How to Learn Korean Fast

Imagine being able to speak Korean in just a few months? Wouldn’t it be great if you could visit Korea and have fun eating out and shopping, speaking in Korean? Well, all of that and more is possible.

People often ask - “How can I learn Korean fast?”. Well, learning Korean is not as difficult as you might think - you just need to know the methods and habits you need to adopt to become a successful Korean learner. In this article, we will explain the steps you need to take to be able to speak Korean in just a few months.

1. Learn Hangeul

The first step to learning Korean has to be learning Hangeul. Hangeul is the Korean writing system, and it’s vital that you learn how to read Korean. Hangeul is actually made up of consonants and vowels, just like the alphabet, so once you’ve learned the letters in Hangeul, you can pretty much start reading Korean.

If you want to learn about Korean grammar, you have to learn Hangeul, and learning Hangeul will also help you to learn Korean pronunciation more accurately than relying on romanization of Hangeul. Also, if you learn Hangeul, you will instantly have access to abundance of Korean learning material. Lastly, Hangeul can be learned in just a few hours, and in the Busuu app, we have a dedicated course on Hangeul to help you master the Korean writing system.

2. Don’t use romanization

It would seem obvious not to use romanization after you have learned Hangeul, but many people do rely on romanization to read Korean. However, this is a huge mistake. Everything related to Korean grammar and pronunciation of Korean is related to Hangeul, so if you really want to learn Korean fast, then ditch romanization as soon as you’ve learned Hangeul.

3. Choose the right learning resources

It’s important to choose the right learning resources to begin your Korean learning journey. However, making this choice can be tricky as there are so many options available. Some people learn using books, while others may take online courses, but for those that lead busy lives, learning Korean using apps like Busuu may be the best way.

With a language learning app like Busuu, you can learn Korean by spending just 10 minutes a day, and since your phone is with you at all times, you can learn Korean anywhere and any time during the day.

4. Set a learning goal

Having a clear idea of your learning goal will help you to create a realistic plan of action, and it will also help you to be more motivated. A learning goal could be to learn phrases you can use when you travel in Korea, or to be able to hold basic conversation in Korean. If you’re not sure what specific language skills you want to learn, you could also aim to complete specific levels like A1 or A2. Whatever your learning goal may be, Busuu Premium includes the study plan feature which lets you set goals and figure out how to reach them. You can decide what level you want to reach, and we’ll send you reminders to help you stay on track.

5. Be consistent

To make consistent progress, you have to develop a habit of learning Korean. If you regularly take prolonged breaks from studying Korean, it can be difficult to make progress. But if you spend 10 minutes every day for a few months, you will notice a significant improvement in your Korean skills, and as Busuu lessons take between 5 to 10 minutes to complete, it’s much easier to be consistent when you’re learning Korean with Busuu.

6. Repetition, repetition, repetition

As a beginner language learner, repetition is the most important process in learning and retaining what you are learning. If anyone tells you that they learned something once and never forgot it, then they’re lying. In most cases, we have to hear or read words and phrases multiple times to remember them in the long run, and this also goes for learning tricky grammar concepts.

So remember to read or listen to something again and again, and remember to learn difficult grammar concepts again and again.

7. Watch K-dramas (it really does help)

Now if you are reading this article, chances are, you would have heard of Korean dramas, and I’m pretty certain that many of you have watched more than a few Korean dramas. Korean dramas are on every platform you can think of, and they are a great way to get accustomed to the sounds of Korean, improve your vocabulary knowledge and learn how to use Korean. And as well as learning about language, you’ll also learn about Korean culture which should be an important part of learning the Korean language.

8. Listen to K-pop

If you are already a fan of K-pop, then this advice will be music to your ears (pardon the pun). Listening to K-pop is a great way to develop vocabulary and grammar knowledge, and it’s always easier to retain the vocabulary you learn from songs in the long-run. Additionally, Korean music goes beyond your typical fast-paced dance songs. There are also a lot of slow, ballad songs from artists like Paul Kim and Juck Lee, but also rock music from artists like Oh Hyuk and Yoon Do Hyun.

9. Practice writing in Korean

Writing in Korean is a great way to develop familiarity with Hangeul. Additionally, it’s important that you put to use what you are learning, and there are only two ways to practice what you are learning. One is speaking, and the other is writing. Speaking can be very difficult to do when you are a beginner as it can be quite tricky to formulate sentences on the spot when you are speaking in a new language. However, with writing you can think about the sentence you want to form more carefully, and this process can helps us remember and synthesize new information.

10. Practice speaking

Why do people learn languages? It’s almost always to speak that language, so practicing speaking Korean should be an important part of your learning schedule. You can practice speaking on your own, but you should ideally find someone you can practice with - whether it be with another learner, or with a Korean tutor. Practicing with someone will also help you to develop your listening skills also, and naturally with more practice, you’ll reinforce what you have learned, and you’ll also improve your Korean pronunciation.

11. Be willing to make mistakes

Isn’t making mistakes a part of any learning process? So it’s no different when learning a language. Be bold and try things. You can never progress if you only stick to what you are certain of. Learn new words and grammar concepts and try them out. Practice using what you have learned, and in the process of trying things, if you make mistakes, you’ll also learn an important lesson about what not to do next time. So making mistakes will actually help you achieve your learning goals.

12. Learn about Korean culture and history

Culturally, Korea is very different from nearly all the English speaking countries, and how we use Korean language is very closely connected to Korean culture. So it’s very important to learn about Korean culture. An easy way of doing this is by watching Korean dramas, which will give you an insight into Korean culture, and YouTube is also a great source of educational videos on Korean culture and history.

13. Make Korean friends

This can be a little tricky, but if you can make Korean friends, this can be a super helpful way to learn Korean fast. Try to find if there are social events related to Korea, and if you are lucky enough to live in cosmopolitan cities like New York and London, find Korean festivals or social clubs where you can meet other Korean learners, as well as native Koreans. You can practice using Korean with them, and learn more about Korean culture.

14. Immerse yourself in Korean

If you really want to speed up your language learning, you should be engaging with Korean non-stop, and with smartphones, this becomes so much easier. As well as using language learning apps like Busuu, you have access to an endless amount of content in Korean. You can listen to things like music and podcasts, and watch movies and dramas on your devices. You can also catch up on current events using news apps in Korean, and while you’re at it, why not change the language setting on your phone to Korean?

15. Get feedback from native Korean speakers

Language learning can be a lonely journey, but it doesn’t have to be that way. When you start learning with the Busuu app, you instantly become part of a community. As well as learning Korean from a carefully curated Korean course, you can also learn from other Korean learners.

At regular intervals, you can submit your speaking and writing responses, and get feedback from other learners, but also from native Korean speakers. Busuu’s community of learners come from all over the world, and what’s great about our community is that everyone is there to learn a language, so everyone understands what each other is going through, and this supportive community is what sets Busuu apart from other language learning apps.

Now you know how to learn Korean fast

Learning Korean is not as hard as it seems!

With these 15 ways to learn Korean fast, you can soon watch your favorite K-dramas without relying on subtitles, as well as listen to the latest K-pop tunes and understand the lyrics as you sing!