1. Try to capture as many new words as possible that are commonly used in day to day conversations.
Learn the correct usage of a word. Understand the technicalities/grammar rules which direct how a particular word is to be used in different situations/ context, differently. Look for relevant phrases that contain the word you learnt. So when you get familiar with the word ‘good’ or ‘morning’, I suggest you add phrases such as Good morning, Good morning to you, Isn’t it such a good morning? or What a good morning it is! in your vocabulary bank. It may also be useful to learn related words in clusters such as the word’s synonyms and or antonyms. Keep a journal or a diary handy with you, at all times, so as to be able to capture all and any new word(s) or phrases that you come across.
2. Find reliable resources that can help you learn online or offline.
Try SRS (flashcards) apps such as Anki and Memrise. Use the internet to its fullest ability. Use Mnemonics
3. NEVER miss practising.
Practice whatever you have learnt regularly. Get into the rhythm of practice, correct, repeat! Remember there is no escape from practice and this is the only way you will be able to learn Korean or any other language of your choice
4. Learn via an immersive technique.
Label objects in your home with their respective names in the target language. Whenever you are comfortable, change the language of your devices to be able to see it every day and get pushed to learn as a way to understand. You could use your own methods to remember the Korean words and phrases, in ‘pairs or opposites’ or ‘clusters of the similars’ or if you are a visual learner you could use pictures to remember.
5. Read a lot of literature, including children’s books
6. Watch online movies, videos, talk shows, documentaries, and KDramas to capture the accent and the way the words are pronounced.
Use shadowing technique to assist you in speech and accent. Speak a lot with your pet, a plant or yourself in the mirror. Find yourself a native Korean native speaker to be able to practice speaking Korean with you could find one in and around your neighbourhood, if not, there are plenty of websites offering you conversation partners such as Hello Talk, Italki, Tandem etcetera.
7. Listen to audio resources. Audiobooks, audio resources, documentaries, talk shows, KPop music.
All that you can find, to register the correct pronunciation of the word being used and of course recognize which word is being used in which context and to garner commonly spoken words in day to day life.
8. Set measurable, achievable and realistic short and long term goals to learn new words.
It is also an excellent way to keep yourself motivated while learning a new language. Be realistic. Avoid complex words until you have a good hang of the language; for a very simple reason. Most of the conversations that are held each day by Korean speakers do not use such complicated words. Instead of day to day conversation utilizes the most simplistic of the words such as milk, dog, pen, paper, phone, etcetera.
9. Study daily.
I recommend you dedicate at least 2 hours of learning and 2 hours of practising the Korean language. Do not try to cram studies in 6-10 hours over the weekend. Do not be overzealous or overambitious and bring yourself to the misery of burnout. Try taking casual vocabulary tests to test your vocabulary knowledge. You could also improve your vocabulary by playing online word building games for offline games such as scrabble et cetera.
A must know words
When 언제 anje
Sometimes 때때로 tetero
Who 누가 nuga
Where 어디서 eodisa
How 어떻게 eoteohke
Why 왜 wowe
Mother (formal) 어머니 eomeoni
Father (formal) 아버지 abeoji
Family 가족 gajog
