Thirty minutes. One teacher. And you in the room the whole time.
Gentle one-to-one English on Zoom for children roughly four to eight who are not yet reading and writing comfortably in Korean. You book two 30-minute Zoom times as one weekly pair — $60 (USD) for both. This is not Young Learners. YL is one 60-minute class for ages 7–12 who already read. Same six safeguards: parent welcome, adult at home, cameras on, no private child contact.
Not sure yet? Most parents want to know how it works before they book anything. Everything on this page is written for you, not for your child — including the six safeguards every class runs on, published before you ask.
Is this the right page for your child?
Age is a rough guide. What actually decides which classes suit your child is whether they read and write in Korean yet — because that changes what a lesson can be built from.
- Not reading or writing yet, in kindergarten or just starting school → these classes.
- Reads Korean comfortably, and can write a sentence on their own → the longer classes for elementary school children suit better.
- Somewhere in between → tell me, and I will place them after the first class rather than guessing beforehand.
“A small child does not need a longer lesson. They need a shorter one they can finish proud of themselves.”
What thirty minutes actually looks like.
Very young children work in short bursts. A class is built around that rather than against it — four or five changes of activity, nothing lasting long enough to lose them.
Hello, and something easy
The same greeting every week, so they always know how the class starts. Then a question they can already answer — how are you, what did you eat, where is the cat. Confidence first, content second.
The new thing
Whichever course you have chosen — sounds, words, a short story, a listening game. This is the only demanding part of the class, and it comes while they are freshest.
Play it back
A game, a picture, a song, or silly repetition that puts the new language back in their mouth without them noticing they are practising. This is where most of the real learning happens.
Finish something
Every class ends with one thing they can show you — a sentence they can say, a word they can read, a song they can sing. Then a goodbye, the same one every week.
A short note to you
What we did, what went well, and one small thing you can practise together during the week if you want to. Two or three lines, not homework.
Pick one, or start with conversation and see.
All four are available as a shorter class for younger children. If you are not sure which fits, say so when you get in touch and we will work it out together.
Basic Conversation
Simple back-and-forth about the things children actually talk about: family, food, school, pets. Games and picture prompts keep it playful, so speaking never feels like a test.
Basic Reading
Reading aloud together, from letter sounds and sight words to short stories, with gentle correction on pronunciation and rhythm as we go.
Basic Writing
Building from words to sentences: spelling, capital letters, punctuation, and short guided writing about their own day.
Basic Listening
Songs, short stories, and simple instructions that train the ear to catch English at natural speed — and answer with confidence.
Length and price
Two 30-minute sessions — $60 (USD) total. Both sessions are usually completed within the same week. One-to-one, live on Zoom. Two shorter sessions suit this age better than one long one — enough time to work and play, short enough that attention does not run out.
Classes run on Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 to 15:00 Korean time. Once your child reads and writes comfortably in Korean, see Young Learners for the 60-minute format.
The questions every parent should ask. Answered before you ask them.
Before you book any online tutor — me or anyone else — these are the six things worth knowing. Ask them of every teacher you consider. Here are my answers, in writing, in advance.
You are never asked to leave the room.
Sit in on any lesson, at any time, without asking and without giving a reason. With very young children I would rather you were there — and you are welcome at every lesson after the first.
A parent must be home. It is a condition of booking.
A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must be present in the home and reachable for the whole of every lesson. Not a suggestion — a requirement.
I will never contact your child privately.
Not by KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, email, social media, a gaming platform, or any other channel. Every message goes through you.
Your child is never asked to keep a secret.
If I say something in a lesson, you are entitled to know about it. Any adult who asks a child for secrecy is a warning sign — and that includes me.
One teacher. One link. One time.
Every lesson is taught by me, on the Zoom link sent to your email, at the time booked. I will never rearrange a lesson by asking your child.
Cameras on. Nothing recorded.
My camera stays on for the full lesson and I ask that your child’s does too. I do not record children’s lessons unless you ask me to, in writing, beforehand.
Available for inspection on request. Ask, and I will send it to you — along with documentation of any qualification listed on this site.
A first name, an age, an approximate English level. I do not ask for a surname, home address, school name, date of birth, or photograph. Please do not send them.
If I ever form a reasonable belief that a child is at risk, I will act on it — even where that is uncomfortable for me or for this business. Any concern you raise is acknowledged within 48 hours. All of it is set out in full, in plain language, in the safeguarding statement.
One teacher. The same face, every week.
I am Pieter Reyneke. I have taught English in Korea for nearly twenty years — twelve of them on the faculty of Soonchunhyang University, where I am now Emeritus Associate Professor, alongside corporate training for Hyundai and Kia. I hold an M.Com from the University of Johannesburg and an International TESOL certification of 120 in-class hours.
Your child will not be handed to a rotating pool of tutors. Every class you book is taught by me, which is the only way a small child builds the familiarity they need to start speaking.
What parents usually want to know.
My child speaks no English at all. Is that a problem?
No — that is the normal starting point at this age. The first classes use pictures, gestures, repetition and a great deal of patience. Nobody is expected to arrive with vocabulary.
My child will not sit still for thirty minutes.
Very few four-year-olds will. That is why the class changes activity every five to ten minutes, and why standing up, moving, and being a bit silly are all part of it. If a particular day is not working, we stop early and pick it up next time.
Do I need to sit with them?
You must be at home and reachable — that is a condition of every booking. Whether you sit beside them is your choice, and with the youngest children it usually helps for the first few weeks. You are welcome in any lesson without asking.
Is this just more screen time?
It is thirty minutes of talking with a person, which is a different thing from thirty minutes of watching something. That said, if you would rather keep it shorter or less frequent, say so — once a week is plenty at this age.
What if my child and you simply do not click?
It happens, and it is nobody’s fault. Tell me and I will say so honestly if I think another teacher would suit your child better. Cancellation and refund terms are written out in full and linked below.
Start with one class and see how they take to it.
No package, no commitment, no long assessment. Book a single class, sit in on it, and decide afterwards.
- Pick a weekend time that suits your household.
- Tell me your child’s first name, age, and roughly how much English they have — nothing more than that.
- You get the Zoom link by email, and you are welcome in the room for all of it.