msjeon22@korea.kr
For me, learning Korean wasn’t just about acquiring a new language but connecting with a culture renowned for creating cities where tradition and innovation coexist. Raised bilingual and learning English at age 8, I found Korean a challenge that stretched my cognitive abilities and introduce me to a starkly different linguistic system.I began with learning the alphabet Hangeul, which took just two hours thanks to a YouTube tutorial. I credit King Sejong for designing such an intuitive writing system. I categorized vowels and consonants by their shapes and sounds. For example, I grouped them based on how much I needed to open my mouth to differentiate.
Screenshots from YouTube video “2000 Essential Korean Words” (Darakwon)
While many start learning the language through Korean pop culture, my interest stemmed from curiosity. As an urban planning major, I studied global cities. In 2020, I was helping a professor translate a book and read a chapter titled “Right Place, Right Time: The Rise of Bundang.” This section highlighted Korea’s ability to blend modern technology with cultural heritage, and its concept continues to inspire me.
The best way to learn vocabulary is by creating multiple sentences with new words and applying grammar points. At first, I modified sample sentences from my books, but over time, I began creating my own sentences from scratch. After nearly four years of this method, I found that my sentence-making skill remained the strongest aspect of my journey.
For those learning Korean, I have a few tips based my experience. Take your time to build a strong foundation in grammar and vocabulary, as it requires patience and consistent effort. Language learning isn’t a race, so progress at your own pace and focus on steady improvement. *This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.
By Honorary Reporter Sara Abbasvand from Iran
Screenshots from the app Naver Dictionary (Sara Abbasvand)
It’s been over four years since I began learning Korean, and this is my journey so far.
By integrating these methods, learning Korean can be both rewarding and sustainable.
Make the process enjoyable by switching up practice routines to maintain excitement and motivation. Use spaced repetition for reviews through apps, which offer pre-made vocabulary decks.
Expanding vocabulary was relatively easier, however, thanks to learning Hanja (Chinese script), which is often used alongside Hangeul in Korean. Instead of focusing on reading or writing Hanja, I concentrated on understanding related words, which significantly enriched my vocabulary.
Korean grammar, though generally simpler than English, has many rules with subtle differences in usage. I categorized these rules based on their use, formality and frequency. The Talk to Me in Korean textbook series, with 10 levels from basic to advanced grammar, was especially helpful in building a structured understanding.While learning Hangeul was quick, getting pronunciation rules took much longer than expected. Remembering and correctly applying all the rules at once was challenging. What helped the most was the app Naver Dictionary. The Korean-English version provided definitions, practical examples and multiple pronunciation audio bits including recordings from native speakers, making it a valuable tool for real-life language use.
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