Dear Colleagues,Yesterday I gave my Students' Quality Circles and Project Management seminar in Boğaziçi University. It was very fruitful. At the end of the seminar, my students determined their final project topics and formed 12 circles. Their excitement and enthusiasm, created the similar thoughts and feelings in me. My profession_teaching_is not only a profession or job for me: It is a real and a very powerful Hobby! It has been 33 years but I feel as if I graduated yesterday.
I worked with almost every age group in my professional life: I started with 6th graders and then High schools students. In 1985, I moved to University. During the last ten years, I have been giving "In-service training" to every subject matter teacher and administrators at every age. They all have different values and beauties, however, I must confess that I always prefer the youngest students and the teacher trainees. Collaborating with them always opens different wondows before me. Some of my colleagues are afraid of teaching older students due to witnessing some possible discipline problems but I always smile at this thought. It is essential to give self-confidence in teacher training. Another improtant issue is as a teacher; showing the courage of admitting her/his ignorance in some problem areas. A teacher is not the one who knows everything in his/her field. Sharing the unknown topics and asking help from them or collaborating with the students how to learn it is a very critical and significant issue. A teacher is not the one who sits in an iwory tower but a life-long learner. A teacher must perform and also prove his/her attitude in this point. I always try behaving like this, but I never lose the interest or respect of my students. Up to now, I have never lost my authority within the class, either. Believe me! They are our real partners and real dosts. They learn to show tolerance to you if you do the same. This is a way of having fun altogether. It is also the only way of giving self-confidence and teaching critical thinking to them.
Last night, an old student of mine called me. I had taught him English in 1978-1981 at Göle High School. Yücel is now working in Istanbul and calling me from time time. Last night he shared his feelings concerning my being a good teacher and a real Ataturk daughter. He also said that he was reading my blog regularly to learn more what I did. It was one of the best times of mine; I felt happy. Just like how happily I felt on Sunday.
On sunday morning Ms Şükran Çetin, my dearest instructor from İzmir Teachers' Training College, called me and she shared her sincere feelings with me related to my achievements in the profession. She was so excited and she sounded very happy and healthy. This also made me very happy, for she was my idol teacher with her perfect English, human-focused attitude, and with her kind and smiling face. We had never seen her in a sad or angry manner. She was very careful with her outlook and she used to wear formal suits. She was a lover of nature, working and teaching. We all have learned a lot from her. She was a real expert of training teachers. During my life, I have always tried to be like her. I salute her with great respect and love.
While saying good bye, I wanted to share a photo from the SQC seminer. With love and peace...
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