Korean is a remarkable and pleasurable language to sit and learn, and the Koreas, both North and South, are often the subjects of today's global headlines, South Korea for growing into a strong economic and technological powerhouse and North Korea, of course, for its controversial political structure, making Korean quite a relevant language to learn. Getting to know the Korean language may appear difficult when first approached, due to its unfamiliar written characters. If you stick to the three steps stated below, however, you will have no trouble at all getting the hang of this interesting and increasingly important language.
Step One: Study the Alphabet
In the beginning, the Korean language looks quite difficult to learn, but it is not. Its entire alphabet is made of 14 consonants, 10 vowels and 11 diphthongs. Diphthongs, for people who do not know, are sounds created when 2 vowels are combined, like the "oi" in the English word "boil." Altogether, that is just 35 characters that you need to understand, unlike a language like Chinese where it's important to learn about thousands of characters.
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In addition, although the letters of the Korean alphabet appear very different than the letters used in English, they sound very similar, making understanding how to read them fairly simple. So, your first task is to master the pronunciation of the Korean alphabet.
Step Two: Understanding Korean Sentence Structure
There is a great deal of debate between linguists regarding the significance, or lack thereof, regarding mastering grammar when discovering a second language; many say it is essential, others mention the point that wholly uneducated native speakers of a language are able to communicate without being familiar with their own grammar. When it comes to learning Korean, though, trust me, it is vital to be familiar with the grammar. One reason is because Korean grammar is so different than the grammar we use in English, and trying to make sense of Korean by using what you feel are natural sentence patterns is a recipe for failure and discouragement.
An additional good reason is because Korean grammar structures are quite uncomplicated and logical, a direct result of the whole language being created by a small group of scholars, compared to other languages that have developed and evolved over a large number of years--not always in uncomplicated and logical ways. So, after you get good at the Korean alphabet, get yourself a good grasp of Korean grammar.
Step 3: Learning to Speak out Naturally
Of course, the objective of studying a language is to be able to communicate verbally in your target language, and there isn't a better way to achieve that than to talk to native speakers. You could go to Korea, assuming you have the time and resources, but the majority of us don't, so I'll recommend some more practical options. First, there are many Korean language-learning software programs that include recordings of native Korean speakers.
These software programs are a good place to begin. You can Check out my Rocket Korean Review if want to see a good one. Additionally, you can search out and use a Korean tutor. This is a fantastic solution for individuals who reside in larger metropolitan areas that have substantial Korean populations. Last but not least, it is easy to engage in an Internet language exchange. Just visit a language-learning discussion board and locate someone to talk with; you teach him or her English, and he or she teaches you Korean. I recommend that you take advantage of the totally free communication software program Skype for these types of lessons.
Final Thoughts
The Korean language is intriguing and enjoyable to master, and it is getting increasingly relevant as we push further into the 21st century. It can be a complicated language to learn, or a relatively simple language to discover, depending on your own language learning strategy. To experience a successful learning experience, first get good at the Korean alphabet. Then progress to studying sentence structure, and, finally, perfect your speaking by training with a native speaker.
All the best, and enjoy a new language learning experience.
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