The Best Way to Practice Korean by Yourself | Korean FAQ

Are you interested in practicing Korean by yourself? Do you want some tips for how to do it efficiently? Let’s talk about those, as well as some of the pros and cons of practicing Korean alone. Let me show you how to practice Korean by yourself.
Want to start learning Korean? Check out my book, "Korean Made Simple" on Amazon: amzn.to/2bDBi6h (affiliate)
Please consider supporting me on Patreon: / gobillykorean
Learn Korean with GoBillyKorean! Subscribe for weekly videos!
Music by Kevin MacLeod: "Beachfront Celebration," “MJS Strings,” and “Brightly Fancy.” (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 (creativecommons...)

[@rebeccasmith8555]

This is the first time I've ever seen him without the hat

[@blueberry9878]

i felt like its missing something

[@janiya4676]

I can read Hangul I just don’t know what the heck I’m reading lmao

[@AbasikMusic]

That's the easy part.. then you get the thousands of vocab and grammar and words that don't follow grammar...

[@carlose.o.v.6431]

Bruh same

[@arandomkpopstan2309]

Same 😂

[@user-QQQQQQQQ]

SAMEEE

[@janiya4676]

@@jadin8317 yess!! I definitely have

[@hixtorie433]

Ive been speaking korean to my dogs, I sound crazy when my mom walks in on me speaking a foreign language in a baby voice to my dogs

[@JenSai319]

I talk to my cat ^_^ ... She thinks I'm nuts anyway, so....

[@MickeyJPerez3]

Lol I talk to my pets in Korean sometimes and to my friends who don’t even speak it.

[@EscKat]

Yes! I am so shy to speak out loud, I actually speak to myself in the shower mostly.

[@amirabates3180]

Same thing for me. I just speak to myself in my room and just repeated words that I hear

[@arandomkpopstan2309]

Same 😐😂

[@blueberry9878]

saaame

[@99Sumi99]

If anyone is curious if trying to think in a language you're learning is effective, then I can say - it really is. But it takes time. I made myself "forgot" about my native language at home. So when I was watching something on my computer, I just tend to explain for example what's happening on the screen or just say what I think about it out loud. And now, after a while, I think better in English than in my own language. I hope this will work with my korean as well. :)

[@OkkyAyuPermata]

same haha

[@99Sumi99]

@@minjincute My native language is Polish. It took me maybe 1 year to be better at English. I was mostly watching a lot of KZbin videos in English, with or without subtitles. And it really helped me.

[@99Sumi99]

@@minjincute Ahh sorry for the late reply, I didn't see the notification. Umm, I attended some additional English classes when I was in kindergarten and later on in primary school, but I was barely even understanding any English at that point. I starter to pick it up more in middle school and that's when I also watched all those vids on YT. :P I envy you soooo much, that you're so good at Korean. I feel like I don't have enough motivation to learn it, even tho I would like to do it. And not seeing enough progress is making me doubt my ability to learn Korean.

[@99Sumi99]

@@minjincute Yeah, learning vocab and grammar is stressing me out to the point that I stopped enjoying the language. But I'll try what you suggested! :) I hope someday I'll come back to this comment section and message you in Korean haha :D

[@4damnkids]

Im watching Black (블랙)on Netflix and the character Kang Ha-ram uses the TV to talk to in the beginning of the series. I thought "what a neat way to practice alone" 💡

[@aline21o85]

빌리씨 thank you for everything, I really enjoy watching your videos ❤👍 They are very useful since I'm learning Korean by myself at home 👍😀 선생님 진짜 고맙습니다

[@aestheticbabes2224]

3알린 correction it is 선생님 you were close tho.

[@ashiquahnorodien4200]

I bought your second book a few days ago and can't wait for it to arrive 😍thank you so much

[@youngmihong3425]

Hi I'm a Korean. If you need korean friend to practice language, don't hesitate to contact me here [e-mail]:)

[@ToonMageChannel]

@@youngmihong3425 Can you be my korean language practice buddy too?

[@youngmihong3425]

Sure

[@ashiquahnorodien4200]

@@youngmihong3425 omg thanks. That's so kind of you 😊

[@isobel7945]

youngmi hong can i pls practice with u

[@kori2169]

i just use lingodeer and try to associate what i learn with what i see in real life. it's hard cause i'm too embarrassed to say anything out loud..

[@sazzadOn]

I also use lingodeer

[@kei2231]

Billy i wanna say thank you very much for your persistence in making videos. I learn a lot about korean languange. I hope i can buy your book 😊

[@visinedrip5218]

You motivate me so much, I am working to become a linguist and watching your videos just say what I need to hear. Keep it up Billy!

[@derekcutsinger3511]

Wow! I just discovered your channel. I lived in Daegu for 5 years and learned on my own to speak enough to get around and have simple conversations with my (now) wife's family. However, I've been having a hard time improving. I really think this channel will help. Thanks for all of this content.

[@agac3093]

I actually had a pen pal once, but we didn't talk much. I made a mistake and wrote something that didn't make sense. The guy I was talking to didn't understand me and I ended up getting so embarrassed that I stopped texting him. After that incident I was (and still am) kind of scared to start a conversation in case something like that happens again. And I know that making mistakes is a part of learning a new language and I shouldn't be scared, but I just can't help it. Whenever I feel like getting a pen pal I always have thoughts such as "what if I mess up again?" at the back of my mind and I don't know how to overcome it.

[@GoBillyKorean]

Sometimes I say things in Korean that don't end up making sense. Maybe I changed what I was thinking mid-sentence, or maybe I wasn't clear enough when presenting an idea. Koreans too sometimes make sentences in Korean that don't make sense. I can't assume your Korean level or your study schedule, but I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you aren't studying Korean very much at all (or just randomly learning phrases and not actually learning grammar) and made a mistake because you didn't have any curriculum to guide you. If this isn't true, then please correct me. If it is true, it's a very common trap many beginning learners fall into of not following a curriculum, and then not being able to learn Korean well, and then blaming themselves instead of fixing the problem.

[@agac3093]

At that time I was just starting to learn Korean. And it was hard because it was my first time trying to teach myself a language and I didn't really know how to start. I used different apps and learned some basic phrases but didn't really focus on learning grammar. Now, I've been studying Korean for over 2 years with Talk To Me In Korean and I am very happy with the progress that I made. I have some friends that are also studying Korean and we try to talk to each other in Korean as much as possible, even if it's just asking simple questions such as "what did you do today?" or "do you want to hang out?". I personally find this very helpful as it helps me feel more confident while I'm speaking (I'm usually quite shy when it comes to speaking out loud). However, I do know that talking to a Korean would be more beneficial, since they could correct my mistakes.

[@GoBillyKorean]

@@agac3093 Even if you make mistakes in every single sentence, you should still practice talking with a Korean. I wouldn't want you to stop just because you're worried about making mistakes. That would be preventing you from moving further, so I hope that you'll find some new pen pals.

[@99kroi]

hOW DO I FIND MYSELF A KOREAN FRIEND THATS WILLING TO HELP ME LEARN KOREAN THO AAAa

[@oahola237]

I too shy to speak to strangers in my native language, let alone a foreign language., 🤣😭😱☠️

[@blueberry9878]

2:38 about pronunciation. i never talked face to face with a native english speaker, i learned how english is spoken by shadowing videos and series and talking a lot to myself. everytime i heard a new word or new way to say something i know, i would make a mental note on it. this is working pretty well with korean too, since i had a lot of difficulty making ㅅ sound and differentiating between ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅉ but today not very much anymore 5:42 TRUE im forcing myself to think in korean more and i often say "아~ 어디 (OOO) 있어?? // 여기!" when searching for something and i also speak korean with my dog (루나야 물을 마셔) lol

[@almaonyx933]

Real life pen pals are great! I had over 30 international pen pals years ago and it was so much fun!!! You learn a lot about your penfriends, really anticipate reading their letters, seeing which postage stamps and what kind of stationary they selected. All the internet stuff is great too, but I definitely prefer non-virtual communication. Plus the letters are such a wonderful keepsake that you treasure. I never have the same level of excitement and anticipation over internet communications.

[@bricantdoanythingtbh332]

How did you meet them

[@D1amond_Rose]

I make a lot of mistakes😂🙈 i once said something to my boyfriend and he thought i said something totally different because of his busan dialect. It was a very embarrassing conversation trying to explain what i actually meant🙈😂

[@graciiee8937]

wait, I just realised, is he writing backwards??

[@ananat8093]

I've been trying to figure that out! It looks like he is, but he does it so easily I question whether there's something else involved here.

[@subashree7800]

He writes normal but flips the video :)

[@hennirottstock2841]

University has started again where I live and one of my fellow students is Korean! We exchanged numbers and we text each other everyday (and I am learning so much, it's amazing!) and we sometimes see each other in the lectures, but in person I am always too shy to talk to her in korean..

[@aline21o85]

선생님 I'm the biggest fan of this Channel😀❤👍

[@sandrabraganca7184]

I am trying out Parrot Korean as an additional practising of sentences spoken by a native Korean

[@FrankM]

What about signing up to Korean courses at language centers or schools if one lives in a metropolitan city that has a sizable amount of Koreans in the city's population? Are those worth it, compared to online paid courses, such as italki?

[@reharm_reality]

Of course, if you can meet with native Korean speakers easily don't worry about other options, that's the best thing to do.

[@quynhdb]

Personally, I’m not a fan of group classes ever since I started using italki. When I have a session with my tutor, it’s all focused on me and there’s so much more speaking practice. I get lots of feedback and we practice things that are relevant to me. I always recommend people use italki over regular classes in most cases. If you’re serious about improving your communication skills, personal one-on-one conversation practice is a must and I don’t know if a class can offer that. I live in an area with lots of Koreans but I’m still super shy about practicing with random people esp given my low level. Having tutors to help me at my own pace allows me to speak a lot without worrying about burdening some poor Korean person in the bakery lol.

[@yashikarana839]

I can't talk with any korean in real as i am learning korean for my own interest as i am influenced by k pop and also i don't even go to any institutional classes to learn korean i am learning it by myself through online videos and makes sort of notes... I want to know that can it be helpful for me to learn korean by way i am going... Hence this is the only way possible for me to go through the language.... Please tell me

[@farahfadi5800]

Who wants to practice with me? Hahaha 😅

[@avivafernandes6169]

I learned korean for 2 years,but sometimes i feel like i don't know how to speak. But lately I went to a Korean fair in Dubai and iam glad that I could speak well, but i still need to practice

[@rokorae]

I used Tandem and Slowly. Neither worked for me. Nobody talked to me and I just messaged one person who never replied. I used Amino last year, but people didn't really talk there, they just posted daily vocabulary. There are 2 korean people studying at my university, but I don't have any way of contacting them, but also I don't wanna go look for them. I am looking for more opportunities while I avoid the same kind of apps. I am open to suggestions (or pals lmao). I recently downloaded tumblr and whale. Wanna try discord soon, too.

[@caylaflinter366]

I wish they taught korean/japanese/etc. In my school, maybe I'd actually be interested in my foreign language class!

[@cjt8469]

Hellotalk works fine if you're serious about studying and find someone else who's serious. It's pretty easy to tell I think. If they're not helpful, just move on. Strangers in real life can be unhelpful too, but you're probably never going to see them again anyway. Folks have one bad conversation on Hellotalk and spend ages complaining about it. Hush up and get back to studying!

[@mattm5324]

When did Sam Raimi and Andy Samberg have a lovechild teaching youtube videos?

[@danzechyvlogs9721]

I can read,speak and write hangul but during a real conversation to native Korean my confidence is gone i feel nervous... saklap.

[@margauxocampo6124]

But can I have a study buddy? Can I practice on her? Cause be don't have a native Korean speaker

[@AbhayD007]

Love you

[@pandaonsteroids5154]

That's the only way I practice. I think to myself and talk out loud to myself on a daily basis.

[@blueninja7594]

Yeah, I agree that you cannot catch your own mistakes easily while studying alone. I think it is the biggest con of learning by yourself.

[@saidanabalma8828]

I did the "thinking in the language" with English and now most of my thought are naturally in this language 😂

[@maya-wy8ml]

Why am I watching this I already know this 😭

[@lifeadventure89]

love this video... i wonder how can i get native korean guru...😊😊❤❤

[@gdvvgdfv]

That's the thing... there's no Korean people for 500 miles in every direction over here.

[@GoBillyKorean]

There are plenty online you can find through language exchange apps :-)

[@gdvvgdfv]

@@GoBillyKorean i know. And they don't respond 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@GoBillyKorean]

@@gdvvgdfv Keep trying :)

[@NhiTran-zd8um]

I'm still intrigued by the fact that he wrote every letters the other way round so perfectly, in every episode.....

[@GoBillyKorean]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ7JYWZ-ndF4bKc

[@happeness6081]

🌕❤

[@avivafernandes6169]

I just wanted to ask you what is the meaning of myeon.

[@doublev4409]

It means "if", but you have to conjugate it with a verb. It doesn't work if you say the word "myeon" only, you have to use it with a verb and that too at the end of the sentence. If you want, you can add "manyag" (만약) at the start of the sentence and then "myeon" at the end of it to make it a conditional ("if") sentence. Thanks!

[@avivafernandes6169]

@@doublev4409 Thank you for your help.

[@doublev4409]

@@avivafernandes6169 you're most welcome :)

[@rowin6030]

Finally....

[@periperidots3036]

Billy! I wish you also taught Japanese! I’m currently taking it in college! But I have your first book and hope to learn both at some point! Love you billy!!!!!

[@giorgioc3402]

유용한 조언 감사합니다!!

[@chimina1357]

Korean see through bangs

[@Worgiewoo]

I like HiNative but HelloTalk got creepy really fast.

[@GoBillyKorean]

Every chat web site is similar - they're filled with regular people. HelloTalk is also filled with regular people. But if you stick with any of them, you can find some real good people. Some of the Koreans I've made videos together with I initially met online through pen pal services.

[@spapalotl]

the lighting makes you look so tired, hope you're good billy

[@GoBillyKorean]

It's just the lighting, because I have a light from above which probably doesn't do my face any favors.

[@leimeows]

Using Discord!!

[@ravenclaw1228]

I’m self studying and have spent just over £300 on textbooks :(

[@GoBillyKorean]

That must be a lot of textbooks!

[@ravenclaw1228]

Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean the books themselves are not that expensive but the shipping cost from Korea is ridiculous (I bought 2000 essential Korean words for £20 and the shipping was £50). :(

[@GoBillyKorean]

@@ravenclaw1228 Ah, then that makes sense.

[@valter3112]

Lolll it must be really hard for him to write backwards or like in and out!

[@kaylasteph]

Unless he just makes the video mirrored

[@LaurenGrz]

question actually gets answered at: 4:40

[@leviAckerman-rn5gd]

Thank you for making a video like this!! I'm hoping I can get your book that you made. So far through your videos, and reading/listening to Korean I've been able to pronounce most words I see in Korean. I plan on going into linguistics, and doing some sort of translating work. So I chose Korean as the language I want to do. It will take some time to become fluent in the language, but I have faith in myself that I can do it if I go for it enough. Something I'm trying to do is go to Korea through NSLI-Y. To study there over the summer. If I get in, I may go for the academic year next.