Korean, or hanguk-mal, is the official language of North and South Korea and is spoken by seventy-eight million people worldwide. Its origins are uncertain, though it is generally classified as a member of the Altaic language family. Unlike English, the Korean language follows a basic word order of subject-object-verb, and features a complex system of honorifics. Its alphabet, on the other hand, is widely recognized for its simplicity. Developed by King Sejong during the Choseon Dynasty, the alphabet contains fourteen consonants and ten vowels.
Korea’s growing economy and the popularity of its movies, music and TV dramas have prompted people all over the word to start studying Korean. The Internet helps ease this process by offering at-home language learning opportunities to everyone from businessmen to high school students.
KoreanClass101.com
This site teaches Korean through a series of free beginner, intermediate and advanced audio podcasts. The program is perfect for students wishing to learn useful, everyday Korean. Perks include exposure to a variety of native accents and speaking styles, audio blogs and an upbeat online community. Each lesson consists of a short dialogue paired with detailed explanations of the grammar and vocabulary. Students are encouraged to post questions and comments after each lesson.
KoreanClass101.com podcasts are free, though the site also offers paid subscriptions to its Learning Center, where students can access study tools such as audio transcripts, a grammar bank and flashcards.
Yonsei University Online Language Program
Every semester, students from all over the world flock to Korea to study at Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute. Widely considered to be one of the top language programs in Korea, Yonsei’s KLI also offers an online course. This program can be completed in six months and teaches daily conversation and culture through a series of online lectures.
Unlike most online learning sites, Yonsei’s program is highly structured. Students are expected to “attend” class one hour a day, five days a week. Each level, from beginner to advanced, is a month long and costs one hundred dollars.
Language Exchange and Online Tutoring
Beginner to advanced students looking to improve their speaking skills will benefit from websites such as MyLanguageExchange.com and BuddySchool.com. These websites use Skype and other video and voice messaging programs to connect Korean language students with native speakers all over the world. Depending on the site, study opportunities can range from simple language exchanges to lessons taught by experienced tutors. Both free and pay sites are available.
Studying online is an excellent way for students who are unable to attend formal classes to learn Korean, gain insight into a fascinating culture and connect with people worldwide.
Julia Estrela - Julia Estrela loves writing and traveling and is always searching for opportunities to do both. She claims the Boston area as home base, ...
