You have probably, just like the rest of us, fallen in love with Korean dramas or Kpop, or both and wonder how long would it take for you to learn the Korean language. Well, I must be honest and tell you that there isn’t a one answer to this question. It depends on a number of different factors. However, having said that, it takes approximately three months of learning Korean to be able to have a three-minute conversation, that is, if you study around 7 to 10 hours a week. After one year of following this schedule, you can be conversationally fluent.
How many words do I need to know to be fluent in Korean?
Typically, people with a vocabulary range of 250 to 500 words are classified as beginners. Those, who have a vocabulary range of 1,000 to 3,000 words are able to carry an everyday life conversation and those who know between 4,000 to 10,000 are considered advanced.
So, does that mean that as long as I know a certain number of words, I can be fluent in Korean? Well, not exactly. There is always grammar that you need to learn as well as the Korean alphabet. However, I believe that knowing roughly where you should be aiming is a good motivator to keep going as learning a new language can be a long process.
How long does it take to be fluent in Korean?
It takes approximately around 3 months of studying Korean to be able to have at least a 3-minute conversation if you were studying between 7-10 hours per week. After one year, you can expect to be fluent in Korean conversation and comfortable speaking Korean.
1,200 hours of studying to become an upper intermediate level and about 2,400 to get to an advanced level. This can serve you as a guideline but some people might get there faster and some slower depending on a number of factors. It is a good guideline to start with so you could potentially split the first 1,200 hours and mark them off as you go. That will serve as a motivation that you are constantly getting closer to your goal.
So what are the factors that can affect how long it takes you to learn Korean?
1. Your first language
Your first language can help you in speeding up your Korean ability. For instance, if your first language is English, it might be more difficult since the grammar and the sentence structure are completely different in Korean. However, if your first language is Japanese or Chinese, you might find it easier to learn since the languages are more similar. I had a Japanese student who said that for her, learning Korean is not too hard since the sentence structure is very similar as well as many words sound similar.
2. Whether you have a previous experience of learning a new language
Learning a new language is a process and while the language you have learned might be very different from Korean, you are more familiar with the process of learning a new language and therefore that can speed it up for you. You are also aware of the fact that it takes a while and you just need to study on a consistent basis to be able to see an improvement over time. Furthermore, everyone learns differently and so you might have already discovered what is the best way for you to learn a new language.
3. How long and how often you are studying
A lot of people will procrastinate and then spend hours at a time to try to study. I think we have all been guilty of this at some point in our lives. However, this is not a very effective way to study. The importance here is to study often, even if its for a shorter period of time. Oxbridge Academy Blog MIT recommends a 50 minute study session with a 10 minute break. Of course, everyone is different so you should find what works best for YOU! Also, not everyone might have the time to study Korean for one hour, especially if it’s something you are doing in your free time. Even 20 minutes a day is enough providing you are studying regularly. If you start to feel like your brain is struggling to process the information, take a 10 minute break and come back. Please note, social media does not count as taking a break. Rather, read a fun book, listen to music, go for a walk or shower.
4. Your motivation
How motivated are you to learn Korean? What is your why? Is it strong enough for you to study relentlessly for a long period of time? These are the questions you need to be asking yourself. Ideally, you’d want to find at least one strong reason that will push you through the roller-coaster. Because that is what learning a new language will feel like. In fact, it’s not just learning a new language, it is the same with learning any skill or even loosing weight or going to the gym. There will be days where you do not feel motivated at all and days where you will. Motivation is not constant. It comes and goes so it is important for you to understand that and push past it when you hit the bottom of the roller-coaster ride. In this case, it is helpful if you remember your ‘why’. Then write down what will happen when you spend the next 1 hour or however long you want studying. It could be something like, ‘I will learn a set of new words’ or ‘I will learn a new grammar structure’ and therefore that will bring me closer to my goal.
So how many hours should I study Korean?
This really depends on your personal goals and timeline. There is no right answer here. The goal is for you to learn the language so set a schedule that YOU can follow. Those who have a lot of free time are more likely to commit to more hours per week than those who are working or are already studying in school. The key here is to set an achievable schedule and follow it.
There might be days where you are not motivated to study or find yourself procrastinating. While it’s always good to let your brain rest when it truly is overtired, sometimes we are just lazy to study. In times like these, I use the 20 minute technique to find out whether I am truly too tired to study or just plain lazy.
The 20 minute technique
Tell yourself that you will only study for 20 minutes. Set a timer so that you are not constantly looking at the clock. And then study just for 20 minutes. Chances are that you will get into focus of studying and end up studying for more than the original 20 minutes. However, please note that the goal here is not to study for more than 20 minutes. If you truly feel tired or you are just not in the mood, that’s ok. Just learn to listen to your body and let it relax if it’s telling you to relax. Pushing yourself too much can have a negative effect as you might eventually get demotivated and stop studying altogether. You need to be able to find that balance for yourself.
Summary
In conclusion, learning a new language is not something that will happen overnight. However, that does not mean it is not possible. Changing your attitude and approach towards learning will make it a lot easier for you. Don’t constantly remind yourself how far you still have to go, fall in love with the process and it will be a walk in the park for you. Ok, I am exaggerating a little bit but you know what I mean. When I started to learn Korean, I couldn’t wait to learn more and more. I felt like a little baby wanting to speak but couldn’t. That was my drive and that is what has helped me to keep going even when I encountered some concept or a grammar I was certain I would never be able to understand. And here I am now, laughing at that silly girl because I know understand those concepts. It just took a little bit of time, but I got there and I am certainly not stopping anytime soon. So, I wish you all good luck on your journeys, make them as fun as possible, after all, the reward is amazing.