Learning a new language can be a challenging but rewarding experience, and there are many resources available to help you get started.
If you are a beginner looking to learn Korean, there are a variety of books available to support your language-learning journey.
These books are tailored specifically for beginners and offer a range of approaches to learning the language, from grammar guides and vocabulary lists to interactive exercises and authentic reading materials.
Whether you are a student, a traveler, or just looking to expand your language skills, these books are a great place to start.
In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best books to learn Korean for beginners.
500 Basic Korean Verbs by Kyubyong Park
Are you looking for a comprehensive guide to mastering Korean verbs? ‘500 Basic Korean Verbs by Kyubyong Park’ is the perfect reference book for any serious student of the language.
This book presents 500 key verbs, including irregular verbs, in full conjugation tables with example sentences for each verb.
It also provides helpful tips on usage, synonyms, antonyms, and common idioms related to each verb.
The author Kyubyong Park has a master’s degree from Yonsei University in Seoul and is an experienced teacher of Korean to foreigners.
He designed this book specifically with English-speaking learners in mind using simple explanations of how Korean verbs are conjugated.
Handbook of Korean Vocabulary by Miho Choo, William O’Grady
The Handbook of Korean Vocabulary, written by Miho Choo and William O’Grady, is an essential resource for anyone looking to improve their understanding of the Korean language.
This book provides a comprehensive guide to the basics of Korean vocabulary, including detailed explanations and examples of how words are used in different contexts. With its unique emphasis on both recognition and comprehension.
Easy Korean Reading for Beginners by Talktomeinkorean
Learning a new language can be daunting, especially when it comes to reading. That’s why Talktomeinkorean has created Easy Korean Reading for Beginners, an innovative and easy-to-follow book designed to help beginners learn how to read in Korean.
This book is organized into two essential sections: the Basics section which introduces readers to the fundamentals of reading in Korean; and the Practice section which helps them apply what they’ve learned in real-life scenarios.
Easy Korean Reading for Beginners provides helpful tips and advice on learning how to decipher unfamiliar characters and words.
It also includes activities that make learning more enjoyable, such as sentence writing exercises and pronunciation practice drills.
Essential Korean Vocabulary by Kyubyong Park
Understanding the basic fundamentals of a language is key to acquiring fluency. Kyubyong Park’s book, Essential Korean Vocabulary, is an educational resource for those looking to gain proficiency in speaking Korean.
This guidebook provides readers with a comprehensive selection of vocabulary topics that are essential for mastering this beautiful language.
Inside the pages of this accessible book, readers can find simplified explanations and exercises designed to build their knowledge and confidence while they learn Korean.
Korean for Beginners by Henry J. Amen IV, Kyubyong Park
Learning a new language can be both exciting and daunting; however, mastering the basics of conversational Korean is now easier than ever with the book “Korean for Beginners” by Henry J. Amen IV and Kyubyong Park.
This comprehensive guide will teach readers how to understand spoken Korean, as well as speak it fluently.
This essential guide provides an in-depth look at the fundamentals of the language through simple explanations and practice exercises that cover grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, sentence structure, and more.
The authors provide clear instructions on how to properly pronounce common phrases as well as sample conversations so you can apply your knowledge.
This book also includes tips for effective learning so you can learn faster and retain information better.
With help from this book, anyone can become proficient in conversational Korean quickly!
Korean for Dummies by Jungwook Hong
Korean for Dummies by Jungwook Hong is an invaluable guide to the Korean language and culture.
The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the language and its usage, offering detailed information on pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and more.
With this guide, readers can learn how to communicate effectively in Korean as well as gain an understanding of the country’s rich history and culture.
The book starts with basic concepts such as greetings, nouns, and verbs before delving into more advanced topics like sentence structure and verb conjugation.
It also covers important cultural aspects of Korean life such as greetings, family relationships, business etiquette, and dining customs.
Additionally, there are helpful exercises throughout the book to help readers practice their skills while learning new material.
Korean Grammar In Use by Ahn Jean-Myung
Korean Grammar In Use by Ahn Jean-Myung, Lee Kyung-ah, and Han Hoo-youn is the perfect book for anyone looking to learn the basics of Korean grammar.
This comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to form basic sentences in Korean.
It also provides detailed explanations of grammatical concepts and useful examples to help readers better understand Korean grammar.
Korean Made Easy for Beginners by Seung-eun Oh
This book is a useful resource for learning Korean, especially for pronunciation. It includes audio and written lessons, self-tests, and a structured approach to progressing from introductions to basic conversation.
It is self-paced and well-designed. The reader found it to be more effective than a basic Korean class they had taken.
It is recommended for self-motivated learners looking to improve their written and spoken Korean skills.
Korean Made Simple by Billy Go
Korean Made Simple is a beginner’s guide to learning the Korean language written by Billy Go.
The book is intended for those who are new to the language and aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to Korean grammar, vocabulary, and culture.
It includes numerous exercises and activities to help learners practice their skills and build confidence in their abilities.
The book is designed to be easy to follow and understand, with a clear and concise writing style.
It is suitable for those who are self-studying or taking a Korean course and is recommended for those who want a solid foundation in the language.
Korean Picture Dictionary by Tina Cho
This picture dictionary teaches 1,500 useful Korean words and phrases. It includes a Romanized version to help with pronunciation and an English translation.
The words are organized into 40 different themes, including basics like meeting new people and using public transportation, as well as culture-specific topics like celebrating Korean holidays and eating Korean food.
The dictionary has hundreds of color photographs and example sentences to show how the words are used.
It also has online audio recordings of the vocabulary and sentences spoken by native Korean speakers, an introduction to Korean pronunciation and grammar, and an index to help you quickly look up words.
It is designed to make language learning more fun than traditional phrasebooks and is suitable for beginners of all ages, including kids, visual learners, and people planning to travel to Korea.
Korean reader for Chinese characters by Choon-Hak Cho
Korean Reader for Chinese Characters is a resource for learning basic Chinese characters that are commonly used in everyday situations.
It includes exercises to help students learn the forms, meanings, and sounds of individual characters and their combinations.
The book teaches students to recognize the characters and also includes a section on stroke order to help them learn to write them properly.
The lessons are organized into 40 chapters, with an introductory chapter on the principles of Chinese character formation and an appendix on stroke order, English translations, and an index of characters.
The lessons are divided into seven parts: new characters, reading text, glossary, notes, new words in characters, more words in characters, and exercises.
There is a review section after every fifth lesson to help students reinforce their skills. The book is designed to help students improve their reading and writing in Korean while studying Chinese characters.
Learn Korean – Word Power 101 by Innovative Language Learning
Learn Korean – Word Power 101 is an audiobook that teaches 101 of the most commonly used Korean vocabulary words and phrases.
It includes audio with authentic native pronunciation, sample sentences and phrases to show how the words are used in everyday speech, and a selection of the most frequently used words in the Korean language.
The book is designed to help learners quickly and easily master Korean vocabulary and improve their speaking skills.
It is recommended for anyone looking to learn Korean in the fastest, easiest, and most enjoyable way possible.
Learn Korean for Beginners Easily and In Your Car! by Immersion Language Audiobooks
Learn Korean for Beginners Easily and in Your Car is an audiobook designed to help people learn the Korean language while they are on the go.
It includes over 1,000 common Korean phrases that are useful in everyday life and while traveling. Each word is pronounced slowly and multiple times to help learners master the correct pronunciation.
English translations of the phrases are also provided. The audiobook is divided into categories such as transportation, basic phrases, adjectives, dining, hotel, verbs, adverbs, and more.
It is intended for those who have little time to learn a new language and want to improve their Korean skills.
It is published by Immersion Language Audiobooks, a company that has helped thousands of people learn new languages.
Let’s Speak Korean by Fandom Media
Let’s Speak Korean is a book designed to help people learn to speak Korean quickly and easily.
It includes over 1,400 daily expressions from 21 different topics and situations, along with audio files recorded by a native Korean speaker to help learners master the correct pronunciation.
The book includes a romanized version of each expression, a unique grammar guide, and a section on how to read and pronounce the Korean alphabet, Hangeul.
It also includes a section on Korean culture and etiquette and suggestions for places to visit in Korea.
The book is intended for anyone with an interest in learning Korean, including K-Pop and K-Drama fans, and is designed so that even those with no prior knowledge of the language can learn to use the expressions by listening and repeating them.
Living Language Korean, Complete Edition by Jaemin Roh
Living Language Korean, Complete Edition is a comprehensive course that teaches the Korean language from a beginner to an advanced level.
It includes 4 books with 46 lessons, review exercises, culture notes, and a grammar summary, as well as 9 audio CDs with vocabulary, dialogues, and audio exercises.
The course is based on the Living Language Method, which teaches the whole language so that learners can express themselves and not just recite memorized words or scripts.
The method includes lessons to build a foundation, progress with confidence, retain what is learned, and achieve language goals.
The course also includes access to online learning resources, such as flashcards, games, and interactive quizzes, and downloadable audio is available with purchase.
The course is intended to help learners develop practical language skills and speak Korean confidently in any situation.
Read and Speak Korean for Beginners by Sunjeong Shin
Read and Speak Korean for Beginners, is a language learning program designed to help learners communicate in Korean.
It includes eight topics that cover key areas of daily life, such as introducing oneself, asking for directions, and talking about family and country.
The book is supported by flashcards for vocabulary in each topic, two end-of-topic quizzes, and an accompanying audio program via the McGraw-Hill Language Lab app.
The audio features all the keywords and phrases so that learners can hear how they are pronounced and practice repeating them.
The program also includes games, puzzles, and additional listening activities to reinforce progress.
The book features a two-color layout, photographs illustrating key vocabulary, and clear explanations of how basic phrases are used for practical communication. It also includes detachable flashcards for language reinforcement.
Selected Readings in Korean by Ho-min Sohn, Heisoon Yang
Selected Readings in Korean is a textbook for advanced learners of the Korean language who have completed approximately 500 class hours or the equivalent.
It consists of 18 lessons on diverse topics, including Korean traditions, culture, and society.
Each lesson includes six sections: prereading group activities, a main reading text, explanations of unfamiliar words and idiomatic expressions, exercises to improve vocabulary, grammar, composition, and oral presentation skills, and post-reading activities for further thinking and discussion.
The book also includes translations of all the main reading texts and a Korean-English glossary. It is designed to be learner-centered and learner-friendly.
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