"I have been so nervous to actually speak Korean that I just... didn't."
That's how one of my learners described it. Maybe it's you too. You know the words, you've done the grammar, but the moment you have to speak, it comes out awkward and forced, or it doesn't come out at all.
"My Korean felt awkward and forced, and I took way too much time putting my thoughts into words."
Confidence doesn't come from learning more. It comes from speaking more, out loud, every day, with people who are actually there with you.
🎬 A quick look at how it works.
😶 You can understand it. So why won't it come out of your mouth?
- You understand far more Korean than you can actually say out loud.
- You translate every sentence in your head first, and by the time it comes out, it's shrunk to something tiny.
- You know the grammar on paper, but your mouth doesn't have the muscle to answer automatically.
- You hesitate because you're not sure it's right, so you stay quiet.
- You don't have anyone to actually practise speaking with.
If you nodded at even one of these, you're in the right place. And none of it means you're not trying hard enough. It just means you haven't had the reps yet.
🧩 Most Korean study leaves you alone with more material. This is the opposite.
- You speak every day, in small doable pieces, until it stops being scary.
- You get personal feedback, so you always know if you're on the right track.
- You're never judged. This is the thing members mention most, without being asked.
🔁 It's not just me asking the questions.
This is a system where you ask and answer each other, not only me. So you have to really listen, and respond in the moment. That is the exact muscle real conversation needs, and it's why the speaking sticks.
"I cannot thank you enough for creating a safe place for all of us to learn. At no stage throughout this challenge did I ever feel judged by anyone in this group, which gave me the space to make mistakes and to learn from them. Not only did you create this safe place as a group but you also invested a lot of time with me on the sidelines which made me feel incredibly supported."
✨ Here's what members say changed.
"I just arrived in Korea and was able to speak and use my Korean confidently and usefully! Your class was a great space to feel safe, to build confidence in speaking Korean, without shame or judgment."
"I realized I was no longer scared to speak. In fact, I wanted to speak more even if it meant saying things that weren't entirely correct. I still hesitate when I can't remember how to say something, but every time I try, I find that I'm really proud of the effort and the things that I can remember how to say."
"그 생각보다 짧은 시간 동안이라도, 릴리 선생님 덕분에 제 한국말 실력 자신감이 좀 더 생긴 것 같아요. 다른 언어에 찾지 못한 매력을 다시 깨달았단 말입니다."
(Even in a short time, thanks to Lily my confidence speaking Korean has grown — and I rediscovered a charm I couldn't find in any other language.)
"It reminded me why I keep studying Korean: the people. I get to meet folks from all over the world and share our struggles and wins as we learn this beautiful language. The highlight, though, was meeting you, Lily 쌤."
"Before starting the class, I had very little to zero confidence in carrying a natural sounding conversation in Korean. Truthfully, the first day of this booster class, I was terrified and wanted to give up. I'm glad I stuck with it - in just 2 weeks, I was able to carry a conversation in Korean about British colonialism and its impact on former colonies, nationalism, and immigration! I've taken a lot of Korean classes, but this was the first time where homework was in the form of speaking (uploading voice memos). The format really forced me to get used to speaking in Korean. Lily is an amazing teacher and encouraged all of us to ask "Lily GPT" any questions that we had. I felt so much accountability to my speaking buddy partner, to the class, and to Lily. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to improve their Korean speaking."
"Before starting the class, I didn't know how to talk consistently about a topic in more than one sentence. Now after 2 weeks, I can string a few thoughts and sentences together to form a more complete thought, thank you Lily! It's nice to be pushed and learn new lessons, without being overwhelmed, and I loved meeting other learners and getting my own feedback while also being able to learn from theirs."
"I was honestly terrified to take part in this challenge at the beginning but it turns out that a gentle push is exactly what I needed. The daily speaking missions were just the right amount of challenging, and I really appreciated the detailed feedback. And Lily creates such a warm and welcoming environment, it didn't take long to stop feeling like a classroom and more like friends just hanging out, which made it all the more fun!"
🎧 Confidence you can actually hear.
Every member records themselves speaking on day one, and again on the last day. Same prompt, so you can hear the change. Our first round ran for 14 days, so these are Day 1 next to Day 14.
Play them back to back. This is confidence you can actually hear. (Shared with permission.)
📅 When it runs.
One live group call each week, on Thursdays — the poll leaned European, so we meet at 7:00pm KST. After each call you get a PDF of the words and sentences that came up, so nothing is lost.
US-friendly this round. The exact day and time are decided by a poll of everyone who joins, and confirmed before we start.
Base time is KST; exact time confirmed before each round (daylight saving may shift it by an hour). Only 8 spots each round.
📒 Two challenges, same warm structure, pitched at where you are.
A2 Challenge
Lily as your language partner. You practise introducing yourself, talking about your day, your weekend, and making plans, out loud, every day.
B1 Challenge
Lily as your group coach. You go deeper: reasons, opinions, plans and dreams, real back-and-forth conversation. Runs in October, US-friendly times.
Both include
- A speaking buddy matched by Lily, by hand.
- Daily speaking practice, Monday to Friday.
- Personal feedback from Lily every weekday.
- A weekly group call in a warm, no-judgement space.
- A community where you ask and answer each other, mistakes welcomed.
Not sure which? A2 if speaking still makes you freeze. B1 if you can hold a simple conversation and want it to flow. Message me and I'll help you choose. Just 8 spots per round.
🧠 A clear path, one small step a day.
- You join and I match you with a buddy, by hand, so you never have to hunt for a practice partner.
- Each day, a short workbook page and a small speaking mission. The core speaking takes about 10 minutes. Go deeper if you want, listening, studying the lesson, homework, and reviewing my feedback, and most members spend around 30 minutes to an hour a day. You choose how deep you go.
- You speak every weekday. A voice note to your buddy, like friends chatting. And in the group you ask and answer each other, not just me, so you have to really listen.
- You join a group call with me each week (a small group of 8, not one-to-one), where everyone speaks. Afterwards you get a PDF of the words and sentences that came up.
- You record yourself on day one and near the end. Play them back to back, and you'll hear the difference in your own voice.
🎯 Is the Confidence Booster Challenge right for you?
If you understand Korean but freeze, hesitate, or feel awkward the moment it's your turn to speak, this is for you. You know the basics. You don't need more word lists. You need reps, out loud, with people who are there with you, and someone who tells you when you've got it right.
It's probably not for you if:
- You're a complete beginner who can't yet read Hangul or build a basic sentence. Come back once you've got the foundations.
- You want a quick fix without speaking out loud. The whole thing is daily speaking, that's the point.
- You can't commit to speaking most days through the challenge. It only works if you show up.
- You're looking for grammar drills or vocabulary lists. This is speaking practice, not more study material.
If that's you right now, no hard feelings. Message me and I'll point you to something that fits better.
👋 Hi, I'm Lily.
I'm the teacher behind Korean Cheat Code. I built this challenge for one reason: the message I kept getting was "I understand Korean, but I can't speak it." This is my answer to that.
❓ Before you start, you might be wondering:
How many people are in a round?
A maximum of 8. I keep every round small on purpose, so everyone speaks, everyone gets feedback, and it stays a warm group rather than a crowded class.
Which level should I pick, A2 or B1?
A2 if speaking still makes you freeze and you're building basic sentences. B1 if you can already hold a simple conversation and want it to flow more naturally. Not sure? Message me and I'll help you choose.
How much time does it take each day?
The core speaking mission takes about 10 minutes. If you want to make the most of it, listening, studying the lesson, doing the homework, and going through my feedback, most members spend around 30 minutes to an hour a day. It's up to you how deep you go. Plus your weekly group call.
How many group calls are there, and when?
One live group call each week with me. I set the day and time by a poll of everyone who joins, so it works for the most people. You can see the current round's schedule above, and it's always confirmed before we start.
Do I just answer Lily's questions?
No. You ask and answer each other too, not only me. That's the point: you listen and respond in the moment, which is the exact skill real conversation needs.
What if I'm scared to speak?
Good, that means you're exactly who this is for. We start small, you have a buddy, and nobody's judging. The fear fades with reps. That's the whole design.
What if I make mistakes?
You will, and that's the point. That's why you get feedback every weekday, so your mistakes turn into "oh, that's how you say it."
I already speak Korean daily. Is this still for me?
Yes, if you want more confidence and to speak more naturally. Members who already spoke daily still gained confidence and connection.
Let's finally get your Korean out of your mouth.
You already understand it. This is the round you start using it. Just 8 spots.
Pick your path above · A2 £129 · B1 £179 · September round starts 31 August