Learn Korean with YouTube

Korean has lots of video, from learner lessons to vlogs, variety shows and music. Real speech is fast, and the text helps you follow.

What to watch by level

• Beginner: Lessons made for learners, such as Talk To Me In Korean, with slow and clear speech.
• Intermediate: Vlogs, cooking, travel, daily life videos. Short and visual.
• Advanced: Interviews, variety shows, talks, news, drama clips.

Use two lines

Show the Korean line and a translation. Once you can read Hangul, the original line is a big help. Hangul is a sound-based script, so reading it trains your ear too. Learn the letters first. It takes a few days, and after that you can read any subtitle.

What to notice

• Particles. Small endings such as 은/는, 이/가 and 을/를 mark the role of a word. Watch how they attach.
• Verb at the end. Like Japanese, the verb comes last. Wait for the end of the sentence.
• Speech levels. The ending changes by politeness: ~요, ~습니다, and casual forms. Notice who uses which.
• Dropped subjects. Korean often leaves out "I" or "you". The translation line shows who is meant.
• Sound changes. Written and spoken sounds can differ. Loop a line and compare.

A 20 minute routine

1. Watch a 5 minute video with both lines.
2. Hide the translation and watch again.
3. Loop three sentences and repeat them out loud.
4. Save five words with their sentences and send them to Anki.

Subtitle tips for Korean

Many Korean videos have burned-in text that is part of the picture, not a subtitle track. Dual Subtitles cannot read that. Pick videos with a real subtitle track, or automatic captions.

Method: How to learn languages with YouTube. Setup: dual subtitles on YouTube.

Get Dual Subtitles and try one Korean video today.