you might not understand anything from what they're saying, don't be discouraged it's just for your brain to get used to the language.

Build your vocabulary

3. Start with basic words and phrases

Begin with common phrases like greetings (안녕하세요 - Annyeonghaseyo), thank you (감사합니다 - Gamsahamnida), and please (부탁합니다 - Butakhamnida). Build your vocabulary progressively, focusing on everyday words and expressions.

Blogs that I recommend for learning Korean:

• 90daykorean.com

• LearnKorean24.com

4. Use Flashcards and Vocabulary Apps

Utilize flashcards and language learning apps to reinforce vocabulary. These tools offer structured lessons and quizzes to enhance your word recognition. The best app that I use to learn new vocabulary is Quizlet. You can easily create study sets with words or phrases you're trying to learn. I love Quizlet because it gives you multiple ways you can practice your words. You can review flashcards, play matches or it can also create a test to help you study new words in different ways.

That are also a plethora of language learning apps that follow a specific study plan. Those are great options for beginners to get introduced to new words and grammar. Some of which I would recommend to you are Lingo Deer and Memrise, which you can use completely for free or you can upgrade to a paid plan later on if you'd like.

Mastering Grammar and Sentence Structure

5. Understand the Korean Sentence Structure

Korean sentence structure differs from English, so grasp the basics. Korean typically follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) order. For example, "I eat rice" in Korean would be "저는 밥을 먹어요" (Jeoneun babeul meogeoyo).

6. Study Basic Grammar Rules

Start with essential grammar rules such as verb conjugation, particles, and sentence endings. Online resources, textbooks, and language apps provide valuable lessons on Korean grammar.

Websites I highly recommend:

• Talk to me in Korean - When you've just started learning Korean, and you don§t know what to learn, I would highly recommend you check out this TTMIK website. They have free guided lessons which you can access if you sign up for their website. You can also take a placement test or start from Lesson 1. Their lessons are short and to the point explaining everything in a simple understandable way, and providing example sentences and vocabulary. Plus each lesson is recorded so you can listen while you reading or do something else while still studying Korean.

• How to study Korean - This website has everything you need to know about complicated Korean grammar rules and sentence structures. You can find extensive in-depth lessons explaining many grammatical points to its core with many example sentences. It is very well organized and structured, suited for beginners, intermediate, or advanced dedicated Korean learners, you can find thousands of useful Korean phrases and vocabulary on there as well.

Listening and Speaking

7. Listen Actively to Korean

Immerse yourself in the language by listening to Korean music, and podcasts, or watching K-dramas with subtitles. This will improve your listening skills and expose you to natural pronunciation.

Best Korean dramas:

• Itaewon class

• Crash Landing on you

• True Beauty

• The glory

• My id is Gangnam beauty

What are yours? Let me know in the comments below.

You can also watch variety shows, where Korean is more natural, although this type of listening can be difficult for beginners to understand, it is with no doubt the best way to get exposed to natural daily spoken Korean.

The variety show that I would recommend for beginners is Hello Counselor, you can find it on the KBS World YouTube Channel completely for free.

8. Engage in Speaking Practice

Find language exchange partners or conversation groups online. Practicing speaking with native speakers will boost your confidence and fluency. Language exchange apps like Tandem or HelloTalk are excellent platforms for this. If you're not sure which language exchange app is for you you can read my article on the pros and cons of different language exchange apps here.

Reading and Writing

9. Read Korean Texts

Start with simple texts like children's books, Korean news websites, or beginner-level books. This will help you practice reading Hangul and reinforce your vocabulary.

10. Keep a Language Journal

Maintain a journal where you write daily entries in Korean. Describe your day, thoughts, and experiences. This will improve your writing skills and reinforce your learning.

In conclusion

Learning Korean as a total beginner is a thrilling adventure that opens doors to a vibrant culture and a new way of thinking. By mastering Hangul, building your vocabulary, understanding grammar, and immersing yourself in the language and culture, you'll find yourself making significant strides in your journey to Korean fluency. So, embrace the challenge, enjoy the process, and embark on your exciting language-learning journey today. 화이팅 (Hwaiting) – that's Korean for "fighting" or "you can do it"!