#learn korean

[linguajunkie]

Duolingo alternatives

Duolingo’s been in the news for going all AI. Of course, if AI is your bag, that’s cool. But if you’re interested in learning language from resources made by real native speakers and humans…

Here are some suggestions…

Speaking/Listening

-Innovative Language (known for JapanesePod101, koreanclass101, spanishpod101 and their collection of 30+ language programs - teaches languages through conversations (you listen to a convo between two native speakers and then get it explained). Lessons are about 5–10 min on average in audio/video format https://www.innovativelanguage.com/online-language-courses

Pimsleur - similar approach as above but lessons are longer - 30 min and audio only - https://www.pimsleur.com

Reading

LingQ - learn by reading native content and breaking down the words inside. https://www.lingq.com/en/

ReadLang - a browser based tool that translates articles and books you read. https://readlang.com

Satori Reader - (for Japanese) - read level appropriate stories (my fav for reading)

Vocabulary

Anki - not sure if this needs extra explanation - most language learners love Anki’s flash card approach https://apps.ankiweb.net

Clozemaster - learn words in sentence context (instead of just words alone) https://www.clozemaster.com

[sugar-petals]

i’m fucking hyped by BTS on vogue’s channel teaching korean words because 

1) not only were they actually going through more extended vocabulary and helpful figure of speech anecdotes than i expected going into that video (but let’s be honest, namjoon - he hosted the interview - never underdelivers on knowledge of any kind, i’m just surprised the format didn’t keep it superficial or predictable like we often see with that type of content, so props to the vogue team and everyone who made this, we need a whole series of it) 

but also

2) yoongi all humming and drumming and giving little commentaries has healed my brain because how can someone talk in such a subterranean frequency. he’s sitting there all still, chic & pretty and suddenly the bass is booming 

[clever-ludicrous]

I haven’t been really active lately but I came across something I wanted to share.

It’s a free language learning app called Lingo Legend, and I’m honestly a bit surprised by how much I’m enjoying it.

It’s basically just a vocab game where you’re a farmhand. The game is split between working on your farm and going on adventures.

You can choose what theme of vocab — though it doesn’t seem to be possible to put in your own — and set the pace you wish to play. There’s a daily energy limit, which you can refill by watching ads but there are no ad interruptions.

Supported languages are:

French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Maybe I’m just late to the party and everyone already knows about it but I rarely see it talked about.

[foreverjeans]

language learning is such a personal thing that there is no “right” or “wrong” way of doing it. it’s whatever works on bringing YOU closer to YOUR goal.

you want to watch tv shows but don’t really care for speaking with others? yay!! no speaking practice needed.

you want to learn quickly for an upcoming trip? yay! text book phrases and simple grammar.

you’re a beginner and it’s been 10 years? 2 weeks? 6 months? it doesn’t matter. as long as you are working towards bringing YOURSELF closer to what YOU want to achieve, you have succeeded: you are succeeding; you are doing great.

i find that so much demotivation comes from comparison and/or trying to follow other's advice too closely. if anki decks don't work for you, that's fine! if duolingo works well for you, then use it!

this language learning thing, it should be enjoyed. in the sea full of deceptive polyglot stories and videos on top of videos attempting to understand how to learn languages in "the fastest way possible" sometimes we should sit back and ask ourselves, "when is just learning things, enough"?

with that i hope you all continue working towards your dreams! whether you want to become a translator or just watch a few more movies in your target language, you can do it. i know you have it in you.

[studykoreanwithasya]

~지다 Guide (To Become/Changes)

~지다 is added to adjective verbs to mean something became this way.

It is the difference between (1) the weather is nice and (2) the weather became nice.

It attaches to adjectives, not action verbs.

Conjugate the verb to the 요 form, remove 요, and add ~지다. Any tense or form changes need to be made to ~지다 only.

예:

재미있다 → 재미있 어지다 → “to become fun”

춥다 → 추 워지다 → “to become cold”

편하다 → 편해지다 → “to become comfortable”

Various tense/form examples (not comprehensive):

Present (change in progress or a change happening now)

따뜻하다 → 따뜻해져요 = becomes warm

조용하다 → 조용해져요 = becomes quiet

*In English, we wouldn’t say "it becomes quiet" in this sense. We would say something like "it is becoming quiet" or "it has become quiet (just now)." Really, the present tense direct English translation is a bit off. When in doubt, it is usually the past tense that makes the most sense if you are trying to talk about a change.

Past (Change is completed)

밝다 → 밝아졌어요 = became bright

많다 --> 많아졌어요 = increased

Future

예쁘다 --> 예뻐질 거예요 = will become pretty

부드럽다 → 부드러워질 거예요 = will become soft

Progressive

강하다 → 강해지고 있어요 = is becoming strong

많아지고 있어요 = is increasing

Intention / plan

예뻐지려고 해요 = trying to become prettier

빠르다 → 빨라지려고 해요 = trying to become fast

Probable / guess / "I think..."

예뻐질 것 같아요 = It seems like she’ll become prettier

많아질 것 같아요 = It seems like it will increase

Desire

예뻐지고 싶어요 = I want to become pretty

편해지고 싶어요 = I want to become comfortable (FYI 많다 is a bit odd in this form, that is why this is a different verb)

Formal Conjugation

Present: 예뻐집니다 / 많아집니다 Past: 예뻐졌습니다 / 많아졌습니다 Future: 예뻐질 것입니다 / 많아질 것입니다

Sentences~

방이 조용해져요. The room is becoming quiet.

길이 막혀서 도로가 복잡해졌어요. Because of traffic, the road became crowded.

하늘이 어두워지고 있어요. The sky is getting dark.

요즘 한국어가 조금 쉬워졌어요. These days, Korean has become a little easier.

친구들이 더 친절해졌어요. My friends became kinder.

*Sometimes ~지다 is added to active verbs to make them passive, but that is a different grammar point. 😭

Copy and paste into a document to save/annotate your own copy. Also, feel free to practice in the comments (or point out any inaccuracies)! We’re all learning here.

[asyastudieskorean]

6.25.2026 — 처음 배웠을 때보다 오늘 갑자기 ”~게“ 문법이 정말 복잡해졌어요. 선생님이 “이거 그냥 안 써도 돼”라고 말씀하셨어요 ㅋㅋ. 그래도 오늘도 너무 재미있었어요. 모든 학생들 재미있고 좀 이상하고 열심히 공부하는 사람이에요. 많이 많이 한국어 선생님이 있었는데 아마도 효빈원 선생님이 저의 제일 한국어 선생님이에요. 정말 재미있고 열심히 가르치는 선생님이에요. 수업이 있을 때 저는 갑자기 행복해지고 웃어요. 진심으로 효빈원 선생님께 너무 감사해요. 궁금하면 효빈원 선생님은 KCCLA하고 University of Pennsylvania에 있어요.

[wannawrite999]