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 Christmas story in Korean about spending the holidays abroad. She reflects on the contrast between Christmas in Korea, which often feels quiet and low-key, and Christmas in France, where streets are filled with lights, trees, busy shops, and families preparing for holiday meals.

Told at an A2 friendly pace, this episode is perfect for Korean learners who want to relax, enjoy the sound of Korean, and connect emotionally with the language — especially during the holiday season.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• A cozy Christmas story in easy, slow Korean
• Cultural reflections on Christmas in Korea vs abroad
• A gentle reminder that understanding everything is not required
• A calm listening practice you can enjoy anywhere
• A special Christmas gift for learners interested in living, working, or settling down in Korea

How to Use This Episode

• Listen while walking, resting, or enjoying a warm drink
• Focus on tone and feeling, not translation
• Let Korean wash over you naturally
• Enjoy it more than once if you like — no effort required

To celebrate the holidays, Eliza collaborated with other professionals who support foreigners in Korea to create a free resource bundle.

🎁 The Korea Success Resource Bundle includes free resources from:

• Korean teachers
• An expat coach living in Korea
• An entrepreneur who helps foreigners do business in Korea
• An entrepreneur who helps foreigners settle down in Korea

Each contributor shared one resource to help you study, work, do business, or build a life in Korea with more confidence.

👉 Download the bundle for free.

Prefer reading while you listen?

I’m experimenting with a new way to support visual learners!
→ Read this episode on Substack

⭐ If You Enjoyed the Episode…

Please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a quick review. It helps more Korean learners discover the podcast and feel supported on their TOPIK journey.

Connect with Me

• 🌐 Website: https://www.joaacademy.com/
• 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy
• 💌 Join the Korean FLOW Club for weekly practice in real Korean (reading, listening, speaking & writing).

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 episode, Eliza explains how graders scan essays, what they look for first, and why clarity matters more than “advanced” grammar. If you’ve ever felt frustrated thinking “My writing isn’t that bad, so why is my score low?” — this episode will help everything finally make sense.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ How TOPIK graders read essays - What graders focus on — and what they don’t care about as much as you think.

✔ Why many learners lose points without realizing it - Common issues like unclear topic sentences, weak connectors, and mixed speaking/writing styles.

✔ The difference between spoken Korean and written Korean (문어체) - Why writing the way you speak can lower your TOPIK score.

✔ One powerful “Think Like a Grader” rule - A simple mindset shift that instantly improves how you approach TOPIK writing.

✔ How to review your own TOPIK essay more effectively - A low-pressure self-check you can use with essays you’ve already written.

Key TOPIK Writing Concepts Covered:

• TOPIK essay structure
• Topic sentences and logical flow
• Writing consistency (문어체)
• Common TOPIK writing mistakes
• Clarity vs advanced grammar
• How TOPIK essays are evaluated

Practice

Take one old TOPIK essay you’ve written and check:

1. Do I have a clear topic sentence?
2. Are my ideas logically connected?
3. Is my writing style consistent throughout?

You don’t need to rewrite — awareness alone improves writing quality.

What’s Next

For listeners who want to go deeper with structured lessons and real feedback, enrollment for the TOPIK II Writing Confidence Program opens this Friday, December 19, 2025.

If you’re interested or want to learn more, make sure you’re on the waitlist.

👉 Join the waitlist here → https://www.joaacademy.com/writing-confidence-lab-waitlist

⭐ If You Enjoyed the Episode…

Please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a quick review. It helps more Korean learners discover the podcast and feel supported on their TOPIK journey.

Connect with Me

• 🌐 Website: https://www.joaacademy.com/
• 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy
• 💌 Join the Korean FLOW Club for weekly practice in real Korean (reading, listening, speaking & writing).

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 difficult — and why it has nothing to do with your intelligence or Korean ability.

You’ll hear a simple, beginner-friendly Korean story about a common TOPIK mistake (writing exactly like you speak)… and you’ll learn how to shift from spoken Korean to written Korean (문어체) in a clear, stress-free way.

Finally, Eliza gives you one of her signature frameworks for Level 4–5 writing, so you can instantly improve your next TOPIK essay.

Whether you’re preparing for TOPIK II, struggling with sentence flow, or just want to feel confident writing in Korean, this episode will help everything “click.”

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ Why TOPIK Writing feels hard (it’s not your fault!)
The three major reasons most learners struggle — and how understanding them changes everything.

✔ The difference between speaking Korean and writing Korean (문어체)
A simple Korean story demonstrates why spoken patterns (like “너무… 너무… 너무…”) don’t work for TOPIK.

✔ How to avoid the “childish writing” trap
Common Level 3–4 mistakes and how to fix them.

✔ A simple TOPIK Writing structure you can use immediately
Eliza teaches a clear framework: Topic → Reason → Example → Ending
Perfect for TOPIK Level 4–5 tasks.

✔ A mini writing challenge to build confidence
Learn how to express a negative experience or inconvenience in a logical, TOPIK-friendly format.

Key Korean Expressions From the Episode:

• 말하기 스타일 — speaking style
• 문어체 — written/formal style
• 논리 흐름 — logical flow
• 부담이 크다 — to feel burdened
• 계획을 조정하다 — to adjust a plan

Perfect for learners who want practical vocabulary for TOPIK essays.

Your Weekly Writing Challenge:

Think of one small inconvenience you experienced this week (e.g., transportation issue, weather, schedule issue).

Write a short paragraph using the TOPIK structure: Topic → Reason → Example → Ending.

Small practice grows big confidence.

Want Personalized Feedback on Your TOPIK Writing?

The TOPIK Writing Confidence Lab opens very soon.
If you want to write clear, logical, Level 4–5 essays with guidance and supportive feedback:

👉 Join the waitlist here → https://www.joaacademy.com/writing-confidence-lab-waitlist

You'll be the first to know when doors open + receive special bonuses.

Prefer reading while you listen?

I’m experimenting with a new way to support visual learners!
→ Read this episode on Substack

⭐ If You Enjoyed the Episode…

Please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a quick review. It helps more Korean learners discover the podcast and feel supported on their TOPIK journey.

Connect with Me

• 🌐 Website: https://www.joaacademy.com/
• 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy
• 💌 Join the Korean FLOW Club for weekly practice in real Korean (reading, listening, speaking & writing).