AnnouncementAnnouncement

Dr. Venera Ulker

 

English Language and it’s Future:

The latest research from the British Council predicts that the number of people actively learning English around the world is set to exceed 1.9bn soon. It is estimated that there are currently over 1 billion people learning English worldwide and this will double in a little over five years. These statistics show that teachers of English are in high demand around the World. Locally, we see that our region is expectant of changes and development. In this context, educating qualified, competent, skillful teachers of English is one of the most important priorities for the local community and the international job market.

 

What We Offer:

Teaching and language are two mesmerizing fields that attract millions of people. Our department addresses anyone who is interested in understanding the nature of language teaching and classroom practices. In other words, we invite you to take part in the exploration of foreign language learning and teaching. We also aim to cultivate inquiry and enthusiasm about the English language, its literature, and its culture. Meanwhile, we aim to provide this education in a way that avoids engaging students with what Stern calls the “Ivory Tower” theory (Stern, 1983) – that is – making education a hands-on experience. However, as he states again we believe that “good teaching practice is based on good theoretical understanding” (1983: 1) too. Our teacher candidates are required to comprehend what they need to know to learn and teach a foreign language. They are expected to apply theory into practice by implementing what they learn.

 

Our Educational Philosophy in Short:

Teachers are the people who try to make difference in students’ lives. In this sense, a teacher’s endeavor is selfless and altruistic. Everyone in life has been influenced by an altruist in some way. We wish to educate competent language teachers who can make a difference in the society they live in by guiding the next generations. Educating people who are going to educate others is a huge responsibility. In our philosophy, we believe that the teacher is more than a mere purveyor of information or skills. As Ünal and Williams (2000) state eloquently “The relationship between teacher and student is crucial: The best way to educate people is to show a real concern for every individual, not forgetting that each individual is a different ‘world’” (2000: 313). Instead of trying to change the world in the wider concept, we can change or reach this individual ‘world’, that is the entity of each person as a whole.