ONLINE KOREAN LESSONS

Grammar 문법

Korean grammar is strikingly different from the English system. For example, instead of Subject-Verb-Object word order, Korean uses Subject-Object-Verb. This, combined with other unique grammar rules (such as polite/honorific verb conjugations), may confuse English speakers trying to acquire Korean. But don’t worry: with the following resources and a lot of practice, you will succeed without pain!

Verb Conjugators

Get some help to conjugate verbs in Korean by using the following tools: 

• Verbix

• Korean Verb App

Grammar Exercises

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Key to Korean offers an array of excellent posters and videos with clear explanations of different grammar points suitable for students of every level and background.

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Seoul Bound offers amazing grammar worksheets for advanced learners of Korean. They mostly focus on future tenses, mixed conditionals, and time markers. Conversely, elementary students can use Columbia’s compilation of materials and interactive grammar worksheets to improve.

Pronunciation 발음

As you may have guessed already, Korean pronunciation is also vastly different from English, as there is almost no correlation between letters and sounds. Plus, Koreans don’t use aspiration (that extra puff of air English speakers use when pronouncing letters like “t” or “p”), so sounds that may seem similar are actually produced very differently in Korean. But don’t let this discourage you from learning the language: with perseverance and practice, you will certainly succeed. Take a look at the following list of websites to start pronouncing words and phrases like a true Korean!

• BEGINNER The first thing you need to learn when acquiring Korean is the alphabet, and a big part of knowing each character is knowing how to pronounce them. If you need some help with this, check out Langintro, a website that focuses on the Korean alphabet and covers pronunciation and intonation through the use of audio clips.

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE Put your skills to use with Columbia’s Online Korean lessons. The site focuses entirely on pronunciation, giving you the chance to listen to real-life dialogues and then repeat words and sentences to improve your Korean pronunciation and intonation.

Vocabulary 어휘

Forget about memorizing lists of words or just repeating new terms. Using the Internet, you can acquire vocabulary in a fun and interactive way. Learn how to weave new, rich vocabulary into your speech with the following online resources!

• Loecsen is a great site for elementary students looking for interactive vocabulary exercises, as it includes a lot of printable worksheets for you to acquire basic vocabulary. The site also has a dictionary that provides you with a definition in English, a Romanization of the character, a drawing when applicable, and an audio recording, so you can nail down its pronunciation. 

• Dictionaries are crucial for students of every level of proficiency, so you can look up new terms and understand not only their meaning but also its use and pronunciation. A great Korean-English dictionary is Naver.

Reading 독해

Have a look at these resources to help you on your journey towards Korean fluency and mastering reading comprehension!

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Dom & Hyo is a great site for beginners who want to read in Korean and don’t know where to start. Dom and Hyo are Korean illustrators who produce beautiful, easy-to-read comics that depict daily Korean life, so they are great to improve your reading comprehension while learning more about this Asian culture. 

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE Korean Made Easy is a series of books in English that present Korean vocabulary in detail. You will learn Korean expressions relevant to business and travel, as well as everyday phrases and terms.

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED If you are looking to read the news in Korean, you should give Chosun Ilbo a try. The site is updated several times a day with both Korean and worldwide news. And beginners can access English translations!

Listening 청취

Listening is one of the trickiest abilities to learn when acquiring a foreign language, as it can be hard to find interesting materials suitable for your level of proficiency. Here are some resources that can be of help:

• INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED If you are looking for some great Korean movies, you should give Zumvo a try. This platform features a lot of Korean films for free and with subtitles! However, none include English translations, so the movies are more suitable for intermediate and advanced-level students.

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED You can watch your favorite Korean shows and films (and even the news) for free on the SBS site. And if you are looking to watch some great Korean soap operas, read our post to discover some of our top picks!

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED If you like K-pop and would like to discover great bands and songs, you should tune in KBS World Radio and keep your music library updated with songs that match your taste.

Writing 쓰기

Unlike other Asian languages which have very complicated symbols, most Korean characters involve only 4-5 strokes. Plus, the Hangul only comprises 14 consonants and 10 vowels, which means that writing in Korean is not such a daunting experience as you may think. Take a look at the following resources and get familiar with Korean writing mechanics from home! 

• BEGINNER Learn the Korean writing system in an interactive manner by downloading this Alphabet Guide and acquire the characters through pictures, stories, and associations with your native language.

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Sign up for Lang-8, upload your texts in Korean, and receive feedback from native speakers! In return, assess somebody else’s piece of writing in your native language.

• INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Here are some more suggestions to improve your Korean writing skills in a smooth, painless way!

Speaking 말하기

The following websites will give you the opportunity to put into use your Korean speaking skills.

• BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Korean is not a homogeneous language, but it has different dialects and varieties. Knowing about them is crucial not only to be able to understand what native speakers say, but also to adapt your speech to regional variations of Korean. Read our article and discover the top dialects of Korean that exist today.

• INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Join language exchange sites like Conversation Exchange and find enthusiastic Korean learners and native speakers who are also looking for a Korean speaking partner!

For Kids 어린이 학습자용

Do you want your kids to learn Korean while having some fun? Support their language journey with these amazing online resources for children acquiring Korean:

• Learn Korean for Kids is an interactive app that works both on Android and iOS devices. It focuses on basic vocabulary, like the colors or the animals, and presents them with beautifully designed flashcards and fun, interactive games. It’s mostly suitable for children aged 5-8.

• If you are looking for an integral platform that features stories, games, songs, flashcards, and worksheets in Korean for children of all ages, Dinolingo is the site for you. This is a paid resource, but you can also find free sample lessons, videos, and games.

• Find in this guide some great ideas and advice on how to teach Korean to your children. From hands-on activities to how to make picture books, you will surely have some fun while helping your kids learn Korean!

Miscellaneous 기타

Discover some great miscellaneous resources to learn even more Korean:

• Korea is becoming an increasingly popular destination due to its breath-taking landscapes and bustling cities. If you intend to visit Korea soon, check out this article on how to impress Koreans as a tourist!

• Discover your Korean name with this generator!

• Idioms are crucial in regards to fluency, and they are difficult to learn because their meaning is arbitrary and, most of the time, they cannot be translated into other languages. Read here about 5 untranslatable Korean idioms and proverbs!

• If you are planning to visit Korea soon, you may want to know more about popular dishes. Here are the top 7 most delicious Korean dishes and some more information about the traditional cuisine of the culture.