My Self-Taught Experience (Spoiler: It Works, But...)
When I arrived in Seoul, I couldn't afford classes. So I did everything alone: YouTube, textbooks, apps. For 8 months, I progressed fast. Then I plateaued for 6 months.
What Works When Learning Alone
Phase 1: Hangeul and Basics (Months 1-2)
Self-study is perfect for this. Hangeul is logical enough to learn alone.
Phase 2: Vocabulary (Months 2-6)
Building vocabulary independently works well with SRS flashcards and K-pop.
Phase 3: Intermediate Grammar (Months 6-12)
This is where it gets complicated. Korean grammar subtleties are very hard to understand alone.
The Self-Taught Wall
After about 8-10 months, I hit what I call "the self-taught wall":
- I understood a lot but didn't know if what I said was correct or just "understandable"
- My pronunciation had uncorrected flaws
- I mixed politeness levels without realizing
My Recommendation: The Hybrid Approach
Alone (70%): vocabulary, passive listening, reading With a course/teacher (30%): pronunciation correction, grammar explanations, conversation practice