tahn

I will be graduating with a doctorate in May of 2026 and am in process of getting my TEFL certificate. In addition, I have 3 years of teaching experience.

I have over 3 years' teaching experience with students aged 5-18, but I specialised in Secondary (11-18) education for my PGCE course in 2019. I am predominantly a Music teacher, but completed a 120-hour TEFL course and have worked with EAL (English as an Additional Language) students both 1-on-1 and as part of my wider teaching experience. Even though English is my native language, I speak conversational Korean and am semi-fluent in French and Spanish.
I enjoy travelling and learning languages, having taught myself basic Korean after becoming interested in Kpop in 2015. I then chose to study at a Hagwon in Cheonan during August 2017 and have been back to Korea twice since – in 2019 and 2024. I am not fluent (yet), but hope to develop my Korean language skills while teaching in Korea.
I believe that learning should be fun as our brains are more likely to take in new information if we are in a good mood and enjoying ourselves. I therefore strive to create engaging and entertaining lessons that balance technical information with practical, real-life examples. I have a bubbly and enthusiastic personality, and my students have commented on how much they enjoy my lessons and my style of teaching.

I've had 3-4 years (including my internship year) of teaching in classrooms at an elementary school from Kindergarten to 5th grade as a school counselor, where I taught students social-emotional skills. During my years in the classroom, I've implemented art, fun, music, and games into my lessons to it more engaging for my students while they express what they've learned through their creativity while they make the most of my lessons. Also, I've had almost 10 years of au pair experience in China during the summers where I live or visit a Chinese family and privately help and tutor English to their children.

When around kids, I am enthusiastic and I like fun, and I know that students like fun as well! I know when to flick the switch on and have an upbeat attitude and make my lessons as fun and engaging as possible. My active listening and empathy skills are high along with compassion toward my students and any job that involves them. I am a strong social and emotional support for the students along with English mentoring.

Lastly, I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (Fayetteville State University), Master's Degree in Professional School Counseling (University of North Carolina at Pembroke), and I am TEFL Certified. During my time of tutoring/mentoring to Chinese children as an au pair, I've used my talent/hobby as a writer to help the children improve their English writing skills. For example, at the moment, we are working on a book project to make it more fun and exciting, and I assist with the grammar and sentence structure!

I bring a strong blend of experience, personality, and skills that make me well-suited for teaching. I have several years of experience supporting diverse learners in classroom and educational settings, including roles in Special Education, student support, restorative practices, and behavior intervention. My background has allowed me to work closely with English language learners, students with different learning needs, and youth who benefit from individualized guidance. I am also TEFL-certified and have experience helping students build their communication and academic skills in a supportive way.

Personality wise, I am patient, adaptable, and calm under pressure. I build trust easily and create a positive, welcoming learning environment where students feel encouraged and understood. I’m dependable, open-minded, and able to adjust quickly to new cultures, school environments, and teaching expectations. Students and colleagues respond well to my warm, respectful communication style.

My key skills include classroom management, clear instruction, conflict resolution, restorative circles, trauma-informed practices, and goal tracking for student progress. I am effective at supporting language development, simplifying difficult concepts, and working with students who need extra structure or individualized attention. I also bring strong teamwork, documentation, and digital literacy skills, with proficiency in tools such as Google Classroom, Zoom, Canva, and Microsoft Office. Altogether, my experience, personality, and skills allow me to support students confidently and create a positive, engaging environment for learning.

With a foundation in dramatic arts and strong experience in sales, you excel at engaging others through expressive communication and persuasive storytelling. Your warm, outgoing personality and natural love for conversation make you easy to connect with, while your deep empathy allows you to understand people’s needs and respond genuinely. Together, these qualities give you exceptional strengths in communication, relationship-building, and influencing others.