SEOYEON

SEOYEON Tutor Interview

Q. Hi ! Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. May we ask you to briefly introduce yourself?

A. Hello! I am rejoiced to get to meet everyone through this interview. My name is 서연 (Seoyeon), and I am a Korean language tutor. I majored in Tourism Management at university, and worked as a ground staff member for an airline at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido by making use of my major. After that, I started working as a Korean language tutor in Osaka, and I am now meeting all of you as an online tutor on Cafetalk.

My dream of becoming a ground staff member for an airline company, which I had since my student days, inevitably came to an end due to the pandemic. However, being able to work as a Korean language tutor has helped me strive towards my aspirations of being a person “that can be of help to others” and “doing work that can influence others.” In addition, before becoming a tutor, I myself, like all of you, had spent a long time studying Japanese as a “student,” so I fully understand the challenges of studying another language. I find the time spent studying together with my students to be much more valuable and fulfilling. For this reason, I would like to continue to work hard, towards an even more enjoyable time to study with many more students in the future.

Q. Please tell us more about your hometown and the area where you currently reside.

A.I was born in Ulsan, South Korea, and spent my student years in Busan. I also worked in Hokkaido and Osaka as an adult. I have now returned to my hometown Ulsan, and have been spending time with my family. I was away from my hometown in my twenties, but now that I am in my thirties and have returned to Ulsan, I found that it is still a beautiful and comfortable city.

Unfortunately, Ulsan does not stand out as a tourist destination because it is located next to “the city of a thousand years: Gyeongju” and “the second capitol: Busan,” but it is a leading industrial city in South Korea. However, paradoxically to its title as an industrial city, it is also an eco-friendly city with beautiful gardens in various places, and a large river flowing through it, and a little away from the city center lies a mountain range known as the Yeongnam Alps.

It is also famous for the Unyang style bulgogi, and since it is close to the sea, you can enjoy fresh seafood. I hope you have the chance to enjoy a delightful trip in Ulsan, a dynamic and eco-friendly city surrounded by mountains and the sea, which also leads Korea’s largest “automobile, shipbuilding, and petrochemical” industries.

Q. What motivated you to become a tutor on Cafetalk?

A. I was teaching Korean in Osaka, but due to personal circumstances, I had to return to my home country. At that time, I had a unfulfilled wishes about teaching. The main reason I wanted to work in the aviation industry during my student days was the sense of fulfillment I could gain from helping others. However, as a teacher, providing guidance to someone and witnessing their growth gave me a different sense of fulfillment and pride compared to what I experienced as a ground staff member. Since I had only been working as a teacher in Osaka for a year, deciding to return home when I had just begun to develop an affection for my job was by no means easy.

However, by chance, I heard from a student that there were ways to offer lessons online, and after returning to South Korea, I was thankfully able to continue my career as a tutor. Unlike teaching in-person, I had to create everything on my own, so it was not easy to make a name for myself as a tutor. However, this became a foundation for my personal growth, and fortunately, thanks to many students who studied with me, I have now entered my fifth year as a tutor.

Q. What are you usually up to when you're not teaching on Cafetalk? What are your hobbies and interests?

A. I believe those who work in education can relate, but just like their students, tutors must also continue to study in order to provide better lessons. On days when I am not teaching, I mainly prepare for lessons or study Japanese in a nice café. This year, I spent time creating review materials for students studying using the “Dekiru Korean” textbook. Additionally, driven by my desire to improve my Japanese skills, I read news articles to increase my vocabulary and practice reading while being mindful of pronunciation and intonation. Since I am working from home, simply changing my location serves as a refreshing change, and delicious coffee and desserts fuel my efforts.

Of course, I also make time for myself, besides working and studying. I enjoy reading my favorite books at cafes, and I go to concerts of my favorite artists two or three times a year. Some of you may already know, but I love the band “10cm” and “SORAN.” I also plan to go to Seoul to see a winter concert soon. All of these artists have very good lyrics, so I think everyone studying Korean should give them a try as well. I recommend the recently released SORAN’s “목소리: Voice” and 10cm’s “그라데이션: Gradation!”

Q. A lot of students are probably curious about the atmosphere in your lessons. What can a student imagine a lesson with you to be like? What’s your teaching style?

A. One common misunderstanding for those studying another language for the first time, or studying on their own, is thinking that once they finish a textbook, they have understood everything. Indeed, I have heard many questions like, “why can't I speak Korean yet even though I have finished a whole textbook?” How wonderful it would be if we could understand everything and perfectly digest it just by looking at a single textbook. Often times, learners lack sufficient practice in “sentence construction,” which leads to not being able to properly use the expressions they know.

Therefore, after explaining the concepts of grammar during the lesson, I focus on helping my students practice completing sentences by applying the grammar they have learned so far. This is why I often assign questions from the textbook and written homework, as this becomes a process of “reviewing” what students have learned, so even if you may find it difficult, let’s work hard together!

Also, for students who already have a certain understanding of the grammar system and are taking free talking lessons, I always emphasize, “It’s okay to make mistakes, so let’s try to express ourselves in Korean first!” Correcting mistakes and providing feedback is my role, so I would be more than happy if you could use my lessons to fully express what you have studied.

Q. Which lessons would you recommend to your students?

A. Recently, I have been recommending my “작문연습: Writing Practice” lesson. I believe that writing is the most objective standard for assessing one’s vocabulary and grammar skills. Since Japanese and Korean are similar, there are also a lot of expressions that are often confused, so I think it will be a great opportunity to learn more natural Korean expressions.

In addition, for those of you who have been studying Korean for awhile, I definitely recommend my “free-talking” lesson. Occasionally, I have students who feel embarrassed about making mistakes or are shy during the lesson, but I hope you can enjoy it as an enjoyable time, as if you were chatting with a friend. (Of course, I always strive to create a relaxed atmosphere, so please don’t worry!)

Of course, since there is no one “correct” answers in learning, so if you are unsure about what kind of lessons to take, one suggestion is to first have a consultation lesson to discuss and talk about what you want to focus on in your future studies.

Q. Finally, would you like to leave a message for your current and future students?

A. I'm sure those of you who are already studying with me have heard this to the point of being fed up...lol The reasons and goals for everyone studying another language are different, but I believe that this process of studying not only allows you to speak in Korean but also enriches your daily life with liveliness and the sense of achievement that comes from studying hard without giving up. Of course, studying another language isn't always enjoyable, right...? It also comes with lots of effort and some difficulties, but I will always be besides you to ensure you don't get discouraged.

Seeing all of you who are studying Korean without giving up, while dedicating yourselves to your studies, work, or family inspires me to study a lot as well. I am grateful to be able to accompany you on your journey of learning Korean and will continue to strive to provide better lessons as your tutor.

I look forward to meeting all of you in lessons filled with laughter!

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SEOYEON

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