About

Brian

Photo of Brian, 1:1 IELTS tutor

14th year at Pagoda

Former full-time IELTS instructor at Pagoda (2013–2026) · now 1:1 only, in person in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, or on Zoom

9.0IELTS Perfect-Score Holder & Instructor Pagoda teaching recordVerify on Pagoda's official instructor directory

It starts with one essay marked up for free. No call, no booking.

Ask about lessons & fees → Send an essay, get a free report →

Tell me your level, target and test date in KakaoTalk. The button also tries to copy a first message for you.

4.6 · 10 reviews on Soomgo · hired 32 times

I taught IELTS at Pagoda Academy - Gangnam from 2013 to 2026, into my 14th year. In that time I sat with hundreds of students through the frustration of a score that just wouldn't move — and got to celebrate with them when it finally did. What those years taught me is that everyone gets stuck in a different place.

Now I teach one-to-one, combining the structured curriculum I built at Pagoda with the flexibility only fully tailored 1:1 coaching allows. With my full attention on one person, we catch and fix the small weak points a group class tends to miss.

Teaching Method

Before the first lesson, a marked-up essay and a short level check show where you stand and what's holding you back. We start with the area where your score can climb fastest — so you feel real progress early — then use that momentum to lift every section, step by step.

Student Reviews

Real score-improvement results

4.6 10 reviews on Soomgo · hired 32 times View on Soomgo

★★★★★

노베이스로 첫 시험 L/R/W/S 8/7.5/6/6.5 받았었고, 브라이언 선생님께 약 3주간 각 1시간씩 총 8번 writing, speaking 수업을 진행했고, 결과적으로는 9/8.5/7/7.5 를 받았습니다. …

유** · Soomgo review · Dec 2025

★★★★★

… 선생님 아니였으면 2주만에 노베이스에서 6.5 못 받았을거에요! 저는 애버리지 6점 각 5.5이상이 필요 했는데 한번에 더 높은 점수로 여유있게 합격 할 수 있게 도와주셨어요!! 강추합니다!!!!

임** · Soomgo review · Sep 2025

Copied unedited from Soomgo, a Korean tutor marketplace (long reviews shortened, in Korean as written). As of Oct 28.

My writing was stuck at 5.5 for half a year and I'd nearly given up. He pinpointed exactly what was wrong with my essays, and I improved visibly with every correction.

김민지

Study in Canada

Writing 5.5 → 7.0

My mind used to go blank just thinking about Speaking. Practising under real exam conditions every week, I wasn't nervous for the first time — and hearing that my phrasing had become natural made my day.

이서준

Master's in the UK

Speaking 6.0 → 7.5

Registration required a minimum in all four skills. By tackling my weaker areas first, I passed on the first try. Truly grateful.

박지영

Nursing registration, Australia

All four bands 6.0+

Honestly I never expected an 8.0. Writing 7.5 is a score I could never have reached on my own — the way I see argument structure completely changed.

정우진

PhD applications, US

Writing 7.5

I always ran out of time on Reading. After learning the right question order and scanning technique, I actually started finishing early. Genuinely surprising :)

최수아

Exchange program

Reading 6.0 → 7.5

I was in a rush for my immigration score. He got me to my target in a month — General Training needs its own strategy, and his prep was spot on.

강현우

Immigration to Canada

One-month intensive

I needed Speaking fast for interviews at an international company. It wasn't just the score — I genuinely started speaking more freely, which helped in the interview too.

윤하은

Job at a global firm

Speaking confidence

Working full-time, I couldn't make it to a hagwon. Evening Zoom lessons took the pressure off — for a busy professional, online 1:1 is the answer.

J

Office worker · promotion

4 hrs/week, online

After failing twice my confidence was gone, but he stayed calm and worked through it with me. I finally hit my target on the third try. So glad I didn't quit.

한도윤

University transfer

Passed on the 3rd attempt

He gave me a clear structure for Writing Task 2, so writing no longer felt overwhelming. It felt like learning how to actually write, not just memorizing a template.

서민재

Graduate school

Writing Task 2 structure

Being UKVI, even registration was confusing versus the regular test, but he guided me from start to finish. My score came out even higher than my goal.

임채원

UK visa

Guided from registration

I didn't have much time, studying while working. Having weekly homework and review materials waiting in the portal kept me on track.

오세훈

Permanent residency, Australia

Studied while working

Needing 7.0 in every skill felt impossible — Writing especially. He built a different strategy for each section, and in the end I cleared 7.0 across the board.

K

Nurse registration, Australia

7.0 in every band

I needed a high score for a scholarship, and an 8.0 came through — so grateful. I really felt how detailed feedback makes the difference.

노유나

Overseas scholarship

Met scholarship cutoff

Speaking 7.5 is the best score of my life, haha. The biggest lesson was that content and flow matter more than accent.

문지호

Job in Canada

Speaking 7.5

My Listening was always off by a question or two. Building the habit of predicting before listening sharpened my accuracy a lot.

배수빈

Preparing to study abroad

Listening prediction habit

Living outside the city, it was hard to find a good IELTS teacher. Because it's online, I could take top-quality lessons regardless of where I live.

신예은

Study abroad

Rural area, fully online

Reaching my target score genuinely moved me — it showed that standing by the results is sincere, not just marketing.

조민석

Reached the goal

Overall 7.5

Reached target score

Having replay videos in the portal meant I could re-watch on my commute. Even with a busy schedule, I could keep up.

황지우

Office worker

Used replay videos

Being abroad, I worried about time zones, but he worked around mine so lessons were easy. The same quality wherever you are is a huge advantage.

유진

Graduate school

Across time zones

Everyone says going from Writing 6 to 7 is the hardest jump. Fixing it sentence by sentence together, I finally got my 7.

권나라

Pharmacy transfer

Writing 6 → 7

Preparing while seeing patients, I had almost no time. Focusing only on the essentials made it perfect for a busy professional.

익명

Professional · overseas license

Efficient, time-poor

I'd been stuck at 6.5 elsewhere before switching over. For the first time I got a real diagnosis of why I wasn't improving — once the fog cleared, the score followed.

장하늘

Study in Australia

6.5 → 7.0 after switching

Coaching

1:1 IELTS Coaching

Fully personalized 1:1 coaching taught by a Band 9.0 ex-Pagoda instructor — in person in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, or live on Zoom wherever you are.

  • Free trial lesson
  • Free essay review · 30-min level check
  • Flexible schedule · in person (Gangnam-gu, Seoul) or on Zoom

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out the lesson fees and available times?
Send your current score, target, test date, the skills you need and your preference for in-person or online lessons by KakaoTalk or email. Brian will explain the format, fees and available times. No essay or phone appointment is needed to ask.
Are lessons online or in person?
Both. Choose whichever suits you: in person in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, or one-on-one over Zoom from anywhere. If you live abroad, lessons run on Zoom in your own time zone. Either way, everything we cover stays in your private student portal to review later.
I live abroad — can the time zones work?
We check availability together using your location and time zone. A particular morning or evening slot is subject to availability. Just tell me where you are and when you are free. Explanations are given in Korean, so you can understand grammar and essay logic in your first language while living in an English-speaking country, and you sit the test locally.
Do you teach both Academic and General Training?
Yes, both. Most students take Academic (target 6.5–7.5) for graduate study, university admission or professional registration, and General Training for immigration is taught the same way. Listening and Speaking are identical; Writing Task 1 (a letter) and the Reading passages differ, so we confirm which test you need first and plan with the matching materials. Per-band minimums, such as CLB for immigration, are built in from the start.
What score can I realistically reach?
Most students aim for IELTS Academic 6.5 to 7.5+. The curriculum is built around your starting level and your goal, so we spend the time precisely where you need it. If your requirement is a minimum in every band — 7.0 across all four, say — rather than an overall score, the plan itself has to be built differently.
How long does 6.5 to 7.0 take?
Honestly, it varies, and I would distrust anyone who promises a number of weeks. What can be seen early is what is actually in the way, and the free level check usually shows it. If one skill is holding you back, we focus there and it moves relatively fast. If all four sit at 6.0–6.5, the foundation has to be rebuilt and it takes longer. The time needed depends on your starting skills, practice time and the changes required in each area.
How are materials provided?
You get a private student portal with class notes, homework, replay videos, and downloadable handouts (PDF). Everything in it is yours alone, so reviewing is easy — and your writing and speaking feedback reports and score history live in the same place.
What is Brian's background?
Brian holds an IELTS Band 9.0 (perfect score) and taught IELTS full-time at Pagoda Academy - Gangnam from 2013 to 2026, into a 14th year. His official Pagoda profile documents his teaching role; it is not a score report.
How do I ask about lessons and availability?
Availability and details are shared personally in a consultation. I recommend starting with a free trial lesson to check the fit before you commit — just reach out on KakaoTalk or by email. If you are abroad, mention where you are and we will start from the time zone.
Do I have to book a call first?
No. You can ask about lessons and fees with just your level, target and test date. Send one writing answer (or a speaking recording) on KakaoTalk and it comes back marked up, with no consultation and no phone call: which sentence loses marks, why, and a fixed version. No band number. It is free, and you decide what happens next after reading it. If you have nothing written, I will send you a question to answer.
How do I get started?
Share your current score, target and test date on KakaoTalk. If you have an essay, you can also try a free review first. Only if the report makes you want to continue do we move on to a 30-minute level check and a free trial lesson, after which you get a study plan built around your goal. Nothing is charged up to there.

Contact

Get in touch

Start by sending one essay — it comes back marked up, with no call. If you want to keep going, a 30-minute level check and a free trial lesson come next.

KakaoTalk Open Chat

The fastest way to reach me. Tap one of the buttons below.

Ask about lessons & fees → Send an essay, get a free report →

Tell me your level, target and test date in KakaoTalk. The button also tries to copy a first message for you.

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Email

Consultations and trial classes are also welcome by email. Include your target score and availability.

Send an email →

pagodabrian@gmail.com