Seola.n

Seola.n Tutor Interview

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

A. Nice to meet you! My name is Seola, and I am a tutor from Japan who teaches Korean. Drawing from my own experience learning Korean on my own while living in Japan, I try to make my lessons fun and enjoyable for everyone, while working closely with each and every student. I am still new to teaching, but as a fellow Korean language learner, I would be delighted to be like a friend that students can rely on when they are in need of help!

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

A. I am from Yamaguchi prefecture, and I continue to teach in Yamaguchi prefecture. Although the population is not very large (1.3 million), it is a town rich in nature and famous for fugu (blowfish), kawara soba (buckwheat noodles), Dassai (Japanese Sake), and more. I am also very proud to say that many of Japan’s past prime ministers have come from Yamaguchi prefecture! In the town where I live, there is a famous bridge called “Kintai Kyō (錦帯橋).” “Kintai Kyō” is a wooden bridge with a long history, and it is very beautiful when photographed with cherry blossoms in spring, and the autumn foliage in fall, as it shows various expressions throughout the year. In the summer of 2024, I plan to go to Seoul for a working holiday! I have lived in Yamaguchi prefecture for the past 24 years since I was born, but I would like to proactively challenge myself in various things by moving abroad!

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

A. I had originally been teaching Korean on other sites, but I wanted to apply to teach Korean on a larger platform. I didn't think it would work out so well from the onset, but I really appreciate all the lesson requests I have already received.

The reason I started teaching Korean was largely due to the fact that I had to give up going on an exchange program to South Korea due to the pandemic. At the time, I was in shock and was unable to overcome the shock right away. However, during the time I was supposed to study abroad, I was able to study and obtain grade 5 on the TOPIK on my own. Even then, I could not reach my goal, which was to reach grade 6, the highest level. I realized that what I was lacking was a good understanding of the basics, such as grammar and pronunciation. I thought that if I taught Korean to others, my language skills would improve, so I started teaching Korean to my friends for free. As a result, one year after obtaining grade 5, I was able to finally obtain grade 6, and experienced firsthand the importance of strengthening my understanding of the basics!

At first, I wasn't confident about being a full-time teacher because I was not a native speaker and had no teaching certifications, but thanks to the wonderful students around me, I’ve made it this far! I am grateful for the opportunities I've had to meet and work with not only my regular students but also look forward to meeting new students in the future!

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

A. I teach lessons every day, so I generally don't have any days off, but when I don't have lessons, I spend most of my time creating lesson materials, watching YouTube videos, and playing with my cats at home.I have many interests, and I enjoy everything from studying languages to comedy, musicals, listening to music and sports! I often go to see musicals when I travel to South Korea. I especially like the musical “Rebecca” and was rejoiced to watch it during summer 2023!

I basically love all sports, but I love basketball the most because I competed in it for 11 years during my student years. I played point guard (commanding officer) and shooter! Korean language and basketball may seem to have nothing to do with each other, but I believe that I am good at working hard, thanks to the fact that I have practiced basketball every day since I was a child and learned the importance of working hard!

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. I try to make my lessons “enjoyable for everyone wanting to learn.” I myself have studied Hangul just like everyone else, so I try to give lessons and feedback to each student from the learner’s point of view, making use of my own experience. I adapt my lesson pace and frequency of lessons to each student. When students are busy with their work or studies, or when their motivation to learn drops a little, I encourage them by telling them to “please try your best and don’t overwork yourself.” I believe that the secret to progress is to enjoy the process of gradual improvement and to continue working on it without pressuring yourself.

Q. Which lessons would you recommend to your students?

A. I would recommend my “【Beginner level】Tips for Daily Conversation♪" and “Consultation Lesson♪." The following are suggestions for each of my lessons and who they are designed for.

My “【Beginner level】Tips for Daily Conversation♪” lesson is mainly for students who want to master daily conversation as a hobby, or for students who have been studying on their own but have hit a wall at beginner level! If you have only practiced reading and writing but not speaking, you can take this lesson with ease! My lesson materials are based on the syllabus of "カナタ KOREAN初級I、II (Kanata KOREAN Elementary level I, II)", but I am currently working on creating original materials from scratch to upgrade my course materials! You can choose from three lesson durations: 30, 45, or 60 minutes.

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

A. Dear my current students, thank you so much for working so hard! Thank you for balancing your careers, studies, and housework while continuing to take my lessons! I look forward to continue learning Korean with you while having fun and taking it easy^^

I am also very excited to meet many new students in the future! If you are not sure where to start, please feel free to try my trial lesson or consultation lesson! Let’s work together while enjoying the process of studying and the joy of learning new things!

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Seola.n

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