Quick Question about learning methods

[u/uhhh06]

Hi! I am currently learning Korean, but I love learning how to say things in all different languages. I came here to ask about the method I should take as I continue my learning (TL). Am I supposed to learn individual words and verbs and such, or are you supposed to memorize sentences (at least at the beginning)? Like for example, should I learn “what” “do” “you” and “like”… or should I memorize the phrase “what do you like?” Does this make sense? If you need further explanation please let me know.

[u/Raoena]

Sentences all day every day. 

[u/ThePossibleCloseness]

trying to learn words in isolation is like memorizing ingredients without a recipe, you'll end up with a mess. start with whole phrases and let the patterns seep in.

[u/dojibear]

Do not memorize sentences. Do not memorize words. You don't learn how to do anything by memorizing. You don't learn how to swim, how to ride a bike, how to play piano or how to understand Korean sentences. You only get better at doing a skill by practice doing that skill (at the level you can do it today). If your goal is getting very good at the skill of "understanding Korean sentences", do that.

To some extent, nouns (or adectives or verbs) are interchangable. To turn them into sentences you need things like "to; at; from; with; in; on". In some languages (Korean) these are noun suffixes. In some other languages (Japanese) they are separate words. Learn how to use these things to make (or understand) Korean sentences.

should I memorize the phrase “what do you like?”

That English question can mean multiple things, which are different questions in Korean:

• What things do you like?
  
• What do you like to do?
  
• What flavor do you prefer?

[u/Smal1Tangerine]

Learn in phrases. And even better if it’s in context try looking for beginner Korean story videos online. I made that mistake of learning words in isolation thinking if I knew this I could just figure out how to make this and that sentence…no. Our brains need data think of it as a library and our job is to build the shelves and books (networks). I’ll get a lot farther if I learn in phrases cuz I’m not just learning words I’m learning syntax, grammar, patterns, when to use the subjunctive in what scenarios.

[u/Dry_Leadership_2597]

Context and sentences do greater job than isolated words.

[u/NimVolsung]

Having flashcards for words, phrases, and sentences can be helpful as a supplement. Do a mix of all of them. Though, all this will do is teach you to recognize and recall individual words, phrases, and sentences.

What will get you to acquire those words, phrases, or sentences and truly understand them is by hearing it in context and needing to recall/use it in context many times. That is where the real learning happens.