Do you want to study the Korean language? If so, you might ask yourself, how long does it take to learn Korean? Read on!
The cultural elements of Korea have contributed to the growing fame of the Korean language. For instance, the “Hallyu” has inspired fans from far and wide to study Korean.
The dream of higher education in Korea, scholarships, hobbies, and career prospects are among the additional benefits of exploring Korea and Korean culture.
Every student who begins to study Korean linguistics asks this at least once. “How long will it really take to learn Korean?”
This is a pretty tricky question.
It isn’t easy to answer, as the time required to study Korean varies from person to person. Several factors also influence the duration!
But we all deserve the answer. No?
Well, I don’t blame you. It’s an obvious question.
How could we start our journey toward Korean fluency without knowing how long it will take?
Setting a reasonable timeline and deadline is a requisite step in the SMART goal framework.
So, let’s start!
Table of Contents
- Language learning is unquestionably hard
- 6 Factors determine the time to learn Korean
- Conclusion: Time to learn Korean
Language learning is unquestionably hard
Acquiring a tongue does seem exciting and fun. But what people often don’t realize is that it’s a life-changing decision.
Learning a language is complex, and mastering any language takes time. As far as I know (and I have conducted extensive research to reach this conclusion), there is no shortcut.
In my experience, most underestimate the time frame. Thus, it is better to have realistic expectations about what you can do and how long it will take to learn.
It takes years of effort, a learning attitude, and a connection to and passion for that purpose. So, every aspect plays an essential role.
Suppose you have strong reasons for learning Korean. If so, it will encourage you to persist and overcome your challenges.
If you don’t have strong reasons to move forward, you will surely stop at some point. Without a plan and zeal, reviewing the pending lessons may be challenging.
You will also quickly get bored and might quit within 3-12 months. You’re not going to learn much Korean in any case. That’s why most don’t go beyond the beginner’s level.
Don’t believe me?
Just see the number of people learning Korean. Now, see how many speak well and can do jobs requiring Korean.
For example, talking with locals as an ESL teacher in Korea. It won’t even be 1%.
Hence, keep a language goal and your inspiration to achieve it each time. Let’s discuss this in depth.
6 Factors determine the time to learn Korean
So, to answer your main topic, let’s examine how long it takes to learn Korean.
The required time depends primarily on several factors. This covers your passion, language difficulty, mother tongue, Korean proficiency level you want to reach, and how you learn!
Let’s investigate further!
1. Your native language matters
Acquiring a new tongue depends on your native language as well. Thus, the more you are familiar with your target language, the faster you can learn.
For example, a Korean student will probably take much longer to become fluent in Spanish than someone from Brazil or Portugal.
Romance languages, such as Spanish and Portuguese, share many features.
The writing system, geographic proximity, and grammatical rules also make a significant difference.
Korean may seem more straightforward to a Japanese, Mandarin, or even Hindi speaker.
However, I don’t consider it essential, as Korean is a language isolate, according to research.
This means it is not related to any known language or language family. Knowing any tongue doesn’t help much when studying Korean.
Some relations exist between Korean and other languages, but don’t count them as significant. Ultimately, you must learn from ground zero and put effort into reaching the top floor.
The duration also depends on your prior experience with languages. When you learn your first language that differs from your mother tongue, you also understand how to acquire a language.
2. Language difficulty
Although all languages are difficult to some extent, they are not all equally hard to learn. Some are more complicated than others.
The most popular and well-known research is from the FSI, the US Foreign Service Institute.
The study is from the perspectives of English speakers. It has four groups of easy and challenging languages. The authors also gave a specific timeline for learning Korean.
Unfortunately, according to the FSI’s research, Korean is a “Super-hard language for native English speakers.
Hence, mastering Korean, at least to TOPIK Level V or advanced KLAT, would require approximately 88 weeks (that is, 2,200 hours).
This doesn’t include self-teaching, in accordance with their recommended 1:1 ratio of classroom and self-study. Thus, to reach an advanced level, double the time to 4,400 hours.
Moreover, Korean is difficult for native European speakers (e.g., French, German, Italian).
However, the practice and hard work depend on the student.
Suppose you give more time for the language to settle with the sound and formation. You will become more observant and learn faster, even if the tongue is tricky.
It becomes somewhat easier for those who speak Indian languages, as the grammar and structure are somewhat comparable.
As the Korean language follows Subject – Object – Verb formation, Indian languages follow the same.
This is precisely the opposite of English.
Example:
- English: I ate a hamburger. (SVO)
- Korean & Hindi: I hamburger ate. (SOV)
Learning Hangeul
Learning the script is the first step in any language acquisition process. For some, it is painful. And form some well… pretty easy.
Korean is the easiest and most phonetic of the three most popular East Asian languages: Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. It is consistent and easy to understand.
The ‘Hangul’ script is used only in South Korea. In North Korea, the same is ‘Chosŏngŭl.’ Despite some variation, they are relatively small and can be resolved quickly.
But as a learner myself, I can assure you that the double consonants and pronunciations later become bothersome. Most people, like teachers, don’t even explain this on the internet.
3. Your surroundings
The immersion technique is effective; therefore, living where you are acquiring the language helps substantially. Yet, I know that not everybody can afford to live in South Korea.
As the pandemic arose, it brought chaos. However, humans adapted to online platforms for meetings, schooling, and work.
We can consider online language exchange sessions. You don’t exactly need to live in Korea to learn Korean.
Video or voice calls with your language partner can significantly change your speaking skills.
Some websites and apps with such facilities include HelloTalk, Tandem, and personal tutors on Italki, Verbly, and Preply.
Residing in a country where the target language is spoken is widely regarded as the best language-learning method.
But again, nothing could be helpful if you are unwilling to converse.
But if you’re at it, you will find people you can practice with. So, just be proactive and find like-minded learners in the age of the ever-connected world.
4. Your learning resources
Textbooks are the first thing any Korean learner searches for. However, students are blessed with fresh, new material in Korean.
No matter when you start studying, you will find incredible resources online. The list is infinite, from audio and video lessons to podcasts and e-books.
Some of them are well-known websites such as Talk to Me In Korean, 90 Days Korean, and Korean Class 101, as well as YouTube channels such as Spongemind and Motivate Korean.
Study materials are available in bundles, but the key is to engage with the language and culture.
Textbooks have grammar, but talking in front of either your teacher or friend would help you learn even faster, better, and more enjoyable.
A language school or a teacher can provide the best instruction in Korean. So, if possible, go for it.
This will inform you which words you can use and where. Plus, systematic study, doubt-clearing sessions, interaction, and their experience make it valuable.
Textbooks and even online dictionaries translate you as 너 (Neo) and 당신 (Dang-shin).
But if you address this to any Korean, it will offend them.
너 (Neo) is valid only in 반말 (informal form) with the people you are close to. Not even with your parents.
당신 is always shown in dictionaries as a formal way of saying You. Instead, it is not. You can only hear this word in any old, middle-aged couple’s conversation.
It, of course, can confuse you as a student. Therefore, as in many dramas, you can see 당신 frequently. One such example is Hotel Del Luna.
But avoid using it. You can just call people by their designation. For example, 선생님 (Seong-seam-Nim) is a teacher, 사장님 (Se-Jang-Nim) is a boss, etc.
You can also add 씨 (Sshi) 님 (Nim) in front of anyone’s name to make it sound formal and respectful.
5. Making use of Korean entertainment content
K-dramas and K-pop are the root cause of the Korean wave. It is necessary to watch them not only for entertainment but also for learning.
This is especially true of Korean entertainment, including variety shows such as Knowing Brothers, Running Man, The Return of Superman, and others.
However, what makes Asian TV shows different from others is their editing.
You can identify many idioms and phrases in it and even record them.
They even take close-up shots of their cast’s reaction to simple moments, like 긴장 (Kin-Jang) is Nervous, 민망 (Min-Mang) is Embarrassed, 걱정 (Kheog-Jeong) is Worried, etc.
Now is the time to immerse yourself in beautiful dramas to learn Korean.
Viki and Netflix are there to help you with their Korean subtitle feature.
For example, GOT7, a K-pop boy band, comprises seven members, three of whom are foreigners.
So, they are bound to make mistakes when speaking Korean.
Like NCT, another boy group has 23 members, and 13 of them are foreigners.
If you watch these bands’ shows, you will discover many things without realizing it, and laughter is a plus.
In GOT7’s Hard Carry, people learned the correct word and pronunciation of 귤 (Gyul), meaning Tangerine.
Jackson, a Chinese group member, consistently mispronounced it as 규르 (Gyu-leu), which confused the other native Korean members.
He later learned it, but it was fun and a learning moment.
Another thing that helps your Korean improve faster is listening to your favorite celebrities’ interviews repeatedly.
Listening to them without subtitles helps you understand how the sentences are structured.
This activity enhances your listening and speaking skills, which will further improve.
South Korea makes some of the best and most highly rated flicks. If you enjoy watching films, you can reach your language goal. There are numerous good films to help you learn Korean.
So, don’t just use them for pleasure expectations. But take advantage of them. Learn from them. Easy and Effective!
6. Positive attitude and correct approach
Learning anything requires the correct attitude and approach. If you anticipate not gaining anything from your target language, you may not proceed.
In language learning, sometimes breaks are necessary. So, take a break even if you don’t understand a grammar pattern.
In Korean, the topic (은/는) and subject (이/가) markers are particularly problematic.
Thus, the only two options are pausing or continuing your studies without undue stress.
This is because understanding this concept takes time. You have to spend time with the language while observing it to absorb its use.
Also, many students follow the daily routine of mugging up 10-30 words. But, again, this depends on your capacity.
But learning just any words each day is never a good option. If those terms are not associated with your life, how will they help you?
You will eventually forget it.
If you are learning vocabulary related to religion or politics, the terms needed for your daily life include a pen or a laptop.
Then what do you think is more important?
Of course, 펜 (Phen – Pen) & 노트북 (No-Theu-Bhug – Laptop).
Do not learn unnecessary vocabulary at the beginning stage. Know only when it is helpful.
Try not to get frustrated.
Languages are connected to culture, so there are some things you won’t understand only with your linguistic ability.
Either find a teacher or a friend, or do a Google search on the topic. It’s just another advantage of human translators over AI translators: They can’t understand the culture.
Conclusion: Time to learn Korean
Korean is undoubtedly a complex language for an English speaker to learn. But, more than complexity, it is time-consuming.
Just see how children learn a new language. They absorb through interaction.
As long as it’s within kids’ reach, a language problem doesn’t matter to them. They are not even aware of that until they become semi-fluent.
Learning takes an extended period, but that is how they master any language. Time and consistency, that’s it! If it made sense, it makes sense!
You can do the same with the proper method, persistence, desire, and motivation. This isn’t rocket science!
Ultimately, it is not the number of hours you practice but how regularly you engage with the Korean language that matters most. The right strategy and guidance are just the icing on the cake!
How many hours a day should you study Korean?
That is subjective and depends on your commitment, schedule, and aim.
For example, if you just want to study it as a hobby, 15-20 minutes is enough. In 6 months, you can hold a few minutes of conversations and easily read plenty of texts.
What if you need the EPS-TOPIK score for the work permit? Depending on your target level, one year of study will suffice.
If you can only work 30 minutes a day, so be it. You may reach an intermediate level in 5 years or more.
However, if you are serious and want to achieve something quickly, allocate more time every day/week.
1-2 hours per day or 5-10 hours per week will reduce the journey to 2 years. But the main point is, don’t give up midway. And one day, you will get there, as every successful learner does.
If you follow all these steps and are ready to work hard, you will be good in no time.
How long does it take to learn Korean fluently?
What does fluency mean?
It considers two aspects: ease and accuracy.
Fluency doesn’t always mean perfect, but it is comfortable with a few errors. The Korean experts are fluent, but remember, they don’t even know everything.
As per my interaction with many Korean teachers, specialists, researchers, and learners, fluency in Korean takes a freaking long time.
The time required to learn Korean may vary depending on the level you aim to reach, your approach, and the time you spend.
Your progress may take longer if you are doing everything yourself.
You will be able to achieve fluency or an advanced level in 3-5 years. This is what you need to explore career options in Korean, such as those in translation or interpretation.
After all, language learning is a lifetime process. We don’t even know everything about our native language, either.
However, conversing and communicating in Korean daily doesn’t take long. You can make it happen in a few months!
Focus on quality rather than quantity. Think Pareto principle — 80% of outputs (results) come from our 20% inputs (causes).
So, relax and study! Any language is within your reach if you have the interest and purpose. Korean is no different!
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this post. Share your views in the comment section below.
