Every Korean language school on earth teaches in Korean from day one — and it works, because the teacher only ever uses a few dozen words. These are ours. Learn the sound and the meaning; you never have to say the first 16, only understand them. (Audio: coming — your tutor is the audio for now.)
1안녕하세요an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
Hello
When: first second of every lesson. Say it back!
2들으세요deu-reu-se-yo
Listen
When: before she models a sentence. Tutor points to her ear.
3따라 하세요tta-ra ha-se-yo
Repeat after me
When: right after she says something. The most common instruction.
4다시da-si
Again
When: one more time — not a complaint, just repetition.
5한 번 더han beon deo
One more time
When: same as 다시, a little softer.
6말해 보세요mal-hae bo-se-yo
Try saying it (yourself)
When: your turn, without her model first.
7읽어 보세요il-geo bo-se-yo
Read it
When: pointing at Korean text on the slide.
8여기 보세요yeo-gi bo-se-yo
Look here
When: she points at something on screen or holds it up.
9이거i-geo
This one
When: pointing. (Lesson 1-03 makes it a full sentence.)
10천천히cheon-cheon-hi
Slowly
When: she'll say it slowly — or you ask her to (see B).
11크게keu-ge
Louder
When: your mic is quiet. Not a criticism.
12좋아요 / 잘했어요jo-a-yo / jal-hae-sseo-yo
Good / Well done
When: you did it. You'll hear this a LOT.
13맞아요ma-ja-yo
Correct
When: right answer. Often with a thumbs-up.
14아니에요, 다시a-ni-e-yo, da-si
Not quite — again
When: small fix. She'll model it once more. No stress.
15잠깐만요jam-kkan-man-yo
Just a moment
When: she's typing in the chat or checking something.
16질문 있어요?jil-mun i-sseo-yo?
Any questions?
When: end of a section. Answer 네 (yes) or 아니요 (no), or type it.
17괜찮아요gwaen-cha-na-yo
It's OK / don't worry
When: you made a mistake and feel bad. Don't.
18끝났어요kkeun-na-sseo-yo
We're done
When: end of the lesson.
19수고했어요su-go-hae-sseo-yo
Good job today (lit. "you worked hard")
When: the last thing you hear. Say it back — it's the perfect goodbye.
20네 / 아니요ne / a-ni-yo
Yes / No
When: everywhere. Nod = 네, shake = 아니요.
다시 천천히요da-si cheon-cheon-hi-yo
Again, slowly please
Use it: whenever she's too fast. She'll be glad you asked.
모르겠어요mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo
I don't know
Use it: instead of silence. It's a real sentence and it moves things along.
잠깐만요jam-kkan-man-yo
Just a moment
Use it: you need a second, or someone's at the door.
네, 알겠어요ne, al-ge-sseo-yo
Got it
Use it: you understood. Better than nodding.
In the live lesson these four are buttons under the video. Press one and it appears on your tutor's screen in Korean — no typing.
| If… | Do this |
|---|
| You don't understand an instruction | Press I'm lost. The English explanation for the current slide appears again. |
| You have a "why?" question | Press Ask AI. You get an English answer without interrupting the tutor. |
| You need to tell the tutor something in English | Type it in the chat. She sees it in Korean. Her reply comes back in English. |
| She says a sentence and you missed it | Live subtitles under the video show her Korean with an English translation (2–4 s delay). Or press 다시 천천히요. |
| Nothing works | Point, smile, say 모르겠어요. That is a completely normal Korean-class moment. |