Week

Goals & Topics

Key Resources & Activities

1

Hangul & Pronunciation: Master the Korean alphabet (14 basic consonants, 10 basic vowels) and their sounds. Practice reading and writing simple syllables and words.

- Hangul lessons: Use a Hangul learning resource like TTMIK’s Hangul intro or LingoDeer’s alphabet section. Watch Hangul tutorial videos (e.g., YouTube search “Learn Hangul in 30 minutes”).- Writing practice: Write out each letter and simple syllables (e.g. 가, 나, 다...). Use the app TenguGo Hangul or Anki flashcards with audio to drill letters.- Pronunciation: Listen to native audio for each letter (use TTMIK or KoreanClass101 pronunciation guides). Repeat aloud to mimic mouth shape and sound. Record yourself reading the alphabet and compare to native recordings.

2

Basic Greetings & Self-Introduction: Learn how to say hello, thank you, and introduce yourself (name, country, etc.). Basic sentence structure: subject–object–verb order, topic marker (은/는) for simple sentences.

- Phrases: Learn greetings like 안녕하세요 (Hello), 감사합니다 (Thank you), 제 이름은 예요 (My name is ). Use TTMIK Level 1 (Lessons 1–5) or a beginner textbook chapter on greetings.- Grammar: Understand the copula “to be” (이에요/예요) to say “X is Y”. Practice with your name and other nouns (“I am a student,” etc.).- Speaking: Practice a self-introduction monologue: “Hello, my name is..., I am from..., nice to meet you.” Record yourself and play it back; aim for clear pronunciation.- Interaction: If using an app like HelloTalk, post a short self-intro (text and/or audio) and invite corrections. This gets you comfortable using what you learned to communicate.

3

Simple Sentences & Vocabulary: Learn 10–15 essential verbs and adjectives (e.g., go, eat, like, big, small) and basic sentence patterns (present tense). Form simple sentences: “I go to school,” “It’s tasty,” etc. Introduce object marker (을/를) and conjugating verbs into present polite tense (아요/어요).

- Vocabulary: Start a vocab notebook or flashcard deck for new words. Include daily life nouns (food, school, home) and basic verbs (하다, 가다, 먹다, etc.). Use the app Drops or Memrise for daily vocab games.- Grammar: Use TTMIK Level 1 Lessons 6–10 or textbook units on forming present tense. Learn how to conjugate a verb stem + 아요/어요 for statements and questions (e.g., 먹어요 = “I eat/you eat”).- Exercises: Write 3 simple sentences each day using new verbs and vocab (e.g., “나는 빵을 먹어요” – I eat bread). This builds writing and grammar skills. You can have these sentences checked on HiNative or HelloTalk.- Listening: Start listening to very short dialogues. For example, TTMIK’s free audio for Level 1 or KoreanClass101’s beginner dialogues. Shadow the dialogue: play a line, pause, and repeat it aloud to mimic the native speaker. This trains listening and speaking together.

4

Numbers, Time & Polite Expressions: Learn Korean numbers (at least 1–10 in native Korean 하나, 둘... and Sino-Korean 일, 이... systems) and basic time expressions (오늘 – today, 내일 – tomorrow, etc.). Learn polite phrase endings like -주세요 (please give…) for requests. Review all content from Weeks 1–3 and prepare for a monthly self-assessment.

- Numbers practice: Use flashcards or apps to memorize 1–10 in both systems, then higher numbers (especially decades). Practice saying your phone number, counting items, telling the time (learn hours with Native Korean and minutes with Sino-Korean numbers).- Polite requests: Learn phrases like 이것 주세요 (Please give me this) for shopping/restaurant contexts. Perhaps use the app TEUIDA’s restaurant scenario (if available) to practice speaking in a simulation.- Review: Go back through your notes from Weeks 1–3. Re-read dialogues and re-listen to audios. Quiz yourself on vocabulary (can you recall translations of your new words?). Do any textbook unit tests or workbook exercises if available.- Speaking drill: Try a “teach back” exercise – explain in Korean (to yourself) the things you learned, or teach an imaginary friend how to say hello, count, etc. Teaching a concept out loud reinforces your memory and fluency.

Week

Goals & Topics

Key Resources & Activities

5

Past Tense & Daily Activities: Learn to conjugate verbs in the past tense (았/었어요). Practice talking about yesterday or last weekend. Build vocabulary for daily routines (wake up, go to work, eat breakfast, etc.).

- Grammar: Use TTMIK Level 1 (Lessons 17–20) or your textbook to learn past tense conjugation rules. Make a list of 5–6 verbs and write their past forms (갔어요, 먹었어요, 봤어요, etc.). Practice by describing what you did yesterday: e.g., “어제 영화를 봤어요” (I watched a movie yesterday).- Vocabulary: Daily routine words (일어나다 – to wake up, 출근하다 – go to work, etc.). Create a mini-timeline of your day in Korean, narrating each action in past or present tense. This can be a written journal entry or spoken practice.- Listening: Find a short “day in the life” vlog or a TTMIK dialog about daily routine. Listen for past tense phrases. Shadow some sentences to improve fluency.- Speaking: Try telling a friend (or imaginary friend) in Korean what you did over the weekend. No partner? Record yourself doing this monologue. Then listen and note any words you got stuck on – review those.

6

Talking about People & Family: Learn vocabulary for family members, professions, and common adjectives to describe people (tall, kind, etc.). Practice using the topic and subject markers properly (은/는 vs. 이/가) while describing people. Introduce possessives (제 – my, etc.).

- Vocabulary: Family terms (엄마 mother, 아빠 father, 언니/오빠 older sister/brother, etc.) and a few occupations (학생 student, 선생님 teacher...). Use flashcards or an app to memorize these. Practice by describing your own family in simple sentences (“제 엄마는 친절해요” – My mom is kind).- Grammar: Review the difference between topic marker (은/는) and subject marker (이/가) in context. Practice by writing two sentences for each family member: one introducing them (topic marker) and one describing them (subject marker). Example: “우리 형은 의사예요. 형이 키가 커요.” (My older brother is a doctor. (He) is tall.)- Interaction: Prepare a short script about your family as if introducing them to a Korean friend. If possible, use italki or HelloTalk to voice chat with a native and introduce your family (they introduce theirs in return). This will test your speaking in real time – if no partner available, record the speech and see if a native user on HelloTalk can send you corrections or even an audio reply.- Listening/Reading: Read a simple blog post or textbook dialogue about someone’s family. Underline any unknown words and add them to your study list. Listen to the audio if available, and shadow sentences like “형제가 있어요?” (Do you have siblings?) to practice question intonation.

7

Shopping & Numbers Practice: Learn phrases for shopping and restaurants (이거 얼마예요? – How much is this?), and practice using Sino-Korean numbers for prices. Role-play a simple buying conversation. Also learn days of the week and time expressions to expand small talk (e.g., “오늘 날씨가 좋아요” – The weather is good today).

- Situational Phrases: Use a resource (textbook unit or YouTube video) on ordering food or shopping. Key phrases: “얼마예요?” (How much?), “주세요” (Please give me ...), “더 주세요” (please give me more ...), “괜찮아요” (It’s okay). TTMIK Level 1 has lessons on this, or use an app like TEUIDA’s market scenario to simulate buying something.- Numbers: Drill Sino-Korean numbers 1–100 and common currency units (원). Practice by picking random price tags on a Korean shopping site or pictures of items with prices, and reading them aloud (e.g., ₩12,000 = “만 이천 원”). You can also play cashier with yourself: set up a few items, label prices, and practice “buying” them in Korean.- Role-Play: Write a short dialogue for a shop interaction (Customer: “Hello, please give me two bottles of water.” Clerk: “Yes, here. It’s 1,500 won.” Customer: “Thank you.”). Speak it out loud taking both roles. If you have a tutor or language partner, act out this role-play with them in a session – it’s great speaking practice.- Cultural tip: Learn a couple of Korean etiquette phrases this week, since it fits restaurant scenarios (e.g., “잘 먹겠습니다” said before eating, “잘 먹었습니다” after eating). These add cultural authenticity to your language use.

8

Asking Questions & Polite Formulation: Focus on question words (누구 who, 뭐 what, 어디 where, 언제 when, 어떻게 how, 왜 why) and making polite questions. Practice forming and answering simple questions about yourself (e.g., “취미가 뭐예요?” – What is your hobby?). Review Month 2 content and attempt a longer simple conversation combining all topics (introductions, daily life, etc.).

- Grammar: Learn the structure of Korean questions in polite form (ending in 까? for formal, or rising intonation for casual polite). Practice each question word: make one question and answer for each. Ex: “오늘 뭐 했어요?” (What did you do today?) – “일했어요” (I worked).- Speaking Practice: If you can, join a HelloTalk or Tandem voice room this week. These are live audio chats; even if you mostly listen, try to answer at least one simple question (common beginner question rooms: “Introduce yourself” or “What did you do today?”). This will boost your confidence in an unscripted speaking situation. If live chat is too intimidating, use HelloTalk’s Moments: post a voice recording where you ask a question in Korean (“여러분의 취미는 뭐예요?” – “What are your hobbies?”) and answer it yourself in the caption. You might get native responses you can study.- Listening: Watch a short Korean variety show clip (2–3 minutes) or an easy K-drama scene and listen for any question words or familiar phrases. Even if you don’t catch everything, note any phrase you recognize (e.g., someone asks “어디 가?” (Where are you going?) in a drama – you can celebrate understanding it!). Variety shows like ”Hello Counselor” or kids’ shows often have simpler language.- Monthly Review: Go through all vocab lists from Month 2 and ensure you still remember Month 1 basics. Take an online quiz if available (some textbooks or websites have “Beginner Level 1 Test”). Prepare a 2-minute speech about yourself covering name, what you do, where you live, your family, likes/dislikes, and recent activities. This is essentially combining everything learned so far into a mini-presentation – a great way to review in context.

Week

Goals & Topics

Key Resources & Activities

9

Future Tense & Plans: Learn how to talk about future plans and intentions. Use -ㄹ 거예요 (or 겠- in some cases) for future tense. Introduce 하고 싶어요 (want to do) to express desires. Discuss your goals or what you will do next weekend.

- Grammar: TTMIK Level 2 (early lessons) covers future tense (-ㄹ/을 거예요) usage. Practice by writing down 5 things you will do this week and 5 things you want to do (using -고 싶어요). Example: “주말에 산책할 거예요” (I will take a walk on the weekend); “한국어를 열심히 공부하고 싶어요” (I want to study Korean hard).- Speaking: Do a “future forecast” for yourself each morning in Korean – e.g., “오늘 점심에 뭐 먹을 거예요?” (What will I eat for lunch today?) and then answer it. In the evening, check if you can say whether it happened or not in past tense – this contrast practice helps cement both tenses.- Interaction: If you have a conversation partner or tutor, spend part of your session discussing future plans: ask each other “이번 주말에 뭐 할 거예요?” (What will you do this weekend?) and respond accordingly.- Cultural note: Learn a few seasonal or holiday terms if it’s relevant (e.g., if it’s December, learn how to say New Year’s greetings or plans). This keeps learning relevant and fun.

10

Connecting Ideas – And, So, But: Improve sentence flow by using connectors. Learn -고 (and), 그래서 (so/therefore), 하지만/-지만 (but). Practice combining short sentences into one longer sentence. Topic focus: weather and seasons (so you can say “It’s cold, so I wore a coat”).

- Grammar: Use resources or grammar references to learn how to use -고 to link verbs (“do X and do Y”), and -지만 or phrases like 그런데/하지만 for “but/however”. TTMIK Level 2 has lessons on these conjunctions. Write simple pairs of sentences and then join them. For example: “오늘 비가 와요. 집에 있어요.” -> “오늘 비가 와서 집에 있어요” (It’s raining today, so I’m staying at home). (Note: -아서/어서 for “so” can be introduced here for variety, though “그래서” is simpler to start with.).- Practice: Take some of your previous short sentences (from journals or exercises) and combine them using these connectors. This will create more complex sentences. Ex: “나는 학생이에요 + 공부해요” combine to “학생이라서 열심히 공부해요” (Since I’m a student, I study hard) or use -고: “학생이고 동생은 회사원이에요” (I’m a student and my younger sibling is an office worker).- Vocabulary: Learn weather terms (맑다 clear, 흐리다 cloudy, 눈 snow, etc.) and seasonal activities (e.g., swimming in summer, skiing in winter). Describe the weather each day in your journal and say how it affects your plans (“더워서 아이스크림을 먹고 싶어요” – It’s hot so I want to eat ice cream).- Listening: Watch a Korean weather forecast clip or a simple news headline video (Yonhap News has “easy Korean” news segments). Try to pick out known words and notice use of connectors (news often use 그래서/하지만). Even if you don’t get everything, catching a “하지만” or “-고” in real content is rewarding.

11

Intermediate Listening & Reading: This week, shift focus to comprehension. Practice listening with less scripted, slightly longer audio. Read a short Korean story or a few pages of a webtoon. Learn strategies for guessing meaning from context. Meanwhile, continue expanding daily life vocab (foods, transportation, etc.).

- Listening practice: Start using podcasts or audio aimed at learners. For instance, TTMIK’s “Iyagi” stories (for high beginners) or a slow-paced Korean podcast. Goal: understand at least 50% without subtitles. Listen to the same audio every day for a week – each day you’ll pick up a bit more. Write down any new words you glean and look them up after multiple listens (to practice listening for meaning without immediately translating). emphasizes active listening and repeating – continue shadowing key phrases from the audio to improve recognition.- Reading practice: Choose a beginner reading material – for example, a folk tale like “흥부와 놀부” in simple Korean, or a dual-language story if available. Alternatively, use an app like LingQ or Lingopie which provide reading material with instant dictionary support. Read a short segment each day. Don’t worry if you need to look up many words; focus on overall understanding and recognizing grammar structures you know. Highlight unknown words to study later.- Vocabulary: As you encounter new words in listening/reading, add them to your flashcards. By now, you should also proactively learn synonyms/antonyms of words you know (to deepen vocabulary). For example, if you learned 크다 (big), learn 작다 (small); if you know 덥다 (hot weather), learn 춥다 (cold weather). Grouping words in themes helps retention.- Writing: Summarize in Korean what you listened to or read (even if very simply). For example, if you listened to a story about someone’s day, write 3 sentences in Korean about that person’s day. This tests comprehension and uses new vocab. If possible, get feedback on your summary from a tutor or the HelloTalk community.

12

Midpoint Review & Real Conversation Practice: You’re halfway through the six months! This week, consolidate what you’ve learned in Months 1–3. Review all major grammar points and vocabulary. Identify any weak spots. Most importantly, engage in an extended conversation (10-15 minutes) entirely in Korean to gauge your progress.

- Review: Spend dedicated time this week going over notes and materials from Months 1–2 especially. Re-do some old exercises or re-listen to earlier dialogues to see how much easier they feel now (you might be surprised!). Use a checklist: Hangul (check), basic grammar like tenses and particles (check), key vocab categories (family, food, etc.). If anything is shaky, revisit that lesson or ask a native speaker to clarify.- Self-Test: Try a TOPIK I mock test (the Korean proficiency test basic level) for listening and reading. This is just to get a feel – you can find past TOPIK I papers online. Even if you haven’t formally prepared for TOPIK, aiming to answer beginner-level questions is a good benchmark. Alternatively, use online quizzes from sites like HowtoStudyKorean or textbook tests to evaluate grammar knowledge.- Speaking goal: Arrange a conversation session with a tutor on iTalki/Preply or a language exchange friend for about 30 minutes. Prepare ahead: list topics you can talk about (your routine, family, hobbies, etc.) and some questions to ask them. During the chat, try to think in Korean and avoid reverting to English. It’s okay to make mistakes – the goal is to communicate. Have your tutor/partner give you feedback on what to work on (e.g. pronunciation of certain sounds or grammar errors). If a live conversation isn’t possible, simulate it: record yourself speaking for 10 minutes on different topics nonstop (as if talking with someone). Then listen and critique: Do you pause a lot searching for words? Are certain sentences incorrect? Use these observations to adjust your study focus in the next months.- Celebrate progress: At the 3-month mark, consider writing a short reflection (in Korean and English) on how far you’ve come, what you can do now, and what you still find difficult. This meta-reflection can boost confidence and clarify your goals for the second half of the journey.

Week

Goals & Topics

Key Resources & Activities

13

Casual Speech & Honorifics (Basics): Learn the difference between polite 요-form speech and casual intimate speech (반말). Practice converting a few common phrases to casual style for talking with close friends (e.g., “했어” vs “했어요”). Learn basic honorific verbs (계시다 vs 있다, 드시다 vs 먹다) to recognize them.

- Grammar/Culture: Read or watch a lesson on speech levels in Korean. TTMIK or YouTube has content on polite vs casual speech. Understand when casual speech is appropriate (with close same-age friends, etc.). Practice by taking simple sentences you know and dropping the 요 (e.g., “있어요” -> “있어”). Also learn how questions and commands change in casual speech. It’s not necessary to use casual speech extensively yet, but understanding it will help when you encounter it in dramas or messages.- Honorifics: Memorize a few honorific equivalents: e.g., 있다 -> 계시다 (to be), 먹다 -> 드시다, 자다 -> 주무시다 for elders. You don’t need full mastery, but be aware of them so you can both recognize and use basic honorifics with teachers or older people in polite conversation. Practice making a couple polite sentences about an elder (e.g., 할머니 계세요? – Is grandmother home?).- Listening: This is a good time to watch an explanation video or drama clip that showcases different politeness levels. For example, in K-dramas you’ll notice younger characters use casual speech with friends and switch to 요-form or honorifics with parents. Watch a clip twice: once focusing on casual speech lines, second time on polite lines. This raises awareness of context of speech levels.- Speaking: If you have a language partner around your age, try daring to use a bit of 반말 (casual) if appropriate – it can be a fun way to bond, but ensure it’s mutually agreed as it can be rude if misused. Otherwise, practice casual speech by talking to yourself in scenarios like talking to a pet or close friend (even if imaginary). Also practice flipping casually to polite mid-sentence to simulate real situations (Koreans often switch to polite when being extra polite suddenly or talking to strangers).

14

Describe Experiences & Tell Stories: Focus on narrating events in detail. Learn -던/었던 for past descriptions or -고 있었어요 for past continuous (“was doing”). Practice telling a short story (e.g., a travel experience or a childhood memory) in Korean. Use sequence words (먼저, 그리고 나서, 결국).

- Grammar: Learn a couple of narrative devices: e.g., -다가 (while doing X, something happened) or -었더니 (I did X and then…). These are intermediate, so even if you just learn one or two, it will spice up your storytelling. But if that’s too advanced, stick to simpler means: use a lot of 그리고 (and then) and 그 다음에 (next) to chain events, which you learned in Month 3.- Storytelling practice: Choose a personal story (maybe how you spent a holiday, or a funny incident) and write it out in Korean first. Use past tense and connect sentences into a paragraph. Example: “지난 여름에 제주도에 갔어요. 친구랑 해변에 갔고 맛있는 해산물을 먹었어요. 그런데 지갑을 잃어버렸어요! 그래서 한 시간 동안 지갑을 찾았어요...” etc. Once written, try to tell it orally without reading, as if chatting. This will build your ability to talk about past experiences naturally.- Listening: Seek out a Korean story for learners. TTMIK has some “Story Time” videos or check podcasts like “Korean Folk Tales” (some are available with slow audio). Listen to a short story in Korean. It’s fine if you don’t catch everything; focus on understanding the sequence of events. Jot down any interesting sentence pattern you hear (like “했는데...” or “했더니...”) to look up later.- Interaction: Share your story with a tutor or Korean friend. You can even write it on a HelloTalk moment for corrections. If speaking live, note where you struggled to convey meaning – was it a missing vocabulary word or a grammar structure you didn’t know? Afterwards, learn how you should say that part and practice it for next time.

15

Debate and Opinion (Simple): Learn how to express opinions or preferences beyond basic “좋아해요”. Phrases like “제 생각에는...” (In my opinion...), “-라고 생각해요” (I think that...), or “...것 같아요” (it seems/I guess...). Discuss light topics (favorite movie and why, simple cultural comparisons). Also learn a bit of polite disagreement (“하지만 ...” – “Yes, but...”).

- Phrases: Practice a few opinion starters: “제 생각에는 이 영화가 재미있어요” (In my opinion, this movie is fun), or “_____ 것 같아요” (I think/It seems ___). TTMIK Level 3 or 4 covers these kinds of expressions. Also useful: “왜 그렇게 생각해요?” (Why do you think so?) to ask someone’s reasoning.- Topic: Pick a couple of easy “discussion” topics – e.g., “Which is better, cats or dogs?” or “Do you like city life or country life?” Prepare to say a few sentences for each side. This isn’t about genuine debate skills, but practicing explaining reasons: e.g. “고양이가 더 귀엽다고 생각해요. 그리고 개보다 조용해요.” (I think cats are cuter. And they’re quieter than dogs.) Try using -보다 ... 더 to make simple comparisons (more than...).- Speaking: If you have a tutor or partner, devote a session to a mini Korean conversation club – take turns giving opinions on trivial topics. Push yourself to use the opinion phrases and conjunctions (“I like A because...”, “I think B, but ...”). If alone, simulate by recording an audio of you stating an opinion and then imagining a counter-argument or question, then responding to it in Korean.- Listening/Reading: Read a short Korean blog or forum post on a simple opinion (maybe a Naver blog recipe review “이 식당이 왜 인기인지 제 생각...” etc.). Or watch a Korean YouTuber ranting about a topic (even if you catch bits of it). The idea is to see how Koreans naturally express opinions. You’ll likely hear a lot of “…것 같아요” or sentence-ending nuances like -죠, -잖아요 – note them as exposure for future learning.

16

Immersion Week – Media and Imitation: Dive deeper into Korean media to reinforce everything learned. This week, spend significant time with K-dramas, music, shows. Use techniques like the Language Reactor extension for dual subtitles or slowing down audio. Attempt to shadow or dub a scene from a drama. Also, reflect on your journey and set specific goals for the final two months.

- Drama practice: Choose one episode of a Korean drama (ideally a slice-of-life or rom-com which uses everyday language). Watch it in learn mode: for example, on Viki with Learn Mode or Netflix with Language Reactor, which shows Korean and English subtitles simultaneously. Pause frequently, repeat lines after the actors (shadowing with emotion!). If a line uses grammar you know, acknowledge that (e.g., “아, ~겠어요 used for future guess”). If there’s slang or a phrase you don’t know, jot it down – dramas are great for real spoken language that textbooks miss.- Scene Shadowing: Pick a short scene (30 seconds to 1 minute) from that drama or a movie. Shadow it intensively: listen and speak along with the actors until you can almost perform it. Then try to do it without the audio – essentially, dub the scene yourself. This improves intonation and fills gaps in your speaking ability. KoreanStudyJunkie (a language blogger) suggests mimicking actors sound-by-sound, even if you don’t know all meanings, to really get the pronunciation and flow. Recording yourself doing this and comparing to the original is a powerful feedback tool.- Variety or Music: Watch a Korean variety show clip (they often have on-screen captions in Korean – good reading practice) or learn a K-pop song. Learning a song’s lyrics in Korean and understanding them is a fun way to build vocabulary and pronunciation. Challenge yourself to sing along clearly – if you use Naver Karaoke app or YouTube karaoke videos, they sometimes score your pronunciation.- Review & Plan: Use some time this week to review your progress notes from the mid-point (Month 3). Check if you have improved on the weak areas you identified. Then outline goals for Months 5–6: for example, “By Month 6 I want to comfortably talk for 15 minutes in Korean on any familiar topic” or “I want to pass TOPIK I”, etc. Having clear targets will focus your efforts in the final stretch.- Optional test: If you feel ready, try an official OPIc test (OPIc is an oral proficiency interview-computer) demo or a TOPIK I paper now, just to see where you stand formally. It’s okay if you don’t ace it; it’s more for experience.

Week

Goals & Topics

Key Resources & Activities

17

Practical Scenarios (Travel & Phone Conversations): Learn language for practical tasks: making a phone call (answering the phone, “여보세요?” etc.), asking for directions, making appointments. Practice a scenario where you call to reserve something or ask for information. Also learn phrases to politely ask someone to repeat or speak slower (important for real conversations).

- Travel Korean: Study phrases for asking directions: “___ 어디예요?” (Where is ___?), “왼쪽/오른쪽으로 가세요” (Go left/right), “~에서 내려야 돼요” (You should get off at ~). If you have a Korean navigation app or KakaoMap, you can even switch it to Korean and follow directions as practice listening.- Phone language: Practice answering the phone: “여보세요” (hello on phone) and saying “___입니다” (This is ) when introducing yourself. Learn how to politely ask if someone is available: “ 씨 좀 바꿔 주시겠어요?” (Could you please put ___ on the phone?). Also, common phone phrases like “잘 못 들었어요” (I didn’t hear you well) to ask for repeats.- Role-play: Simulate a phone call. Write a brief script where you call a restaurant to reserve a table or call a friend to invite them somewhere. Include a greeting, the main request, and a sign-off. Then actually speak it out loud, maybe even walking around as if on the phone (helps make it feel real). If you can, practice with a native speaker via phone/voice call – the audio-only aspect forces you to rely on listening and clear speaking. Services like OPIc (Oral Proficiency Interview by computer) actually simulate phone tasks; you could use their practice prompts if available.- Safety net phrases: Make sure you know how to say “Please say that again” or “I only speak a little Korean” in case you need it: e.g., “다시 한번 말해주세요” (Please say it again) and “한국어 조금밖에 못해요” (I only speak a little Korean). This reduces anxiety when you get stuck – you have a Korean phrase to use rather than switching to English.

18

Slang & Casual Expressions: This week, lighten up by learning some common slang, idioms, or shortened speech you might hear from native peers or in informal online communication. (For example, ㅋㅋ (kk) for laughter, or 대박! for “awesome/OMG”). Also learn a few texting abbreviations or common casual contractions (뭐해? instead of 뭐 해?). Use these in informal chats to sound more natural (appropriately).

- Slang/Vocabulary: Watch a YouTube video or read a blog post about “Top 10 Korean slang in 2025”. Pick a handful that you actually hear often or find fun. Examples might include 오빠 (not slang, but cultural), 헐 (OMG), 짱 (cool), etc. Understand their context (slang can be tricky!).- Idioms: Learn a couple of idiomatic expressions for flavor, like “식은 죽 먹기” (piece of cake) or “눈이 높다” (to be picky, literally “eyes are high”). Throwing one into a conversation or recognizing it in a drama can be rewarding. The key is not to overdo it, just be aware of some common ones because native speakers use idioms frequently.- Casual contractions: Practice reducing speech like natives do. E.g., “것 같아요” often sounds like “거 같아요”, “뭐 하니?” becomes “뭘 하니?” or even “뭐하니?” etc. Korean texting is another area: knowing that ㅂㅂ is short for bye-bye or ㅇㅋ for OK can help if you engage on KakaoTalk with Korean friends. One fun one: ㅋㅋ/ㅎㅎ for laughter and ^^ as a smiling emoji equivalent – use these when chatting casually to fit in.- Application: If you have any Korean friends or language partners close to your age, try using one of the new slang words or casual forms in a message (ensure it’s appropriate for the level of closeness!). They’ll likely find it amusing and it can spark a cultural exchange (“Did I use that right?”). If you’re self-study only, incorporate slang when talking to yourself or writing fictionally. For example, imagine a scenario with a friend and try to use 반말 and slang throughout. This will at least expose you to that register. Remember Lindie’s tip: consuming Korean social media or YouTube exposes you to trending expressions and keeps your language up-to-date.

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Professional or Formal Language (Intro): If conversational fluency is the goal, you should also be able to handle polite formal scenarios. This week, focus on formal speech (합니다 style or very polite requests). Practice a simple self-introduction as if in a business meeting or interview. Learn a few workplace phrases if relevant (e.g., “수고하셨습니다” – thank you for your effort, often said after finishing work).

- Formal register: Convert some of your common sentences into the formal ending -합니다/-습니다 style. For example, “만나서 반갑습니다” (Nice to meet you) instead of 만나서 반가워요. Use a textbook or online lesson on formal speech (some call it “deferential”). It’s mainly used in presentations, the news, or very formal settings, but being able to understand it is useful. Try reading a short news article headline aloud – news mostly uses formal style.- Presentation practice: Imagine you have to introduce yourself in a professional setting or give a short report. Write a short paragraph in formal style. E.g., “안녕하십니까? 저는 ___입니다. 현재 ___에서 일하고 있습니다. ... 잘 부탁드립니다.” Practice saying it smoothly. If you’re ever in a situation like a job interview or a public Q&A in Korean, this practice will help you not freeze up.- Workplace etiquette terms: If you anticipate needing Korean at work or for formal interactions, learn phrases like “실례합니다” (Excuse me), “잠시만요” (One moment), “알겠습니다” (I understand/OK in formal tone). Also “수고하셨습니다” or “고생하셨습니다” to politely acknowledge others’ work. These go a long way in polite conversation. Even if your main goal is informal chatting, knowing these keeps you well-rounded and respectful when needed.- Listening: Watch a short Korean news clip or an official announcement (like a government COVID briefing clip, etc.). Listen for the -습니다 endings and formal tone. See how much you catch – formal language might use bigger words, but structurally it’s often simpler (no slang, clear diction). Getting an ear for it will make things like announcements at airports or public events in Korean more comprehensible to you, which is a practical benefit.

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Conversational Flow & Nuance: In this final week of heavy practice, work on the flow of your conversations. Learn some filler words or bridging phrases (음..., 그~, 있잖아요 (you know...), 글쎄요 (well...)). Practice using them instead of pausing or saying “uhh” in English. Also practice listening for context – train with fast speakers to catch the gist even if words are missed. Essentially, work on sounding natural and understanding natural speech in real-time.

- Fillers and Natural Phrases: Make a list of Korean “speech softeners”: for instance, “막” (like, when used colloquially, e.g., “막 많이 먹었어요” = like, I ate a lot), or “있잖아” (you know...). Also simple interjections like “와”, “진짜?”, “그래요?/그래?” (Really? Is that so?). Having these in your arsenal will help you respond more naturally in conversation instead of awkward silence. Try using them in role-plays: e.g., practice an exchange where you react with “아, 맞아요” (ah, that’s right) or “음... 글쎄요” (hmm, not sure) where appropriate.- Conversational listening: Listen to fast, unscripted Korean – for example, a Korean podcast with two people chatting freely (like “Bilingual News” or others) or a variety show segment where people banter. It’s okay if you catch only 20%. The aim is to train real-time comprehension: don’t translate in your head, just let the Korean flow and see what you pick up. It teaches you to live with ambiguity and still follow a convo, an essential skill for live conversations where you won’t catch every word. Over time, the percentage you catch will rise.- Live conversation challenge: If possible, this week try to have multiple short conversations in Korean, even with yourself. For example, every day set a 5-minute timer and talk in Korean nonstop about whatever (the weather, something you read, anything). Or better, have a daily 10-minute voice chat with a language exchange partner for a week straight to build endurance. The consistency will make speaking second nature.- Feedback loop: At this stage, it’s worth getting critical feedback on your spoken Korean if you haven’t. Consider asking a tutor to note any recurring mistakes or unnatural phrasing you use. Maybe you’re still using formal speech in casual contexts or mispronouncing ㅅ as ㅆ sometimes, etc. These small fixes and nuances can be addressed in Month 6 once you identify them. Many tutors on Preply/Italki can offer a structured assessment if you request it, focusing on pronunciation, grammar accuracy, and vocabulary range. Use that to fine-tune your plan for the final month.

Week

Goals & Focus

Key Activities

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Full Immersion Days: This week, simulate “living in Korean” for extended periods. Dedicate certain times of day where you only allow Korean (no English) – e.g., two evenings where all media you consume and even your thoughts/internal dialogue are in Korean. It’s a mini-immersion to boost your comfort. Also, review any advanced grammar you learned (to make sure you can use it naturally).

- Immersion blocks: For example, decide that from 6pm to 9pm on specific days, you will do everything in Korean. Watch Korean TV, think in Korean, write to-do lists in Korean, speak to yourself or your pet in Korean. If you don’t understand something, try to work it out like you’re in Korea and can’t use English – use a dictionary or simpler Korean to explain to yourself. This strengthens your adaptability in the language.- Language partner involvement: If possible, schedule a long video call with a language partner during an immersion block. Have a casual hangout in Korean – perhaps cook a recipe “together” over video while speaking Korean, or play a simple game. The idea is to experience using Korean not as a “lesson” but just as a medium of living life. This does wonders for fluency confidence.- Advanced grammar refresh: Go through any notes on grammar points that you found tricky (e.g., you learned -는데, -(으)면, -ㄴ/은 것 같다, etc.). Make sure you can give an example sentence for each without thinking too hard. If some are still confusing, now is the time to clarify them with a tutor or resource. However, don’t get hung up on ultra-formal or rare grammar – focus on those that actually aid daily conversation or that you encounter in media.- Error correction: Revisit common mistakes you made in previous speaking or writing. Are you still making them? For instance, maybe you often forget the object particle or mispronounce 의 as 에. Consciously practice the correct form repeatedly this week to overwrite the mistake. Sometimes targeted drills (like tongue twisters for pronunciation, or writing 5 sentences correctly using the particle you missed) can fix these.

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Mock Conversations & Q&A: Prepare for a variety of conversational settings by doing mock conversations. One day, simulate a travel scenario (at the airport or asking a local for help), another day a casual friend hangout, another a formal situation. Essentially, rehearse different contexts so you’re ready for anything. Also, practice a rapid Q&A where you respond to random questions on the fly (to mimic real conversation pace).

- Scenario role-plays: Write brief outlines for 3 scenarios: 1) At Incheon Airport immigration/customs – greeting and basic questions (“여행 왔습니다… 5일 있을 예정입니다”). 2) Meeting friends at a cafe – lots of casual chit-chat, ordering drinks, telling a story. 3) Work meeting or asking a professor something – formal polite talk. Now act each out. If you have willing friends or a tutor, they can play the other roles. If not, literally talk to an empty chair and do both voices (it might feel silly, but it helps!). This exercise reveals if there’s any context where you lack vocab or confidence. For example, you might find you don’t know how to say “terminal” or “baggage claim” in Korean for the airport scene – note that and learn it. Or maybe in casual chat you realize you lack some slang – you can quickly look some up. By practicing these now, you ensure fewer surprises when you actually encounter them.- Rapid Q&A practice: Write down a list of random questions (or use online lists of conversation questions). They should range in topic: “What’s your favorite memory?”, “If you could travel anywhere...?”, “Describe your best friend”, etc. Mix simple and more reflective ones. Now practice answering them in Korean with little preparation. Give yourself, say, 30 seconds per question to respond out loud. This builds the ability to speak spontaneously. If you stumble, note if it was due to vocab (then learn the word you needed) or grammar (figure out the structure and try again). This kind of on-the-spot speaking will simulate real conversations where you can’t plan everything you say.- Listening: Have someone (if available) grill you with Korean questions as well. Alternatively, use an AI voice or recordings of questions. Answering an unexpected spoken question is different from a written prompt. There are apps and YouTube videos for Korean conversation practice that leave a gap for you to answer – use those to sharpen your real-time listening->speaking reflex.

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Final Intensive Speaking Push: In this penultimate week, aim to speak as MUCH Korean as possible. If feasible, schedule daily short calls or meetups with various partners/tutors to talk in Korean (even 15 minutes each). The idea is high frequency, low stakes practice to really get you in the zone. Additionally, do one full practice test: either a mock OPI (speaking) by recording yourself for 20 minutes on various topics or a TOPIK I paper (reading/listening) to measure progress formally.

- Speaking marathon: Try to engage multiple people in Korean this week. One day, have a session on italki with a community tutor; another day, voice chat with that friend from HelloTalk; another, perhaps talk to yourself but record it as if a YouTube vlog (then listen back). The variety and daily frequency will reduce any remaining speaking anxiety and make Korean conversation feel routine. By the end of the week, you might find yourself even dreaming in Korean – a good sign of immersion!- Full self-assessment: It’s time to test yourself in conditions similar to an exam or real evaluation. For speaking: find an OPIc practice prompt list (they often give you random topics to speak on). Record an “exam” for ~20 minutes where you answer various questions, narrate a story, etc., in one take. Then replay and judge: Did you fill the time easily? Did you remain mostly in Korean without reverting to English or freezing? Notice any weak vocabulary areas to cram in final week if desired. For reading/listening: take a TOPIK I past exam under timed conditions. Mark it and see – by now you should ideally pass TOPIK I (levels 1-2) if that was a goal, as conversational fluency generally aligns with that. If you find listening still a bit low, maybe focus remaining time on that. If reading is slow, maybe not a huge worry for “conversational” goals, but you can plan to improve it post-6 months.- Review everything: This week also do a grand review of all your accumulated notes, flashcards, journals, etc. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ve covered. Do a final pass to refresh any medium-used words or grammar (especially ones you haven’t practiced recently). If there are flashcards you never quite mastered, decide if they’re critical; if yes, review them now, if not, you might drop them. The idea is to consolidate your active knowledge – turn as much of what you studied into active usable language as possible, heading into the final week and beyond.

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Culmination & Real Conversation Assessment: This last week, schedule a long conversation (30-60 min) entirely in Korean with a native speaker (tutor or exchange partner) as a “final exam”. Prepare beforehand by relaxing and maybe reviewing key vocab, but treat it like a natural conversation (not a test). Afterward, get feedback from them on your fluency. Additionally, enjoy some cultural reward: watch a movie or drama episode with minimal subtitles and realize how far you’ve come. Plan for post-6 month continued learning to maintain and build on your fluency.

- Final Conversation: Set up a meeting (online or in person) with a native speaker for the purpose of just chatting. Ideally, someone chatty who will keep the conversation flowing. It could be an italki tutor with instructions not to “teach” but just talk as friends would. Before the call, take a few deep breaths and recall that you have 6 months of hard work backing you – you’ve got this! During the conversation, focus on communicating rather than being perfect. If you don’t know a word, try to explain around it in Korean (this is what even fluent non-natives do). Use fillers or slowing down if needed, but try to avoid lapsing into English. After 30+ minutes, you’ll likely realize you’ve been having a real conversation in Korean 😃. When done, if it’s a tutor or friend who can be frank, ask them: Did you feel you were talking to a capable Korean speaker? Was anything off or unnatural? Their feedback (e.g., “You mix formal and informal a bit” or “Just minor pronunciation issues”) will be valuable for what to polish after this intensive phase.- Celebrate with Culture: Now pick that Korean movie or the latest episode of the drama you love. Watch it with Korean subtitles (or no subtitles if you dare). Comprehend as much as you can. You’ll likely find that you catch significantly more than when you started. Maybe you laugh at a joke without needing to read the translation, or you pick up on a cultural reference in a variety show. These moments show you’ve achieved a practical fluency where you can live through Korean, not just study it. It’s motivating and fun as a reward.- Post-Plan Strategy: Finally, spend time this week mapping out how you will continue improving after this 6-month plan. Conversational fluency is a huge milestone, but language learning is ongoing. You might decide to prepare for TOPIK II (the intermediate/advanced test) next, or plan a trip to Korea for immersion, or move onto reading novels, etc. Set new goals: e.g., “In 6 more months I want to discuss complex topics like politics” or “I will learn 1000 more words and start reading web novels”. Also, consider how to maintain your Korean: maybe continue weekly tutor chats, join a local Korean meetup group, or regularly consume Korean news. Having a forward plan ensures you don’t plateau or forget what you’ve learned.