About

안녕하세요 (Hello!) Welcome to LingoMae!

I’m Mae, I’m not a native Korean speaker, but I’m a language enthusiast who has fallen in love with the Korean language and culture. As a learner myself, I understand the challenges and struggles that come with learning a new language. That’s why I created this blog to share with you my journey and hopefully help you on yours. Learning Korean is not only about memorizing the words and grammar rules. It’s about understanding the people, history, and traditions behind the Korean language. Join me on my journey to discovering the beauty and diversity of Korea.

Whether you’re a K-Pop fan, a K-Drama addict, or simply fascinated by Korean Culture, get ready to learn, laugh, and immerse yourself in all things Korean! Thank you for visiting!

감사합니다! (Gamsahamnida!)

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Korean Alphabet Is Easy to Learn: Korean has a unique alphabet system called Hangul, which is surprisingly easy to learn! Not only will it make you feel like a linguistic genius, but it will also help you read Korean poetry, literature, signs, menus, and other written materials.

Make Korean Friends: Learning Korean can help you connect with Korean speakers and make new friends around the world.

For the love of K-Pop and K-dramas: The popularity of Korean pop music (K-pop) and Korean dramas (K-dramas) has exploded in recent years. Learning Korean can help you understand the lyrics of your favorite K-pop songs and follow along with your favorite K-dramas without relying on subtitles.

Experience the Korean Culture: Learning Korean can be a gateway to Korean Culture. In Korea, language is closely tied to culture. Understanding the nuances of the Korean language can help you better understand the customs, traditions, and values of Korean society. By learning Korean, you can also appreciate the rich history and heritage of Korea, including its art, architecture, and folklore.

Traveling To Korea: South Korea is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year. Knowing the language can help you communicate with the locals and have a more authentic cultural experience.

Business Opportunities: South Korea is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and home to many global successful businesses, such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and Kia. Knowing Korean can be beneficial if you are interested in international business or pursuing a career in the tech industry. You’ll be able to communicate effectively with Korean business partners and clients, giving you an advantage in the job market.

Personal Growth: Let’s not forget about the sheer joy and satisfaction of learning a new language! Whether you’re a language nerd or just looking for a new hobby, learning Korean can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience that will open up new opportunities and enrich your life in countless ways. So, what are you waiting for?  Who knows where it might take you! Let’s get started!

Korean has a unique alphabet called “Hangul” that was specifically designed to be easy to learn and use. However, it’s important to keep in mind that every language has its own unique challenges, and what one person finds easy or difficult may vary from person to person.

The level of difficulty in learning Korean will depend on individual factors such as your motivation, native language, previous experience learning foreign languages, and the amount of time and effort you’re willing to dedicate to studying the language.

For speakers of languages that use a similar writing system to Korean, such as Chinese or Japanese, learning Korean may be easier as they share some characters and grammar patterns.

For speakers of languages with a completely different writing system, such as English or Spanish, learning Korean may be a bit more difficult but with practice and persistence, you can learn and achieve fluency in Korean, regardless of your native language or previous language learning experience.

Listen to Korean Songs and sing along: Singing Korean songs is a fun way to practice your pronunciation and improve your intonation. You can find the lyrics to K-Pop and other Korean songs online and sing along to them.

Watch Korean Dramas and Movies: Watching K-Dramas and movies can help you improve your listening and speaking skills. Try repeating what the actors are saying and practice your pronunciation.

Use Social Media: Joining Korean language learning groups, following Korean speakers or your favorite Korean celebrities on social media can expose you to more Korean language content and help you practice your reading and speaking skills in a fun and interactive way.

Practice speaking to yourself: You can practice speaking Korean by talking to yourself in Korean. This can help you build confidence and improve your pronunciation.

Find a language exchange partner: You can look for a Korean speaker who is also learning your native language and practice speaking with them. There are many language exchange websites and apps available, such as HelloTalk.

Remember, learning Korean can be fun and engaging. It’s all about finding the activities that you enjoy and incorporating them into your language learning routine. Don’t be afraid to try new things and be creative with your approach.

Start with the basics: Review the Korean alphabet (Hangeul) and practice writing the basic vowels, and consonants.

Be consistent, write in Korean regularly: Consistency is key when it comes to improving your writing skills. Try to write in Korean alphabet daily, even if it’s just a few Korean words, phrases or sentences.

Expand your Vocabulary: One of the most important parts of improving your Korean writing skills is to expand your vocabulary. Try to learn new Korean words every day and use them in your writing.

Post in Korean on Social Media: You can post in Korean on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter etc. to practice your writing skills.

Get feedback: Ask a Korean language teacher or a language exchange partner to review your writing and provide constructive feedback. This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and improve your writing skills.

Learn from your mistakes: When you receive feedback on your writing, take note of the mistakes you made and try to avoid them in the future.

Remember, improving your writing skills takes time and effort, so be patient and keep practicing.

Focus on One Topic at a time: Start with listening exercises on a specific topic, such as Korean food, travel, or weather. This can help you understand context and pick up new vocabulary and phrases more easily.

Listen to Korean Music and Podcasts that you Enjoy: Instead of just listening to Korean content for the sake of learning, find things that you genuinely enjoy such your favorite K-Pop songs. This can make the process feel less like work and more like entertainment.

Watch Korean Dramas and Movies: K-Dramas and Korean movies can be a great way to practice your listening skills while also enjoying a good story. Try watching with subtitles at first, and gradually work your way up to watching without them.

Play Games and Quizzes: There are plenty of online games and quizzes that can help you improve your listening skills in a fun way. Look for Korean language learning apps or websites that offer games and activities specifically designed for listening practice.

Be Creative: Don’t be afraid to be creative with your Korean listening practice. For example, you can create your own Korean listening exercises by recording yourself speaking and then listening back to it. This can help you identify areas where you need to improve and make the process more personalized.

Start with Basic Materials: Start reading with easy and simple materials such as Korean children’s books or short stories. This will help you develop your vocabulary and grammar skills gradually.

Read Korean Webtoons: Webtoons are digital comics that are popular in Korea, and reading them can be a fun way to practice your reading skills. Many webtoons are available for free online and can be a great way to learn new vocabulary and phrases.

Use Korean Subtitles: If you enjoy watching Korean Dramas or Korean movies, try using Korean subtitles to help you improve your reading skills while also practicing your listening skills.

Read Widely: Read a variety of materials, such as news articles, novels, and academic papers, to expose yourself to different writing styles and topics. This can help you expand your vocabulary and improve your comprehension skills.

Read with a Purpose: When you read, try to have a specific purpose in mind, such as improving your grammar, vocabulary, or comprehension. This can help you focus your reading and make it more effective.

Focus on Understanding the Context: When you encounter a new word or phrase, try to understand its meaning within the context of the sentence or passage. This can help you remember the new word or phrase more easily.

Use Visual Aids: Using visual aids such as flashcards or diagrams can help you remember new vocabulary words and concepts more easily.

Practice Regularly: Set aside a specific time each day to practice reading Korean. Even just 10-15 minutes of reading each day can make a significant difference in your reading ability.

Read Aloud: Read aloud to improve your pronunciation and fluency. This can also help you remember new vocabulary words better.

Take Notes: Take notes while you read to help you remember important information and new vocabulary words. You can also use your notes to review later and reinforce your learning.

Find your Purpose: Why do you want to learn Korean? Is it for personal interest, travel, or career opportunities? Reminding yourself of your purpose and the benefits of learning Korean can help you stay motivated.

Set Realistic Goals: Setting clear and achievable goals can help you stay focused and motivated. It can be short-term goals like learning 5 new words a day or long-term goals like being able to hold a conversation in Korean in three months.

Make it Fun: Learning should be fun, not a chore. Try to incorporate enjoyable activities such as watching Korean Dramas or listening to K-Pop music. Remember that having fun while learning Korean can actually help you learn better and faster. So, try to make the process as enjoyable as possible.

Use Social Media: Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube can be a great way to practice your Korean skills and connect with others who are also learning the language. You can follow Korean influencers, watch Korean YouTubers, and even post in Korean to practice your writing skills.

Find a Language Exchange Partner: Finding a language exchange partner can make learning Korean more fun and social. There are many online communities dedicated to learning Korean, where you can connect with other language learners. You can practice speaking with a native Korean speaker and exchange cultural insights and experiences.

Travel to Korea: Traveling to Korea can be an excellent way to practice your language skills and immerse yourself in the culture. You can practice speaking with locals, try new foods, and experience Korean customs and traditions.

Be Consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to learning a new language. Try to practice regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. Consistency will help you progress steadily and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Track your Progress: Seeing your progress can be motivating. Keep track of your learning progress by maintaining a study log or using a language learning app.

Celebrate your Progress: Celebrate small achievements along the way, no matter how small it may seem. It can be as simple as learning a new word or successfully completing a lesson. Acknowledging your progress can boost your motivation and confidence.

Remember, the key to staying motivated while learning Korean is to find ways to make the process enjoyable and engaging. By incorporating fun and creative activities into your learning routine, you can stay motivated and make progress in your language learning journey.

Yes! Yes! and Yessss! It is highly recommended to learn Hangul before learning Korean. Hangul is the Korean Alphabet, and it is the foundation of the Korean Language.

It was specifically designed to represent the sounds of the Korean language, so learning Hangul will help you develop a more accurate pronunciation of Korean words. This is especially important in Korean, where small differences in sound can have a significant impact on the meaning of a word.

Without Hangul, learners would have to rely on romanization or transliteration, which can be confusing and not accurate. Learning Hangul before diving into Korean is a wise decision that can save you time and effort in the long run.

Fortunately, learning Hangul is not difficult as it consists of only 24 basic letters, and the letters are organized in a logical and easy-to-learn way.

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