INTRODUCTION

 

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 Lecturer

Fatma Islek KOYUNCU

fatmai73@hotmail.com

 

 

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Disclaimer: This web page was updated and published on July 15th, 2002. All materials included in this media are under the protection of International Copyright Laws. Therefore, any material could not be used, or downloaded without my permission.