How To Learn Korean Language Easily? Easy Tips and Tricks

People ask: how to learn Korean language? But first, the importance is not of ‘how’, but of ‘why’. Here’s the answer. Many Korean MNCs are working in India, generating career-elevating opportunities for foreigners trying to make use of them. Meanwhile, the Korean language is also making its mark on the global entertainment market with K-dramas, K-pop, and gaming. As a result, 80 million people speak Korean worldwide, making it the top 15 in terms of speakers across the world.

Of course, the language has influenced the common people to encompass it for more than just career purposes. And of course, everybody interested wants to know how to learn the Korean language easily, or specifically, how to learn South Korean language, when it is declared one of the toughest languages to master alongside Mandarin and Arabic. (The Foreign Service Institute places the Korean language in category IV, the highest difficulty group.) Regardless, it’s not impossible, with some tricks at least. So we’ll dive into how to learn Korean language the right way. And discuss some methods to perform the task painlessly.

About The Korean Language 

Before, the Chinese Hanja was used. There was no Korean language script. In the 1500’s, a Korean script called Hangeul was developed. 

The irony is, Hangeul was developed for ease and understanding in learning, for common folk. Yet, it remains difficult.

What Makes Learning Korean Difficult?

Understanding these challenges is important if you truly want to know how to learn Korean language easily.

1. Sentence Structure

The usual sentence structure (for English speakers) is Subject-Verb-Object. But  Korean is different. It uses Subject-Object-Verb. So, transitioning to Korean takes some time and proves difficult for beginners.

2. Honorifics

In the Korean language, people’s tone and style change as the other person changes. It’s not just a matter of transition from personal to professional; they talk differently with elders, parents, teachers, friends, strangers, and seniors. Applying this change takes fluency, which comes from practice.

3. Grammar Endings

The verb in English stays the same. Ex. go, went, gone, going, will go. But in Korean, the ending changes based on the person you’re talking to. There are helping words for verbs in English. But Korean changes the verb itself. Getting all this correctly is a big challenge.

4. Listening Difficulty

‘Listening’ is a key factor in language learning. But with Korean, the natives speak so fast that foreign listeners can’t even make out the words they hear. It’s a tough block to surpass.

What Makes Korean Easier Than Expected?

While there are factors that make it difficult, there are certain factors that prove contrary to the above statement.

1. No Grammatical Gender

Unlike many languages, Korean has no grammatical gender. Basically, there’s no he-she problem. Learners don’t need to learn noun genders, adjective or article changes. 

2. No Articles

There are no ’ a’, ’ an’, ‘the’ in Korean like English. It usually skips those. One doesn’t need to think about singularity-plurality while speaking.

3.No Verb Conjugation

Unlike English, Korean verb conjugations don’t change with the subject.

Ex. I go, he goes

But in Korean, that ‘go’ is the same for I, we, you, they, etc. No change.

4. Phonetic Writing System

It means the word’s spelling and its pronunciation remain the same. We all know that a new person can’t speak an English word just by looking at it. Example: ‘though’. It’s pronounced as ‘tho’. No one can guess it.

On the contrary, Hangeul is written exactly as it is pronounced. That’s why many learners say that reading Korean is easy.

How To Learn Korean Language Easily?

Everything feels overwhelming at first. But once we get familiar with it, ‘how to learn Korean language’ feels less intimidating. Based on the above-mentioned points, here are some tips and tricks.

Tips on How To Learn Korean Language At Home?

1. Learn Hangul First

This is the biggest tip for how to learn Korean language alphabet. We discussed before how learners usually learn it in only a few days, which is good to keep morale up. Don’t get stuck learning it in English spellings; it’ll only slow you down. 

Ex. Don’t learn ‘Annyeonghaseyo’, instead, learn ‘안녕하세요’. Because Korean pronunciation makes sense in Hangeul itself.

2. Don’t Memorise Random Words

Learn words that are used in daily conversations. You don’t need to build your vocabulary in the first month; you just want to speak, right? Then save yourself the hard work and learn those short sentences. Like ‘I eat rice.’ or ‘I drink tea.’ and practise speaking it. Language learning is itself a task spanning decades. Don’t get overwhelmed by it and practise with small sentences. For this, get yourself a children’s book. This is an affordable option.

3. Listen Regularly Even If You Don’t Understand Clearly

To understand the accent of any language, your brain needs time. It’s the same for anyone and any language out there. So spend some time listening to natives speak. K-dramas help a lot in this regard. If you listen well, you’ll be able to pronounce it correctly. And eventually, you can write it with ease. (Since Hangeul is easy to learn because spelling matches pronunciation, as we discussed earlier.)

4. Don’t Wait For Perfection To Start Speaking

“I’ll speak when I get fluent” – drop this thought at once. It doesn’t work like that. Your pronunciation will improve through daily practice. You will notice quite a gap in your speaking and that of a native speaker. Once you adjust to the difference in your and their speaking, you’ll be able to apply a change in your style. Eventually, you will pick up the accent. But you actually have to speak. Not thinking in my head, and definitely not mumbling, but actually speaking aloud.

5. Learn Formal Korean

We mentioned earlier that Korean people speak differently with elders, friends, teachers, etc. But mostly, formal speech is applied everywhere. So target that, learn that, and speak regularly. Make a schedule and follow it. For example, make a challenge to yourself. I’ll practise daily for two hours, or I won’t eat. It’s fun, and you’ll build a habit. It’s important for such a task that needs consistency over a long period of time.

Some Tricks To Learn Korean

1. Treat Words In Pieces

You must have noticed that Korean words are lengthy, sometimes too much. How to deal with this? Break them apart. Make mind blocks and learn them individually. It’ll suddenly make more sense and sound easy.

2. Copy Taste

What do I mean by it? Play any Korean content; it’s better if it’s a song. Why a song? Cause it’ll stay with you for a longer time than an essay. You’ll hum that during your free time. 

So, hear it. Continuously repeat it aloud. Try to match the accent. And notice the change; your pronunciation will get better sooner than you would think. 

3. Watch The Same Content Regularly

Watching something once will not get you anywhere near the fluency you want. You don’t have a photographic memory. So watch it multiple times Deliver those dialogues, sing that song, read the episode title, etc. It is a small thing, but the results are equally effective.

4. Think In Korean Word Order

Remember that Subject-Object-Verb? Think in that order instead of the usual English S-V-O. Start making Korean sentences in your head. Just simple ones. Because once you make the sentence in your mind, you can speak it correctly. It all starts with the brain. That’s a fact.

5. Use Korean Words In Day-To-Day Conversations

Those with English as a secondary language would know how we mix small English words in our primary language when we talk. Ex. Table, Fan, Charger, etc. That’s the same trick here, too. Mix those Korean words while you speak in your tongue daily, and your mind gets used to it. And makes you remember that word for a long time. Eventually, you build your vocabulary. Even if it’s a simple one, that start is important.

6. Ignore Grammar Explanations

Korean grammar will only threaten you, confuse you, and make you lose your morale, and nothing else. Don’t learn grammar rules one by one a day. During childhood, you didn’t learn your mother tongue by learning grammar rules. That came way later. But it was “it sounds okay.” If you are learning from a Korean book, make sure its focus is on beginner-friendly speaking, and not grammar. Many books do that. Beware while buying. 

Why Enrol in A Korean Language Course To Learn Korean Language?

The Best Platform to Learn Korean – EduWatts‘s Korean Language Course

Eduwatts is an online learning platform that is contributing to the betterment of learners across the globe. The combo of their innovative approach towards teaching, designing the curriculum and 19 years of expert mentors gives it an undisputed edge in global market competition. 

Eduwatts ranks amongst the ‘top 3’ in India, as of today. They offer many courses, including an intensive Korean Language course level 1 to Korean Language course level 6, as well as a PG diploma in Korean language. As they work out of the US and India, their program incorporates global perspectives and best educational practices. Therefore, making you career-ready by building your professional skills. This course is designed to make you skilled in the field.

Noticeable Points

This course offers –

• 56+ hours of total course duration
• Students get a globally accepted professional certification.
• They also learn Korean culture, etiquette, and customs practised regularly.
• Unlimited access to the e-learning portal 24/7.
• Get hands-on internship experience.
• Credits and Swiss certification from Dunster Business School, Switzerland.
• 5,500 individuals have given an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. 
• All this for just 9,500 INR.

Statistical Data

EduWatts online teaching institute has 34000+ international followers, 31200 certified teachers, 27000 enrolled students, and 12000+ completed classes.

As they are partnered with giants like Microsoft, Accenture, Allegis Group, Siemens, etc., placement support isn’t even an issue. Check out the reviews — Participant Reviews.

Conclusion

The Korean language may look difficult at first, but with time, you’ll realise that it’s just a language. Its logical structure and phonetic continuity really make it a pleasant experience. While grammar is tough, Hangeul contradicts it and simplifies the aspect of learning.

Many people search for ‘how to learn Korean language in 30 days’; you can’t. Only with regular practice, continuous listening and speaking, and smart learning techniques can you make how to learn Korean language a fun journey. The Korean language offers opportunities in business, technology, translation, media, and international communication.

Also, beyond the career gains, Korea opens doors to its rich culture and new perspectives. 

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