Korea is popular and famous worldwide not only for its language but also for its music and movie industry. South Korea has given us incredible talents such as BTS, Stray Kids, and BLACKPINK. Their music and performances are truly amazing! Not to mention, famous movies like Train to Busan and Parasite originate from Korea.
The K wave hit the world like a storm in the mid-2000s and has not stopped since. During this time, the world was exposed to the talented and beautiful country and people of South Korea.
Recently, we have had countless songs, music, movies, series, and even food that originated in Korea, which have captivated our hearts and stomachs. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Korean language has grown immensely over the years. There are Korean speakers all over the world. In this article, we will introduce you to the Korean language and help you with some tips on how you can learn and master this beautiful language successfully.
History of Korean language
Korean is the official language of both South Korea and North Korea and one of the oldest. Although the two dialects are mostly alike, there are differences in the language. The North Korean dialect is generally more formal and usually lacks the numerous English loanwords found in the South Korean dialect. This article will focus on the South Korean version of the language.
There have been different opinions on where and how the Korean language came to be. Some people believe the Korean language originates from the Altic language. In contrast, Koreans, on the other hand, consider the language to be from its own language family, the Koreanic family. There are also theories that the Korean language is closely related to the Japanese language family.
Simply put, its origins are pretty difficult to trace. It might come as a surprise, but the Korean language has links to both the Chinese and Japanese languages. In fact, before the creation of the Korean alphabet, the Hangul, Chinese characters were used. Today, this language is not only spoken in Korea but all over the world. There are said to be more than 70 million people who speak the language worldwide, and this number is growing.
How to Learn the Korean Language?
Korean Alphabet
One of the first things you will learn if you take a Korean course is the Korean alphabet. If you are looking at learning Korean by yourself, the first step is learning and mastering the Korean alphabet. The Korean alphabet is known as the Hangul. One of the best things about Hangul is that it is created for easy learning.
Initially, Korea used Chinese characters, and if you are familiar with the language, you will know that Chinese is one of the most difficult languages to learn in the world.
Since common people could not learn and write using Chinese characters, Hangul came to be. It is an easier language to learn. Compared to Chinese characters, Hangul initially had 28 letters. Now, it consists of 24 letters, 14 consonants, and ten vowels.
To be successful in all aspects of the Korean language, you will need to master this as this is the foundation of the Korean language.
Reading
Reading is one of the four basic things you should learn and master when you learn a language; this is no different from learning Korean. In order for you to start reading, you must first master the Hangul. Once you have done this, you can identify the Korean alphabet and how it works. You can now move on to reading and mastering this. One of the best ways to learn how to read is to learn basic vocabulary. Reading enhances your ability to learn a language faster. Reading out loud helps a person tremendously in not only the ability to read but also speaking and listening.
People often think they have to read books. Not necessarily! You can even improve your reading skills by using Korean song lyrics and singing along. It's a lot of fun!
Another fun way is to watch Korean series and dramas with subtitles. This is an excellent way to practise reading and listening skills.
Writing
The next part of learning the Korean language is writing. This is the second basic thing you will need to learn in order for you to master a language. There are many ways to improve your Korean writing. One of the best things you can do to master writing in Korean is to devise a list of goals you want to achieve. For example, you will master 30 words in a month. Start with this and work yourself up towards more complicated goals. There is a saying that practice makes perfect, and this saying couldn't be more appropriate for writing. You will find it easier to write in Korean as you practise more. You should first practise single words and slowly graduate to sentences that include grammar and sentence structure.
Speaking
In our opinion, speaking is an essential aspect of learning a language, including the Korean language. Some people just learn a language to be able to speak it, and that is okay. However, to learn the language's grammar and sentence structure correctly, you will need to speak it. You can brush up your speaking skills by watching Korean films, which are renowned for captivating audiences worldwide.
Learning the Korean alphabet, writing, and reading without actually learning to speak it would be a waste. If you are staying outside of Korea, it is safe to say that speaking Korean can be a challenge. In order for you to successfully learn the language, you will need to practise speaking. So how can you do that if no one is beside you to practise with?
You can always hire a tutor. We have tutors on Superprof who can help you practise speaking. They not only help you with every aspect of the Korean language, but they are also there to speak with you.
You can also find online groups of people learning Korean, or heading to Korean communities online will help you find helpful people willing to converse with you in Korean.
Listening
Listening skills are the final of the four fundamental aspects of learning a new language. When it comes to learning Korean, listening skills help with the language's sound, rhythm and intonation. The development of language comprehension is also crucial. One of the best and fun ways to improve your listening skills is by immersing yourself in the K-pop and Kdrama culture. Watching movies, watching Korean series and listening to songs will help you improve your listening skills and ensure you have fun while doing it. Listening skills will help you tremendously in your speaking skills, and they go hand in hand.
Benefits of learning Korean
Appreciation of the Culture
Studying a language helps a person immerse themselves in a culture. Unlike other languages, Korean is different. One single word can be spoken in many different ways depending on whom you are talking to, the setting of where you are speaking, and many other factors. A simple hello can be said in many different ways, depending on the situation. For example, hello is Annyeonghaseyo in formal language, and Annyeong is in informal language. The word hello when answering a phone call is Yeoboseyo instead.
You can head over to Must-Know Phrases and Words for Korean Language Learners if you want to learn some Korean phrases and words.
Career Advancement
Learning Korean can also be advantageous for your professional life. Being bilingual is definitely a plus that will set your resume apart from the rest. Having an additional language can increase your demand in any organisation as it increases the ability of companies to form business relationships with companies from different countries and backgrounds. Korea is where you can find tech giants such as Samsung, and it ranks as the world's 14th largest economy. Knowing their language is undeniably highly beneficial.
Best Places to Learn Korean Online
Udemy
Udemy has many Korean online courses that can help you start your journey in learning this language. A popular course with over 15,000 students is Learn Korean! Start Speaking Korean Now! Teaches students basic Korean sentences. There are many other courses to choose from as well.
YouTube
YouTube is an online video hosting platform that hosts tons of videos on learning the Korean language. We have listed a few channels you should watch, follow, and subscribe to, which can help you tremendously if you are looking to learn and master the Korean language. You can visit Essential Resources for Korean Language Learning for more details on these.
KoreanClass101
KoreanClass101 has audio and video lessons on its site, YouTube, Udemy, and your phone via the KoreanClass101 app. It is one of the most accessible materials and can benefit you tremendously.
Looking to master Korean? Why not connect with a Superprof tutor for some expert guidance? Yes, you can learn a language by yourself, but having one of our tutors will help you learn the language faster, more effectively, and efficiently. Our tutors are qualified, experienced and verified by our team of experts. For you to get your best fit in terms of budget and learning methods, most of our tutors offer their first lessons for free, so you not only get to experience their teaching style but also discuss your own goals with them to see if they are aligned with their teaching goals and methods.
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