Student Testimonial

by Dr. Priscilla Rachun Linn

March 12, 2025

It is with the greatest pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Dr. Go-Eun Chae, a highly skilled Korean language teacher. I have had the privilege of taking private tutorials with Dr. Chae for six months, and have come to admire her exceptional talent, intellect, and creativity in language instruction.

My endorsement comes from years of language study, so I can offer this from an informed perspective. I am a social anthropologist with a BA cum laude from Cornell University and an MLitt. and DPhil. from Oxford. Since high school, I have studied French, German, and Russian. To undertake fieldwork in Chiapas, Mexico, I learned Spanish, but became proficient in the cMayan language, Tzotzil, of San Juan Chamula, Chiapas, where I worked intermittently over a five-year period. While serving as an anthropology museum professional at the Smithsonian Institution, I also learned Portuguese for fieldwork in Maranhão, Brazil. My interest in Korean was sparked from a deep appreciation of Korean drama and a desire to better understand the culture through the language. Korean is by far the most challenging language I have tried to learn.

Dr. Chae’s teaching method is both clear and systematic, presenting the structure of Korean in a way that logically builds upon each lesson. Her profound understanding of linguistics, combined with a keen insight into the mental processes involved in language acquisition, impart a depth of perception that I have not experienced earlier with any other teacher. She is the most skilled and responsive language teacher I have ever encountered.

Classes with Dr. Chae are always engaging and intellectually stimulating. The lessons pass so quickly that I am always surprised when they end, leaving me with a desire to learn more. She is also particularly sensitive to my age, adapting well to suit me as a senior learner, a quality I believe would make her an excellent teacher for all ages and any proficiency levels.

I am confident that Dr. Chae would make an invaluable addition to any language program. Along with her extraordinary teaching abilities, she is consistently punctual, well-prepared, and demonstrates an exemplary work ethic. I highly recommend her to any institution seeking a dedicated and talented language educator.

Sincerely,

Priscilla Rachun Linn, DPhil.

Senior Curator, ret.

National Museum of American Diplomacy

US Department of State

Washington, DC