How to Get Fluent in Korean in 1 Year | No Money, No Korean Friends, No Experience! 🇰🇷

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares a 12-month plan for learning Korean fluently, designed for those without access to classes, Korean friends, or the ability to live in Korea. The plan is broken into five stages, focusing on building a solid foundation, expanding vocabulary, improving listening and speaking skills, enhancing conversational fluency, and refining grammar. With daily tasks like writing, listening to podcasts, and speaking practice, the plan promises fluency by the end of the year through consistency and dedication. The speaker emphasizes that the key to success is sticking to the plan, not relying on luck or external resources.

Takeaways

• 😀 You can learn Korean fluently without spending money, having Korean friends, or living in Korea.
• 😀 Consistency is key in learning Korean, and sticking to a structured study plan for 12 months will lead to fluency.
• 😀 The 12-month plan is divided into 5 phases, each focusing on different aspects of language learning.
• 😀 The first month focuses on learning Hangul (the Korean writing system) and essential survival phrases.
• 😀 Starting from month 2, you’ll build core vocabulary, write daily diary entries in Korean, and read simple webtoon chapters or articles.
• 😀 From months 4 to 6, you’ll improve your listening and speaking skills by listening to podcasts, mimicking native speakers, and recording daily voice notes.
• 😀 By month 6, you should be able to understand common phrases, pronounce Korean naturally, and hold basic conversations.
• 😀 In months 7-9, the focus shifts to conversational fluency and grammar expansion, including structured dialogues, longer diary entries, and two-minute voice recordings.
• 😀 The final phase (months 10-12) involves watching Korean content without subtitles, writing diary entries without using translators, and practicing conversation with AI chatbots.
• 😀 At the end of the year, you should be able to hold full conversations in Korean, think in Korean, and understand spoken Korean in daily situations.
• 😀 The plan is designed for people who don’t have access to Korean classes, friends, or the ability to live in Korea, making it accessible to anyone with dedication and motivation.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the 12-month Korean study plan?

The main purpose of the 12-month Korean study plan is to help learners achieve fluency in Korean without needing money for classes, Korean friends, or living in Korea. The plan focuses on consistency, providing a structured system of tasks to complete each day.

What are the primary challenges people face when learning Korean, according to the speaker?

The primary challenges people face include lack of money for classes, not having Korean friends to practice with, and not having lived in Korea. The speaker addresses these by providing a study plan that does not require any of these factors.

How long does each phase of the study plan take?

The study plan is divided into five phases over 12 months, with each phase lasting between 1 to 3 months. The plan progressively builds on the skills learned in the previous phases.

What is the focus of the first phase of the study plan?

The first phase focuses on building a solid foundation in Korean, starting with learning the writing system (Hangeul) and mastering basic survival phrases. This phase lasts for one month.

How does the speaker suggest learning Hangeul in the first month?

The speaker recommends using online resources like YouTube videos or websites to learn the Korean writing system. It is suggested to memorize Hangeul using flashcards within two weeks, with a focus on understanding the logic behind it.

What tasks are involved in the second phase of the study plan (months 2-3)?

In the second phase, the focus is on building core vocabulary and writing skills. Tasks include learning five new words every day, writing a daily diary in Korean, and reading short webtoons or articles in Korean.

What is the importance of writing a diary in Korean during the second phase?

Writing a diary helps reinforce the vocabulary learned by using new words in daily contexts. The speaker suggests that even if Google Translate is used, it helps learners get familiar with the language and track their progress over time.

What tasks are included in the third phase (months 4-6) for improving listening and speaking skills?

In the third phase, daily tasks include listening to a five-minute podcast, repeating five sentences each day to mimic native pronunciation and intonation, and recording a one-minute voice note every day to practice speaking Korean.

What is the role of the voice note exercise in the third phase?

The voice note exercise helps learners become more comfortable speaking Korean out loud, overcoming embarrassment and building fluency. It encourages consistent speaking practice, even if mistakes are made.

How does the study plan incorporate grammar learning?

Grammar is not explicitly studied in a separate task. Instead, the study plan emphasizes learning grammar through context. The speaker believes that by consistently hearing and seeing grammar structures in context, learners will naturally understand how to use them.

What are the tasks involved in the final phase (months 10-12) of the study plan?

The final phase focuses on watching Korean content without subtitles, writing longer diary entries without using a translator, and practicing speaking with AI chatbots or other language partners. These tasks aim to help learners think in Korean and understand spoken Korean in real-life situations.

How does the speaker suggest learners handle the challenge of understanding spoken Korean without subtitles?

The speaker suggests watching YouTube vlogs or Korean variety shows without subtitles. This helps train the brain to understand spoken Korean and catch words naturally, without relying on translations or reading along with subtitles.

Why does the study plan avoid using a translator for diary entries in the final phase?

The study plan avoids using a translator for diary entries in the final phase to encourage learners to think directly in Korean. By trying to form sentences in Korean without translation, learners become more fluent and natural in their expression.

What is the expected outcome by the end of the 12-month study plan?

By the end of the 12-month plan, learners should be able to hold full conversations in Korean, think in Korean rather than translating from their native language, and understand spoken Korean in daily situations.