Certified Korean tutor for all levels - Survival Korean for travellers, Speaking Club, Korean exam preparation, and more! 수업에서 만나요!

Find out more about Artem

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I'm half-Korean. I grew up in Russia with my family speaking a dialect of Korean with my grandparents. When I was in high school, I started learning the Seoul dialect which is very different from my native dialect. Learning it was very challenging. I had motivating teachers who helped me feel more at home in South Korea.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Without a doubt, Han Kang. She is one of the most well-known Korean writers and I am a huge fan of hers. Her writing is authentically Korean. For everyone who wants to understand Korean culture more, I recommend reading Human Acts and The Vegetarian.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  The most emblematic word of the Korean language and culture for me is 눈치 'nunchi'. It means 'judgment' or 'tact', but the entire meaning is untranslatable. It is the ability to read between the lines and read the environment, the concept of immense importance in learning Korean.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Certainly, not needing the help of subtitles when watching dramas is a big advantage. But nowadays Korea not only provides a wide variety of cultural content such as K-pop and K-drama, but also the most developed high-tech market in the world. Proficiency in Korean can open up career opportunities at tech giants like Samsung and LG.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  Korean is a language that has nothing to do with European languages. The order of words in a sentence is completely backward. But the most difficult thing is the way of expressing grammatical meanings. Causation, counterpoint, and uncertainty are all part of the verb, and learning to construct natural-sounding sentences is a challenge I'm eager to help you with.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  Throughout my teaching journey, I have had several students with various goals. I found my experience of teaching in a speaking club to be more interesting and rewarding. In a relaxed and less structured class, with people from different countries, learning becomes almost automatic.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I was very lucky to travel to Korea to tour and visit my family when I lived in Russia. During my travels, I learned more about the country and the differences between the traditions of international Koreans and those in South Korea. Later I had the opportunity to go to Korea to study and work.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  Studying a language is a long-term commitment, and I believe that one of the responsibilities of a teacher is to help make the language a part of the student's life, to help create habits rather than just giving materials. A teacher needs to push the boat so that the students can sail on their own. Whether I'm a Superprof or not, I'll leave it up to you! 우리 수업에 만나요! Увидимся на занятии! See you in class.