TOPIK & Beyond

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 special episode of TOPIK & Beyond, Eliza welcomes author Jim Figueroa to talk about his book They Come in Peace - a gripping sci-fi thriller that weaves in Korean culture and the realities of trust, paranoia, and survival. Jim shares his experiences living and working in Korea, and together we explore how language shapes connection - whether in a tense thriller moment or a romantic K-drama scene. You’ll even get to practice a mini speaking scene with Eliza, learning four powerful Korean phrases that can be used in both conflict and love story moments. If you’ve ever frozen up when trying to speak Korean, this episode will show you how stories can unlock your confidence. Don’t forget: The 5-Day K-Drama Speaking Challenge starts September 29! Step into daily scenes, practice out loud, and get personalized feedback from Eliza. Spots are limited - [https://www.joaacademy.com/5day-speaking-challenge]. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The inspiration behind They Come in Peace and its Korean cultural ties Jim’s personal experiences living and working in Korea at KBS, and eventually MBC and Hollywood Why language is the key to real connection A live mini speaking scene: 4 Korean phrases you can use in conflict and romance How the 5-Day K-Drama Speaking Challenge helps learners finally speak naturally Connect with Jim Figueroa: Get They Come in Peace here: Amazon | https://a.co/d/34Cyzk6Follow Jim on social media: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/nyneteen84/ Note: This isn’t an affiliate link - We don’t earn commission if you buy the book. We simply enjoyed supporting Jim as a sensitivity reader and wanted to share his work with you.

What if just 5 minutes a day could completely shift how you speak Korean? This week on TOPIK & Beyond, we’re breaking down the tiny daily habits that help you build confidence — no matter how busy your life is. In this episode: Why short and consistent beats long and inconsistent 3 Korean speaking habits you can do in under 5 minutes Natural Korean phrases to add to your daily reflection routine How to train your brain for real conversation in small moments  Heads Up! 📣 Get your FREE K-Drama Speaking Starter Kit Want to speak like your favorite drama character — with confidence? Grab your free download and get on the VIP list for our 5-Day K-Drama Speaking Challenge. 👉 Grab your Korean Speaking Starter Pack (K-Drama Edition) Here Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a weekly speaking boost.And if this episode helped you — leave a review or share it with a fellow learner.Let’s keep speaking, not just studying.

Many learners are studying a lot… but when it’s time to speak?>> Their brain goes blank.>> Their mouth doesn’t move. In this week’s episode, we’re shifting out of passive learning and into real-life use. Because memorizing grammar doesn’t help if you never say the words out loud. You’ll learn: ✅ The signs you’re stuck in passive study✅ Easy everyday Korean sentences to practice speaking✅ Mini grammar hacks to sound more natural✅ A 3-step challenge to practice today If your Korean is “in your head,” this episode will help bring it to your lips.  Heads Up! A free 5-Day Speaking Challenge is coming soon! Designed to help you use Korean out loud - even if you feel shy or rusty. Stay tuned for details! And don’t forget - you can grab the Korean Conversation Kickstart Kit (free!) to build fluency habits that stick: 👉Practice Real Korean with Confidence Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a weekly speaking boost. And if this episode helped you - leave a review or share it with a fellow learner. Let’s keep speaking, not just studying.

Back to school.Back to work.Back to Korean. If you’ve taken a break over the summer — or if you’re feeling a little behind — this episode is for you. Eliza shares five real Korean expressions to help you restart gently, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with your goals — without guilt or overwhelm. In This Episode:   Common emotional blocks in September — and how to shift them   Korean phrases for saying “I’m starting again” (in real life)   Speaking practice: repeat-after-me segments to get back into your flow   What’s coming to TOPIK & Beyond this season   A sneak peek at the upcoming 5-Day Speaking Challenge  Today’s Korean Phrases:   다시 시작하려고요 – I’m trying to start again   요즘 좀 쉬었어요 – I’ve been on a break lately   이번 달부터 다시 해보려고요 – I’ll try again starting this month   괜찮아요, 천천히 해도 돼요 – It’s okay. You can go slowly   이번엔 꾸준히 해보고 싶어요 – I want to stay consistent this time Resources Mentioned: ➕ Practice Real Korean — With Confidence ➕ Get Ready for the 5-Day Speaking Challenge Details coming soon — stay on the email list to be the first to know!Want a personal invite to the challenge? Join my email list at www.joaacademy.com Resources & Links: www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updatesInstagram: @korean.joaacademy Enjoyed this episode?Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

You’ve studied vocabulary. You’ve memorized grammar. But speaking still feels awkward... and confidence? Still missing? This episode is for you. We’re wrapping up the summer series with a powerful transition into your next stage of Korean learning. Eliza shares the exact mindset + method shift that helps learners finally move from passive study → to real, confident Korean usage. Inside the episode: Why you're stuck and it's not what you think What “real” Korean practice looks like How to build confidence even if you feel unsure A free tool to help you shift your practice habits now A special invite to the upcoming live webinar on Aug 28! Episode Highlights: The “hesitation zone” and how to break through it Active vs. passive practice: what’s actually building your fluency? A behind-the-scenes preview of the Practice Real Korean Kit How the Korean FLOW Club supports daily, realistic progress The upcoming webinar: Speak Korean Naturally in Just 3 Steps That Finally Stick (Aug 28!) 🧰 Resources Mentioned: ✅ Practice Real Korean Freebie Build your confidence with real-life prompts and speaking support👉 Download here 🎉 Free Live Webinar – August 28 Topic: How to Practice Korean with Confidence Details and registration 👉 Check out here   🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “TOPIK & Beyond.” Resources & Links: 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

You've studied for a while. You're not a beginner anymore… But real conversations still feel hard, and your confidence wavers? You’re not alone and you’re not doing it wrong. This week’s episode dives into the "pre-B1 plateau" that so many Korean learners hit — and what you actually need to focus on before trying to level up. We’ll talk about: Why B1 is where most learners feel stuck What I wish students knew before hitting this level The mindset shift that builds lasting fluency How I guide my students through the “I should know this already” phase A sneak peek at the free webinar I’m hosting soon 🎉 ✨ This episode is for you if: You know Hangul and grammar basics, but conversations still feel clumsy You’ve been hovering around Level 2 or 3 for a while You feel like you “should be further along” You want to prep for TOPIK or real life in Korea — but don’t know where to start Resources & Links: 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

You’ve learned Hangul — the Korean alphabet. Now what? If you're feeling stuck between reading syllables and actually understanding or speaking Korean, you’re not alone. This episode is your gentle, structured guide to what comes next. We’ll talk about: Why the “post-Hangul slump” is so common What skills to build next (without overwhelm) What not to focus on first How to build real understanding, not just rules A sneak peek of the FLOW method you’ll use in Joa Academy’s upcoming program ✨ You don’t need more flashcards. You need flow. 📩 Want personal study tips? Reply to this week’s email newsletter or email info@joaacademy.com.   Resources & Links: 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

In Part 2 of our summer pronunciation series, we’re stepping it up just a little. Today, Eliza helps you practice some of the most confusing — but important — sounds in Korean: ✅ Double consonants (ㄲ, ㅃ, ㅆ…) ✅ Compound vowels (ㅘ, ㅝ, ㅟ, ㅢ…) ✅ Double 받침 (like 읽다, 앉다, 닭) Repeat each section out loud to build rhythm, listening accuracy, and pronunciation flow — no visuals needed! 🗣 You’ll Practice Words Like: 꺼내다 (to take out) 뽀뽀 (kiss) 희망 (hope) 귀 (ear) 닭 (chicken) 값 (price) …and many more. This is the kind of episode you can play 3–4 times this week — the more repetition, the better. 💡 Why This Episode Matters: If you already learned Hangul, but you’re still unsure how to pronounce trickier words out loud, you’re not alone. This episode will help train your ear, mouth, and muscle memory so you feel more natural speaking Korean. 📩 Want the word list from today’s episode? Email info@joaacademy.com and we’ll send it to you! Resources & Links: 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

Are you still unsure about how to pronounce Korean words out loud? Do you know Hangul but hesitate when speaking? This episode is for you 💛 Inspired by a listener request, Eliza walks you through the most essential Korean sounds — slowly, clearly, and with real-life vocabulary you can repeat and remember. This is Part 1 of a 2-episode pronunciation mini series designed for A0–A1 learners, or anyone who wants to reconnect with Korean from the ground up. What You’ll Practice 14 core syllables: 가, 나, 다, 라, 마, 바, 사, 아, 자, 차, 카, 타, 파, 하 5 simple words per sound — repeat after Eliza Natural pronunciation rhythm (no reading required!) Confidence to speak aloud — even if you’re starting from zero This Episode Is Perfect If You… Are new to Korean and want a gentle starting point Learned Hangul a long time ago but forgot most of it Know how to read but aren’t confident pronouncing out loud Want a low-pressure way to connect with Korean over the summer Resources & Links:🎁 Free Download — Korean Conversation Kickstart KitReady to start speaking Korean with more confidence? Grab my free Conversation Kickstart Kit — a practical guide with real-life phrases and speaking support. 👉Download here 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

Before we say goodbye to July, let’s take a calm moment to reflect. In this short all-Korean episode, Eliza guides you through a gentle review of what we learned this month, some fun expressions that came up, and how to prep your mindset for the rest of the summer — without pressure. Perfect for intermediate learners who want to slow down, listen actively, and keep Korean close in daily life. You’ll Hear About: Common expressions we covered in July A few simple questions to reflect on your study flow What “realistic goals” look like in summer Light routine (10 min listening, 1 sentence journal) Expressions Highlighted: 그냥 그래 – “So-so” 헐~ 진짜? – “What?! Really?” 부담 없이 – “Without pressure” 복습하다 – to review 습관을 만들다 – to build a habit Listener Invitation: What did you love learning this month? What’s one tiny habit you want to bring with you into August? Resources & Links:🎁 Free Download — Korean Conversation Kickstart KitReady to start speaking Korean with more confidence? Grab my free Conversation Kickstart Kit — a practical guide with real-life phrases and speaking support. 👉Download here 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

Feeling off track lately? In this short reset episode, Eliza guides you through a few reflection prompts — in Korean — to help you check in, breathe, and gently reconnect to your Korean goals. No judgment. No pressure. Just a chance to regroup and realign. What You’ll Hear: A calming summer check-in in Korean Questions to ask yourself about your Korean journey Eliza’s own mini reset routine Vocabulary to describe this “off season” with grace Vocabulary Highlights: 흔들리기 쉬운 시기 – a shaky/off-balance season 다시 정리하는 시간 – regrouping/reset time 현실적인 목표 – realistic goal Listener Invitation:This week, choose just one feel-good way to stay connected to Korean. What’s been feeling hard? What’s one small thing you can do right now? What kind of support do you need? Let’s keep it light and loving. Next week, we explore real-life Korean expressions again. Resources & Links:🎁 Free Download — Korean Conversation Kickstart KitReady to start speaking Korean with more confidence? Grab my free Conversation Kickstart Kit — a practical guide with real-life phrases and speaking support. 👉Download here 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

What are the real phrases Koreans say in conversation — that don’t show up in your textbook? In this episode, Eliza shares casual, emotional expressions she personally heard and used in the past few weeks. From chatting at cafés to reading family group chats, you’ll get a real-world peek into how Koreans express mood, surprise, and comfort. In This Episode: Real expressions like 헐, 그냥 그래, 귀찮아, 응응 Storytime: What Eliza overheard at a café and in her family chat Vocab spotlight + how to sound natural and emotional in conversation The beauty of messy, casual Korean — and why it matters for fluency Why You’ll Love It:This episode is your chance to listen like a local and expand your emotional fluency. Great for intermediate learners who want to sound more natural and less robotic.Listener Challenge:Try using 2 expressions from today’s episode — in a text, a voice memo, or your inner dialogue. Then tell Eliza: 👉 Which ones surprised you? 👉 Which felt fun to use? Resources & Links:🎁 Free Download — Korean Conversation Kickstart KitReady to start speaking Korean with more confidence? Grab my free Conversation Kickstart Kit — a practical guide with real-life phrases and speaking support. 👉Download here 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

This week, Eliza shares the story of Kat, a student from New York, and how she stays gently connected to Korean in her everyday routine — even with a busy work schedule. No pressure. No long study blocks. Just small, consistent moments that make Korean feel like part of her real life — not just a subject. In This Episode: Kat’s 3-step daily Korean rhythm (no “studying” required) Why one sentence a day can be enough Easy phrases you can whisper to yourself — and still improve Vocabulary highlights from Kat’s story Vocab Highlights: 혼잣말로 말하다 — to speak to oneself 입모양으로 따라 하다 — to mouth or repeat quietly 야경 — night view Listener Invitation: What's your version of Kat’s habit? This week, choose one light way to stay close to Korean:- Say a sentence aloud in the morning- Listen + repeat 1 phrase- Write 2 lines at night No grammar drills. Just light listening, real language, and daily connection. Let this episode be your Korean moment for today. Resources & Links:🎁 Free Download — Korean Conversation Kickstart Kit Ready to start speaking Korean with more confidence? Grab my free Conversation Kickstart Kit — a practical guide with real-life phrases and speaking support. 👉Download here 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode?Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

We’re closing out June — and the full-length season — with a gentle reflection and routine reset. This final full episode before our Summer Drops series will help you: Reflect on what you’ve studied this month Set a realistic, flexible summer study rhythm Practice Korean expressions for goal-setting Build a light TOPIK writing/listening habit to stay on track 🎯 TOPIK Focus: How to use short writing routines + sentence structures like -기 때문에, -지만, -(으)면서 for steady summer review 📢 This Week’s Challenge: Write a short review of your June study + set a simple July routine. 🌴 Starting next week: TOPIK & Beyond Summer Drops — bite-sized episodes to keep you connected through July and August. Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

You’ve made it halfway through 2025 — now’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset. In this calm and clear episode, Eliza walks you through a mid-year check-in that helps you realign with your goals and reduce overwhelm. Whether you’ve been consistent or completely off-track, this episode gives you a low-pressure space to restart. You’ll learn: 3 reflection questions to guide your June reset Korean expressions for setting mini goals A sample weekly routine for summer study A simple grammar-writing review strategy for TOPIK prep 🎯 TOPIK Focus: How to plan light, intentional grammar + writing reviews for TOPIK II (and realistic refreshers for TOPIK I) 📢 Your Mini Challenge: Fill in this sentence and email it to Eliza at info@joaacademy.com: 📝 “이번 달 제 목표는 __________이에요.” ☀️ Get ready—next week we’ll close spring and co-plan your summer routine! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

Summer’s here—and so is the temptation to stop studying. But what if you didn’t have to study “hard” to stay connected to Korean? In this gentle and practical episode, Eliza shares: 5 simple ways to keep your Korean active (in just minutes a day) How to use past knowledge for light review Real-life Korean expressions to talk about slow or passive learning A reminder: you don’t need to feel guilty for going light 🎯 TOPIK Focus: How to prep lightly for the writing and reading sections—without stress 📢 Your Mini Challenge: Choose 1 light habit this week and tell Eliza how it goes! Email us at info@joaacademy.com  ☀️ Coming soon: July & August = our Summer Drops episodes—short & fun to help you stay connected! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

Spring might be over, but your progress hasn’t stopped. In this reflection-style episode, Eliza gently walks you through the ways you’ve likely improved in Korean — even if it doesn’t feel like it — while reviewing real-life seasonal expressions and reconnecting it all to the TOPIK exam. You’ll learn: Korean phrases that describe spring in past tense 🌸 How to express your spring growth in Korean How seasonal language shows up in TOPIK listening and reading A mini sentence-building reflection to guide your review And how to reset before summer begins 🎯 TOPIK Focus: Where seasonal and emotional vocabulary shows up on the exam — and how to train for past tense recognition in listening and reading. 📢 Weekly Challenge: Finish this sentence in Korean and email Eliza! 📝 “올 봄에는 _______, 그래서 지금은 _______할 수 있어요.” and send an email to info@joaacademy.com! 💬 Want to stay motivated this summer? Eliza will be back next week with tips on how to study lightly — and get ready for the new Summer Drops series starting in July!  Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

We're closing out May with something special: a full Korean listening practice episode 🎧 In this episode, Eliza shares a story from her month of May—from family events and cultural holidays in Korea and France, to what it’s like juggling motherhood, teaching, and running a Korean learning community. You'll hear: Natural, native-level storytelling in Korean Real expressions and sentence flow to train your ear 3 TOPIK-style comprehension questions based on the story This episode is designed to give you real-world listening practice, help you hear grammar and vocabulary in context, and connect with Eliza in a more personal way. What’s inside this episode: What holidays happen in May in Korea and France A peek into Eliza’s life as a Korean teacher and mom Reflections from her 30-day reading challenge & Teacher’s Day A mini listening quiz to test your understanding Encouragement for learners who’ve had a busy month, too TOPIK Focus: 🎯 Intermediate–Advanced listening comprehension 🎯 Practice catching meaning through real Korean flow and storytelling 🎯 Exposure to daily expressions, connectors, and review-style quiz questions Challenge of the Week: 🧠 Practice your listening by playing the episode again later this week— Can you catch more details the second time? 📩 Want more story-style listening episodes like this? Send Eliza a DM or email and let her know! And feel free to share what you did in May too :) Resources & Links: 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

Not everyone has access to 1:1 Korean lessons or real-time feedback. But that doesn’t mean you can’t improve. In this week’s episode of TOPIK & Beyond, Eliza shares how to start reviewing your Korean writing and speaking like a native teacher would. Whether you’re prepping for TOPIK or just want to feel more confident, you’ll learn how to spot mistakes, self-edit, and build real progress between lessons. And yes—Eliza admits this episode is a little risky for her as a teacher 😉 But helping you become more independent is part of her job too. In this episode, you’ll learn: What native teachers look for first when reviewing writing How to track your personal grammar and vocab mistakes How to “rewrite it better” and build fluency through revision Simple tools and prompts to start self-correcting today How this builds long-term speaking and writing confidence TOPIK Focus: 🎯 How to improve your score by self-editing in TOPIK Writing Part I & II 🎯 Sentence clarity, flow, and natural tone over complex grammar Study Challenge: Choose a short writing sample (5–6 sentences) and apply today’s tips to revise it. Then: 📩 Email Eliza at [your email] with the subject "Self-Correction Practice" and get a quick tip or suggestion from her! Resources & Links: 🌐 www.joaacademy.com – study tools & program updates 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Want feedback or guidance? Email Eliza directly! Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond reach more Korean learners around the world 💜

Do you still translate every Korean sentence in your head before speaking or writing? That habit might be the #1 thing slowing down your fluency—and in this episode, we're going to fix that. In this week’s TOPIK & Beyond, Eliza guides you through how to stop thinking in English and start thinking in Korean, even if you're not fluent yet. This episode is filled with mindset shifts, language chunk strategies, and easy daily practices to help you build fluency that feels natural. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why translating slows you down—and what to do instead The mindset shift from “word-by-word” to “sentence-based” thinking How to train your brain to recognize and use language chunks Daily exercises to help you build internal Korean dialogue Practical phrases to speak and think in Korean with more confidence TOPIK Focus: 🎯 How “thinking in Korean” improves listening comprehension speed 🎯 Writing with more natural tone and less direct-translation awkwardness Study Challenge: Set a timer for 3 minutes a day this week and think in Korean— Talk to yourself, describe what you’re doing, or narrate your thoughts out loud. 📩 Then email Eliza at [your email] and tell her how it went—she’d love to hear your story and cheer you on! Resources & Links: 🌐 Visit www.joaacademy.com for more learning resources 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Want guidance with your study plan or practice? Email Eliza anytime! Enjoyed the episode? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it helps TOPIK & Beyond grow and reach more Korean learners like you 💜