How to Start Learning Korean for Free (UPDATED)

I’ll show you how you can start learning Korean for free, including the steps you should take before you begin, as well as several resources you can use to start learning Korean right now. (This video is not sponsored, and all opinions are 100% my own.)
Want to start learning Korean? Check out my book, "Korean Made Simple" on Amazon: amzn.to/2bDBi6h (affiliate)
Please consider supporting me on my Patreon page: / gobillykorean
New merch is now available! teespring.com/stores/gobillyk...
Free Beginner Korean Course (playlist): • Beginner Korean Course
HelloTalk (app): www.hellotalk.com/
Tandem (app): www.tandem.net/
Create Your 30 Day Korean Study Plan (video): • Create Your 30 Day Kor...
Find Korean podcasts on AudioClip (app) audioclip.naver.com
동아 Kids’ News (news): kids.donga.com/
Naver Webtoon (comics): comic.naver.com/index
How You Should Study Korean Vocabulary (video): • How You Should Study K...
Naver Dictionary (tool): en.dict.naver.com/#/main
10 ways to use Naver Dictionary for studying Korean (video): • 10 ways to use Naver D...
Anki (app): apps.ankiweb.net/
00:00 Intro
00:35 Learn the Alphabet
01:05 Follow a Curriculum
01:58 Focus on Grammar
02:41 Learn Like a Child
03:29 Practice
05:23 Set Some Goals
06:11 Immerse Yourself
07:45 Take Notes
08:31 Use More Tools
09:14 Keep Going
09:59 Conclusion
Learn Korean with GoBillyKorean! Subscribe for weekly videos! goo.gl/9Dm5g
Music by Kevin MacLeod: “MJS Strings,” and “Brightly Fancy.” (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)

[@bjmurphy34]

As a beginner, I suggest that other beginners completely finish a curriculum (such as Billy's books) before trying language exchange. You'll learn much more from your real conversations once you have a strong foundation. If you try language exchange too early, it can be overwhelming and not really helpful. I learned that the hard way.

[@Kyle-uo5bg]

I agree, as an experiment I started listening to Korean videos with 한글 subtitles early on so I could save interesting phrases in a spreadsheet for later reference. Surprisingly a lot of the grammar forms/constructions I noticed turned out to be fairly advanced. I didn't get to the point where they were taught in the books for many months despite seeing/hearing them daily!

[@rensvh98]

Talk To Me In Korean (or TTMIK for short) is a really solid resource, offering a curriculum from beginner to more advanced learners. They have a website, a KZbin channel, and a podcast. The only thing is that they announced - literally today - that their courses will all be subscription based starting August 9, this year. But I still think it'll be worth it, especially with the discount they have at the moment!

[@otaku-chan4888]

For people in some countries, even >5$ is a sum they can't afford, especially when said people are students with no job or allowance of their own. It's great that TTMIK wants to earn more to improve their content, but this is a blow to young teens and adults who have been looking to them for free resources to get better only to see that resources that were free for years are now all paywalled

[@elt2773]

wow I remember when he said that the grammar course would be free forever 🙄

[@pjihae]

@@otaku-chan4888they've offered over a decade of free content that is still plenty and available on KZbin.

[@otaku-chan4888]

@@pjihae I'm not trying to discredit the content that will remain free. I'm just pointing out that the content that was made and remained free for decades until this point should continue to remain free, while _new_ content that will enrich learning should be paywalled. Paywalling the mp3s and pdf transcripts that were free for decades is a bad move. It's unfair to the learners who could have had that basic content free had they been able to learn 10 years earlier. And when something is unfair, it only makes the situation worse (i.e. resorting to piracy). ttmik should have placed a paywall on newer supplements to the already free courses, along with workbooks / more examples / some topic relevant tips.. the list is endless. However, even while I personally think this decision isn't great, I don't blame ttmik. They're a business, and money makes the world go round. Free education is still a far-off dream in this economy

[@jeff__w]

@@otaku-chan4888 “Paywalling the mp3s and pdf transcripts that were free for decades is a bad move.” I agree and said as much in the comments on the video announcing the change. Whether it’s “unfair” or not (people can differ on that), I don’t think it’s the right move in terms of business strategy. The cost of that content was incurred over a decade ago but the benefit-introducing learners to the high quality TTMIK materials and building good will-still exists if TTMIK were to offer it at no cost to learners. TTMIK sees it differently and said it’s the “only option available at the moment to keep our business afloat.” It’s a business opportunity for Billy who continues to offer excellent Korean learning materials at no cost on his site. Go for it, Billy! Grab some of that market share! _EDIT:_ In fact, the notes to lessons (labeled “Free Korean Lesson Notes” with *FREE* emphasized in red) say “Please feel free to share TalkToMeInKorean’s free Korean lessons and PDF files with anybody who is studying Korean.” Those lessons, one through ten, had been freely available on Soundcloud-they, or most of them, might now be paywalled as “essential” Korean lessons-but, since they’re paywalled, one would have to pay to find out for sure, and, so, I’m not so sure one _couldn’t_ share the lessons that were labeled “feel free to share” originally. So, from that standpoint, too, TTMIK would better off just dropping the paywall for those lessons.

[@PriyankaSaha-kn4sv]

Billy has gotten our backs!!❤

[@Kizzy-yy2kl]

HOW DOES THIS GUYS NOT HAVE MORE SUBSCRIBERS, I’m shook

[@stephanieshaw9102]

I love your videos honestly. They are such a help.

[@RodrigoCanchola]

Your videos teaching hangul were undoubtedly the most useful there are out there, thanks

[@Omg_noway]

Thank you so much!! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your videos. They are interesting and make learning easy. And thanks again for free videos on yt. I'm very excited. 💙✨😇

[@dioryves]

u are legit keeping me interested in learning languages

[@rymin4577]

You just gave me so much positive energy whenever i give up on my learning process i'll return to this video and rewatch it again and again Thank you billy 💜💜

[@TripleSomething]

Expertly timed video as always, Billy

[@sheeliekittie9298]

Billy I just started to study using your book, it's so helpful I love how well you explain everything!!! Thank you! How you explain the language to foreigners learning Korean AS a foreign language. I'm so grateful.

[@preciouslafleur5390]

Oh wow! Thank you so much Billy! 감사니다!!! You are always right on time!!!! I will send this video to a friend who also wants to learn! She just contacted me yesterday!!!! 💜

[@Meyra_]

As soon as I got notified I shared it! BILLY you always put honest positive vibes at the right place, at the right time in a language learner's life.

[@UnknownPerson-xn4cz]

This is truly useful! Plus I love the way this video is, its fun, yet doesn't miss any detail :> Thank you!!

[@lubnaandura]

I love this so I subscribed. thank you so much for that I WAS LOST WHERE I SHOULD START

[@lettyrivera1102]

Perfect timing!! Thank you Billy!!

[@hyerin17]

hii!! a year ago, i started learning korean through your beginner course and safe to say ive improved alot! Your videos are really easy for me to understand! edit: and for anybody whos looking for a yt channel to watch to study korean, i recommend 'korean englishman' and 'JOLLY'. I get alot of new vocabs there and theyre rlly funny!! goodluck at studying everybody!! 화이팅 !!

[@taaroshot]

Thankyou Billy for all your help! 감사합니다!

[@PhuzBee]

I hit a learning wall when I didn’t have any real life practice, but a miracle happened and when I was traveling to another state, I randomly found a Korean owned Kpop shop and an ajoined Korean restaurant (same family❤️) so now I get to practice my Korean when I visit there. It gave me a HUGE boost in motivation, and the Kpop shop owner actually asked me if I had lived in Korea for awhile. 😭❤️ I felt so accomplished when I originally believed I wasn’t learning anything. 10/10 experience that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t tried learning Korean. 🥰🥰🥰

[@user-sz7yc5to2v]

Thank you so much for everything, Billy. You have been so helpful during my journey, I might say you're the reason why I haven't given up. 감사합니다~~

[@Jihwani_TV]

Thank you, Billy, for loving Korea and the Korean language~

[@GeorgiaMyname]

You are MY teacher …I keep watching your Korean courses and I’m sooo happy !Hugs from your Greek student 💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@thedanalcantara]

You guys, seriously just buy Billy’s books. I’m working through the first one (and the workbook). It’s so nice to have a set, structured curriculum to work from and it takes the stress out of needing to find decent but free resources.

[@michaelcorbett4236]

In music for you'll often hear "Practice to play, then practice to not forget". There has to be discipline to keep going over things until they are automatic and they come out naturally not just that you learned them and can recall them that day.

[@rosedewittbukater4203]

Your books are great! Love from Germany

[@Ceridwyn82]

Thank you for all your help!

[@abudhabi9850]

Nice video Billy!

[@seuny]

I just bought all 3 Korean made simple books on amazon to get myself into a routine with learning.

[@GoBillyKorean]

That's awesome! Good luck with your studies! And I'm here if/when you need me :)

[@XxH1llyXx]

Loveee your videosss

[@carmonobre802]

Your videos are really good!!

[@Rainynights4me]

Thank you go billiy 선생님 it helps me a lot but I can’t speak I can only read and understand I hope I’ll do better with you!!! (love from India🇮🇳)❤

[@sept2039]

the timing is so :DDD right when i'm officially moving from ttmikville to gobillyland lol

[@brisaherrera1358]

I love your videos, Billy. You've helped me A LOT all these years. 정말 감사합니다 ❤

[@sheeliekittie9298]

I agree!! I just got his book ( first one. ) I think it's great :)

[@rubywalters194]

Hi Billy i just wanted to let you know that i just bought all three books from Amazon. Next i will get all 3 workbook to help me practice. Thank you Billy.

[@GoBillyKorean]

Thanks for your support! And I'm here if/when you need me :D

[@spankyhanderson3680]

As a fan of GFRIEND, I started learning Korean on Duolingo in January 2021. GFRIEND’s contract was ended by HYBE just five months later but I’ve continued on Duolingo, though I’ve really hit a wall and have stopped progressing, and have been sliding backwards in recent months, merely keeping my daily “streak” alive by redoing early 한글 lessons. Your post made me realize that I have some of your books and I might be better off to commit to using your curriculum to catch back up and get back on path. Thank you for caring enough to make these videos!

[@Mr_Mmiya_Bhai]

How many sections you've completed in duo ? I'm in Section 1 unit 8 . Any advise for me ? Y u stopped progressing tho ?

[@spankyhanderson3680]

I have completed up through Section 3, Unit 1. I would recommend keeping a written notebook of vocabulary, grammar, particles, numbers, etc. I think that is my main problem. I would push through doing lots of lessons to advance on the “leaderboard” but I didn’t keep notes or practice much outside of Duolingo. I got to the point I was not really remembering vocabulary and grammar points, I was just pushing through lessons. In the past six months, I have been trying to go back through earlier units again to try to relearn and better commit to memory those lessons. One stumbling block I have experienced is that Duolingo made a MAJOR change to the structure and content of their Korean lessons some months ago and there is a lot of content now in earlier units that I never learned, so that has been challenging and frustrating when I go to review earlier units. I like Duolingo a lot, but I think my effort to rapidly advance in the leaderboard rankings outstripped my ability to truly learn and retain content. I think if I’d kept a written notebook of what I was learning that writing things down would add an extra type of processing that would help. Don’t let the gamification used by Duolingo make you so competitive that it becomes all about advancing in points instead of advancing in knowledge. But stick with it and use the strengths of Duolingo to help you and keep you motivated. Good luck! 화이팅!

[@Mr_Mmiya_Bhai]

@@spankyhanderson3680 yes I feel you . Same thing happened to me in the first few lessons of unit 1 of Section 1 . After that I just did one sub lesson a day . That pace is what I find learnable. Tqsm for replying . So can u u understand k dramas now ? Are you learning Korean outside of ( bakk ui 😉 ) Duolingo ? An accurate gauge of a lesson being thoroughly learned is getting 100 percent in ' legendary ' of that unit . U shud strive for a 100 percent correct score whenever u attempt a ' legendary ' test . If u go wrong somewhere note it down , learn and re attempt the legendary test and keep trying until u get the perfect score. And from my experience, duo gives atleast 9 new words per unit and sometimes per sub lesson ... That is crazy 😅 The most imp rule of duo is - one lesson a day and to get ' 💯 ' in the legendary tests. Hope my reply makes sense . I'll update on this reply once I complete section 1 .I'll probably complete it by next week . It's been 61 days since I started duo and Korean learning !! TQ for informing abt the leaderboard rabbit hole . I'm nowhere as knowledgeable as you in Korean but lemme know if I can be of any help in the section 1 right up until the 7th unit . I'm currently doing unit 8 . Will you be my friend on duo ? If yes , then what's your username? Peace .

[@Kyle-uo5bg]

as someone with over a 2000 day streak in Duolingo and who only has been "maintaining" it for the past ~200+ days, it's not worth using for Korean at all. (using it to learn Hangeul is fine if you like their method)@@spankyhanderson3680

[@mai1tsy]

I started learning korean 1 year ago, and I definitely agree with all of these tips (I would have loved to watch this video before lmao) ! btw you can easily find the talk to me in korean texts books online for free in pdf

[@dizzyjoy749]

Hey Billy, love how practical your information is, thanks for the fun lives and the interesting and insightful videos you make. there is a youtuber i think you should contact, I'm sure you have heard of him JohnReavesLive, your understanding of Korean, and his enthusiasm for positivity and yep BTS, would be a fun podcast while your back in the States. Yep Im plugging, but i enjoy both of ya'll extremely. Thanks for the continuous motivation to learn!

[@JesusLOVES175]

I just recently am learning Korean again ❤

[@christinelockwood3497]

I’m here just for KeyKat! 😂 Only kidding, but KeyKat is great. 🙂 Thanks for this, Billy! I appreciate all you do for us! Haha… 😅 I’m struggling with gaining more vocabulary, now. When I get to a hard spot in learning Korean, I remember when I struggled with other things and how I’m past it now. It keeps me going. 🙂

[@hermione5330]

Thanks Billy! I’ve done Step 11 😂

[@Magical11.]

Thank you ❤

[@April-dy2tn]

Hi Go Billy, I am a beginner learner to Korean thanks for these videos. I have been searching for Korean sign language teachers and videos here. I am interested to know if you have any recommendations for KSL instructors? Thanks!

[@camilladanaher1678]

When you squished Keykat's head 😭 Anyone have favorite houseplant or BookTube KZbinrs in Korean to recommend?

[@theonly_competitor_of_me_is_me]

U r. Awesome ❤

[@carolineriosneyra9731]

jajajja la introducción fue divertida jajaja. Great video.

[@Omg_noway]

7:35 your laugh made me laugh 😂

[@Mad.E]

kinda sad that ttmik can't be included here anymore

[@ukibear17]

정말 감사합니다 for all these useful advices 🐻🇰🇷🤓📚🙏😃 if 기가 (is that the bear’s name?) needs a studying partner… I’m here 🧸😇

[@ibRebecca]

King Billy 👑

[@vocecita]

He said Geocities and I'm old enough to know what he's talking about 🤦‍♀️

[@Possible.sjsjsj]

영어공부하다 고통스러워서 외국인이 한국어 공부 힘든거 보러왔어요 I'm watching your KZbin channel because you guys feel kind of pain and joy to study korean as I do. Learning Foreign language is very difficult for everybody.

[@sophi3006]

영어 공부가 언젠가 고통스럽기보다는 더 재미있길요~ ^^ 힘내세요 !! 제가 응원하고 있어요 !!

[@iliyastoyanov3302]

10:10 there I lost it completely ❤️❤️❤️

[@unicornamalthea1559]

Hi all, can someone help me out really quick? Pretty please? I need to know the correct Korean phrase for "My Family" for a family photo before I print it. Google says it's "gajog". If it helps, the photo is 4 generations from grandparents, parents, me and my siblings, our children (the great grandchildren). Does anyone know for sure? Thanks in advance!!!

[@GoBillyKorean]

The Korean word for "family" is 가족, and "my family" could be 우리 가족.

[@Koakoa45]

I bought one of your books but Billy---- the font is TOO SMALL. I have to wear my glasses PLUS a magnifying glass and even then I have difficult. Can you please put out books with normal or larger font? I just can't see point 4 font, or is your book 2? either way it is way too small for this old nerds broken eyes LOL

[@GoBillyKorean]

You can adjust the size of the eBook, but the size of the print book is set. I recommend changing the size of the eBook (such as in Kindle or another device, or on your smart phone). You can make it as large as you'd like :-)

[@adfdcdcxc]

this was soo funnyyyyy

[@mohdahadansari5565]

Because of you I know hangul but I can't read basic things 😢 Maybe because I don't practice speaking 🗣️.

[@Savage_lovextsa]

I'm currently learning Korean with your Beginner Korean Course, but I have problems with memorizing things. I didn't just forget 1 or 2 lessons I forgot about 12 lessons in total. I study 6 times a week 1hour daily which is about 2-3 of your lessons and I'm wondering whether I should pause my lessons for a few days to go over the lessons I forgot or if I should just continue lessons while slowly trying to memorize the lessons I forgot.

[@GoBillyKorean]

That might be because you're moving through the lessons too quickly without practicing them along the way. It's normal though. You really want to find some way to practice everything, so finding a Korean friend is key.

[@joeypalmieri9981]

are the books and the beginner course (1-100) similar? Do you suggest to start with one over the other?

[@GoBillyKorean]

They're taught in a different order. The books are for people who want to learn things more in-depth and also go to a higher level. The video course is just the most essential Korean for getting started and is 100 episodes. You can use one or the other, or both, but just know the order is different.

[@labamore6493]

How to order Korean books ?

[@GoBillyKorean]

You can find links in the video description :)

[@belladona3608]

I tend to get bored easily when starting a new hobby.. 근데 빌리 선생님 덕분에 한국어를 공부하지 2년 됐어요 :) 감사합니다! ♥

[@makecallus]

난 한국인 im korean hellow🎉

[@Armistice023]

Damn, dating yourself with that Geocities reference, haha

[@ekonymph]

oh KeyKat 😂

[@andersonsabino_]

I just disagree when you said about choosing a native speaker regardless of the their qualification. It simply doesn't work, unless you already have a good level and want to practice freely. I was learning russian with a native speaker and there was no problem at all because she could not identify the crucial aspects for me to improve. That's simply because she could not understand how hard it was from a native's perspective. So, choose a qualified person, don't care if it's native or not.

[@GoBillyKorean]

I mean for speaking practice only. For teaching, you'll need someone who's qualified - regardless of whether they're a native speaker or not.

[@Jadashobbies]

0.002 seconds 😂😂😂

[@christianrudder4826]

first

[@j_jungkook979]

You know Billy you look a like Charlie Puth

[@UkOutreach]

I wish there were Korean language courses that recognise some of the learners are adults and not children. I have been using LingoDeer, which is not bad but does seem to think the average age of its learners is probably about thirteen years. Many of the videos on KZbin, even the better ones, are often so dumbed down and seem to think we have unlimited time to waste on irrelevant kiddifun. I get that many people have the attention span of a gnat and I also get that a “spoonful of sugar” can make learning enjoyable, but…some of the stuff is just time-wasting nonsense put up by wannabe comedians who should occasionally review their material, and be embarrassed.

[@GoBillyKorean]

My lessons are not made for children. I have a full (free) course you can use to start here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qamTqqyHptCjp9E

[@XxH1llyXx]

aYES I GET TO BE A FIRST COMMENT

[@Chungdol]

kinda creepy to jump on that train after TTMIK turned into p2access. I mean they helped you a lot too. Love your content tho

[@GoBillyKorean]

Complete coincidence as this video had been filmed/edited in advance. Thanks for watching!

[@Chungdol]

@@GoBillyKorean Oh, I havent thought about that option, I'm sorry :x

[@8Luz8]