What Does a Korean Tutor Do?

A Korean tutor is an individual who uses his or her expertise in the Korean language and culture to teach others. Tutors typically conduct their work on an individual, one-on-one basis. They may be employed by a tutoring business or service organization or work independently. Their typical working day may involve teaching Korean grammar and mechanics, reviewing the student's written and oral work, and offering advice online.

Tutors possess extensive knowledge of Korean and are comfortable instructing students on every aspect of the language. People who acquire the services of a Korean tutor tend to be students seeking academic help or individuals seeking to become familiar with the language for work purposes. Generally, a Korean tutor will write up a contract for the prospective student that stipulates when and where the lessons will be given and how much they will cost. Once agreeable terms have been arranged and agreed to, tutoring usually commences with an assessment of the student’s level of familiarity with Korean.

Private tutoring companies and service organizations are common sources of employment for Korean tutors. Some of these organizations are non-profit, where tutors work on a volunteer basis, while others charge a fee. Other options include colleges and universities that offer Korean courses. They may charge a small fee to the general public or offer free tutoring to enrolled students. Tutors at colleges tend to be graduate students or doctoral candidates who provide tutoring at the request of the Asian languages department.

The tutor's areas of expertise include Korean grammar, phonetics, and linguistics along with extensive knowledge of Korean culture and history. Tutors may advertise services that range from in-depth linguistic instruction for advanced students to basic study sessions for beginners. Depending on the contract, tutoring sessions can run anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours or longer.

Reputable tutoring businesses that operate in the private sector are usually comprised of tutors who possess professional experience in teaching Korean. Private tutoring companies offer fee-based services that stipulate a specific number of hours or sessions paid for in advance by the student. Individuals without access to tutors at academic institutions often turn to these private companies when seeking one-on-one, guided instruction.

Korean tutors are also available online and can be found at language tutoring web sites and other online communities. Web sites that advertise Korean tutoring are usually private companies that charge a fee for their services. Most online tutors that work through these websites have similar credentials to those found at brick-and-mortar businesses. Free tutoring websites are typically less involved and provide less individualized help, often favoring a forum-based approach where nearly anyone can post a question to be answered by a Korean tutor.