I have only even spoken English,  but was exposed to many different languages during my childhood due to a mixed family. Almost two years ago I started learning Korean on my own.  I had never heard of it before. I became interested after watching Korean drama shows. 

I am self-taught and can identify quite a few things in everyday life, but full sentences are still hard. Obviously, I’m not even close to being fluent since I’ve only been learning for a couple of years, and it takes some people decades to learn a whole language. 

It might seem like a lot, but don’t be discouraged, learning is not as difficult as it seems.

I first started learning through language learning apps such as Duolingo, LingoDeer, and Drops. I still use them and they are especially useful for learning the foundations of a language. The thing about apps is that they aren’t always good for everyday conversations. Most of the material they teach is very formal and wouldn’t sound right in a normal setting. 

Visuals, as weird as it sounds, are another way to learn more casual words and phrases. Watching celebrities speak or watching movies and shows in the desired language can be helpful. 

Listening to native speakers and repeating them can help with pronunciation, tone, and comfort speaking in a foreign tongue. 

Body language and facial expressions are also very important to learning any language. I watch films again and pay attention to the body language of the actors. The actors usually exaggerate movements to make it easier for people to understand what they’re seeing, so I use context clues as much as possible. 

Being exposed to a language in everyday life and one on one tutoring is probably a better and faster way to learn. Practice and staying motivated is always key when self-teaching a language, but don’t try too hard and take breaks when needed. 화이팅!