About the founder (David Haavik)
David Petter Haavik has taught Norwegian on all levels (level A1-C1) for over 8 years, including 5 years at Folkeuniversitetet Vestlandet and 2 years at 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 (a sole proprietorship), where he teaches and develops Norwegian language learning software based on human-machine interaction.
In addition, he has worked as a computational linguist (intern) on the in-car AI speech assistant robot NOMI for the Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO. He has also been involved with an AI project (for an NLP (Natural Language Processing) application) for the 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, later on 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
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.
Main exam monitor (examination staff) for the B2 Norwegian proficiency exam "Bergenstesten" (2016-2017).
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).
AI projects
2023 NIO. Working as a computational linguist (intern) on the Norwegian version of the in-car AI speech assistant NOMI (NLU development) for the Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO. Responsibilities: Data annotation, heuristic pattern development (grammar development), query generation, query translation and product testing (NOMI).
2022 Sigma AI. Norwegian audio transcription/data labeling (training data) for Natural Language Processing (NLP) application.
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" (on a voluntary student initiative). 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 syllabus in preparation for the exams.
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The University of Bergen (UiB).
Translation experience
Max
The software Max was named after my dear neighbor dog, which I would sometimes take for walks in my hometown Haugesund.