In recent years, South Korean media has gained popularity around the globe, gaining an astronomical audience from Indonesia to the Indian Sub-continent and the West. Most consumers are fans of either K-pop, K-dramas, or Korean culture in general. K-pop's most iconic stars, BTS, have caught fans' hearts worldwide with their incredible looks, fashion, and vocals.
With the rise of K-pop, more groups after BTS are on the rise, some notable ones being TXT, Blackpink, Seventeen, Stray Kids, and Twice. Although these K-pop idols have a diverse fan base, many still communicate to their fans primarily in Korean, often leaving non-Korean fans wanting to learn and understand them. Additionally, Korean TV shows have been a leading factor in the language's popularity. Shows like Squid Games, All Of Us Are Dead, King: The Eternal Monarch, Goblin, and movies like Train to Busan and Parasite have a huge fan base across the US, despite many people being unable to understand the language. Often, non-native speakers depend on subtitles to understand the lyrics and plots of their favorite K-shows.
Many people in the United States are interested to learn Korean but are unaware of the process and the means to do so.
This article will discuss the importance of learning the language and how to learn Korean online or in person.
Why Should You Learn Korean?
The rise in the popularity of Korean culture, language and entertainment gain popularity has resulted in increased tourism.
If you are fascinated by the K-culture and plan on visiting this country, it will be helpful to know that South Korea, alongside Japan, is the most homogenous country in the world.
This means it is racially, linguistically, and culturally uniform, with most people here only speaking Korean. So, getting around with no Korean skills can leave you feeling lost and confused.
South Korea has also experienced a significant rise in international students in its universities. Living in South Korea as either a full-time student or for an exchange program requires you to have at least some command over the language. Some universities even require students to take a proficiency test, TOPIK, when processing their application; even if a university does not require it, some pre-existing level of language proficiency is still preferred. Taking part in Korean lessons also opens job opportunities for foreigners working in the country and allows foreigners to explore options as English teachers or interpreters. Enrolling in learning Korean for beginners offered by Superprof can help international students grasp the Korean language.
Although, like Japanese, Korean is a complex language, there are a few programs you can use to either start to learn Korean online from scratch or brush up on your already existing language skills by hiring a Korean tutor.
What is the Difference Between Classroom Teaching and Private Tutors?
While both classes and private Korean tutors serve the same purpose, the following are the differences between the two methods of learning Korean.
| Classroom Teaching | Private Tutors |
|---|---|
| Collaborative learning experience | Focused learning experience |
| Learn at the pace of the entire class | Learn at your own pace |
| Improves presentation skills | Improves self-discipline |
Which Are the Top Platforms to Learn Korean?
90 Day Korean
If you are looking for a thorough yet quick language learning program, the 90-day Korean language class is the one for you. As the name suggests, the Korean language classes are designed to help you gain a comfortable proficiency level in 3 months. This, however, means that you will have to devote a good few hours out of your day to studying the language if you want to reach the 90-day target.
Fortunately, the website makes the process easier, using modern, proven methods to help you study. To learn Korean online, one needs a reliable website and learning center to advance their academic and professional career.
These methods are fun, quick, and practical, so you know you will not be bored through the learning process.
Koreanclass101
These Korean lessons employ podcasts to teach Korean, making it a suitable option for both beginners and intermediate learners. The Korean language classes, Koreanclass 101, feed realistic, everyday phrases and vocabulary into your memory. The course is not only practical, but it is also fun listening to everyday conversations.
Optilingo
It is one of the best ways to learn Korean. The program uses methods that have been scientifically proven to help you reach fluency quickly. The ways used by this program have already advantaged several people, helping them achieve proficiency in a short amount of time. The program uses complex sentences and phrases spoken by native speakers to teach.
Talk To Me In Korean
TTMIK uses an aesthetic user interface and an easy-to-understand language guide. It is intended for long-term learners looking to delve deeper into the language and get an in-depth understanding of it. TTMIK is also one of the only language learning programs that have incorporated colloquial language and K-drama phrases as a part of its learning process.
Italki
This program provides a platform that allows you to interact with Korean language professors. It allows you to learn Korean directly from native speakers, which ensures flawless pronunciation and accurate understanding of the language. You can choose who you would want to be tutored by and how many hours you want to devote to studying. The only drawback is that they do not offer a fixed rate. Every Korean tutor decides their hourly rates.
Glossika
This program uses one of the most modern language learning Korean for beginners, AI language learning. The system is entirely dependent on AI and teaches vocabulary using everyday phrases. The system familiarizes its learners with sentence and grammar structures from the get-go to ensure you form proper sentences. It also explains terminology in detail so that you can use them correctly.
LingQ
LingQ is a unique program because it allows users to choose a specific topic to learn about, as vocabulary or phrases are used more often in particular settings. You can choose from various topics, like travel, school, food, politics, or books. Additionally, you can customize your language learning experience to fit your requirements.
Learning what you like keeps you motivated.
Pimsleur
This program is ideal for people who struggle with learning Korean pronunciation. The app works based on studies done by Paul Pimsleur, a linguist. The program is more hands-off and can be used any time of the day. It does not require dedicated study time and is perfect for those with a busy schedule. When using it, you have to listen to a series of phrases and sentences repeatedly to enforce it in your memory. Its only drawback is that the process can be slow and take longer to learn.
Clozemaster Pro
For intermediate learners who want to brush up on their Korean reading and speaking skills, Clozemaster Pro should be their go-to. Clozemaster Pro allows users to enhance their sentence structures, grammar and widens their vocabulary. It does the same by putting words into appropriate contexts. Although Clozemaster is recommended for more advanced learners, it is an excellent Korean language learning program, regardless.
Memrise
Memrise is unique because it offers hundreds of clips of native speakers talking. It helps you familiarize yourself with different accents and pronunciations of Korean. You can also use their "mems" to create mnemonics, making learning vocabulary more effective.
Apart From Learning Programs, What Are Other Ways of Learning Korean?
You cannot depend on language programs alone to improve your language skills.
As helpful and valuable as these programs are, they must be accompanied by additional sources. Some of these would be the following;
Watching Korean Shows and Movies
Korean entertainment is one of the best ways to learn vocabulary and speak more naturally. Watching shows like Slice Of Life or high school shows can help you memorize relevant vocabulary for everyday speech. What kind of show you watch is necessary because watching something like a historical show will not equip you with vocabulary or language that will be useful to you daily.
Youtube
Watching Korean YouTubers talking about everyday things, like a vlog or an unboxing for something you like, can also help you enhance your language skills.
Watching videos that teach Korean and videos that detail tiny grammar rules and miscellaneous vocabulary can prove very helpful.
Why Choose Superprof to Learn Korean in the US
Hopefully, you would have found the answer to how to learn Korean.
While most parts of the US are offering courses and programs that can help you learn Korean yourself, these courses are usually conducted within a classroom setting with a collection of people. Learning a language can be one of the most challenging things to do. Getting individual tutoring can put you leagues above the crowd. This is where Superprof comes in.
Superprof has a team of seasoned experts in linguistics for every language.
Our Korean tutors offer one-on-one classes, so you get the maximum focus and work towards mastering the language.
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