D-26: TTMIK's Curriculum

Learn Korean one step at a time at TalktoMeinKorean.com
Here's the curriculum of all lessons at TTMIK.

D-26
I'm not really studying right now. Tonight I've decided to make a list of the curriculum at TTMIK and mark the ones that I should study first, verb endings / linking verbs that I've always wanted to learn, familiar verb endings that I haven't seen in the past few levels I've explored.

I met 2 people online, one on twitter and one on facebook who study Korean. The first one has only been studying for around 6 months. He knew how to say a lot of things but he lacked vocabulary and his spelling was terrible. The second one has been studying Korean for 2 years. She uses 존댓말. 그 여자가 TTMIK에서 공부하는지 몰라요. I don't know if she studies at TTMIK but her sentences are better than mine. She uses a lot of words too, so I could see that her vocabulary is better than mine.

Meanwhile I started lazily learning Korean since... 2010. I think I started learning around... July or August when my friends who knew hangul inspired me to learn hangul as well. I learned basic expressions at livemocha but I've forgotten when I started studying at TTMIK. My Korean which was barely anything improved a lot when I started studying at TTMIK. So I could say it's been 3 years including the time I started learning hangul.

I know how to improve my Korean. It's just that... I need more time. The TOPIK next year would be held next April. I only have around 4 months to prepare. 초급 중급 둘 다 하고 싶어요. I want to take both the elementary and intermediate level. For that I need to study almost all available lessons at TTMIK, practice past TOPIK exams, familiarize and memorize 5000-6000 Korean words, practice practice and practice.

If that twitter guy learned that much Korean in 6 months, I should also be able to do just that. My goal is to surpass those two people and pass the TOPIK. 중급 하면합격하는지 잘 모르겠는데 매일 한국어를 공부할게요.

My goal for the rest of December is to learn grammar, familiarize myself with the vocabulary and practice. On January, I'll start studying all the past 중급 토픽 that I've printed out.

그리고 한국어로 생각하는 것 곧 익숙해야 돼요.

How to Learn Korean Fast

You probably want to learn Korean because you're into something Korean. It may be their food, culture, hallyu, kdramas, kpop etc. You might even be aiming for the TOPIK! Whatever the reason is, if you follow my tips, I'm sure you'll learn Korean in no time!

1. Learn Hangul.
Hangul is one of the easiest Asian "alphabets" to learn. If you've tried memorizing Japan's Hiragana before, or tried learning Chinese, you'd know what I'm talking about. You could google for hangul charts.

Each syllable is written per syllable.
ㅂ (b) + ㅏ (a) = 바 (ba)
ㄷ (d) + ㅏ (a) = 다 (da)
ㅎ (h) + ㅕ(eo) + ㅇ(ng) = 형 (hyeong / "hyung")
ㄱ (g/k) + ㅣ(i) + ㅁ(m) = 김 (kim)

NOTE: If the syllable starts with a vowel, you have to use a "filler" in the beginning, which is "ㅇ(eung)"
ㅇ + ㅏ(a) = 아 (a)
ㅇ + ㅡ (eu) + ㄴ(n) =은 (eun)

I think that all kpop fans should learn Hangul, at least learn your idol's names in hangul.
A good way to practice one's hangul reading skills is by reading kpop lyrics in Korean.

Note that the consonants change their reading depending on where they are in the syllable (initial/final).
For more information, check out the detailed hangul entry on wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangul
For hangul lessons, try visiting this blog: http://hangulfangirl.wordpress.com/tag/hangul/

2. Learn Korean Grammar: (Visit TTMIK)
Grammar is very, very important in learning Korean and the best site for learning Korean for free is TTMIK. That's talktomeinkorean dot com. (http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/)
At TTMIK, you can learn Korean grammar one step at a time! Here's TTMIK's curriculum.

Korean Grammar is different from English Grammar.

So, accept this syntax: Subject +  Object +  Verb 

(내가) 널 사랑해. (Naega) neol saranghae.

나/내 nae = I; 가 (subject marker); 

내가 naega = I (doer / subject)

너 neo (you); 를 reul (direct object marker / receiver marker); 

너를 neoreul ->널 neol  (you + direct object / receiver marker)

사랑 sarang (love), 사랑하다 saranghada (to love);

+어요 eoyo/아요 ayo (verb ending. present tense)

사랑해(요) saranghae(yo) 

NOTE: Subject/Doer doesn't necessarily have to be in the sentence.

That is why I omitted "내가" (Naega) = I.

As you know, most people just say "사랑해" (Saranghae) = I love you.

3. Learn Korean Vocabulary
You can't really use your grammar if you don't have much vocabulary. This is where your memorization skill comes in. Don't worry, you'll remember a lot of words even without memorizing as long as you watch Korean dramas or listen to Korean songs (and check the lyrics).
DOWNLOAD THIS PDF: the most frequently used korean words.

4. Practice: Listen. Read. Write. Speak.
What's the use of learning a bit of grammar if you don't practice?

(1) LISTEN: Watch Korean dramas/movies & Listen to Korean Songs
Some Korean phrases, words or expressions may be familiar from watching way too many Korean dramas. It's best to study and expose yourself to the language so Korean would sink in well.

(2) READ: Sing along Kpop songs by reading the lyrics in hangul!
Never look at romanized lyrics to Korean songs ever again. From now on, try to sing along your favorite kpop songs with the lyrics printed in Hangul. That way, you'll remember the words better. You could also check the translation of the song and try to check the dictionary for the meaning of the words. Use dictionaries and the vocabulary pdf I gave you for the words and TTMIK for the grammar.

You can also read the Korean brands of those Korean food in the "Asian/Foreign Goods" section in the supermarkets or Korean stores.

If you have Korean friends on facebook, try to read their posts. It's usually hard to understand posts by Koreans since they use 반말/Panmal (Casual Form), but it's a good way to practice your hangul reading skills.

(3) WRITE: Install a Korean keyboard and start posting in Hangul.
Post in Korean, install the Korean Keyboard. If your OS (OPERATING SYSTEM) is Windows, just go to the Control Panel then to Regional / Languages / Keyboards.

Post in Korean in SNS (fb,twitter etc.).
Get your Korean corrected by posting at: http://lang-8.com/

Also practice writing traditionally: write your idol's names, write Korean sentences etc in Hangul on your paper, notebooks etc. Just don't write on walls okay? Vandalism is very bad.

(4) SPEAK: Sing in Korean, say phrases/expressions in Korean

5. Study Past TOPIKS
You can download all the past TOPIKs from this site: http://koreatopik.co.kr/board.php?code=down
TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a test you need to pass if you want to study, work or live in Korea. By answering the past TOPIKs, you can improve your Korean. If you're just a beginner, practice the Elementary TOPIK. If your goal is to study in Korea, practice the Intermediate TOPIK.

The TOPIK has 6 Levels.

Elementary (Level 1 and 2)

Intermediate (Level 3 and 4)

Advanced (Level 5 and 6)

NOTE: You need to pass at least Level 4 if you want to study in a Korean university.

6. Practice More

Immerse yourself in all things Korean, especially Korean TV shows and Korean songs.