How long does it take to learn Korean? This one question has likely popped up in your thought process whether you’re already learning Korean or only just planning for it. Moreover, it’s a crucial question to ask for any learner of a new foreign language. Furthermore, it will influence your learning decision wheatear to start learning Korean or not.
Likewise, if you want to visit or live or expand business in South Korea, it’s good to be fluent in Korean. Similarly, it’s also worth spending some hours studying Korean if you are interested in K-Pop, K-Dramas, Korean movies, or Korean culture. However, the good news is if you search for the easiest Asian language to learn, you will find Korean in this list.
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However, the flip side is, Korean has an entirely new alphabet, and you will find its speakers mostly in Korea. Naturally, this question appears that is it worth investing the time to learn Korean? How many languages to learn at a time?
Are you curious? Keep reading to learn all the great points until the end. We’ve highlighted and discussed the essential issues that you need to know to explore the vital question. How long it takes to learn Korean? So, you will be able to make a well-informed decision. Let’s go through an exciting post and know more about the learning process.
How long does it take to learn Korean? And Other Key Considering Factors:
It takes about three months or 90 days to learn enough Korean to have at least 3-minute conversations in Korean if you study for 7 to 10 hours per week. Moreover, after one year of looking at this pace, you will become fluent and comfortable with Korean conversation. In the following sections, we’ll go through approximately how much each step of learning Korean takes.
However, it isn’t easy to give a specific numeral timeline since leering something new depends on individual characteristics and the factors mentioned above earlier. Moreover, how long it takes to learn Korean? We will provide you some rough estimates for this burning question. Then you will be able to adjust it with your circ*mstances.
1. Learning the Korean Alphabet:
With any standard lesson, you will learn the alphabet as quickly as 60-90 minutes. It will help you to learn the basics of the alphabet so that you can read most words. Moreover, it will help you to start pronouncing words, phrases, and sentences correctly. As you begin learning the lessons and getting more familiar with using them, you’ll be more comfortable reading Korean words.
Learning the Korean Alphabet.
Likewise, you will be able to improve your Korean vocabulary. Similarly, if you want to get a solid understanding of Korean basics, then plan to spend another 30 minutes every day for the first week on it. Additionally, flashcards such as Anki are great for this type of practice.
As a result, by the end of the first week, you’ll have a strong command of the Korean alphabet and a foundation for learning Korean. Till now that we have covered the first few hours of your learning journey, let’s dive into learning vocabulary, grammar, and sentences.
2. Have a Three Minute Korean conversation:
You should perform a three-minute Korean conversation by spending every day about 1-2 hours in the first 90 days or three months. For doing this, make sure you choose the right materials and focus on crucial language elements to ensure the best results. Otherwise, you may end up wasting months or years learning things that are seldom in practice.
Have a three minute Korean conversation.
It would help if you focused on the frequently used Korean words, grammar, and phrases that you will often use in any conversation. Moreover, you may follow the 80/20 rule of focusing on the 20 percent of the language that will support your learning results by 80 percent. This learning phase skips the specialty words and the extra formality for the next stage.
There may repute online courses strictly follow this way to design their curriculum. Thus, you will get the most useful grammar, words, and phrases to help you initiate conversation from the starting point. You will find many excellent courses and resources out there to speed up your learning in this age of internet and web apps.
However, you need to make sure that you pick the one to guide you to hit your goals within your desired timeline. Likewise, this goal should be about three months to get an introductory or foundation course. Finally, keep in mind that you will find Korean in the list of easier Asian languages to learn.
3. Conversational Fluency:
In general, you should have conversational fluency in less than a year in the Korean language. Again, you need to follow the parts of the language that people use most often daily. Moreover, when you can have a three-minute Korean conversation, you can start to direct your studies’ focus. Then you can select the topic that interests you most and talk to people in Korean whenever you like.
Conversational Fluency.
For instance, if you want to talk to a Korean relative, you should want to learn Korean basics and use them more often. Additionally, if you’re talking with friends, you can put more slang into your vocabulary. Likewise, if you’re a Korean drama fan, you’ll be interested in listening to Korean everyday conversation so you can watch K-Dramas without subtitles.
So, you will achieve conversational fluency at an intermediate level as roughly. However, your goals determine everything in your learning journey, and what kind of Korean language skills are the most important for you to learn first.
9 Considering Factors that Tells how long does it takes to learn Korean?
Below we have discussed different factors separated into several sections that affect how quickly you can learn Korean. Moreover, these factors are also just relative to your learning goal and how fluent you want to become in the Korean language. So, check out the following sections attentively.
1. Your native language:
Learning Korean might be a little bit easier or difficult for you depending on what your native language speaks. For instance, people think that Korean is significantly more challenging for native English speakers to get fluency. On the other hand, it is assuming that Korean can be an easy language to learn for Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic speakers.
Your native language.
However, to become fluent in Korean at the same level as a native English speaker, it could take a few hours or years more than the mentioned learners. So, you don’t need to worry about this.
However, your native language may slow you down a little bit in your language learning process, but it’s not a barrier, and you can overcome it. For example, you can use associations for Korean words you want to learn in your native language.
2. Your Previous Language Learning Experience:
You’re having an advantage if you were raised in a bilingual or multilingual environment to learn a new language. As a child, having developed fluency with speaking more than one language over the years has grown you naturally more adjustable to learn new languages. Apart from that, it will also help you if you have learned other languages as well.
Your previous language learning experience.
One of the reasons for this is your different language learning experiences will help you develop your good learning habits. Likewise, this habit will get you started quickly with your Korean learning process as well. So, stay motivated and keep learning every day to maintain a routine with discipline.
As a result, your brain will have already adjusted to the type of learning habit that studying a new language requires. Consequently, you’ll have a more comfortable journey of learning the Korean language as well. You will enjoy this condition, especially if you’re adept at learning new languages.
3. The learning methods you are using:
The best way to get exact information on grammar and sentence structures in classroom seating while learning the Korean language. Moreover, I will also help you develop a well-planned outline for learning and practicing vocabulary. However, your progress will be slower if you aren’t learning, practicing, or applying the Korean you learned in situations outside of the classroom.
The learning methods you are using.
Try to actively watch Korean TV shows and movies with subtitles instead of just focusing on the minimum homework level. Likewise, you can practice through apps or language exchanges, talk with native speakers, and uses eBooks and Korean learning websites. Thus, these are the other fun ways of learning the Korean language, and you can try to help develop your skills.
Additionally, if you utilize all these learning methods correctly, you will achieve your language proficiency faster. The absolute quickest way to learn the Korean language is to travel to Korea to attend language school if you have that chance. Check out another amazing blog post on 6 Convincing Reasons Why You Should Learn Korean.
4. How much of your time are you allocating to learning Korean?
The more you practice and spend more hours each day studying Korean, the quicker you will develop your fluency. Your general language learning ability and your learning methods also depend on your time dedication. For instance, you may be learning and practicing new Korean grammar or words every day.
How much of your time are you allocating to learning Korean?
Similarly, spending more time reviewing this material and practicing harder will help you become more familiar with the language. It is better to know your pace of studying and the results it gets you. Likewise, this will help you calculate how much you will improve if you adjust your study time accordingly.
This type of calculation will help you measure how long it might take you to learn Korean at your target level.
5. Your attitude and motivation towards learning Korean:
Attitude and motivation play a crucial role in learning a foreign language. Because new language learning is a tedious process and takes lots of effort and time to get fluency. So, it’s no secret that these two are the key to unlocking your language learning potentials. For instance, having a positive attitude towards learning Korean can help you keep highly motivated and work harder.
Your attitude and motivation towards learning Korean.
Similarly, your motivations are the key to what keeps you studying day after day and months after months. It makes you strong even on the days where you’re feeling frustrated as you are working on some challenging new grammar or structure.
6. How many hours should I study Korean each day?
Study time is a personal preference and depends a lot on your goals and timelines. If you’re studying Korean as a hobby or part-time, a good target is to start with one hour per day. And then adjust the learning time as you go. Remember, you will likely be more motivated and excited to study at the starting time. However, the real test comes when you don’t feel like studying or practicing a new language.
How many hours should I study Korean each day?
In those situations, experts usually recommend adjusting the study time that they don’t create any mental stress on you. You may also set up a small minimum practice or learning time each day, and it can be even only 5 minutes per day. In this way, you still get some language training and leave yourself open to study more when you feel motivated.
On the other hand, if you’re studying as a full-time student, you should be more serious. In this case, you should manage your time wisely and aim for about 4 to 7 hours of study and practice every day regularly.
7. How many hours should I study Korean each week?
If you’re studying as a part-time student or just for fun, then make a goal of 5 to 8 hours per week for leering the Korean language. Afterward, you can adjust as you go along the way of your learning journey.
How many hours should I study Korean each week.
You can always change your learning goal, add more to it but make sure you’re keeping at a comfortable pace, and don’t get burnt out. On the other hand, if you’re a full-time Korean learner, then about 20 to 25 hours weekly is a good target.
8. How long will it take to become fluent in Korean?
In general, it will take about 1200 hours to reach a higher intermediate level of Korean skills. You will need additional practice, so you may want to double that number to 2400 hours to get towards fluency using this simple math.
How long will it take to become fluent in Korean?
So, that would be about 23 hours of study per week for two years. That’s it.
9. The Fastest Ways to Learn Korean:
If you practice as much as possible and stay around the language, you will learn Korean quickly. Yes, it is accurate, and this is achievable if you are sincere enough to feel proud of your learning progress. Moreover, there are many ways to accomplish this, so here are some suggestions to guide you through your learning journey.
One of the most effective ways is to move to Korea and attend a language school here. If you start from the bottom in these language schools, you will typically study through 6 levels with four different levels a year. Besides, it would take you one and a half years from the basics to graduating from the study program. Here each group lasts for ten weeks, including 20 hours of classes per week.
The fastest ways to learn Korean.
So, that means using this method, it will take 1200 hours in total to learn Korean. However, this learning hours estimate does not include homework and time spent outside of classes practicing your language skills. Moreover, another method of learning the Korean language is to take online classes. Anyone could do this by joining an online Korean language learning program.
Alternatively, if you are well conversant about the online world, you can create your plan utilizing various online resources available on the web. In either case, you may use the 1200 hours analogy in total as a basis for calculating how long it will take to learn Korean up to the higher intermediate level.
Another essential question to ask is: How many hours a week are you prepared to study? When you know your weekly limit or amount of time, you can estimate reaching your Korean learning journey milestone.
Summary:
How long does it take to learn Korean? This question is no longer unclear to you anymore because you have already learned the Korean language study plan’s ins and outs. Moreover, in this post, we have discussed the estimated time to invest in learning the Korean language daily, weekly, and monthly with examples in different contexts.
So, take your time and make sure you are enjoying the learning process with full motivation. We will be delighted if you find this helpful. Let’s know how far have you been with your Korean studies in the comments below.
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