Listening is a crucial part of learning any language. To gain progress and improvement, you will need to put in the necessary effort. The same applies to enhancing your Korean listening skills. Identifying new Korean vocabulary or reading a text in Korean should be a piece of cake for you after attending a Korean class in Singapore. However, the real struggle comes in comprehending spoken Korean. What are some ways to improve your Korean language listening skills? Below, we have listed down several useful techniques in detail to help you.
1. Practice active listening
Listening and hearing are not the same. When you listen, it is all about getting meaning or understanding a conversation. On the other hand, active listening is advanced as it involves getting the linguistic aspects of what you listen to. These linguistic elements include intonation, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. You could do this while engaging in a conversation with someone, listening to a podcast, or by watching a movie etc. By listening actively to conversations in the Korean language, you will learn and be able to capture how sentences are framed as well as how ideas are expressed.
2. Listen to Korean songs
Songs are a perfect medium to elevate your Korean listening skills. They incorporate rhymes, rhythm and repetition to heighten your listening abilities. Nonetheless, they make phrases and words easy to memorize. With a proper Korean song, you can improve your pronunciation and learn new vocabulary.
3. Watch Korean movies and dramas
Another great way to boost your Korean listening skills is through watching Korean movies, TV shows and interesting dramas. Unlike songs that tend to be fast, shows are more realistic. They emulate real-life conversations. This way, it is easy to detect and grasp words and phrases effortlessly. Moreover, we are exposed to Korean culture and different subjects of conversation. There are countless Korean shows and movies available online. Also, Netflix has numerous Korean dramas and films that are accessible.
4. Engage in Korean conversations
Engaging in unscripted real-life conversations in Korean is an ideal way to heighten your listening skills in the language. Regular discussions with native as well as non-native Koreans will help you to get around confusing sounds and words. Baby steps are vital for a first-timer. You can start by visiting Korean markets in Singapore or socialize with other students from your Korean class.
5. Focus on intonation and pronunciation
To gain better understanding on the Korean language, it is important not only to focus on the vocabulary and grammar aspects but also pay attention to the intonation used to express emotion as well as the actual word pronunciation. Likewise, you have to take note of the fillers included in the conversation. All these elements give any conversation a natural feel and are vital in boosting your listening skills.
6. Identify your challenges with Korean sounds
Phrases or words pronunciations in the Korean language are very exceptional. The sounds are unlike those of other languages, for instance, English. Most first learners rely on romanization of phrases and words which come out different in actual conversations. Therefore, it is imperative to identify the sounds, words or phrases that you find challenging to make listening easy.
With the tips provided above, deciphering spoken Korean sounds should not trouble you. Keep in mind that learning a new language demands time and patience. For more close and personal guidance in the Korean language, you can sign up for Korean classes in Singapore.
