How to learn Korean
Looking to start learning Korean? Here are some of the best textbooks, apps, and online sites to help you get started.
Starting a new language from scratch can be an intimidating venture, but just like the Korean idiom “천 리 길도 한 걸음부터” (“Cheon ri gildo han geoleumbuteo”) — “a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” — once you’ve started, the rest will come naturally.
Whether you prefer sitting down and studying with a textbook, using interactive apps while you’re on the bus, or watching video explanations in bed, we’ve trialled and accumulated a list of our favourite Korean resources to help you begin your Korean learning journey.
Textbooks
Textbooks are usually the most expensive route for learning a language, so we recommend trialling some free resources first (linked below) before committing to purchasing a textbook.
Learn Korean the traditional way with textbooks. Credits: Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash.
Korean From Zero
Korean From Zero is by far, the most beginner-friendly Korean textbook. The first issue walks through the basics of the Korean alphabet in simple and easy-to-understand language. It introduces some of the most basic vocabulary whilst also informing you of important cultural details that appear in the Korean language.
The most useful aspect of this textbook is how it dives deeply into individual verbs instead of focusing specifically on grammar versus vocabulary. This textbook will help you form a very solid foundation for your future Korean language learning.
Available on: Amazon UK
Pricing: £20.95
Vitamin Korean
This textbook teaches Korean in a way that follows the more traditional language learning structure. Each chapter introduces new grammar concepts as well as provides example sentences and dialogue surrounding the characters created for the book.
If you prefer a more traditional approach to language learning, this textbook is ideal. And for this fact, it’s used in some university courses in the UK to teach Korean. However, this textbook lacks in-depth explanations and thus is usually supplemented by a teacher’s explanation.
Available from: Amazon UK
Pricing: £25.23
Talk To Me In Korean
The Talk To Me In Korean (TTMIK) franchise is perhaps the most popular and well-known resource for learning Korean. What originally started as a YouTube channel has grown into a Korean language learning platform, developing a wide range of textbooks from level 1 to level 9. TTMIK also provide online classes for those who enjoy more interactive learning.
Our favourite thing about TTMIK is that it provides not only grammar books and vocabulary books, but also specified books to help develop other language skills including Real Life Korean Conversations for Beginners, News in Korean, and Your First Hanja Guide. They also offer novels in Korean to help practice your reading skills which are engaging and enjoyable.
Although learning Hanja (Chinese characters used in Korea since as early as the 7th century) isn’t essential for beginners or learners for any other level, the fact that TTMIK offers such a wide range of resources is definitely what makes them stand out from other platforms.
Available from: Talk To Me In Korean website
Pricing: Prices vary
Apps
Apps are a very useful tool for learning on the go. If you’ve got a busy schedule and can only fit Korean learning in every now and then, we recommend using some of the apps below.
Apps can help you learn a language on the go. Credits: Robin Worrall on Unsplash.
This app is rudimental in design but very helpful in its content. We recommend using this app to memorise the Hangul symbols when you’re starting out. The app contains quizzes as well as background information on Hangul as the Korean alphabet which helps to contextualise your learning.
Hello Talk is a language exchange app where you can talk to native speakers of your target language online in a chat format. Native speakers can help you to correct your mistakes as well as answer questions you might have and vice versa. This app is great if you learn through conversation and practical application. But as with all online chatting applications, please remember to stay safe when talking to strangers online!
This app contains past papers from the Korean government-run language aptitude test, TOPIK (Test Of Proficiency In Korean). It is perfect for learners who want to make their language learning official by taking the TOPIK exam.
Online resources
If you’re learning Korean on a budget, don’t worry. There is an abundance of resources online available for free. Here are some of the most comprehensive websites we’ve found to help you while studying.
The best free resources are online. Credits: Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash.
It may seem an obvious choice, but YouTube will really become your best friend when beginning to learn Korean. We recommend learning Hangul (the Korean alphabet) through YouTube before purchasing any textbooks or apps. Here are some of our favourite channels:
How to Study Korean is a great free resource that offers in-depth lessons and also clear grammar explanations. You can use this site to fill any grammar knowledge gaps you have.
An online dictionary is essential in any language learning journey, but the Naver dictionary is especially helpful as it offers different Korean ‘words of the day’ and also uses K-dramas to highlight new words and phrases.
Papago is a translation website connected to Naver Dictionary. However, it works slightly differently; Naver Dictionary is perfect for translating and looking up singular words, whereas Papago helps you understand more complex phrases and sentences which may be slightly difficult to grasp the meaning of.
For many people, this website is, by far, the most frequently used when starting to learn Korean officially. Papago also comes in app form which is handy when you're on the go.
Say Hi Korean offers the KIIP program (Korea Immigration and Integration Program) which is used by foreigners living in Korea who wish to apply for permanent residency. It therefore has a very thorough library of Korean language lessons all the way from beginner to advanced.
The website can be staple for language learning, used to fill in gaps in grammar knowledge.
There are many Korean language study accounts on Instagram and a quick search through #studygram will help you find them.
One of our favourites is @konglishtoon, a ‘British wifey learning Korean’ and a ‘Korean hubby living in Britain’ duo who share cute and useful study ‘toons’ like the one below.
While there are plenty of resources to help you begin your Korean language journey, we’re confident that you’ll be able to use the above resources to engage and nurture your passion for the language as well as find the method that works best for you.
Good luck with your studying! 화이팅!
Edited by Gabii Rayner.