Learn Korean 한글 (Hangul)

If you want to learn Korean you have to know the basics, and that means learning to read and write in 한글. Here are some resources that I have used, and have gathered from around the internet. Korean has 24 characters, 14 constants and 10 vowels, and many dipthongs

This webpage from zkorean.com is an excellent starting point. If you are able to listen to the audio portion you will be able to hear the name of the constants and the sound that they make. The vowels do not have names like the constants, they just have their own sound as their name.

There is also a great page from Learn Hangul here. You can click on any of the character sets and hear it pronounced. The chart is arranged a little bit differently from normal hangul charts, such as this one, because there are 7 mini lessons attached with to it.

If you are a bit more of a visual learner, this webpage has 3 charts that can be printed on A4 size paper, the constants are all different colors, which might help some people tell them apart.

If you want to install the Korean keyboard, so you are able to type in Korean, here is the place to go. Remember that you will need to restart your computer in order to start using the keyboard.


Here is a great little series of videos from KoreanClass101.com
Episode 1 has 1 constant and 2 vowels: 이응 (ᄋ) which only makes a sound when it is at the end of a word, but is used as a place holder at being of words and is silent then; ㅏis the first vowel in the alphabet; andㅣthe last vowel in the alphabet.


Episode 2 has 3 vowels; ㅓ, ㅕ, and ㅑ.


Episode 3 has 5 vowels; ㅗ, ㅜ, ㅛ, ㅠ, and ㅡ.


Episode 4 has 3 constants; 기역 (ᄀ), 키읔 (ᄏ), and 히읕 (ᄒ.)


Episode 5 has 4 constants; 니은 (ᄂ), 디귿 (ᄃ), 티읕 (ᄐ), and 리을 (ᄅ.)


Episode 6 has 3 constants; 미음 (ᄆ), 비읍 (ᄇ), and 피읖 (ᄑ.)


And lastly episode 7, the last 3 constants look similar; 시옷 (ᄉ), 지읒 (ᄌ), 치읓 (ᄎ.)


Practice your pronunciation time:


Time to review the constants and vocabulary practice, these are from Talk to me in Korean:
기역

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 기역+vowels.

니은

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 니은+vowels.

디귿

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 디귿+vowels.

리을

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 리을+vowels.

미음

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 미음+vowels.

비읍

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 비읍+vowels.

시옷

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 시옷+vowels.

이응

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 이응+vowels.

지읒

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 지읒+vowels.

치읓

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 치읓+vowels.

키읔

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 키읔+vowels.

티읕

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 티읕+vowels.

피읖

EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 피읖+vowels.

For some reason there isn't a video for 히읕.
EDIT: Added April 2, 2015 Worksheet to practice 히읕+vowels.

Now, there are 5 other constants, called 쌍 기역, 쌍 디귿, 쌍 비읍, 쌍 시옷, and 쌍 지읒.
Let Professor Oh teach you more about them:


A good video for learning the diphthongs is this one:



Here is another video going over the alphabet:


These next two are a bit long, and I admit it took some doing for me to be able to sit through them. (Sorry Jenny I found your videos to be a bit boring.)





Here is a cute series that I think is really great. The first episode has vowels and consonants. I think this is the only series I found that teaches the actual names of the consonants. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to learn the actual names of the consonants, because that teaches you how a consonant should be pronounced at the beginning and end of a syllable block.


Episode 2 has combined vowels and the rest of the consonants.


Episode 3 has the double consonants.


And episode 4 is about 받침 (the final consonant in a syllable block.)



If you would like to try writing Korean you can print this alphabet chart from WikiBooks - Learn Korean and use it.

This video from Sweetandtasty TV.com is very helpful in learning the proper stroke order so you can write words properly.


SweetandTasty TV.com also has some worksheets you can print and use to practice writing.

A better way to see letter stroke order is through these articles by WikiBooks.
Lesson 1 has 비읍, ㅏ, and 니은.
Lesson 2 has 미음, ㅣ, 리을 and 기역.
Lesson 3 has ㅗ, 디귿, 시옷 and ㅡ.
Lesson 4 has ㅜ, ㅓ, ㅔ, ㅐ, 히읕, 지읒.
Lesson 5 has 키읔, ㅑ, 티읕, 피읖, 치읓, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ, ㅖ, and ㅒ.

This goes with her lesson 2 video from above, worksheet 1
worksheet 2
worksheet 3
and worksheet 4


Go HERE! if you would like to learn Korean numbers.


EDIT: April 2, 2015 added worksheets for all consonants.
EDIT: May 24, 2019 removed deleted videos.

Currently watching: 참 좋은 시절(Wonderful Days. Gogo 2PM's Taecyeon!

Currently reading:

Heartless (Parasol Protectorate Series Book 4) by Gail Carriger
I am rereading the Parasol Protectorate series again. I needed a break from some of the truly awful free Kindle books I have read lately.

Swagbucks it is how I make money for amazon gift cards!
So far I've made $5 in amazon gift cards with Swagbucks and it is only the 10th of April.

Taste of Wisdom by Arirang Culture

One of the hardest things about living in Leeds has been missing Korean food. Some times watching a variety show or Korean drama can be torture because of the food featured in it. There is a Chinese store here, Hang Sing Hong, that has a bit of Korean food, and I plan on doing a review soon, if I can remember to get pictures. There's also another one called Asia Express, but it seems like the owner has gone on holiday, it has been closed for a few months.

Anyway, some times I like to torture myself especially and watch programs on Korean food (I also like that normally there is some history to learn too.) This is an Arirang series called Taste of Wisdom, it has six episodes although each episode is broken into smaller parts.

I do wish that this series had Korean interviewers, we don't need more white people thinking that they know everything about Korean culture and history. It has become common with international Kpop fans to think that they know everything about Korea after watching a few shows, drams, listened to music, read a book, whatever. So, I would rather people had to watch things with subtitles, or have some one; Korean, Korean-American, Korean-Canadian, Korean-Australian, Korean-whatever, who can speak English talk about Korea instead of white ex-pats.


The first episode is about the fermentation of soybeans for 청국장.









Episode two is about a different type of fermented soybean paste, 된장.











Episode three is about 고추장, spicy chilli paste.









Episode four is about 김치, kimchi.









Episode five is about 간장, soy sauce









Episode six brings all the flavors together, mostly a review of the previous episodes.










Swagbucks it is how I make money for amazon gift cards!
So far I've made $5 in amazon gift cards with Swagbucks and it is only the 10th of April.

5 April wants

Hopefully spring has arrived by the time this is posted. I tend to write these in advance. So, with spring in mind it is time for a fresh new look.

1.
Because my eyes are dark brown I like to use a neutral eye shadow, plus the husband has said that I look like a clown when I use other colors. *sigh*

2.
I really wish I knew how to apply liquid eyeliner. I know how it is supposed to be applied, but it never turns out right. Maybe one day I'll take a class at a beauty school so I can learn how to do it right. I really do like the looks of it.

3.
I think this would brighten up the eyes without being too overwhelming.

4.
Seems like the perfect just a hint of color for spring.

5.
I really enjoy this powder. For my skin this color is translucent. It is also very light and does not get crease marks, even if I wear it all day.

Currently watching: 시크릿 가든(Secret Garden) this came out years ago, but I just never watched it.

Currently reading:
Cloak by James Gough
I orginally got this as a free kindle, it is $4.99 right now. I'm only on chapter 1, so I really don't have any comments.

Swagbucks it is how I make money for amazon gift cards!
So far I've made $10 in amazon gift cards with Swagbucks and it is only the 9th of March.

Books I read in March

Avalon Revisited: A novel of Vampires, Murder, and Sex in Victorian England (Volume 1) by O.M. Grey
The beginning was really off putting to me, it starts right off in a sex scene. I put this book aside for months, I didn't even reread the beginning and just started with chapter three. This book is marketed as "steampunk romance," but honestly besides the characters beginning on an airship at one point, there is no steampunk, that I could find, in the story. There is a squeal called Avalon Revamped, but I don't think that I will be buying it.


Cloak by James Gough
I got this when it was offered for free, it is currently $4.99. I can't recommend this book enough, I really wish that I had read it sooner. It is a young adult book, but enjoyable for younger kids and adults too.


Dark Matter Heart: Book 1 (Dark Matter Heart World) by Nathan Wrann
This is a good young adult vampire book. I really enjoyed it, and it is a free kindle. I'll be getting the sequel when I can.


Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling
Another free kindle, this is an excerpt from The Jungle Bookwhich was also free. If you have seen the 1975 cartoon the cartoon follows the story completely.

Gnome Wars (Adventures of the Fae Realm)by Barbra Annino
No longer available on Amazon.com
A cute short story. It was free when I got it, but it is currently priced at $0.99. The author does have other books, but none that feature the same characters that I could find.


Child of the Ghosts by Jonathon Moeller
A free kindle book, first in a series. So far it is really good. There are nine books in this series it seems, and a second series with the same main character. I will definitely be getting the next book.


Entangled: Spellbound Trilogy Book 1 by Nikki Jefford
I don't know if I can properly describe how I feel about this book. Disappointed is probably the best word. The character of Raj, who is supposed to be half Indian (from India, not Native American), just feels like a stereotype. There are continuous descriptions of his "dark Indian skin", "lush dark hair", and so on. He goes and gets a luck charm done on the main character, and by luck charm the author meant love spell. Altogether he is another stalker Edward Cullen, and the main character (Graylee) at first doesn't like him, but she falls in "love" with him for no reason.

I have a different book from the same author in my wish list, while I don't have high hopes I'll give the book a go.


In Honor Bound (The Chastelayne Trilogy Book 1) by DeAnna Julie Dodson
This was free when I got it, but it is $4.99 right now. Don't read this book if you can't get through overly Christian things. The author goes on and on about Christian things in what is a medieval setting. I finished it, but I won't be getting the other books in the series.


Books read so far: 9 1/2 January plus 11 1/4 February plus 8 March equals 28 3/4 books so far this year. This month was a bit slow for me, I've been busy studying for the TOPIK in October.


Currently watching:참 좋은 시절 (Wonderful Days)

Currently reading:

Neverdark by C.S. Einfeld

Swagbucks it is how I make money for amazon gift cards!
I made $15 in Amazon.com gift cards for the month of March.

Books I read in February

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1) by Janet Evanovich
I had to reread this for my book club.


Emily of New Moon (The Emily Books, Book 1) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
It is funny that I've never read this book before, even though I love Anne of Green Gables. The next book is of course in my "to read" pile.


Alice in Wonderland: The Vampire Slayer (Vampire Wonderland Series Book 1) by J.J. Maddox
This is a short story, kind of Buffy:the Vampire Slayer meets Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Luckily it was short, because it jumped around in the story and I really couldn't get into it.


Maelyn (The Nine Princesses Book 1) by Anita Valle
A short story, almost too short. I couldn't get a good feel on the author's writing, so I am not sure if I want to buy the next part of the story, which is also a short story.


New Girl (Anti-Heroes Book I) by Louise Bohmer and K.H. Koehler
Another short story. The plot was good, but felt unfulfilled, maybe because the story was so short, but I probably won't be getting the next part.


The Stumpwork Robe (The Chronicles of Eirie Book 1) by Pure Batten
Do not read this book if you have trouble reading rape scenes. There is pointless rape scene in chapter 4, honestly I couldn't finish the book.


ODDILY (Oddily Series 1) by Linda Pohring
This book was a bit blah. There is no explination for the girl's, Oddily, name. The most developed character is Maxim and really most of the story is about him and not about Oddily. Oddily is such a flat underdeveloped character. The narrator goes on and on about how Oddily is different, but it is never shown, just the bullying is. I will probably not buy the next book in the series.


Reckless Magic: The Star-Crossed Series Book 1 by Rachel Higginson
This book was pretty good, and you can't beat the price of free. There are a few times that the main character, Eden, does just plain stupid things, not reckless. I understand that the character is 16 years-old, but that doesn't explain away ignorant things she does, but if you can get pass those few moments the rest of the story is pretty enjoyable.


Ship's Boy (The David Birkenhead Series Book 1) by Phil Geusz
Another free book. This one was really enjoyable. A review I read said that David is a genetically altered bunny, but I must have skipped over the genetically altered part some how. I did know he was a bunny/rabbit. The reason for have altered bunnies as slaves isn't explained in this book, but hopefully it will be. I would describe this as a cross between Watership Down and an epic space opera book. I will be buying the next book in this series.


Takeaway by Catherine Sampson
A short story who-dun-it. I'm of two minds about this story... no probably just one mind. To me it was very obvious who the killer was, from the very beginning of the story. The other part of me does not like this story because while the author did study Chinese, at Leeds University even, and live in China it just reeks of exotifing and fetishizing Asian people. There are two other books featuring the character of Detective Song Ren, but they are luckily out of print.


Thirst (Ava Delaney Book 1) by Claire Farrell
Another free book, about a daywalker. Nothing new to the mythos of daywalkers, but an entertaining story.


Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson
I tried to read World War Z at the end of last year, but I was turned off by the style of writing. This is a bit in the same style, journalist style of question and answer (as a journalist myself I do not like this style of writing), but some parts are narrated and a few of the characters or their family members are carried on, I think it makes the style a bit more personal than what is seen in World War Z. What I think is especially great is that the author, Daniel H. Wilson, has a doctorate in robotics, but his story isn't full of technical jargon, so there is a believability about the robot uprising, but put in a way that the average nontechnical person can understand.


Books read so far: 9 1/2 January plus 11 1/4 February equals 20 3/4 books so far this year.

Currently watching:Inspiring Generation - 감격시대 I can only seem to watch one drama at a time, so I am a bit behind on this.

Currently reading:

Avalon Revisited: A novel of Vampires, Murder, and Sex in Victorian England (Volume 1) by O.M. Grey
I am not sure about this book.


Swagbucks it is how I make money for amazon gift cards!
I made $20 in Amazon.com gift cards for the month of February.