#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 blank during a conversation?
This episode breaks down why that gap exists — and how to fix it.
You’ll learn the real differences between speaking and writing, what traps learners fall into, and one simple but powerful exercise to start improving both skills together.
Whether you’re studying for real-life fluency or prepping for TOPIK II, this episode will help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.
In This Episode:
✔️ Why speaking and writing feel so different
✔️ How to know where you’re strong vs. stuck
✔️ The #1 mistake learners make when trying to “transfer” skills
✔️ A practical exercise to train both modes together
✔️ What to focus on if you’re preparing for TOPIK II
Want to Build Writing Confidence?
Our TOPIK II Writing Confidence Lab opens in December - a 4-week focused writing sprint to help you hit your writing goals with structure and feedback.
Prefer speaking practice?
The Korean FLOW Club is open for new members — build fluency with daily prompts, routines, and community support.
Prefer reading while you listen?
I’m experimenting with a Substack version of each episode to support visual learners. You can read along + get examples while listening to boost understanding!
📖 → Checkout Korean Joa in Substack
Connect with Me
🌐 Website: joaacademy.com
📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy
💌 Join the Korean FLOW Club: Practice real Korean every week — reading, listening, speaking & writing.
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