Learn to Speak Korean

The Korean language is spoken by more than 77 million people worldwide, by both people living in North and South Korea as well as in large Korean communities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. While most Korean language students In the United States are either Korean American heritage students or those in the military, the language is still useful if you are planning on traveling to the Korean peninsula. Giving you more social and business opportunities in Korea, the language also may be useful in densely populated Korean American communities within the U.S.

There is some debate over the classification of Korean and with no one consensus in the linguistic community, Korean is often considered a language isolate, or a language with no obvious genetic ties to any other living languages. However, compared to other Asian languages in the region (Japanese, Mandarin and Cantonese) Korean is the easiest to learn because of its comparatively logical script, absence of tones and large number of borrowed English words (mostly a result of American military influence in the region). However, while considered a language easier learned by English speakers than Chinese and Japanese, the United States Defense Institute still classifies Korean as a language where 63 weeks of instruction (as compared to 25 weeks for the Romance languages) are needed to bring a English speaking student to a limited working level of proficiency in the language.

There are a variety of ways to approach learning Korean. While there may not be Korean language courses or programs available in many American cities, there are a few well known programs scattered throughout the U.S., including the Korean American Community School in central Ohio. In this program, students can learn the basics in the classroom and participate in a South Korean homestay. Of course immersion is the quickest way to learn any language. A few weeks spent speaking Korean everyday can be worth more than a year in the classroom. For those unable to travel to enroll in a Korean language program, hiring a private tutor may be another option. With many Korean American communities throughout the U.S., finding a tutor may be an easy way to go. Investing in a language learning program like Rosetta Stone is another good option, helping to teach you not only the basics of grammar and vocabulary but also helping with pronunciation.