What's special about TNKR?

So you wanna be a TNKR tutor! There are some things you should know to understand why you are about to have a special experience.
_________________________________________________

TNKR is learner-centered!

Students get to choose, we are their language helpers as they start or continue their journey into the world of English.

* TNKR's co-founders discuss the program in a special #hashtagimpact interview.

* Refugees choose their tutors at a Matching session. This TV clip from 2016 shows what the session is like (it is made for TV so it is 90% accurate).

* Our process has been praised by Thae Yong-ho, the former North Korean diplomat and who is now the first NK defector directly elected to South Korea's National Assembly. (Video, Script)

_________________________________________________

Why are North Korean refugees so eager to learn English?

* USA Today: North Korean defectors must overcome big challenge once free: Learn English

* Casey Lartigue's 8 part series in the Korea Times: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) plus Male and Female refugees on English and Adjustment.

* English-only for North Korean refugees (Korea Times

* New programs help defectors from North Korea adjust, shed stigma (UPI)

* Trump-Kim summit: the English school giving North Korean defectors a voice is not holding its breath for peace (South China Morning Post)

* Volunteers help bridge the language gap for defectors
(Koreana Magazine)

* Free English tutoring program helps N.K. defectors adapt (Yonhap feature)
_________________________________________________

Have questions about TNKR? Here's what media outlets have asked us.

* Some good questions asked of the TNKR co-founders during an interview on Arirang TV's "Heart to Heart."

* Unification Media interview about TNKR's history and approach.

* "On My Way to Meet You" with English subtitles (TNKR co-founders interviewed along with two TNKR students)

_________________________________________________

What are some ways to get involved with TNKR?

* TVN's 49 minute TV special about TNKR (because it is TV, that means it is about 90 percent accurate)

* TNKR Member Jeff Villa on returning to TNKR

* Some start as tutors, then later become staffers, team leaders.

* You can be a leader, tutor, speech coach, mentor, donor, fundraiser, or cheerleader!

But Eben Appleton has already claimed the number #1 cheerleader spot.

* Most volunteers start as tutors. Apply here. After filling out the application, contact TNKR co-founder Casey Lartigue, attend an orientation, then get invited to a Matching session. First preference is for those who also become Members (after all, there would be no TNKR without supporters).

_________________________________________________

Why do volunteers become Members?

* TNKR members get many benefits!

* They get to tutor fantastic and motivated North Korean refugees 1:1 who have come to TNKR.
* If they raise enough money, they can get free books signed by North Korean refugee authors.

* They avoid the "hidden costs" of volunteering and "free tutoring". Instead, TNKR can cover costs of tutoring sessions for both students and tutors.

* Here's when and why TNKR began asking volunteers for both "Time and a Dime."

* What's the easiest way to become a Member? Set up a fundraiser, donate to a project, or find other ways to donate, including directly through the TNKR Website.

_________________________________________________

And of course, the most special thing about TNKR?

The students!

Escaping from North Korea by Yeonmi Park (One Young World) and Yeon-mi Park: The hopes of North Korea’s ‘Black Market Generation’ (Washington Post) (Yeonmi was a student in TNKR during 2013-14 and TNKR's first Refugee Ambassador)

The Lives of North Korean Women (TEDx) by Eunhee Park (from A-B-C to T-E-D)

My Arduous Journey (TEDx) by Cherie Yang

Park Sisters Graduated from College! (Yeonmi) (Eunmi)

How do you stay up-to-date with TNKR's activities? You don't have to climb a mountain! Just click!

Here are TNKR's official SNS options.

TNKR co-founder Casey Lartigue's SNS options.

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

Park Jin welcoming remarks to FSI (and Casey Lartigue)

National Assembly member Park Jin makes the welcoming remarks at FSI's conference featuring North Korean diplomats. Park Jin | Greeting message to FSI and Casey Lartigue mention - YouTube

Freedom Factory Shareholder Meeting (2015-01-31)

Re: Building something out of nothing Freedom Factory is a very small company, of which I am a shareholder. Yesterday we had our annual shareholder meeting. Freedom Factory is allowing us to "incubate" TNKR until we can stand on our two own feet--or at least crawl on our four hands and feet. (Consumer Rights Watch is in the same position). I owe special thanks to FF CEO 김정호. He is a "true believer" in the cause of freedom, so he is allowing both projects to grow out of FF. That's even though Freedom Factory is a small start up with the CEO, staff and supporters wondering how we are going to achieve our dreams with such a tight budget. So when I say I am so thankful to the volunteers and donors of TNKR, it isn't just lip service. Volunteers--along with Freedom Factory, the Atlas Network, donors--are helping us to create something out of nothing, helping North Korean refugees find their own way and tell their own stories. Like the FF CEO, I also don...

2018-09-28 Not everyone at KFC cooks chickens

Most of the people who contact us at TNKR naturally want to tutor North Korean refugees. Many potential volunteers are shocked shocked shock ed to learn that they can volunteer with TNKR in other ways. I tell many of them: "Not everyone at KFC cooks chickens. There are also delivery people, accountants, marketers, personnel, and a host of other positions." Earlier this year, we began developing the TNKR Volunteer Leadership Academy. I'm still waiting for someone to take over that little project. Until then, I will continue with developing it. And be developing it, I mean telling people, "Don't write me a long business plan about what you would like to do. Just start doing it, keep me updated and in the conversations, then let's talk and update." We have had a recent influx of volunteers who want to help TNKR in other ways. Jackie Cole is now running our Instagram. She constantly surprises me with the flyers and videos she posts. I made it clear from the ...

2020-11-26 My basketball story

This photo was uploaded today by my aunt Annette. This was back in the day, when 1) I had a head full of hair and 2) played basketball a lot. That first year of playing organized basketball, I focused on playing defense. It seemed that everyone wanted to shoot the ball, so I passed the ball and played defense. I probably led the league in steals, rebounds and blocked shots. I enjoyed taking on the best player from the other team, I felt like I would get better, quickly. The second year, I was a different player. I will never forget the first game that second year--we lost 29 to 26, I scored 18 points. I probably led the universe in scoring that second year, although we didn't win much. One thing I learned from that experience is that one great player 9 (at least in his own mind) can't beat a team. An eye injury ended my pro career before it began, to this day I still have floaters in my eyes because of the injury. I started wearing glasses, but the problem never went away. On t...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

Search This Blog