After
receiving my B.A degree in 1996, with the joy of becoming a talented teacher,
my only aim was just to teach my
students. During my undergraduate, I studied Psychology of Education,
Sciences of Education, Sociology of Education, Methods of Teaching, Testing
and Evaluation in Teaching, Management of Education and Specific Teaching
Methods. However; while getting experienced, I have realized how much my
knowledge is insufficient or incomplete. At the end of the six years of teaching experience,
to contribute my progress, to apply my theoretical know-how to my profession
and not to repeat myself, I really want to build an academic career at
university. During three years in TÖMER,Bursa,I got a chance to be with the
students from different age groups; children adolescents and adults. Each
group had different needs and challenges. Children, for example, want to be
active and be noticed and appreciated. Therefore; arms role play and songs
were always in our lessons Adolescents are easily discouraged and
demotivated, so I should have been open and tolerant to them. Adults are
highly motivated, they had specific goals in learning the second language. It
was easy to teach them. Besides these I was carrying on Communication Skills Club and I was working on the translation of short stories for Translation Magazine of TÖMER
Publication. As a lecturer, I work at Derbent College of Tourism,
Kocaeli University. This position has given me an opportunity to improve my
perception of second language education, and to teach in more different areas
than I have taught so far; tourism. I have been teaching in Tourism Guide and
Hotel Management Programs for three years. As we do not have a preb school
for these programs, we taught students at elementary level in the previous
years, but this year in 2002 our students will be accepted with language exam
results from the University Entrance Exam. In the first year, we prop up the
lessons with audio-visual aids, cassettes, listening exercises,
documentaries, videos and computer technology presentations. In the second year, each program had different
needs, by determining the target group, I carry on lessons directed to their
needs. My purpose is to help students in problem solving in Tourism Industry.
In Hotel Management Program, we study, High Season(Oxford Publication) four
hours a week. In Tourism Guide Program, we study eight hours a week. As it is
a great range of area, we use books introducing the cultural structure of Türkiye, guide books,
brochures, newspapers in English and some texts from Internet as resources. I
encourage students to talk, I encourage them to work in groups. For example;
a group of students present a place of historical importance and students ask and answer questions
about the presentation. I try to apply student-centered teaching. I believe
it will be easier for them to carry the learnings to real life in this way. I
try hard to arouse their interest. The more they are interested in the
subject, the more they get involved with learning. After I have had
experience with different age groups, I am especially interested in applying
drama and role play, using visual aids and literary texts in teaching a
second language. Senior LecturerFatma Islek KOYUNCU |
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