2014-08-17 My Korean Teacher!

Yes, it is true, I now have a private tutor! We are both busy people, but will do our best to meet a certain number of times per week (which I won't mention, because no matter which number I mention, some will say, "that not enough").

Anyway, she is nice enough to take the time to come see me. Although she admitted at the session where we met a few weeks ago that she will use me as one of her guinea pigs.^^

She has an incredible story, which I won't tell, but it is really interesting that she is now willing to take the time to teach me.

I have four other teachers I will meet occasionally, but of course, as soon as I decided to study Korean more seriously, some huge unanticipated projects popped up/re-emerged.

I will never have 17 teachers like my colleague Yeonmi Park has, but I will meet at least one or two teachers regularly...

It was a great moment--we had five people eager to study Korean, and five South Koreans eager to teach them, as volunteers.

I post this at the risk of knowing that people will be asking me, the next time they see me, "Are you fluent yet?" Just like when someone starts working on a book, "Have you finished it yet?"

하이, 선생님. 대단히고맙습니다.^^ She's my main teacher, we have set a regular schedule, and she is going to make me stick to it!

I organized this session helping beginners and fake beginners who want to learn/improve their Korean. 5 teachers, 5 students. And the tall guy in the back isn't standing on a table, he is really that tall.

She promised me that she can meet often...

Good guy, he took on several students. I will be meeting with him soon.

She also teaches Chinese...but it will be enough of a challenge for her to improve my Korean, I won't even amuse her with my lousy Chinese

I did my best to look bored, yawning, kept looking at my phone...it didn't matter... Ginny Min-Jin Song was determined to push some Korean into my head, even teaching me on the bus going back from Yeoju

"Yoegi Anjuseyo!"

* I have a short reflection in today's Korea Times about an encounter with an unfriendly looking Korean man on the subway. It was a reminder not to be too quick in judging people in Korea. 09-13-2011 16:47 'Yeogi Anjeuseyo!' By Casey Lartigue Jr. The recent incident in which an American English teacher bullied an elderly Korean man and other passengers on the bus reminded me of a more pleasing incident from years ago. I was on the subway, taking the train outside of Seoul for a work assignment. I have the habit of standing on the subway to strategically position myself near the doors in case my stop magically appears. On that particular day, there was a Korean man STARING at me. Not just looking at me, but intensely staring at me. He had an incredible frown on his face. Not just for one stop, but for several stops the guy just kept staring at me. If I had known more Korean then I would have been able to curse him ...

Michael Breen discussion at 10 Magazine

Yesterday I attended a discussion with writer Michael Breen, hosted by Barry Welsh. Very often, when I attend a speech or discussion about a topic I know a lot about, I often think about ways the speaker/facilitator/discussant could have done better. But I didn't feel that way about Breen, it was one of those times that I really felt like I had a lot to learn and should listen more than talk. He's been in Korea for three decades, working as a reporter, commentator, communications specialist. He reminds me of Andrei Lankov in that his analysis seems to be based on observation of how things work rather than trying to get the world to fit his biases. I don't know him, so his friends may say he is a raging ideologue, but that's not the impression I had yesterday and based on his writings. Michael Breen (L) and Casey Lartigue I first read his book The Koreans about a decade ago. It was a delightful read, that was both warm to Koreans but also critical at times. Yes...

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Inspiration from a lousy visitor (The Korea Times, December 31, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

2013-12-15 It was a great occasion yesterday. A group of us held a Christmas party in the cancer ward of severance hospital. So many people to mention. The man who inspired it all: Nick Adams. It was his trip to Korea last month that inspired me to organize the party. He had cancer when he was a child, and he insisted that as part of his itinerary that we stop by the hospital. I was so moved that I contacted the best party planner I have ever known. The man behind the motion: Edward M. Robinson! As I've said several times: If you are looking for someone to hold an incredible party for kids, then contact Eddie! I look forward to big things from HOPE now that he has taken an even more active role with the organization (and was smart enough to name me an International Adviser, for example). The staff members at Mulmangcho are still talking about the incredible Halloween party he hosted, and they are looking forward to the Christmas party he has planned this weekend! The lady behind t...

2020-07-24 Pandemic Tutoring

The question comes in various forms, as a request, a recommendation, a plea, an insinuation, an accusation, and sometimes (or most of the time) it is a demand and complaint at the same time. In my in-box yesterday: "And I wanted to know if TNKR also transitioned to online services as any other educational institutions globally under the pandemic." This was from a previous volunteer who is now in the USA, so I took more time to answer him, and will expand it now so I can share it with others asking. As context, TNKR started in 2013 as an informal volunteer group connecting North Korean refugees with volunteer tutors. In 2016, we became an official organization despite lacking funding. Mainly because we have limited resources we keep focused on our main mission, but try to expand based on the needs of North Korean refugee learners. We have developed a learner-centered organization that has a great reputation among North Korean refugees. That means we are not a social club or re...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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