Showing posts with label learn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learn. Show all posts

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Korean Is One of the Hardest Languages to Learn (for native English speakers)

According to a research that was compiled by The Foreign Service Institute of U.S. Department of State, for native English speakers Korean language is one of the hardest languages to learn. The infographic below is the result.

the Group of Easy languages to learn

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In the group of easy languages, there are Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish, French, Afrikaans, Italian, Norwegian, and Romanian. Since those languages are closely related to English, learning takes only 24 weeks(or 600 class hours).

the Group of Easy languages to learn

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In the group of medium languages, there are Hindi, Thai, Russian, Serbian, Vietnamese, Greek, Turkish, Hebrew, Polish, and Finnish. Since those languages have only significant differences from English, learning takes under 44 weeks(or 1,100 class hours).

the Group of Easy languages to learn

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In the group of hard languages, there are Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. They use their own characters and grammatical rules are totally different. So the time that is spent to learn those languages is twice longer than languages in the medium group. It takes under 88 weeks(or 1.69 years or 1,100 class hours). And there are reasons why those languages are difficult:

Arabic : Arabic has very few words that resemble those of European languages. written Arabic also uses fewer vowels, which can be difficult for those learning to read the language.

Chinese : Chinese is a tonal language, in which meaning changes as you change the tone of a word. Plus, thousands of characters and a complex writing system make learning Chinese a formidable task.

Japanese : Like Chinese, Japanese language learners need to memorize thousands of characters. Three different writing systems and two syllabary systems add to the language's difficulty.

Korean : Different sentence structure, syntax, and verb conjugations make learning Korean difficult for native English speakers. written Korean also relies on many Chinese characters.

* Click to read a related post
The Differences Between English and Korean
Top 11 Tips for Learning Korean

* If you see any error in this post, let me know. Your help makes my blog better.




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Thursday, May 28, 2015

Top 11 Tips for Learning Korean


There are some tips for learning Korean, and they don’t require large tuition fees, lifestyle changes, or superhuman powers.
Below I’ll share with you 11 tips to help you learn Korean. Pick and choose which ones you think will work for you, and take action!

Find a Partner.

Try to find a native speaker who can be your conversation partner. You can ask him or her to correct your grammar and pronunciation. This can be your greatest asset and perhaps you can also provide assistance to your partner in your native language.

Do Penpal.

Same reason with finding a partner, and Finding penpal friends is easier than actual partner. If you do penpal online, you can send or receive anytime and anywhere. All you need is only smartphone or internet connected computer. And it is quiet easy method to improve your grammar. To find penpal online, visit here www.penpalkorea.com

Label Your Surroundings.

Make labels for things all over your house. For example: 벽(wall), 문(door), 책상(desk) etc. Remove the labels only after you have mastered the vocabulary.
Read Out Loud.

Try reading out loud. Anything is good. You can read books or newspapers. You will get all of the benefits of reading, plus you'll get really good pronunciation practice. In fact, as a beginner, you should read aloud as much as possible.

Don't Expect to Be Perfect!

Can you remember when learned to ride a bicycle? Did you ride perfectly from the first time you sat on the seat? When learning a new language, expect that you will make mistakes, and don't be embarrassed by them! You are not a native speaker.

Be Consistent.

To really learn a language takes time and commitment. Consistency is by far the most important factor. If you can devote a solid fifteen minutes a day, nearly every day, you will be far more successful than if you “cram” for an hour or two, but only sporadically.

Practice SPEAKING!

The only way to learn to speak a language is by actually SPEAKING. You can study for years, and master all of the grammar rules, but unless you actually practice speaking, you will never speak well. When you are practicing speaking, remember to do it out loud, at normal conversational volume.

Use Flashcards.

One of the best tips I can give you is to make and use flashcards. Make cards that are small enough to easily carry with you, and write the English on one side and Korean on the other. Be sure to ALWAYS have some cards with you. This way, you can capture “wasted” time (standing in line, riding the subway, waiting for class to start, etc.) and turn it into productive study time. Even if you only have a couple of minutes, you can use it to study a few flashcards.

Be Patient.

Progress in language learning does not follow a straight-line graph. You cannot expect to make the same amount of progress, day after day, week after week. You may find yourself struggling at times, seeming to make no progress. Don't let this discourage you. It is normal to reach plateaus in your learning progress. If you find yourself “stuck” try spending time going back and reviewing things that you already know well. Often this will help prepare you to break through to the next level.

Talk to Yourself.

When learning a foreign language, it is common for listening skills to develop more rapidly than speaking skills, leaving the learner in the unfortunate situation of being able to understand, but unable to respond. A good way to surmount this problem is to talk to yourself as much as possible. Because there is no one else around, you won't be weighed down by the inhibition that so frequently burdens the beginning language student.

Work On Developing an “EAR” for Korean.

Remember that language is first and foremost oral communication. A written alphabet is merely a collection of symbols used to represent the sounds of the language, and cannot be expected to capture every nuance of sound and intonation. Try to develop a “good ear” for Korean. An easy and fun way to do this is by listening to Korean music, watching Korean movies, or watching Korean cable TV.

* Click to read a related post
Grammar for Beginners
The Differences Between English and Korean
Korean Is One of the Hardest Languages to Learn (for native English speakers)

* If you see any error in this post, let me know. Your help makes my blog better.




support me for better contents!!