In this post, you’ll learn:
- What intonation is
- Easy ways to improve your intonation
- How to pick the right learning materials
Are you interested in improving your Korean pronunciation to sound more like a native speaker?
Here we learn the key to advancing your Korean speaking skills!
Intonation
The best way to sound more like a native speaker is to practice your intonation.
When learning a new language, there are new sounds and speech patterns we may not have been familiar with. A different language than we are used to speaking may have emphasis in areas of speech that are foreign to us, and even different tongue positions when verbalizing each sound.
When we aren’t aware of these differences, our attempts to speak the language can sound abrasive or unnatural. Intonation is the pattern in which a speaker’s tone changes when they talk, and by studying this, we can learn how to replicate this pattern ourselves.
When you don’t use the right intonation, not only does your speech sound unnatural, but it can also cause misunderstandings. If certain words with different meanings have different sounds, not being able to properly distinguish each sound can confuse our listeners.
Easy Ways to Practice Intonation
<General Study Methods>
Listening to native speakers is a great way to practice multiple language skills and pick up cues for intonation. From this, you can learn to mimic speech patterns to reflect a more natural sound.
While casual listening and mimicking can be beneficial, there are more focused methods of study to improve your intonation for the long term. By using these methods to solidify your improved intonation, you can apply your honed pronunciation in circumstances where you aren’t always around native speakers.
<Focusing on Intonation>
1. Listen with Intent!
When listening to dialogue in a language we are studying, we tend to focus on the words and meaning to understand what is being said. For studying intonation, set your focus on the rhythm, stress, and pitches that occur while they speak. Notice where the emphasis is placed through their sentences, their pitch when they react, and other inflections throughout the conversation.
2. Practice What You Notice!
After listening to native speakers, try repeating what they said but replacing the sentence with just one syllable. By doing so, you isolate your practice to only focusing on intonation. Repeating this process with multiple sentences will help you understand the natural flow of native Koreans' vocal intonations.
When you try to do everything at once, such as trying to repeat the full sentence in Korean, you lose sight of what exactly you’re practicing. Taking one approach at a time when practicing will help your pronunciation and lead you to fluency once you put it all together.
3. Compare Your Speech Pattern to Native Speakers!
A final tip for improving your intonation is comparing your speech pattern to the native speakers you are listening to for practice. Notice the sentence they are saying and practice saying it aloud before you hear it spoken naturally.
We suggest recording yourself during this so you can accurately hear the differences. Then, listen to the native speaker's dialogue and compare the differences in your tone. Afterwards, give it another shot on your own and see if you have any improvements in your intonation compared to your first recording!
Pick the right learning materials
If you don’t have access to talking with native Korean speakers or you want to explore new ways to listen to dialogue, there are many ways to approach this.
<Use K-media with Subtitles>
Try watching more K-media and adding subtitles! As you watch, take a moment to pause the media and read the subtitles so you get an idea of what is being discussed. Then, play the media and listen to how the native speaker's tone and rhythm change during the sentence.
This is a great study method, especially paired with K-dramas or other media that provide a wide range of reactions and contexts. The same sentence could be spoken in different ways depending on the context.
Taking this time will help you learn to control your tone and allow you to express yourself fully with your new language skills.
<Tips for Beginners>
If you’re a beginner learning Korean, choose content that enunciates each word well, and we suggest slowing the playback speed as you listen. For beginners, try to follow our previous method: as you listen to media, only focus on the intonation and ignore the meaning or words directly.
There are many ways to learn a new language,
but if you want to sound more natural when speaking, follow these tips during your practice to improve your intonation. While it may be hard to notice if your pronunciation is off while speaking, these steps will help you focus on specific areas where you can improve.
If you’re looking for more tips and practice on your way toward Korean fluency, check out our courses available on our website!
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Talk To Me In Korean is known worldwide for breaking down the language barrier and making Korean easy to learn. Our lessons are designed by experienced teachers who’ve guided countless learners down this same path. We blend solid teaching with a lighthearted approach, so you’ll find yourself having fun while actually making progress.
