I used to do everything right.

I had a color-coded Korean study planner.
A folder full of grammar PDFs.
Three flashcard apps.
Even a dedicated study playlist called “Fluency Vibes.”

And yet—I wasn’t speaking.

Not really.

I could recite grammar rules.
Recognize words in K-dramas.
Pass the occasional quiz.

But when it came time to actually talk in Korean?

My throat tightened. My brain blanked.
And I’d say… nothing.

I Told Myself I Was “Not Ready Yet”
Maybe I just needed a bit more time.
A few more words.
A little more confidence.

So I kept studying in silence.

More apps. More notebooks. More waiting.

And that silence turned into weeks.
Then months.

Until one day, I heard myself say something that hit me hard:

“I’ve been learning Korean for 8 months… but I still haven’t had a real conversation.”

Ouch.

The Shift Took 1 Minute—But Changed Everything
That night, I didn’t open my flashcard app.
I didn’t review grammar points.

I just did this:

🗣️ I picked a simple Korean sentence.
🎙️ I recorded myself saying it out loud.
🙈 I cringed.
🔁 I did it again.

One minute. That’s all.

No audience. No tutor. No pressure.

Just my voice—finally using the language I’d been hiding behind.

The next day? I did it again. And again.
Soon it became my daily habit.

Not perfect. Not polished.
Just practiced.

Speaking Isn’t the End Goal—It’s the Starting Point
I thought fluency came after confidence.
But it turns out, confidence came after speaking.

And the more I spoke (even if it was messy), the less power fear had over me.

You Don’t Need More Time. You Need One Minute.
Forget waiting until you feel “ready.”
You’ll be waiting forever.

Instead:

Choose one simple sentence.

Say it out loud.

Let it be awkward.

Repeat tomorrow.

One minute a day can be the thing that breaks the silence.

It was for me.
​And it might be for you too. 💬🇰🇷