Who I am
Fully bilingual in English and Korean. 11 years teaching Korean, with heritage learners being the students I enjoy working with most. Outside of teaching I work in data research and spend a lot of time learning languages, so I understand both the analytical and the deeply personal side of what it takes to reconnect with a language.
Heritage learners face a specific set of challenges: passive comprehension that won't convert to speech, the frustration of previous attempts that didn't stick, and the gap you feel when you're around family or visiting Korea. I understand these patterns because I've been working through them with students for over a decade.
The work goes beyond language mechanics. We talk about the cultural and social context that shapes how Korean is actually used: the things that make the difference between sounding natural and sounding like a textbook.
Outside of teaching, I do data research and spend a lot of time learning languages. I know what it feels like to work at a language seriously, and that informs how I teach.
Recorded 2023