All Episodes
Displaying 1 - 20 of 68 in total
#67: From Translation to Intuition: How Korean Starts to Feel Natural
Many Korean learners don’t struggle because they lack vocabulary or grammar.They struggle because everything still has to pass through another language first.In this e...
#66: Before You Try to Speak Korean Again, Listen to This
If speaking Korean feels heavy, overwhelming, or emotionally draining right now, this episode is for you.In this quiet, grounding episode of TOPIK & Beyond, Eliza invi...
#65: Why Speaking Korean Feels So Mentally Exhausting (And What to Do Instead)
Do you feel mentally exhausted when you try to speak Korean?Does your mind go blank, feel crowded, or shut down even though you’ve studied?In this episode of TOPIK & B...
#64: How to Use Korean Even on Busy Days (Without Studying More)
Many Korean learners stop studying not because they don’t care — but because life gets busy.In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond, Eliza shares practical, realistic ways t...
#63: A Simple Korean Routine You Can Actually Keep in 2026
The start of a new year often comes with pressure — new goals, new plans, and the fear of repeating the same cycle with Korean learning.In this first episode of 2026, ...
#62: How I’d Learn Korean in 2026 (If I Were You)
As 2025 comes to a close, this episode offers a calm, honest reflection on how to approach Korean learning in the new year — without pressure, burnout, or unrealistic ...
#61: A Cozy Christmas Abroad - A Gentle Story in Korean
This special Christmas episode is a gentle Korean listening experience — no studying, no pressure, just listening and feeling.In this episode, Eliza shares a short Chr...
#60: How TOPIK Graders Actually Read Your Essay
Many learners lose points not because their grammar is bad, but because their writing lacks clear structure, logical flow, or consistent written style (문어체).In this ep...
#59: Why TOPIK Writing Feels Hard — And How to Finally Make It Click
If you feel like TOPIK Writing is confusing, overwhelming, or just “too hard”… you’re not alone.In this episode, Eliza explains the real reasons TOPIK Writing feels di...
#58: Your Korean Year-in-Review: What You Actually Learned in 2025
December is the perfect moment to pause, breathe, and look back at your Korean learning journey.In today’s gentle episode, Eliza helps you realize something important:...
#57: What November Looked Like for Me – in Korean (TOPIK II Listening Practice)
This week’s episode is for all my intermediate learners preparing for TOPIK II or wanting to improve their listening comprehension through real-life Korean stories.It’...
#56: Speaking vs. Writing in Korean: Why You Struggle with One (But Not the Other)
Do you ever feel confident speaking Korean… but totally freeze when writing an essay or TOPIK answer? Or maybe your written Korean is polished, but your mind goes blan...
#55: How to Use Examples in TOPIK II Writing (Without Sounding Basic)
Are your writing examples helping or hurting your TOPIK score?In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked ways to boost your TOPIK ...
#54: TOPIK II Writing Mistake - Tone Problems That Lower Your Score
If you’ve been practicing TOPIK II writing, you probably already know how hard it is to find the perfect sentence structure, grammar, and vocabulary…But what if your b...
#53: Write With Me: Answering a Real TOPIK II Question Step-by-Step
Struggle with organizing your ideas for TOPIK II Writing?In this “write-with-me” episode, Eliza walks you step-by-step through a real TOPIK II question using her signa...
#52: Korean Writing Expressions Koreans Actually Use in Reports (That TOPIK Loves)
Do you freeze when you see a chart or graph in the TOPIK II Writing section? 😰You’re not alone! Many learners repeat basic words like 많다 and 적다 — but those won’t get y...
#51: The #1 Mistake in TOPIK II Writing (and How to Fix It)
Are you losing valuable points in your TOPIK II Writing section without even realizing it? You’re not alone. In this episode, Eliza breaks down the #1 mistake most stu...
#50: Speak More Korean - Even If You’re Busy (Chuseok Edition)
Chuseok (추석) is here and whether you're in Korea or not, this season is a reminder that life gets busy. But does that mean your Korean practice has to stop?Absolutely ...
Bonus: Korean Roleplay Chaos - My First Day at Work Went Terribly Wrong (Korean Roleplay)
In this fun bonus episode, Eliza and Jim Figueroa dive into a totally unscripted roleplay that’s full of surprises, real emotions, and natural Korean expressions.You’l...
#49: Paranoia, Conflict, and K-Drama Phrases: Language Lessons from They Come in Peace
Want to watch this conversation? We recorded the full interview on video - catch it here: https://www.joaacademy.com/jim-figueroa-korean-culture-interview In this spe...
