The 2020 EDU, ELT/ELL and EDTECH Conference Calendar for Canım Türkiyem…Ver 2.4

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Sevgili Hocalarim,

We have entered a brand-spanking-new DECADE…and while it may not have got off to the “best” start…

I’m kinda hoping that this LATEST UPDATE will keep you all in good spirits! 

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As ever, I’m gonna have to hold off on going public with a few of them…posters and webpages have taken a bit of a backseat to many schools announcing their “admission test dates”…even some of our “best” institutions!

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I never actually got why we have such astronomical tuition fees AND selective entry tests…surely a really GREAT school would take a bunch of pretty “average” kids…and turn them into GREAT learners…to justify their really high fees – I must have missed a memo there or something!

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Neyse, I’ll get more of those up for you all laters! So, what do we have for you TODAY?

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REMEMBER – if you are having an event and it is confirmed,

please let me know and I’ll get it up on the calendar for you…

 

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JANUARY 2020

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EVENT: Gelişim Nationwide ELT Conference

DATE(S): 11 January 2020

THEME: Be the Change, Inspire the World

LOCATION: Gelişim Koleji, Ulukent – İZMİR

INFO: http://www.gelisim.k12.tr/TR/bilgi/4/ELT@GELISIM

(e-mail – sertac.ertunc@gelisim.k12.tr)

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FEBRUARY 2020

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EVENT: MBA Schools 1st Nationwide ELT Conference

DATE(S): 08 February 2020

THEME: Diversity is Inspiring

LOCATION: MBA Okkuları, Çamlıca Campus – İSTANBUL

INFO: https://www.mbaokullari.com/etkinlik-landingpage

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EVENT: İTK ELT17

DATE(S): 08 Feb 2020

THEME: Cultivating Global Citizenship – Allowing Students to Take Their Place in the World

LOCATION: İzmir Türk Koleji – İZMİR

INFO: https://bit.ly/35wgfL2

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EVENT: Çevre College 16th ELT Conference

DATE(S): 22 Feb 2020

THEME: Let’s Design the Future of ELT

LOCATION: Çevre Koleji, Erenköy – İSTANBUL

INFO: http://eltcevre.com/

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EVENT: 5th EİT Conference

DATE(S): 22 February 2020

THEME: Go Beyond Borders

LOCATION: Maya Schools, Oran Campus – ANKARA

INFO: https://tinyurl.com/r8adtk3

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MARCH 2020

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EVENT: TESOL Arabia – 25th International Conference & Exhibition

DATE(S): 05 – 07 March 2020

THEME: Empowering Educators: Technology, Leadership, & Curricular Innovation

LOCATION: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Deira – DUBAI (UAE)

INFO: https://tesol-arabia.com/

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EVENT: The Kültür FLT Conference 2020

DATE(S): 07 March 2020

THEME: Language Channels the Culture – in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish

LOCATION: Kültür Koleji, Bakırköy Campus – İSTANBUL

INFO: https://www.flt.kultur.k12.tr/

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EVENT: etz Summit 2020

DATE(S): 07 March 2020

THEME: Sustainable Innovation

LOCATION: Radisson Blu Hotel, Şişli – İSTANBUL

INFO: https://www.egitimteknolojilerizirvesi.com/en/index.php

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EVENT: IATEFL LASIG Conference 2020

DATE(S): 19-20 March 2020,

THEME: Metamorphosis: A Journey of Self-directed Learning and Advising

LOCATION: Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University – ANKARA

INFO: https://aybulapconference.wordpress.com/

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EVENT: TESOL 2020 International Convention & Expo

DATE(S): 31 March – 03 April 2020

THEME: Generic / Multi-Theme Annual ELT Conference

LOCATION: Colorado Convention Center – DENVER (USA)

INFO: https://www.tesol.org/attend-and-learn/international-convention

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APRIL 2020

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EVENT: 14th International IDEA Conference

DATE(S): 01-03 April 2020

THEME: Studies in English

LOCATION: Karadeniz Technical University – TRABZON

INFO: https://bit.ly/2QqzuBl

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EVENT: 11th International ELT Research Conference

DATE(S): 02-04 April 2020

THEME: Localising Global Issues in ELT

LOCATION: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Education, ELT Department – ÇANAKKALE

INFO: http://elt2020.ulead.org.tr/

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EVENT: TED (Turkish Education Association) XII ELT Conference

DATES: 07-08 April 2020

THEME: Full Speed Ahead: The Present is Already Past- 22nd Century Skills

LOCATION: TED Ankara College – ANKARA

INFO: https://elt.ted.org.tr/.

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EVENT: 54th International IATEFL Conference & Exhibition

DATE(S): 18-21 April 2020 (Pre-Conference Events: 17 April 2020)

THEME: Generic / Multi-Theme Annual ELT Conference

LOCATION: Manchester Central, Windmill St – MANCHESTER (UK)

INFO: https://conference.iatefl.org/conference

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MAY 2020

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EVENT: EMU-FLEPS 7th Workshop Festival

DATE(S): 15 May 2020

THEME: 3Cs to Motivate Collaborate, Communicate, Create

LOCATION: Prep B Building, EMU South Campus – MAGUSA / NORTHERN CYPRUS

INFO: https://flepsworkshop.emu.edu.tr/en

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JUNE 2020

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EVENT: 14th METU ELT Convention

DATE(S): 11-12 June 2020

THEME: Reflections

LOCATION: METU Convention Centre – ANKARA

INFO: http://www.dbe.metu.edu.tr/convention2020/

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EVENT: ICRE 2020 – 12^th Int. Congress of Research in Education

DATE(S): 11-14 June 2020

THEME: Redesigning Education for Digital Natives

LOCATION: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Fac. of Education – RİZE

INFO: http://ulead2020.ulead.org.tr/

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JULY 2020

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AUGUST 2020

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SEPTEMBER 2020

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OCTOBER 2020

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EVENT: ICRAL 2020 (13th Intenational ULEAD Congress)

DATE(S): 01-03 October 2020

THEME: Applied Linguistics in the 21st Century: Looking Back and Moving Forward

LOCATION: Bursa Uludağ University – BURSA

INFO: Going live soon – http://www.icral2020.ulead.org.tr/

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EVENT: InnovaPros 2020

DATE(S): 15-16 October 2020

THEME: Innovative Practices & Future Prospects in ELT

LOCATION: Davutpaşa Congress Centre, Yıldız Technical University – İSTANBUL

INFO: http://www.innovapros2020.yildiz.edu.tr/

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NOVEMBER 2020

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DECEMBER 2020

 …in MARCH…for even more events in 2020!

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Special GUEST POST on ‘Native Speakerism’ in canım Türkiyem: TÜRKSE İSTEMEM…

Aydan ERSÖZ

President, INGED – Ankara / TURKEY

 

Hepinize merhaba. Çok sevdiğim ve saydığım bir meslektaşım olan Tony Gurr’un sayfasına konuk oluyorum bu sefer. Yazımı Türkçe yazmamın sebebi İngilizce bilmemem değil tabii ki. Çok şükür derdimi anlatacak kadar İngilizcem var. Üstelik derdim (dertlerim desek daha doğru olur) çok ve karmaşık. Belki eğitimlerden sorumlu idareci / yöneticilerden bazıları okur diye ümit ettiğim için Türkçe yazıyorum.

Geçenlerde yurtdışında yaşayan bir arkadaşımla sohbet ediyorduk. Bana “Burada Türklere iş imkanı neredeyse hiç yok. Türk istemiyorlar” dedi. Bir an düşündüm, burada da aynı durum geçerli değil mi diye. Ve sonuçta bu başlık ortaya çıktı.

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Gerek hizmet içi eğitimlerde gerekse üniversitelerde iş bulma hususunda “native speaker”lar için pozitif ayrımcılık olduğunu eminim sizler de fark etmişsinizdir. Türk’seniz, İngilizceniz ne kadar iyi olursa olsun, alanınızda ne kadar iyi yetişmiş olursanız olun sizi tercih etmiyorlar. “Native speaker” iseniz neredeyse hiç başka vasfınız olmasına gerek yok. Tabii ki ülkemizde görev yapan bir kısım liyakat sahibi ELT uzmanı “native speaker” var ama her “native speaker” (aslında yabancı olması bile yetiyor) uzman olacak diye bir kural yok. “Türk olmayan herhangi bir kişi Türk olan bir uzmandan daha kaliteli ve iyidir” önermesi ırkçılık değil mi sizce de?

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Damian J. Rivers, “native-speakerism” kavramının ELT alanında önyargı ve ayrımcılığın en önemli unsuru olduğunu vurguluyor. “Native speaker” olmayan uzmanlar (ki bu yazıda Türk uzmanlar oluyor) bu adaletsizliğin baş kurbanları haline geliyor.

Chris Holmes’un dediği gibi kurumların eğitimlerde yabancı eğitimci kullanma isteğinin arkasında bazı sebepler var: yabancı bir eğiticiye sahip olmanın “hayali prestiji”, hedef kültürün temsilcisi ile birlikte olma arzusu ve dil hakimiyeti. Bana göre ise bu giderek artan bir yabancı hayranlığından başka bir şey değil. İyi bir eğiticinin vasıfları arasında doğuştan yabancı olmak diye bir madde hiç görmedim. Ülkemizde dilde son derece yeterli alanında çok iyi yetişmiş pek çok eğitici varken sırf Türk diye onları tercih etmemek nasıl bir mantıktır gerçekten kafam almıyor.

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Görevlendirmelerde liyakat olmadığı sürece hiçbir eğitim amacına ulaşamaz. Liyakat yani bir işi verilen görevi layığıyla ve başarıyla yapabilecek kişiye verme her görevlendirmenin tek şartı olmalıdır. Bu durum aklıma Mevlana’nın meşhur sözünü getiriyor: “Bir kunduracının elinde kuyumcunun aleti, kuma ekilmiş dane (tohum) gibidir”.

Ehil olmayan kişilerin verdiği eğitimler gereksiz yere kaynak israfına sebep olur ve bilimsel bir nitelik taşımaz. Bu durum eğitim alanları da duygusal olarak olumsuz etkiler. Hizmet içi eğitimlerden yaka silken, kaçmak için sebep arayan öğretmen arkadaşlarımıza bir sorun isterseniz. Eğer eğitimlerde başarılı bir sonuç isteniyorsa, kurum mutlaka işin gerektirdiği bilgi ve beceriye sahip, deneyimli, kurum kültürüne aşina ve saygılı, iyi iletişim becerilerine sahip ehil kişilerle çalışmalıdır. Bu kişilerin milliyeti bir vasıf değildir. Sırf “native speaker” diye eğitici uzman seçilemez; tıpkı sırf “Türk” diye uzman seçilemeyeceği gibi.

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Yazımı Mesnevi’den “Bakkal ve Papağan” öyküsünden ilgili kısımla bitirmek istiyorum. Vaktiyle memleketin birinde bir bakkal vardı. Bakkalın sahibi yeşil tüylü, güzel sesli, akıllı, konuşkan, nüktedan bir papağan satın almıştı. Bu papağan gelen müşterilerle sohbet eder, onlarla şakalaşır, iyi vakit geçirmelerini sağlardı. Bir gün bakkalın sahibinin eve gitmesi icap etti. Papağana: -Dükkana göz kulak ol. Koruyup kolla. Dükkan sana emanet, deyip çıkıp gitti. Aksilik bu ya…tam da o sırada kedinin biri bir fare yakalamış halde dükkandan içeriye daldı. Papağan azgın kediyi görünce korkudan ödü koptu. Ne yapacağını bilmez bir halde oradan oraya uçup dururken dükkanı darmaduman etti. Papağan bir köşeye sinmiş tir tir titrerken, dükkanın sahibi çıkageldi. Adam durumu hemen anladı, pişman olmuştu olmasına da ne yazık ki iş işten geçmişti. Bu durumda asıl suçlu bir papağana bakkalda bekçilik görevi veren, onda yeterlilik, ustalık ve uygunluk aramayan dükkan sahibinin bizzat kendisidir.

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Kalın sağlıcakla.

 

Corruption, Bribery & Graft in the Busyness of ELT…

In Turkish there is a little saying that, at first sight, looks quite innocent – ‘…bal tutan parmağını yalar’!

In English, it translates literally as ‘he who holds the honeypot will (always) lick his finger’  but is more commonly explained as ‘anyone in charge of distributing things of value will always take something for himself’.

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Sadly, this saying has become so ingrained in the Turkish psyche that the majority of us think nothing of using the phrase on a day-to-day basis. Indeed, many of us have come to see the message behind the saying – corruption is ‘inevitable’ and (perhaps worse) even OK – as natural! After all, if we were ‘in power’, we’d find jobs for family members (look at how Trump has filled the White House with his spawn, in-laws and cronies), help out our friends in business and (even) build a nicer ‘house’ to entertain guests…wouldn’t we?

We saw a blatant example of this in 2013 when canım Türkiyem glimpsed (for a few weeks) the biggest corruption scandal the country had ever seen…at the highest levels of government. OK…the claims may have been hushed up pretty sharpish (with a couple of sacrificial lambs) and the evidence dismissed on the ‘technical grounds’ that it was obtained via illegal wiretaps but the bottom line was that almost half the population didn’t even blink an eye!

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Sam Varkin has described how corruption, bribery and graft can and do hurt a country:

‘It skews the level playing field; it guarantees extra returns where none should have been had; it encourages the misallocation of economic resources, and it subverts the proper functioning of institutions. It is, in other words, without a single redeeming feature, a scourge’.

However, he also notes that this is not how it is perceived by its perpetrators: both the ‘givers’ and the ‘recipients’ (it takes two to tango…and corruption can never work when one party says ‘NO’).

‘They believe that corruption helps facilitate the flow and exchange of goods and services in hopelessly clogged and dysfunctional systems and markets (corruption and the informal economy “get things done” and “keep people employed”); that it serves as an organising principle where chaos reigns and institutions are in their early formative stages; that it supplements income and thus helps the state employ qualified and skilled personnel; and that it preserves peace and harmony by financing networks of cronyism, nepotism, and patronage’.

Rubbish!

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Corruption is all about theft and abuse of power..carried out by unethical and immoral individuals. And, THEY know what they are doing is wrong!

This is why I get so upset when I hear about it happening in education – a business sector (yes, it is a business…no escaping that fact these days) that acts as the backdrop and early environment for every single young person in a country. Education needs role models beyond reproach…some might say ‘angel-like’ mentors that can guide young minds and ensure they learn about and stay on the straight and narrow!

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The good news?

In education, across canım Türkiyem, the givers and recipients are a SMALL group of ‘rotten apples’ that tarnish the good reputation of their schools and universities as well as their own organisations (if they are suppliers to those schools).

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What can be done?

Well, there are a number of steps that can be taken immediately:

1. All suppliers to schools and universities can affirm (or reaffirm) their commitment to programmes of anti-corruption by publishing their own policies on bribery and graft.

2. Schools and universities themselves can build similar policies into their codes of professional practice and job descriptions. They can also ensure that there are strong checks and balances in place to ensure fewer irregularities when making purchases from suppliers.

3. Suppliers need to especially vigilant when offering additional professional development support to schools and universities as ‘package solutions’ and make sure that these ‘grey areas’ are not interpreted as ‘bribe-driven gifts’. This is true of conference visits that involve foreign travel, flights and hotel stays – the best way is to simply avoid them altogether!

4. School and university decision-makers make sure that they are last in line…when sharing the ‘honey’ attached to purchasing arrangements and that teachers are first in line when making decisions about those purchases (e.g. textbook and materials selection).

5. Schools and their suppliers should have zero tolerance for staff / affiliates / distributors that break any and all of these anti-corruption programmes by (a) ‘naming and shaming’ the individuals involved in the communities in which they operate, (b) reporting all infringements to the authorities, and (c) ensuring these individuals are not re-employed within the sector.

I’m guessing that all of us, with the exception of those few ‘rotten apples’, will applaud and support steps like this – without reservation.

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I just wonder how many will…