Home - Speak with Seoul

Overcome Adoption-Related Mental & Emotional Barriers To Learning To Speak Korean

With our membership it’s possible to speak Korean freely without the doubt, shame, judgments, and all-around BS.

You’ve probably tried to learn to speak Korean before but...

You were discouraged because you spoke several sentences and were frowned at because your pronunciation was off, while your non-Korean friend spoke one Korean word and native Koreans went wild with astonishment.
Or, you went to a coffee shop in Seoul to order a hot cup of joe and the cashier saw that you look Korean but can’t speak well. He looked at you sideways and you felt a sudden heavy judgment.

After this, any excitement or confidence you had probably went out the window.

It’s hard to get it back.

Especially if you don’t have the discipline to keep speaking with others in Korean and you feel that your accent needs work.

As someone who looks Korean you’re expected to speak flawlessly, even if you were adopted at a young age.

How realistic is that? Not at all.

Don't Worry, With our membership it's possible to Speak Korean freely...

without the doubt, shame, judgments, and all-around BS.

Be seen, heard, and validated in a community where your experiences won’t be taken for granted.

Put yourself in an environment conducive for healing, empowerment, and basic etiquette.

And most importantly, obliterate the barrier that’s stopped you from effectively learning to speak Korean so you can speak with Korean friends, other KADs, and even your birth family.

My name is Robert and I’m the son of a Korean adoptee. Korean is my second language. I’ve been through numerous struggles, challenges and hurdles in order to learn the language. Now, I teach Korean to adoptees.

What exactly did I do? How did I overcome those hurdles?

I welcome you to join our community and learn to overcome them, too!

About Robert Holloway - Founder of Speak With Seoul

I am the son of a Korean adoptee, I am an IKAA speaker, and a Korean conference interpreter. I now guide Korean adoptees through practical steps towards their goal of speaking Korean fluently, fostering a never-before-seen confidence within themselves that bulldozes through negative emotions associated with learning the language.

My teaching style integrates Korean language classes, healing workshops, and KAD-exclusive discussion sessions, so my students join a community where each and every individual is on the path towards finding a greater, more defined level of healing while having conversations in Korean and connecting with others like them from around the world.

My gift lies in serving as a beacon of confidence and a positivity amidst turmoil and challenges.

How did I start Speak with Seoul?

I attended and presented at my first ever IKAA conference in July of 2023.

The experience was eye-opening. I spent days listening to stories of KADs, how they grew up, were raised, what day-to-day and moment-to-moment challenges they face. The experience helped me to better understand my mother and myself. It was so impactful that I even had to re-format my entire workshop!

Additionally, I saw that many KADs had made efforts to learn Korean but weren’t successful. I thought, “I’ve met so many brilliant, smart and bright-minded people. Some even speak other languages!

IKAA 2023, Seoul, South Korea

So, why is Korean a problem?”

I later learned of several major factors. The greatest one, however, was shame.

Well, after my presentation (which was on learning Korean) I kept receiving requests to teach Korean. Eventually, I decided to pull up my bootstraps and do it. But, I made a resolve within myself.

I said, “If I’m going to teach Korean to adoptees then my classes will have to address the issue of negative experiences and emotions related to speaking Korean, because those are the greatest barriers to speaking the language.” This is how Speak with Seoul was born.

By signing up with Speak with Seoul you become a member of a worldwide community where KADs learn to speak Korean while at the same time heal from the pain that holds them back. This is accomplished through a series of classes, workshops and events.

This is my Vision.

I welcome you to our site and encourage you to approach the Korean language the same way a child approaches their first language: never give up, don’t be shy, and keep going after you make mistakes.

And have some occasional candy.

I’m cheering you on, Robert (심철수)

How Does This Speak With Seoul Thing Work, Anyway?

Speak with Seoul is a KAD-exclusive online Korean language course membership with a curriculum specifically designed for adoptees from Korea. No need to explain your situation here.

Live classes are held once per week (1-1.5 hrs) along with a 30 minute weekly “Conversation Cafe”, where the entire group meets and speaks only in Korean by practicing what was learned in the live class. Have your accent corrected and have others help you be accountable.

Not only do we teach you Korean, we hold language classes together with empowerment workshops and KAD-exclusive discussion groups on overcoming shame, doubt, self-judgment, and negative emotions you may have with trying to learn Korean.

Our goal is to obliterate the barrier that’s stopped you from effectively learning to speak Korean.

Join this worldwide community to learn from others’ mistakes, talk in comfortable and open classroom settings, and experience the accountability and structure of an in-person class.

Plus, the time commitment isn’t overwhelming.

Fun, comfortable, and meant for you!

Why Speak With Seoul?

Learn from someone who understands the adoption experience

Robert and his sister’s mother was adopted from South Korea in the 60s. He’s taken over his family’s birth search, befriended dozens of adoptees from Korea, and designed this course specifically for you.

Overcome the emotional barriers to learning Korean.

Speak with Seoul’s classes are intertwined with workshops that empower you to overcome self-judgment and shame, which adoptees commonly experience either from their upbringing or when they try to speak Korean with native Koreans. These negative situations may have held you back in the past, but now we’re here to turn them into positive experiences.

Study together with a community of people adopted from South Korea

Speak with Seoul has a community of learners just like you who want to learn the language with others who’ll understand their story and be sensitive to their experience. Take part in these conversation cafes and chats.

Membership Details

Speak With Seoul offers online classes in a membership format.
Here’s what membership includes:

Access to Group Classes and unlimited access to the recordings
Access to our Speak With Seoul Community to ask questions, participate in group study sessions, and collab with other KADs
HEALING WORKSHOPS with our adoptee-specialized therapists and activities
Monthly ADOPTEE DISCUSSION SESSIONS with a variety of topics, including empowerment, life in Korea, and more!
Weekly Q&A sessions with Robert

Group Classes

$ 57 /month

Buy Now

Group Classes

$ 570 /year

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Learn from others’ mistakes–not just your own!

Accountability–Be pressured to speak and recall what you know

For just $57/month...

you receive one Live Korean class per week, the recordings, and access to our:

Private & Secure Facebook Community
Weekly Korean Conversation Cafes
Biweekly Online Adoptee Healing Workshops
Monthly KAD Discussion Sessions
Language & Healing-Focused Digital Templates & Resources
Weekly Korean Language Video Content

$57 is the average price of 2 private Korean lessons!

But, with Speak With Seoul’s Group Classes you get

Your Journey

See what’s in store for you at each level of the Speak with Seoul Yeojeong…

Level 1: White Belt

This is the beginning stage of your Korean language journey. Here, you’ll acquire the right mindstate and clarify your vision of how you’ll speak Korean in the future. You will also learn to read and write hangeul.

Clarify exactly you want to learn in Korean and set your goals
Know the history of the Korean Language and Why It’s Not Actually Difficult To Learn
Have several Korean Survival Phrases in your pocket ready-to-use
Learn how to read and write hangeul (Become Korean alphabet literate)

Milestones

Level 2: Notable Newbie

Notable Newbies know hangeul and will learn to read any Korean word they come across, even if they don’t know the meaning. Your confidence increases, as memorizing words will be much, much easier and you’ll start to work with Korean sentences.

Know how to write Korean words
Pronounce all characters and words you read confidently
Be able to memorize dozens of Korean words without forgetting all of them
Start to write and speak simple sentences
Begin conquering Korean grammar

Milestones

Level 3: Confident Adventurer

You feel more empowered because you sound more Korean, start constructing your own sentences (not just what you see in textbooks), and establish an environment specifically designed to speak Korean on a daily basis–even if you don’t live in Korea.

Correct your pronunciation and sound close to native
Be creative with Korean by constructing your own sentences and phrases
Have an environment specifically designed to speak Korean on a daily basis–even if you don’t live in Korea
Get a good grasp of K-dramas

Milestones

Level 4: Conversation Junkie

Whether it be a native Korean, another KAD, or even your birth family if you’re up to it, you’re happy to engage in a conversation speaking Korean. Korean becomes more and more simple, and you’re ready to take your Korean skills in any direction you wish. You are so successful, confident and talk so much in Korean that Robert is sick of it and wants to fly you off to Korea!

Have conversations in Korean without feelings of shame or embarrassment stopping you
Realize that Korean is a simple language
Pulverize the wall that prevented you from speaking Korean fluently
Not be able to stop speaking Korean
Be equipped with all the tools you need to achieve your Korean goals (if you haven’t achieved them already)
Not need subtitles to understand the gist of what’s going on in K-Dramas
Be confident enough to give yourself the option to move to Korea
Be expected to travel regularly to Korea

Milestones

Testimonials

What have our Founding Members said about Speak With Seoul?

I started out knowing about 5 words and after just 3 months, I can read and write Hangul and have a basic conversation. Robert’s favorite saying is “Korean is easy!” and with his teaching style, it actually kind of is 🙂 Wherever you are on your Korean language journey, Robert meets you there without judgment or shame. It’s really nice to know that he understands and supports the KAD community.

He is very open to feedback about the format of class and is willing to support you in whatever way you need. I love the tips for learning vocabulary and the videos that explain the grammar points. Speak With Seoul is a full service membership – Robert scheduled a somatic breathwork journey (led by a fellow KAD) and it was so magical – it helped me connect with my greater purpose! I can’t wait to share this journey with more KADs!

- Anna Eiler

SWS Member

I had tried several times to learn Korean and I found that I did Duolingo and I’ve learned some of the alphabet and numbers, but I didn’t have anyone to practice with. So, it wasn’t sticking at all. That’s why I was like, “This class is perfect because it forces everyone to practice together.”

- Claire Magenheimer

SWS Member Certified Adoptee Empowerment Coach

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you teach hangeul?

Yes! The Korean language has an entirely different alphabet than English, which means that the sounds and intonations are different. For example, there is no exact “어” sound in English. The closest would be to say, “uh”. There is a specific Korean character for each Korean sound and I don’t want you to get stuck in the realm of the English language. For this reason, I believe that hangeul is a must when learning Korean.

Do you use a textbook? Which textbook is best for me?

Each Korean language textbook has its strengths and weaknesses. I’ve seen many but I haven’t used them all. Some are favorable for particular teaching styles, too.

I use GANADA Korean Language Institute’s textbook series. These are the same textbooks that I learned Korean from.

How much are textbooks?

How much? No need to worry. Textbooks are on me.

They’re included in your membership fee. Once you sign up for classes you’ll receive the link to the PDF.

How long is each class?

Classes are held twice per week:

One 1.5 hour class (including the time for questions)
One 30 min Conversation Cafe

What day/time will classes be held?

Class schedule/s will be determined after the membership launch
closes and will be based on members’ majority vote.

If necessary, I will hold a US time zone class time and
international time zone class time.

I’m going to meet my birth family and/or visit my adoption agency. Do you provide translation services?

Yes. And I don’t hold back. Many adoptees experience interpreters who appear to hold back because they’re afraid of your response or how you’ll feel. I, on the other hand, interpret as-is then provide insight from a Korean cultural perspective to help you better understand what was said and where the other side is coming from.