Maybe you have fallen in love with the Korean language thanks to K-dramas or K-pop. Especially for people who are used to the Roman alphabet, looking at the Hangul (Korean alphabet) for the first time, it’s like discovering a new world. However, like any other language, it requires time, discipline, and effort to being able to read, speak, and write naturally. Knowing you can be easily understood while talking to a native speaker is what most drives someone to practice the language and improve the way they pronounce each sentence or even a simple word.

Brazilian YouTuber, Victória Brito - also known as Vivi, tells us how she made to self-study and speak Korean fluently, as well as tips on how to get motivated, organized, and improve your Korean studies. Let’s check it out!

How long has Korea been a part of your life?

I already used to listen to K-pop when I was a kid, but I started getting more into it after a few years! I started listening to K-pop and began getting more and more interested in the culture! Gradually learning new things about South Korea and its history was super fun as well!

It's impressive how well you speak Korean! How long have you been studying this language?

Firstly, thank you! I started studying Korean when I was 14 or 15 years old, and I'm 20 now, so it's been quite a while! I started studying by myself and never had anyone to teach me professionally. My Korean friends (who I made along the way) obviously helped me a ton with our conversations, and by correcting me sometimes! I am so grateful to them! It's been a fun journey, self-studying is quite challenging, but it's what makes it fun to me.

A lot of people have difficulty in being organized to study. How is your study routine?

I have been trying out new study methods every once in a while, since studying a language by yourself can become very dull if you stick to only one routine for too long. So, these days I've been studying 2-3 days for at least an hour, every week. I watch a lot of online classes on YouTube, and I also study by watching vlogs and reading webtoons or the news.

On YouTube, you're always sharing tips for studying Korean, what's the most common question you always receive?

People always ask me about how to keep motivated! It's crazy how many comments asking for tips on "how not to give up on studying" I receive every day! It’s a little sad that people struggle to keep the motivation, but I get it 100% because I have been there before. People also ask me a lot about the 받침 (batchim - Korean consonant) and how to learn it!

For some Korean language students, the biggest difficulty they face is when it comes to practicing conversation, as many haven't still had the opportunity to make friends with native Koreans to be able to talk and exchange lessons. What tip can you give us, in order to get motivated while practicing the language?

Honestly, I always tried to make Korean native friends online for that exact reason! It’s indeed harder to practice when no one around you speaks the language. So my tip is: have a friend that also studies Korean, so both of you can check each other's pronunciation or mistakes in general! Studying together or in a group is amazing to keep motivated as well! I did that while learning English, and it helped me so much!

What do you currently do?

Lately, I have been studying Korean while making content online for other people who study Korean like me! I make videos on YouTube, informative posts on Instagram, and record TikTok videos for my audience. I also have been teaching basic Korean online, which has been super fun!

Have you ever been to South Korea?

Sadly, I wasn't able to visit South Korea yet. I really want to, of course! It has been a dream of mine for a few years now. If it was up to me, I would be there right now!

How did your family react when you showed interest in South Korea and decided you wanted to learn Korean? Do they support you?

They have been supporting me since day 1! Obviously, my mom would call me out sometimes, because I would study Korean even harder than I'd study school subjects! But also, my mom has always believed in and cheered for me! Having her support is and has been super important.

Lately, it's been common to see miraculous videos about "how to speak fluent Korean in 6 months or 1 year", but we know that it’s practically impossible. It takes time, discipline, and effort. What can you say to our readers who also dream of studying the language and don't know where to start?

It doesn't go only to the Korean language, but to all languages out there. It's near impossible to become fluent and sound almost native-like in only a year of studying. But that's not a bad thing at all! The time you take to perfect your Korean pronunciation is what makes the whole process so beautiful and fun. Don't let that discourage you! And my advice for studying this language is basically: start with the basics and have fun! Listen to K-pop, watch K-dramas, as it helps you so much to immerse yourself in the language! And always remember, when it gets hard, it only means you're getting better!

For more information: Korea.net

All images were provided by Victória Brito.

By Korea.net