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Getting Started

Welcome to Your Korean Language Journey!#

🚧WIP🚧#

Intro#

Welcome to the beginning of your Korean language journey! This guide will walk you through the essential steps to get started with learning Korean effectively.

Let me first and foremost start with a small warning; this guide is HEAVILY WIP. This guide is also HEAVILY influenced by Japanese Resources. Almost all of the Japanese resources are transferable with some work! Additional Korean Resources can be found in the Korean Resources page.

Now that we have the out of the way, here is some cruicial info for learning Korean!

  • Make sure to have a goal!

Having a concrete goal in mind will keep you motivated and most importantly CONSISTENT! It also lets you know how and what you should study. (e.g., reading, conversation, or speech).

  • Don't use Duolingo.

Although fun, Duolingo and most other language learning apps are extremely inefficient, and made just to steal your time and money. They should be discarded after entering the beginning phases of learning.

  • Stay Consistent!

It's really that simple, just stay consistent. This is the most important part of language learning. Everything else is easy.

Hangul: The Korean Alphabet#

Your first step into learning Korean is mastering Hangul, the Korean alphabet. There are 24 basic characters to learn. Do not be concerned with the specific method of learning them – whether through writing or other resources.

Below are a few recommended resources to assist in learning Hangul:

Vocab with Anki#

Now its time to learn some vocab, and there exist few ways better than Anki for learning Vocabulary quickly and easily.

Installation#

Anki is an indispensable tool for language learning. It is a Spaced Repetition System (SRS)-based flashcard program that optimizes review schedules to maximize retention. Anki is free on Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and Android devices. Please note that it costs $24.99 on Apple iOS devices.

Setup#

Setting up Anki is straightforward. A detailed setup guide is coming soon, but for now, general Anki setup guides for other languages or the default settings can be used.

Once Anki is installed, the true grind begins. Many excellent pre-made Korean flashcard decks are available to kickstart vocabulary and grammar acquisition.

Some recommended decks include:

Start with just one or two decks and aim to learn approximately 20 new words daily and diligently complete reviews. Consistency is paramount for making significant progress. As new words are learned, ensure engagement with Korean content through various resources such as textbooks, grammar guides, graded readers, and pronunciation guides. Content choices should align with specific learning goals (e.g., reading, conversation, or speech).

The Grind: Immersion & Mining#

This is often the most challenging, yet ultimately rewarding and time-consuming, part of language learning: immersion. Once a foundational vocabulary (recommended 500 words or more) is established, active engagement with Korean content and self-challenge can begin. Fortunately, several tools and workflows can make this process much easier and more bearable.

Yomitan: Popup Dictionary & Anki Integration#

Yomitan is an incredibly useful browser extension that functions as a popup dictionary. Hovering over Korean text on a webpage will automatically display definitions and audio. Its main feature is Anki integration, allowing effortless "mining" of new cards. "Mining" refers to the process of encountering a new word, looking it up, and adding it to an Anki deck for later study.

Examples#

Looking up a Word with Yomitan#

This image demonstrates Yomitan in use while reading 꼬마 μ€‘μœ„ in TTSU Reader. Yomitan Word Lookup Screenshot

Word Card Added to Anki#

This screenshot displays a mined word in Anki. (Note: A custom Anki card setup is in use.) Anki Card Screenshot

Setup#

First, install dictionaries for use in Yomitan. Downloading all dictionaries or the same ones is not required.

Step by Step#

Press "Configure installed and enabled dictionaries."

Importing Step 1#

Yomitan Import Step One

Press import and select all dictionaries to be imported. Then re-order as desired, referencing the example below.

Importing Step 2#

Yomitan Import Step Two

With dictionaries installed, open Yomitan settings and import settings using this file.

Yomitan lookups should now function. Hold shift for bilingual lookups, and alt-shift for monolingual. To set up Anki, refer to other guides, such as Moes Way.

TTSU Reader: Online Epub Reader#

TTSU Reader is an online EPUB reader that works seamlessly with Yomitan, as demonstrated in the examples above. Its primary benefit is enabling easy copy-pasting of text and Yomitan usage. EPUBs can be sourced in various ways, some of which will be listed in the Korean Resources.