Learning Korean comes with its fair share of challenges and perks. However, it is possible to handle all the problems related to learning the Korean language given the right motivation and dedication. While some people will always use the challenges as an excuse when giving up on a korean classes in singapore, most learners have risen beyond the problems and achieved some mastery in this language. We are going to discuss some of the problems you are likely to encounter during the learning process.

Korean word order can be difficult to practice

Beginners will always struggle with the Korean word order before they can master the basic details. If you are an English native speaker, then you are familiar with the S-V-O (Subject-Verb-Object) word order used while constructing English sentences. However, this is not the case in Korean since most sentences follow the S-O-V word order. For example, an English statement would read, “I visited my aunt” while a Korean sentence states “I my aunt visited.” Simple Korean sentences are easier to construct this way, but longer, compound ones can be a bit challenging for most.

Koreans get offended quickly if addressed wrongly

Koreans use a system of honorifics that changes how you address people depending on their age or social status. Most tutors will teach formal Korean first, which is safer than the casual language to avoid coming off as disrespectful. Mastering the speech levels and learning the correct times to use them is a major problem for new language learners, but you will eventually be in a position to use casual speech, formal words and honorifics correctly after continued practice. However, brace yourself for embarrassing situations and angry reactions from the elders until you master the different speech levels in Korean.

It is hard to learn the language from native Koreans

Most Koreans are less likely to repeat a statement that they made earlier in their native language even after requesting for clarification. They will end up using Konglish (Korean English) on the second statement or saying a completely different thing from what they had said before. Therefore, moving to Korean countries does not guarantee fluency in the language. Practising with others who learn Korean in Singapore will be a huge help.

Pronunciation is always a challenge

You may have gained mastery in reading and writing Korean but have problems pronouncing a complete sentence in the language. Korea has single and double consonants as well as a large number of vowels that can be troublesome to a beginner. The complex vowel sounds are hard to understand at first since Korean does not reuse sounds as frequently as other languages, such as English. Therefore, you must be willing to make mistakes and learn from them before you can speak Korean fluently.

Every language has a fair share of challenges, but this should not discourage you from enrolling in a class. Learning requires a lot of practice and the right motivation before you can master the language completely. You should not be discouraged if your attempts to learn the language do not seem to bear any fruits after the few weeks.