About the instructor (David Petter Haavik)

David Petter Haavik has taught Norwegian on all levels (level A1-C1) for over 7 years at both Folkeuniversitetet Vestlandet and Lingu. In addition he has taken part in product development of Web-based language learning applications, instructed the British Royal Navy (for United Nations operations along the Norwegian coast), and used the Russian language to teach Russian speakers (level A1/A2) Norwegian through their own native language. He has been praised by students for his explanations of grammar, his patience and attention to detail. 

Today he runs his own company, Singularity Linguistics, where he teaches and develops Norwegian language learning software based on human-machine interaction. He has also been involved with an AI project (Nature Language Processing - NLP) for the international IT company Sigma AI. 

The beginning 

My interest in foreign and exotic cultures started when I was 6 years old. Being fascinated by Ancient Egyptian culture, its art and hieroglyphics, I would draw, collect statues and artifacts (replicas of course), as well as make my own costumes (which looked ridiculous) while growing up in Kristiansand.

A few years later (at age 10), I also got interested in ancient China. Again I found myself collecting artifacts, drawing and making stuff. 

The catalyst

After having visited a friend in Finland (starting when I was 13), I got fascinated by the distinct Finnish language and then tried to learn a few words and phrases. Finnish and its interesting grammar would later become the first foreign language I wanted to learn as a means of communication. However, I never ended up learning the language.

I started learning Russian right after high school, and during a trip to Hungary (in 2008) with my music school, I also got interested in the Hungarian language, which happened to be a distant relative of Finnish. It was simply the most beautiful language I had ever heard. Shortly after, a tough choice had to be made: In addition to Russian, I only had the capacity to continue with either Hungarian or Mandarin (Chinese). I ended up choosing Mandarin. 


                            The path

The following year I would obtain a level B2 certificate in Russian from Folkeuniversitetet in Trondheim, take Russian and Mandarin courses in China (Beijing) and Russia           (St. Petersburg), as well as getting university degrees in both the languages from the University of Bergen. 

In 2014 (at 25), I also became a Norwegian language instructor for Folkeuniversitetet Vestlandet (also in Bergen), where I would teach Norwegian courses (levels A1-B2) for the next five years (including Norwegian courses for Russian speakers, using Russian as a supportive language.) Later I would teach Norwegian (levels A1-C1) and do product development of Web-based language learning applications at the language school Lingu (in Bergen), as well as founding Singularity Linguistics in 2019. 

Today my quest continues to share with others the marvellous beauty I myself see in language.

  Teaching experience

2022-                   Norwegian language instructor, Singularity Linguistics.
                             Levels A1-B1.

2020-2022         Norwegian language instructor and developer, Lingu.

                             Levels A1-C1. 

                             Product development and revising Web-based language                                               learning application (Teach/Samanehs reise) and grammar libraries.

  

2014-2019            Norwegian language instructor, Folkeuniversitetet Vestlandet.                                       Levels A1-B2. 

                             Number of courses taught: 48 (2543 hours). 

                             Courses include 3 courses (levels A1-A2) for Russian                                                     speakers taught in Russian, and a 440-hour long training program                               for the British Royal Navy. 

                             Part of the examination staff for the B2 Norwegian proficiency                                       exam "Bergenstesten" (April 9th 2016, April 1st 2017 and October                                 21st 2017).


2011-2012             Learning assistant (LA) for master students taking the course                                         "Experts in Teams" (EiT). Responsibilities: Facilitation and                                               enhancement of group cooperation dynamics. 

                             The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). 


                         Educational software


2019-2020        Development of software (chapter quizzes) in Python 3 for the                                      courses "KJEM140 - Molecular Physical Chemistry" and "MOL100 -                               Introduction to Molecular Biology". The quizzes contained a variety                             of different practice problems, and were designed to be used by                                 students (available through the course website) to test their                                           understanding of the cyllabus in preparation for the exams.                                          Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The University of Bergen (UiB).


       AI projects  

2022               AI development. Norwegian audio transcription (training data) for                                  Natural Language Processing (NLP) application.  



                                        Translation experience

2017                    Physics translations (Norwegian - English) of course descriptions                                 for seven master`s programmes in physics for the university                                         homepage: Biological physics/medical physics, physics didactics,                                 nuclear and particle physics, materials/nano physics and quantum                               technology, space physics and technology, theoretical physics,                                     microelectronics and sensor technology, signal processing and                                   imaging. The University of Oslo (UiO).

Max

The software Max was named after my dear neighbor dog, which I would sometimes take for walks in my hometown Haugesund.