Ahmet Çelik: EFL Teachers’ Research Engagement

The main aim of this study is to find research engagement level of English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers at Ozyegin University by reading published academic materials in the literature or doing teacher research, and the motives behind this engagement level. In addition, the research culture of the institution’s relevant department, and how teachers perceive this culture was also aimed to be reported at the end of the study. Lastly, apart from the institutional research culture, EFL teachers’ perception regarding what research is another issue addressed by the study.

Mahir Sarıgül: Native English-speaking teachers in foreign language teaching in Turkey: a brief historical overview

With the onset of globalisation, the world is turning into a global village and the need for a common language has become pressing. Increasingly, English has assumed this role as more and more people have begun to use it as an effective crosscultural communication tool. As the demand for learning English has increased, so has the number of lucrative job opportunities for English language teachers, especially native speakers, in the non-English-speaking parts of the world; indeed, in many such countries, teaching English has become a multi-billion dollar industry. This study attempts to introduce the journey of native English-speaking teachers and a historical overview of foreign language teaching in Turkey.

Saniye Çancı Çalışaneller: Death in the Fifth Position: A Detective Novel by Gore Vidal

In 1948, Gore Vidal published The City and the Pillar, a novel about same-sex relationships. Even though “[B]y today’s standards it is tame and discreet,” the novel was considered to be a “scandal” and “denounced” back then (McGrath, 2012, para. 17), and The New York Times stopped reviewing Vidal’s books. In the 1950s, Gore Vidal wrote three detective novels under the pseudonym of Edgar Box: Death in the Fifth Position (1952), Death Before Bedtime (1953), and Death Likes It Hot (1954). The publication of the novels is significant and timely because each of these novels turns out to be a comment on political and social issues as well as on sexuality. By focusing on Death in the Fifth Position, the first book in the Edgar Box series, this study will attempt to unearth the ways in which detective fiction has become a proper genre for Vidal to make his controversial voice heard after he was blacklisted upon the publication of The City and the Pillar.

Ali Nezami: Writing rubrics in Language assessment

The session will be based on my exploration for understanding rubric design. In the session, I will share what I have found on the steps in designing rubrics in language assessment, rubric types, and pedagogical uses for rubrics.

Bedra G. Şenol: Oldies but Goldies?

We as language Teachers strive to adapt new technologies and modern teaching methods to our classroom. However, there might be cases when we need to take a relook into our current “modern” teaching methods and revisit old teaching styles. The presenter will share her experience with a group of “technologically illiterate” students and encourage discussion among instructors about the benefits or disadvantages of applying old teaching methods in a modernised atmosphere.

Ayla Yalçın Duman: Using socrative app as a means of designing interactive online quizzes.

This workshop aims to introduce Socrative, an online software to create quizzes, view reports and so on.

Giti Najafi: How to use Google Docs for Highlighting Strategies

This workshop aims to introduce a different feature of Google Docs.

Khosro Vahabi: Book function in LMS

Turning texts (e.g., required texts for reading in 101 and 102 courses or supplementary reading texts in Prep program) into an online book on LMS available to both instructors and students.

Dr Neslihan Sabuncu: Lost in the ‘Jungle’: Integrating Literary Texts into Academic Writing

This paper aims to introduce how to integrate literary pieces into academic writing in English 101 classes in particular.

Dr Aslı Sağlam & Ayla Yalçın Duman: Effectiveness of source-based writing assessment on students’ writing proficiency in a Turkish EAP Context

This research aims to explore how integrated writing assessment in L2 in a Turkish university context impacts writing performance of the students in L2 for academic purposes. Both qualitative and quantitative data results of students’ perceptions of the impact of integrated writing assessment on their writing performance and the writing samples of the freshman students will be analysed, discussed and shared with the participants.

Ali Nezami – Bedra Şenol – Giti Najafi: Teachers’ perceptions of peer observation: An implication in an EMI university in Istanbul

The session will begin by the provision of the background on peer observation and the discussion of its impacts on teaching and professional development. Then, speakers will introduce the study by giving information on the participants, data collection instruments, and procedure. Finally, after sharing the results of the study, the presenters suggest ideas for the implications of the research findings in the language teaching environment.