“I want to become an instructor that gives courage to learners, remembering what it was like when I was one of them”
Instructor Irina Konstantinova at KSI Sant Petersburg, Russia

Nowadays, KSI learners do not stop at just learning basic Korean and experiencing Korean culture. They are achieving their dreams in various fields with the Korean they learned at KSI. Irina Konstantinova, an instructor at KSI Saint Petersburg, is one of them. We asked Irina, who has now become an instructor from a learner, how she achieved her dreams through Korean.

Instructor Irina, Good morning. I heard you’ve been studying Korean since you were young. At what age did you start studying Korean?

I first encountered Korean when I was eleven years old. I heard Korean for the first time watching Korean dramas, and I thought it was so beautiful that I decided to study Korean. I started learning Korean on my own, and when I wanted to learn Korean more properly, I took my first Korean class at KSI St. Petersburg when I was twelve.

I hear that you are majoring in English education at the Pedagogical University. Are you working as a KSI instructor while attending university? I wonder why you decided to teach Korean instead of English.

Yes. I am working as a teacher at KSI St. Petersburg while attending the Herzen State Pedagogical University. As I mentioned earlier, I have always been interested in Korean culture and language since I was young. I became a Korean language teacher because I wanted to share my knowledge of Korean with students who want to learn the language, instead of an English teacher.

I want to know why you participated in the “2022 KSI Korean Language Teacher Training.” Did you complete the KSI Korean Language Teacher Training to become a Korean instructor? What was the most interesting and the most challenging things in completing the training?

Yes. Even before participating in the program, I wanted to become a Korean teacher. I applied for the KSI Korean Language Teacher Training because I wanted to become a professional Korean language teacher. Thanks to this, I became confident that I wanted to become a Korean teacher. The most interesting aspect during the program was that I was able to learn Korean in a more in-depth and linguistic ways from Korean professors. The most challenging thing was learning educational and linguistic terminology that I wasn't familiar with before the training.

I want to know the difference between studying Korean as a KSI learner and studying Korean to become a teacher. How did your mindset change? Also, after completing the KSI Korean Language Teacher Training, in which areas do you feel you grew the most?

The most significant difference was the sense of responsibility. When I was a learner, I studied Korean simply because I liked Korean culture and language. However, to become a Korean language teacher, I needed to be able to accurately convey Korean language knowledge to students, so I began to study with a greater sense of responsibility. After completing the training, I felt that I improved the most in using natural approach during classes. Before, I felt it was almost impossible to teach only in Korean to beginner learners, but thanks to the training program, I am now able to teach Korean without heavily relying on learners' native languages.

You were a learner KSI St. Petersburg, but now you became a teacher at the same KSI. I wonder why you decided to engage in teaching at KSI and how you felt on the first day of teaching there.

When I was a learner, the teachers at KSI always motivated me. They encouraged me before exams and when I made many mistakes. Because of their support, I started dreaming of becoming a good teacher like them someday. So when I applied to become a Korean language teacher at KSI, it felt like I was finally achieving one of my dreams. On the first day of work at KSI St. Petersburg, I was very nervous, and I felt like I didn't teach the class as well as I had hoped. However, I believe I made a good first impression when I met the learners for the first time. Looking at the faces of the learners KSI now, I can see myself when I was twelve dreaming, "I will speak Korean well." These emotions always motivate me to teach Korean better.

What classes did you teach at KSI St. Petersburg last year? And what were the advantages and disadvantages of being a foreign Korean language instructor?

Last year, I taught Sejong Korean 1A and 1B online, and Sejong Korean 1A, 2A, and 2B in face-to-face classes. Being a foreigner, I always try to talk as grammatically correctly as possible. As a result, I use a lot of energy and sometimes get stressed. One downside of being a foreign Korean language teacher is that you always feel tense to avoid making mistakes while speaking.
On the other hand, the advantage of being a foreign Korean language teacher is that I can explain Korean grammar that is complex or hard to understand in the learner's native language. I think this is the most effective way to improve the Korean language skills of students, especially the beginners learning Korean for the first time.

As you just took your first step as a Korean instructor at KSI, I imagine you have an ideal image of a teacher or dreams that you want to achieve. What are your plans for the future?

Firstly, the image of an ideal teacher I have was shaped by the instructors who supported me and helped me grow my love for foreign languages. I want to be a fair teacher who doesn't reprove students for their mistakes. In addition, my dream is to pursue a master's degree at a university in Korea with the help of a scholarship. I am continuously striving towards realizing this dream.

Just like you, there are foreign KSI learners who dream of becoming a KSI instructor. Please give a word of encouragement for them!

I believe that all you need to achieve your dreams is passion and quick decision-making. There's a saying, “Better late than never.” Don't hesitate to start, have the determination to take action first, never give up, and study hard!