So you want to learn Korean?
The only question now is…How do I do it?
There are thousands of websites available to help you master Korean, but I’m sure it’s difficult to choose one that will suit your needs. In this list, I’ll talk a little about the websites I’ve used to learn Korean after moving to this beautiful country.
Memrise
Memrise is a fantastic crowd-sourced website for learning languages. I’ve created my own memrise courses for KIIP, and I’ve used courses created by other people to study as well. The only drawback for memrise is that it’s not all that great of a platform for studying grammar and sentence structure. However, it’s great for building your vocabulary, and that’s crucial when you’re learning a new language.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a great program for learning a language using a structured course. They’ve only just recently created the Korean course. It doesn’t seem to have a lot of advanced grammar yet, but it’s great for beginner learners. It helps to build a strong foundation on grammar and vocabulary skills.
Dom & Hyo
This website is great for beginners building their Korean vocabulary. Dom is and ESL teacher in Korea. Hyo is his wife, and a native Korean speaker. They make the comics together and Hyo double-checks his Korean to make sure it’s accurate. He also has comics showing daily life in Korea–both in English and Korean. As your Korean improves, you can start reading his comics in Korean for reading comprehension practice.
Talk to Me in Korean
Talk to Me in Korean (TTMIK) is a great website for beginners, intermediate, and even advanced Korean learners. When I first started learning Korean, I used this website all the time. It’s an awesome, well-thought-out program with native Korean speakers teaching the content. The program includes reading, writing, and listening. Each lesson includes a podcast and a downloadable PDF explanation and worksheet. (Plus, it’s fun to listen to all of the teachers interact with each other on the podcast.)
Korea Times
The Korea Times publishes easy Korean words and phrases with cute illustrations on a regular basis. They put together phrases that are useful for everyday life in Korea. They also put together colloquial Korean words and phrases and also explain about trends and pop culture. It’s a good way to learn a few pop culture phrases. But this isn’t the best resource for learning grammar and lots of vocabulary.
For Anyone Residing in Korea
Although this list focuses on websites for Korean study, I do want to talk a little bit about the KIIP. For anyone that is currently living in Korea, it’s a great resource that you should take advantage of. The Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) is a free class on Korean language and culture available to foreign nationals in Korea. I highly recommend taking the course. The only problems are that the KIIP website is completely in Korean. You will need a native speaker to help you navigate the site and sign up for the program. I will talk more about it in a future post.
Good Luck!
화이팅
