While learning Hangeul alone at home is quite possible, it takes self-discipline to master the Korean alphabet fully. Many resources claim that Korean Hangul may be learned in one day through memorisation, it is more complex to read, write, speak, and listen through auto-didact learning.
For example, on your own, you may risk making mistakes and failing to correct yourself. When left uncorrected, these mistakes could stay with you for a while and severely hinder your learning experience. Therefore, that's why swallowing your pride is essential and calling on a Korean teacher will always be a good idea to help you learn the Korean alphabet.
Without further delay, in today's article, we'll learn how to learn Hangeul with the help of a Korean language teacher. Let's get started!
How Can a Korean Tutor Help Me Ditch Relying on Translation?
Based on the style and the experience of an individual tutor, the pedagogy and method of initiation of the teacher will vary. However, it's worth stating that the alphabet remains the same as a base. And, it's worth stating that the alphabet is without a doubt the first thing you will learn in Korean.
As a foreign learner studying Korean, it is tempting to try to translate Korean letters with English letters to get a sense of things. However, this is not always the right solution; especially when it comes to pronunciation. How's that? Well, some letters have the same pronunciation in Korean and English but others are close without being the same.
Relying too much on translation can be more of a crutch that prevents you from reaching your full potential. Therefore, by consulting with a Superprof Korean tutor, you can choose tutors who immediately dive into the Korean alphabet without relying on translation methods between your mother tongue and the Hangul letters. Various online tutors have the correct Korean accent, since they're native speakers, and rely on state-of-the-art methods.
How Can a Korean Teacher Help Me Integrate the Alphabet More Easily?
As we briefly mentioned above, even though learning Hangul alone at home using videos or books is perfectly possible, the entire process will be much easier and faster to rely on a Korean teacher. You will have to work and put a sincere effort forth, but you will be secure, guided, and cared for throughout your learning.
For example, suppose you've hired a professional and experienced tutor. In that case, you will not have to find the resources, think about what tools to memorize things, define a learning time and program, or determine your revision frequency. Truthfully, a whole mental burden is quickly taken away when you have a Korean teacher.
The following list features a few ways that a Korean teacher can help students to integrate the Hangul alphabet more rapidly:
- A tutor finds the resources to make you assimilate the Korean letters,
- A tutor is the one who best analyses methods to make you effectively memorise,
- A tutor is the one who will give you the structured program and tell you when to revise and what homework you'll have.
By not stressing about the previously mentioned things, you free up available space in your brain, facilitating your learning initiation and speeding up the process. All you have to do is let go, trust, and solely focus on your memorization. That is very precious!
Choose an experienced teacher with proven pedagogy who can guide you perfectly through your learning. This is the case of Junghee, another Korean Superprof tutor who taught Korean to foreign students for 12 years. She is also multilingual and talented.
Do I Need to Hire a Native Teacher to Teach Me the Korean Alphabet?
Should I hire a native or non-native Korean tutor? The choice is 100% yours!
It's worth mentioning that both cases have advantages and disadvantages. Such as? Let's first review the pros and cons of a native tutor and then, secondly, the advantages and disadvantages of a non-native Korean tutor.
Firstly, some of the pros of hiring a native tutor include the fact that they will teach you the exact pronunciation of the letters. They will know your difficulties in remembering the Korean alphabet and if they have learned English, they will also have learned a different alphabetic system that they will understand. However, a disadvantage of a native speaker is that they may not have all the keys to understanding your difficulties with the Korean language, not being English themselves.
Secondly, a UK citizen who has learned Korean will not always have the exact pronunciation of the letters unless they start Korean very young. It is tough not to have a French accent at all while speaking the Korean language. Also, non-native teachers tend to be more cost-effective. However, on the other hand, he will be perfectly aware of your difficulties in learning certain Korean characters since he will also have been there.
So, native teacher or not? It's still your choice if you choose a non-native or native teacher; however, we advise you to select a teacher who has spent time in South Korea since their accent will be much better!
Is it Better to Learn the Korean Alphabet by Repetition or Naturally with a Tutor?
It's important to know this from the start. There are two methods to learn and correctly assimilate the Korean alphabet: by heart or through natural, alternative methods that tutors use.
While learning things "by heart" or through repetition is a bit dry and dull, we don't judge you for selecting this method. Why's that? Well, because it works for the majority of students. However, if you don't like that, we recommend choosing a Korean teacher who will allow you to learn naturally, without force, by being regularly confronted with the letters and learning them little by little.
How Can I Learn to Recognise Handwritten Hangeul with a Korean Teacher?
To ease your stress from the get-go, it's worth stating that Korean letters are not very difficult to memorize. They're pretty easy to identify...when written on a book or computer screen! Nevertheless, once you get into "real" life with handwritten letters, you may find it challenging to read Korean.
Do you find it difficult to read your doctor's writings in English? Wait to see how Korean is written!
Instead of Roman-style letters, when written in day-to-day life, Korean writings look like little drawings rather than notes. So, to deal with this issue from the beginning, it's worth pointing out that with a native Korean tutor on Superprof, you can be confronted with this handwriting quickly without waiting to be in the country in the depths of South Korea for a local to write you on a piece of paper with important directions!
Teachers might bring out pointers such as training yourself to write by following the order to form the letters. Ask your private tutor for tips. They'll be happy to help!
How Do I Learn the Art of Repetition with a Korean Tutor?
To learn a language, or anything for that matter, there is no ultimate secret waiting to be discovered. Instead, you have to put the work in, and you have to repeat, repeat, repeat, revise, revise, revise and start again!
So, with the Korean alphabet, it's the same. You will have to be confronted many times with the letters of Hangul to memorize them and no longer make mistakes. Thankfully, private Korean tutors can assist with repetition by observing your mistakes. They will know what to emphasize and how to avoid making pronunciation errors the next time.
Take a Free Trial Lesson on Superprof with a Korean Tutor!
The Korean language tutors on Superprof can help you assimilate Korean letters by adding a fun and playful touch to lessons that facilitate learning.
If you're worried about the price, it's worth stating that most of our teachers offer the first hour of lessons for free! During a trial lesson, students express their learning goals, and teachers assess your current level in Korean. They will explain their methodology to allow you to learn Hangeul and the Korean language.
In conclusion, the only question left to ask yourself is which Korean teacher will you choose to teach you the alphabet?
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
