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Learn to Speak Korean 1

Welcome to Learn to Speak Korean 1!

This course is for beginner students who are familiar with the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. Through this course students will learn the skills essential for daily interactions with Koreans while living in Korea.

This course consists of six modules, and each module is composed of five units. Each unit has vocabulary, grammar and expressions, conversation practice, video clips, quizzes, a workbook, and vocabulary lists. In order to assist students with their independent studies, Korean learning materials such as lecture notes, workbooks, and vocabulary lists detailing each day’s lecture are also provided. The vocabulary lists are accompanied by English, Chinese, and Japanese translations.

I hope that you enjoy all this program has to offer over the next six weeks. After studying in this program, you will be able to have a real Korean conversation with your newly acquired knowledge of the Korean language. Thank you!

Your Course Team

Chief Contents Developer: Sang Mee Han

Contents Developers: Bock Ja Lee, Yoo Kyung Choi, Ha Min Cho, Ju Eun Kim

Production Assistants: Jin Hee Kim, Eun Hye Kim

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introducing One's Friends

In this module, you will learn how to introduce your friends in Korean. After completing the lesson, you will be able to explain a person’s actions and movements in detail and to describe the appearance and characteristics of a person.

Introducing One's Hometown

In this module, you will learn how to introduce your hometown in Korean. After completing the lesson, you will be able to talk about the location of a person or object and to express the specific look and feel of one’s hometown.

Introducing Food

In this module, you will learn how to ask others to eat together and how to respond to similar suggestions in Korean. After completing the lesson, you will be able to introduce your favorite food, describe how certain foods taste, suggest something to do together and respond to a suggestion.

Ordering Food

In this module, you will learn how to order food and make requests at a restaurant in Korean. After completing the lesson, you will be able to inquire about restaurant menus, order a specific portion of food at a restaurant, and order a drink at a café.

Introducing Places to Shop

In this module, you will learn how to introduce famous shopping areas in Korean. After completing the lesson, you will be able to talk about where you are going to shop, describe various kinds of stores, talk about what you want to buy, and describe shopping districts in detail.

Shopping

In this module, you will learn how to make purchases at various types of stores in Korean. After completing the lesson, you will be able to express prices per item, purchase a product from a store, and make a specific request while shopping.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the basics of Korean to facilitate daily interactions for Korean residents

Develops foundational language skills for Korean learners with familiarity of the Hangeul alphabet

Uses a structured approach with modules and units covering various communication scenarios

Provides comprehensive learning materials, including lecture notes, workbooks, and vocabulary lists

Offers English, Chinese, and Japanese translations for vocabulary lists

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Reviews summary

Korean language learning for beginners

According to students, Learn to Speak Korean 1 is a beginner-friendly course that's suitable for those with little to no experience in the language. Learners say that this course builds upon the Korean First Step course without overlapping content. Reviews also mention that the course uses quizzes and voice clips to help learners improve pronunciation through practice. However, some learners noted that quizzes were too easy and that native Korean speakers' accents in the clips made it difficult for them to improve pronunciation

Good follow-on course for beginners.

"A good follow up to First Step Korean, this course does have some overlaps with the former but without the introduction to Hangul which is a prerequisite."

"I found it appropriate for beginners who have just finished learning the alphabet."

Emphasis on pronunciation practice.

"I liked how the quizzes in this course, like the other one, poses questions almost entirely in Hangul / spoken (through voice clips) as struggling to read / hear the question too helped my learning."

Inconsistent pronunciation guidance.

"Throughout the course, the professor asked foreign students to answer and pronounce the sentence, then ask learner to repeat after those students."

"All these students have their accent when speaking Korean and are not comfortable in front of camera, which didn't help me to improve my Korean."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learn to Speak Korean 1 with these activities:

Practice writing Korean characters

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Writing Korean characters will help you improve your reading comprehension and retention as you are actively re-creating the characters yourself.

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Trace the characters multiple times
Write the characters from memory
Use the characters to form words

Listen to Korean music

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The Korean language has a unique rhythm and intonation. Listening to music can reinforce the sounds as well as teach natural phrases and expressions.

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Find a Korean song you enjoy
Listen to the lyrics and try to pick out words you know
Look up the lyrics online for the full text
Translate the lyrics
Repeat the lyrics out loud

Familiarize yourself with the Korean alphabet

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Reviewing the Korean alphabet will help you lay a strong foundation for the course and make it easier to learn the subsequent lessons.

Browse courses on Korean Alphabet

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Use online resources to learn the Korean alphabet. There are many free resources available, such as videos, games, and apps.
Practice writing the Korean alphabet.
Test yourself by taking quizzes or using flashcards.

Eight other activities

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Review the vocabulary lists

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Taking the time to review the vocabulary lists will cement their meaning and connection to the Korean language.

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Go over the vocabulary list for each unit
Test yourself on the meanings of the words
Use the words in sentences

Watch videos about Korean culture

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Watching videos about Korean culture will help you understand the context of the language and make it more engaging to learn.

Browse courses on Korean Culture

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Find videos about Korean culture on YouTube or other video-sharing platforms.
Watch the videos with subtitles in your native language at first. As you become more comfortable with the language, try watching without subtitles.
Take notes on the cultural aspects you learn from the videos.

Build a food journal

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Logging different types of food and their ingredients will help you solidify your vocabulary and learn to describe food in detail.

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Choose a food item to focus on
Record its name, ingredients, and taste in Korean
Describe the texture and appearance of the food
Practice ordering the food at a restaurant

Practice speaking Korean with a language partner

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Practicing speaking Korean with a language partner will help you improve your pronunciation, fluency, and confidence.

Browse courses on Korean Conversation

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Find a language partner who is a native Korean speaker or has a high level of proficiency in the language.
Schedule regular practice sessions.
Prepare conversation topics in advance.

Practice speaking Korean with a partner

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Regular peer practice can help you gain confidence in speaking Korean and improve your communication skills.

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Find a language partner who is also learning Korean
Meet up regularly to practice speaking Korean
Take turns speaking and listening
Provide feedback and encouragement to each other

Record yourself speaking Korean

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Recording yourself and listening to your pronunciation will help you identify areas for improvement and reinforce correct pronunciation.

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Choose a short phrase or sentence to practice
Record yourself saying the phrase multiple times
Listen to the recording and identify any errors
Re-record yourself until you are satisfied with your pronunciation

Write a short story in Korean

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Writing a short story in Korean will help you practice your grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills.

Browse courses on Korean Writing

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Brainstorm ideas for your story.
Write an outline of your story.
Write the first draft of your story.
Edit and revise your story.

Participate in a Korean language competition

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Participating in a contest will give you a chance to test your skills and knowledge in a practical setting.

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Find a Korean language competition to participate in
Prepare for the competition by practicing speaking, listening, reading, and writing
Participate in the competition and do your best

Career center

Learners who complete Learn to Speak Korean 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Korean Customer Service Representative

As a Korean Customer Service Representative, you will be responsible for providing customer service to Korean customers. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to provide customer service accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Customer Service Representative

Korean Sales Manager

As a Korean Sales Manager, you will be responsible for selling Korean products and services. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to sell Korean products and services accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Sales Manager

Korean Marketing Manager

As a Korean Marketing Manager, you will be responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns for Korean products and services. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to develop and execute marketing campaigns accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Marketing Manager

Korean Public Relations Specialist

As a Korean Public Relations Specialist, you will be responsible for managing the public image of Korean organizations. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to manage public image accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Public Relations Specialist

Korean Journalist

As a Korean Journalist, you will be responsible for reporting on news and events in Korea. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to report accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Journalist

Korean Travel Agent

As a Korean Travel Agent, you will be responsible for helping clients plan and book travel to Korea. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to help clients accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Travel Agent

Korean Real Estate Agent

As a Korean Real Estate Agent, you will be responsible for helping clients buy and sell property in Korea. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to help clients accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Real Estate Agent

Korean Investment Banker

As a Korean Investment Banker, you will be responsible for advising clients on how to invest in Korea. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to advise clients accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Investment Banker

Korean Business Consultant

As a Korean Business Consultant, you will be responsible for advising businesses on how to operate in Korea. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to advise businesses accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Business Consultant

Korean Cultural Affairs Officer

As a Korean Cultural Affairs Officer, you will be responsible for promoting Korean culture. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to promote Korean culture accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Cultural Affairs Officer

Korean Linguist

As a Korean Linguist, you will be responsible for studying the Korean language. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to study it accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Linguist

Korean Language Specialist

As a Korean Language Specialist, you will be responsible for providing expertise on the Korean language. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to provide accurate and effective expertise.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Language Specialist

Korean Teacher

As a Korean Teacher, you will be responsible for teaching the Korean language to students. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to teach accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Teacher

Korean Interpreter

As a Korean Interpreter, you will be responsible for facilitating communication between Korean and non-Korean speakers. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to interpret accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Interpreter

Korean Translator

As a Korean Translator, you will be responsible for translating written or spoken Korean into another language, and vice versa. This course may be useful to you, as it will help build a foundation in the Korean language, enabling you to translate accurately and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Korean Translator

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Learn to Speak Korean 1.

Integrated Korean

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Provides a comprehensive introduction to the Korean language, covering all the essential grammar and vocabulary needed for everyday communication. It great resource for beginners who want to learn the basics of Korean quickly and easily.

Learn to Speak Korean 1

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Korean language learning for beginners

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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