1. Learn Hangul
Learning Hangul is essential to eventually reading Korean and will allow you access to the Korean world. Learning Hangul is easy and can take anywhere from 1 hour to 2 weeks depending on the person, but it is one of the easiest alphabets to learn as it is very methodical and logical in how it was formed.
Learn Hangul here:
2. Start Acquiring the Language Through Context
You should start listening to and watching Korean content from day one. Focus on comprehensible input if possible. This means listening to and watching things where you can understand what is going on. To learn more about comprehensable input watch this video which can help paint a picture of why this strategy is so powerful:
It helps if the content you start with is made for either beginners of the language or children. Watching TV is amazing since there are many things that add context such as visual cues and lots of emotion as well as a story line to follow. I suggest combining both content made for beginners in a language as well as those made for children for a more well-rounded approach.
For beginner learning content I would highly recommend Talk to Me in Korean. I recommend you listen to their free audio lessons which go from level 1 and up to level 13 (and soon beyond). You can also watch videos on their YouTube channel if you want even more beginner material. Although watching videos with context is best, supplementing your learning with grammar and vocabulary lessons will help speed up the learning process. Once you learn a grammar form, you will start seeing it everywhere and it will soon be solidified through the context. This is why comprehensive input is so important!
3. Watch Without Subs
While you may be tempted to watch Korean videos with English subtitles, you will learn Korean much faster if you don’t. Korean subtitles are best, but it is also okay to go subtitle free.
4. Surround Yourself With The Language to Maximize Input
Make sure you are surrounding yourself with the language. You can literally go to Korea, make Korean friends, or you could surround yourself with Korean media. Just basically take things you normally do, like your hobbies, and when possible start doing them in Korean. If you like to watch makeup tutorials on YouTube start watching them in Korean. If you like to listen to rock music, listen to Korean rock music. Follow Koreans on social media and turn your phone language settings into Korean. Do anything you can to surround yourself with the language!
5. Try Shadowing
When you are listening to Korean, don’t just listen, try to mimic what you hear by saying the words out loud. You can start with one or two words and later get to full sentences. The only way to start speaking in Korean is to start speaking it! Shadowing is a great way to improve pronunciation and inflexion.
