Learning a new language often conjures up the image of intense practice, rote memorisation, and lots of hard work. While it is true that you need commitment and diligence to get a grasp on a new language, there are also fun ways to get some practice in.
Finding fun ways to learn a language can be a huge motivation booster, as you might not even feel like you are studying at all! If you are keen on picking up the Korean language, here are some suggested ways you can practise the language almost effortlessly:
Interact with native speakers
One of the best ways to improve your Korean skills by leaps and bounds is to speak to native Korean speakers. When you are ‘made’ to listen and speak in Korean, you will find that your brain is somehow able to absorb the words better than if you were to learn it off a textbook.
Of course, to interact with native Korean speakers, you should ideally have some basic Korean skills under your belt. At the start, even just listening to your Korean friends speak to each other can teach you a lot. If you don’t have any Korean-speaking friends, it’s time to find some at your workplace, school, or any local or online community groups.
Practice with school children
To extend the above point, sometimes it is even better if the people you interact with are young children. Interacting with children feels less intimidating than speaking to adults because children are also still learning the language, and are as prone to making mistakes as you are. In addition, children will speak in simpler language, making it perfect for your learning at the beginner stages. From their speech, you can quickly pick up a lot of the common vocabulary and sentence structures you will need in daily life.
Leverage on Korean drama and music
The best excuse to binge-watch Korean dramas is that it helps you learn Korean! For a start, you should leave the subtitles on so that you can keep track of the Korean conversations. Later on, you can progress to watching without subtitles, which will challenge your ability to decipher Korean speech without reliance on translations.
Korean songs can also help you learn Korean, but the learning is not as instinctive as when watching Korean shows. If you want to learn from Korean songs, the recommended way is to search up the translations of the lyrics so that you can pick up new words and phrases. The good thing about learning with songs is that the music and rhythm can help you internalise the words you learn in a very effective way.
Join a Korean language class
With the rising popularity of Korean culture and language, Korean language classes have also sprung up in abundance in Singapore. The advantage of attending classes is that you will receive structured guidance by a trained teacher, thus ensuring that your learning will be effective and efficient. It will help you learn Korean language in a clear manner, helping you distinguish between the formal, polite, and slang forms, and become confident in the grammar.
As an added bonus, you get to meet other Korean learners, who will become valuable as practice buddies and sources of mutual encouragement.
If you are keen on picking up the Korean language, Sejong Korean Language School will be a top choice for you. Let’s help you gain confidence in the language and have some fun with Korean together!