i’ve been struggling a lot with answering questions and having a conversation in korean 😭 i know the vocabulary and the grammar, and if i could write it down, id be able to identify and create responses and the appropriate dialogue, but the second it comes to recalling what i know quickly in a conversation, i just sit there with a blank mind. do you have any tips on overcoming this and getting better at thinking in korean? 😅😅

I totally get it, I used to have the exact same problem! My best recommendation is to practice speaking as much as you can; only then will having conversations feel more natural. I know this can be difficult if you aren't surrounded by native speakers, but if you are, do what you can to practice with them! Apps like Hilokal and Tandem also offer opportunities to practice speaking with others in your target language, so check those out too!

It seems like you just struggle with speaking, but if listening comprehension contributes to this, I would recommend practicing that too. K-dramas and YouTube videos made by Korean creators are quite helpful in my opinion. Any content where people are speaking natural, everyday Korean is best! (I feel like YouTube vids fit these criteria more than K-dramas do, but both are helpful.)

Something else that can hurt your speaking is nerves, which I totally get! When I first started taking my Korean class at my school, I was pretty nervous and found it hard to force myself to speak or find the right words. But as time went on, I felt more comfortable and my speaking improved a lot. Of course, I practiced, but the fact that I feel more comfortable makes everything feel easier. So I would also recommend that you don't stress so much! It can be especially daunting when you're talking to native speakers online or in person, but know that they're most likely not judging you! Every time I've spoken to a native speaker they've actually been quite impressed, even when I felt like I was messing up. Again, with practice, you'll feel more comfortable speaking and less worried about messing up.

So that's my advice! Def try not to stress too much when conversing -- the other person knows you're trying your best! It's also ok to take pauses or speak slowly during a convo; that's what practice is all about! I'm sure you'll see improvement before you know it :) I hope this helps! Thanks for the question and good luck! 화이팅!