Made in Türkiye…(BLOGS, that is)!

TWO things for today: 

Number 1 – Did you know that the blogosphere is really quite a “racist” place? 

OMG – what is he up to, now?

No, don’t get your knickers in a twist – this is not “that” type of post (saving that for tomorrow)!

This post was actually planned for a lovely bunch of people I know that are “new to blogging” and I promised to share some of my favourite “allthingstürkiye EDUblogs” – to give them a headstart, so-to-speak!

The problem was – compiling this list took far longer than I had antcipated – and this came down to a few little “harfler”!

I mean, in “Türkçe” we have some pretty amazing letters –  Ç,  Ş and  Ğ for example. I love my daughter’s name  Ç-A-Ğ-L-A  but just ask any non-Turkish speaker to read-it-aloud…and you’ll wish your ears just didn’t work!

We also have more vowels than you can shake a stick at – A, E, I, İ, O, Ö, U and Ü (even little ole “Ğ” could qualify as a vowel, too – at a push)…and, then – we have vowel harmony!

I have to admit we do miss out on not having a “W” (especially if you drive one of those BMV’s or BMVV’s) – and still have a few other issues with “V” – but let’s stay positive here, guys!

The real problem is that so many bloggers – well, those that tend to blog in English here in Turkey – have to give up many of these “sexy” letters and even do this with their own names.

No fair!

 

So, here are a few of my favourite “made in Turkey” EDUblogs – also showcasing the real beauty of  the names and surnames of the boogers themselves:

• A Bit of Everything from Fulya Müldür Donnelly
• A Diary of an ESL Teacher from Nihal Yıldırım
• A Journey in TEFL by Eva Büyüksimkeşyan
• a year in the life from Adam Simpson
• Aslı Saglam’s Blog from Aslı Sağlam
• Aybike’s Blog (Reflections on Learning and Education) from Aybike Oğuz
• Beyza Yılmaz’s Blog from Beyza Yılmaz
• Burcu Akyol’s Blog from Burcu Akyol
• Burcu’s Teaching and Learning Zone from Burcu Tezcan
• Canan Elicin’s Blog from Canan Elçin
• EAPlog from Robin Turner
• ELT Teacher Development from Evridiki Dakos
• English Messages In A Bottle from Yeşim Çakır
• Esra’s Englishous Blog from Esra Girgin Akıskalı
• Işıl Boy’s Educational Technology Blog from Işıl Boy
• Just a Word from K. Liz Barker
• Matters in ELT/ESL/EFL… from Nesrin Eren
• Merve Oflaz’s Blog from Merve Oflaz
• Ozge Karaoglu’s Blog from Özge Karaoğlu
• Petek’s Blogosphere from Petek Şirin
• Reflections of a Teacher and Learner from Dave Dodgson
• Reflections on the World of EFL from Neslihan Durmuşoğlu 
• sharonzspace from Sharon Turner
• Sultan’s ELT Topia from Sultan Zeydan
• Tips, tricks and strategies on ELT… from Busem Doğan

Oh, yes…and… 

• allthingslearning from Tony Gurr (this one is sorta OK)!

I was going to try and sort these into two categories: “yerli malı” and those more like me – the “hanım köylü” or “milli gelin” varieties . But, I was then reminded about all the other categories we could use – so just gave up.

Besides…”we are the world, we are the blllooogggeeerrrsss”! 

 

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Number 2 – It is said that we bloggers are a pretty “incestuous bunch” (“tweeters” are far worse – and do not get me started on those “curators” or “pinners”). I mean we do tend to drop the list of “usual suspects” onto our blogrolls and have (virtual) coffee with the same “blogheads”.

As I was compling my new-and-updated list – I kept coming back to many of these usual suspects. They do a great job but maybe, we need to “create” even more bloggers – more friends! Perhaps, we could start an “adopt an apprentice blogger programme”?

… till then, if you know of any “new blogs on the block” – let us all know!

If you are like me you’ll love allthingseducation – but (at times) we need a break from allthingslearning (well, this is what me wife says to me) – so what about a few other English language blogs about allthingstürkiye, for a change!

• A Nomadic View from Edward Goff
• A Seasonal Cook in Turkey from Claudia
• Adana Adventures from Jake
• Adventures in Ankara from Terry
• Archers of Okçular from Alan and “J”
• Earth Laughs in Flowers from Kerry Arslan
• The Istanbulian from Emre Kızılkay
• The Turkish Life from Jennifer Hattam
• Turkey’s For Life from Julia and Barry
• Turkish Politics in Action from Ragan Updegraff 

I’m hoping you’ll all find at least ONE blog you ain’t seen from both lists!

If not, you can have your money back…

 

Till next time!