I believed describing the repetition training approach I set up on my YouTube channel was important for those interested in learning Korean. Trusting the approach you utilize will produce better outcomes. For this reason, this post is significant.
What I Learned from My 15 Years as an English Teacher
In my over 15 years of teaching English, I’ve covered a lot of vocabulary and grammar with my students. I’ve noticed that students who learn a lot of vocabulary and grammar sometimes struggle to use it because they don’t get enough practice in English conversations. This lack of practice can make it hard for them to use English as a language.
I’ve also run classes using an immersion teaching method, where students discuss and write about English passages they’ve read. These students tend to have better speaking abilities compared to those who focus solely on vocabulary and grammar.
On the other hand, children who have lived in English-speaking countries or attended English kindergartens frequently speak English naturally. However, unless these kids learn grammar and enhance their vocabulary, their competence will not improve. Their English proficiency will plateau, as they won’t be exposed to more advanced vocabulary and literature, hindering further advancement.
Repetition Training: Military-Proven Effectiveness
Considering these backgrounds, it is challenging to speak like a native unless you study in Korea. However, some people speak Korean fluently even without living in Korea. How do they achieve this?
They do this by immersing themselves in the Korean language by consistently speaking the words and sentences they’ve learned. It’s a simple concept, yet not everyone follows through with it.
Then what is one way to do that? By practicing the sentences every day, repeatedly. That’s why I recommend repetition training. You’re likely aware that during wartime, spies used repetition for effective training.
Repetition training helped spies learn a new language quickly by drilling key phrases and vocabulary. This intensive practice cements language patterns in their memory, allowing for effective communication in a short time. Spies focused on speaking and listening skills through repeated drills, achieving fluency for their operations in foreign territories.
The Balance Between Theoretical Understanding and Practical Training
Additionally, read Korean novels if at all feasible. There’s no better method than reading books to learn a language. It aids in acquainting you with a variety of idioms and sentence patterns.
Stephen D. Krashen is an American linguist, educational researcher and activist, who is an Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Southern California. He is also renowned as the top scholar in the field of second language acquisition. He recommends “Free Voluntary Reading” as the best method to acquire a new language.
Reading is not just the best way to learn a language—it’s the only way.
“The Power of Reading” by Stephen Krashen
However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect vocabulary and grammar study. Both are essential for improving fluency and accuracy faster. Fortunately, Dr. Krashen has demonstrated that through reading, individuals can acquire vocabulary, grammar, various idioms, and nuances of the language simultaneously. Then, the only remaining task is to practice speaking, and that’s where repetition training becomes essential.
To illustrate, imagine learning about bicycles from books and lectures. You might understand the theory well but struggle when actually riding a bicycle because of a lack of practice. On the other hand, if you learn by riding a bicycle, you might lack theoretical knowledge but excel in practical skills. However, unlike riding a bicycle, learning English involves more complexity and sophistication than riding a bicycle. That’s why I suggest a combination of repetition training, studying grammar and vocabulary, and writing practice.
Thus, after much consideration, I devised a method that I believe is more effective and easier to learn. This method utilizes online media such as YouTube and blogs as two main materials:
1. A training video on YouTube where you listen to and repeat sentences.
2. Worksheet with Vocabulary and grammar explanations, along with sentence-writing practice.
The 5 Reasons for the Combination of Repetition training, Studying Grammar and Vocabulary, and Writing Practice
Here are 5 reasons why the combination of repetition training, studying grammar and vocabulary, and writing practice is crucial:
1. Muscle Training for Speaking
- Speaking effectively requires training the muscles around your mouth and tongue.
- Practicing speaking builds confidence for real-life situations.
2. Balancing Skills for Proficiency
- Repetition training builds fluency.
- Grammar study helps in forming clear sentences.
- Vocabulary practice enriches expression.
This comprehensive approach ensures proficiency in diverse contexts, especially in formal situations with superiors and elders.
3. Grammar and Vocabulary for Variety:
- Beyond memorizing sentences, a strong grasp of grammar, sentence structures, and vocabulary allows for diverse sentence creation.
4. Writing Complements Speaking:
- Writing practice, facilitated by repetitive training, allows for mastery of all language aspects: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- When speaking is accompanied by writing, the sentences, vocabulary, and spelling of the words are imprinted in your brain, making them unforgettable.
5. Understanding Intricacies:
- Korean’s complex conjugations and honorific expressions are understood better by studying native-speaker sentences.
- Repetitive training, grammatical explanation, and writing exercises with these sentences aid in learning and comprehension of complex expressions in the Korean language.
True Learning Requires Investment
Lastly, effective learning often requires an investment. Investing in lessons at a language school is the most effective approach since you’ll want to see results for the money you spend. You will study diligently to achieve the desired results. However, the method I’ve presented here is accessible to anyone who can read and write Hangul, enabling you to learn basic sentences. Learning the Korean alphabet is easy. Since reading Korean is straightforward, I opted not to include Korean pronunciations in YouTube videos. It’s essential to receive firsthand training in reading Korean.
I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to learn basic Korean with the materials I present. Even though it’s free, it’s valuable. Learning now will make it easier to tackle higher-level Korean later on. With a foundation in many words, you can construct sentences more fluently.
As I Close
I hope your Korean language study brings you joy rather than feeling burdensome, and I wish you success. My wish is that as you learn Korean, you’ll grow to appreciate Korean culture more deeply. Also, I hope we can all embrace and cherish the richness of diverse cultures. Good luck!
