Papers by Yasemin Kırkgöz
International Journal on Lifelong Education and Leadership
In nt te er rn na at ti io on na al l J Jo ou ur rn na al l o on n L Li if fe el lo on ng g E Ed ... more In nt te er rn na at ti io on na al l J Jo ou ur rn na al l o on n L Li if fe el lo on ng g E Ed du uc ca at ti io on n a an nd d L Le ea ad de er rs sh hi ip p ( (2 20 01 17 7) ), , 3 3( (1 1) )
Sustainable Multilingualism
Summary With an increase in the number of colleges and universities offering courses in English i... more Summary With an increase in the number of colleges and universities offering courses in English in the education market globally, higher education institutions face serious challenges. In non-native settings where English is favoured as a prestigious choice for the medium of instruction, learners struggle with the huge barrier between demanding course contents and necessary language proficiency levels, which encourages them to use translanguaging and alternative strategies extensively in and out of classrooms. In this light, this study aims to look at an under-researched topic by questioning how university students’ and lecturers’ views on translanguaging practices show parallels and differences in literature and engineering courses from a comparative perspective. The data of the study were collected at English Language and Literature (ELL) and Food Science (FS) programmes of Gaziantep University (GAUN) in Turkey through face-to-face interviews and class observations. The classrooms...
Bu makale, İngilizceyi bir yabancı dil olarak öğrenen yetişkin öğrencilerin, beyin yarıküre terci... more Bu makale, İngilizceyi bir yabancı dil olarak öğrenen yetişkin öğrencilerin, beyin yarıküre tercihleri ve öğrenme stillerini algılamalarını belirlemeye yönelik iki envantörden elde edilen sonuçları sunmaktadır. Bu araştırmanın amacı, öğrencilerin önceki dil eğitimleri, uzmanlık alanları ve dil kursu final notları değişkenlerinin beyin yarı küre tercihleri (analitik/global) ve öğrenme stilleri (görsel, işitsel, kinestetik) tercihleriyle ilişkilerini belirlemektir. Örneklem yoğun yabancı dil kursu alan, üniversitenin hazırlık sınıflarında okuyan 150 öğrenciden oluşmaktadır. Bu öğrencilerin 82 tanesi mühendislik, 50 tanesi sosyal bilimler ve 15 tanesi de temel bilimler alanındadır. Öğrenme stilleri tercihini belirlemek amacıyla Barsch Öğrenme Sitili Envanteri ve beyin yarıküre tercihini belirlemek amacıyla da Beyin Başatlık Envantörü araştırmada ölçme aracı olarak kullanılmıştır. Envantörlerden elde edilen verilen analiz etmek için, SPSS programında kay kare tekniği kullanılmıştır. Ana...
The Literacy Trek
Lecturing is often seen as an outdated and tedious mode of teaching in university education due t... more Lecturing is often seen as an outdated and tedious mode of teaching in university education due to its monologue-style content delivery. However, some lecturers tend to embrace a more interactive approach to ensure a democratic and participatory learning environment, in which students are encouraged to contribute to discussions, problem-solving or critical thinking tasks. This strategy allows participants to interact and cooperate more equally, which levels the power asymmetry between lecturer and students. In the light of this discussion, the data for this study was collected through audio recordings, interviews, observations, and field notes in the English Language and Literature Department at a state university in Turkey. Seven teaching hours were audio-recorded and transcribed with Jeffersonian transcription codes (1984) for an in-depth conversation analysis of classroom lecturer-student and student-student interaction. The data along with complementary information from intervie...
Sınırsız Eğitim ve Araştırma Dergisi, 2021
This study was conducted to investigate the first year experiences of novice English teachers in ... more This study was conducted to investigate the first year experiences of novice English teachers in public and private schools. Since there is almost no literature comparing novice teachers working in private schools and most current studies focus on the first year experiences with the challenges of language teaching of novice teachers, this study- as we stressed above- aims to shed light on the first year experiences of novice English teachers depending on a comparative and longitudinal basis. Covering an educational year (2017-2018), the study was carried out through a case design with four participants, two of whom are from state schools, and the other two of whom are from private schools. The data collection tools of the study are reflective journals and interviews. The data for the study was collected on a longitudinal base and analyzed monthly. Necessary and important excerpts from novice teachers’ experiences were investigated and coded. The findings of the study revealed that t...
Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Foreign Language Education, 2019
Key Issues in English for Specific Purposes in Higher Education, 2018
ESP is a dynamic research discipline, underpinned by the fundamental question of how best to meet... more ESP is a dynamic research discipline, underpinned by the fundamental question of how best to meet the needs of English learners, especially in our increasingly globalized and internationalized world. Since the early 1960s, ESP has become one of the most prominent areas of teaching in universities around the world. What began as a grass-roots solution to the need for vocationally-relevant English language education has evolved into a much broader field of research and application. Today, ESP plays a critical role globally evidenced by the massive growth of higher education institutions offering English-medium instruction (EMI), a conversation which must include the dichotomous approach of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). ESP has found its place as an essential waypoint in the foreign language learning continuum in EMI contexts. As students advance their knowledge in their fields of study, so must they continue to acquire the English to help them understand and articulate vocational concepts, thus giving prominence to ESP. Yet, as this volume argues, there is a significant gap between implementation and assuring quality of ESP offerings, stemming from teachers' own incompetence and the lack of materials for specific contexts, as well as a lack of opportunities for ESP teachers to develop professionally and personally. This chapter reflects upon the evolution of this field from its roots to its current context. Through chapter-by-chapter synopses, it also presents an overview of the volume's central premise that quality ESP instruction does and can exist.
European Journal of Teacher Education, 2021
The focus of this paper is to investigate how teacher candidates reflect on their observations in... more The focus of this paper is to investigate how teacher candidates reflect on their observations in practicum schools from a retrospective angle. First, ten English language teacher candidates, who w...
Dunyadaki egitim sistemlerinde mufredatlar genellikle belirli araliklarla yenilenmekte ve mufreda... more Dunyadaki egitim sistemlerinde mufredatlar genellikle belirli araliklarla yenilenmekte ve mufredat gelistirme ile ilgili konular sik sik teorik ve pedagojik acidan ele alinmaktadir. Ancak, bir ulkedeki yabanci dil olarak Ingilizce mufredatinin hazirlanmasinda gecen sureclerin mufredati hazirlayanlarin kendi gozuyle irdelenip detaylandirildigi nadir gorulmektedir. Farkli deneyimlere sahip mufredat tasarimcilarinin gorus ve dusunceleri farkli ogretim baglamlarina ozgu zorluklarin nasil asilabilecegine dair onemli bilgiler saglayabileceginden, bu calisma Turkiye’deki ilk ve ortaokullarda uygulamaya konulan Ingilizce dersi mufredatinin hazirlanmasi sirasinda takip edilen sureci sistematik bir sekilde betimlemeyi amaclamaktadir. Ozellikle ilgili mufredatin hazirlanmasina etki eden politik, pedagojik ve baglamsal etkenlere odaklanilmis olup, bu surecte ortaya cikan fikir ve anlayislar cercevesinde cesitli oneri ve talimatlar paylasilmaktadir.
New educational curricula are regularly put into practice worldwide; and the issues related to cu... more New educational curricula are regularly put into practice worldwide; and the issues related to curriculum design are frequently discussed from a pedagogical perspective. However, the processes involved in preparing a statewide English as a foreign language (EFL) curriculum are rarely elaborated from an inside view. As the experiences of program designers may provide insight on meeting the challenges of diverse teaching contexts, this article systematically describes the procedures that took place in preparing an elementary EFL curriculum for Turkish state schools, focusing on the political, pedagogical and contextual factors affecting the implementation. Suggestions and guidelines are offered on the basis of insights arising from the process.
Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 2008
This article describes how poems can effectively be used in English language classes to reinforce... more This article describes how poems can effectively be used in English language classes to reinforce students’ knowledge of the English language - vocabulary and grammar- and foster their creative writing. A careful selection of poems appropriate to students’ language requirements was incorporated into the curriculum of English Language Teaching. Employing the Writing-using models technique, a three-step guided writing was developed to consolidate students’ language knowledge and creative writing skills. Feedback obtained from the students through student journals and interviews demonstrated that the use of poetry has contributed to students’ practicing effectively and meaningfully their knowledge of grammar; it offered them opportunities for vocabulary enrichment; it broadened their imagination, and freed them from the routine procedures in the classroom. Sample writings of poems produced by learners are included in the article to demonstrate how the efficient exploitation of this li...
Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 2018
English is an access to a global society according to Normark (2013), which implies studying a sp... more English is an access to a global society according to Normark (2013), which implies studying a specific subject area through English is crucial in today’s educational arena. This is because English is a motive for universities to gain a global status as Coleman (2006) argued. Thus, the focal point of this study is to reveal motivational variations of students and lecturers toward English-Medium Instruction (EMI) because motivation may be an influential factor determining the success of EMI implementations. To this end, the study was designed as a mixed methods research to reach a deeper understanding of the issue. The participants were mechanical engineering students and lecturers at a state university in Turkey. In this regard, a Likert-type questionnaire was adapted to examine what factors had an effect on motivation of participants toward EMI. For the analyses of quantitative data, “Descriptive Statistics” were used to obtain mean and standard deviation scores; and MANOVA test wa...
Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 2012
Problem Statement: Since the late 1990s, Turkey has witnessed two major curriculum reforms in Eng... more Problem Statement: Since the late 1990s, Turkey has witnessed two major curriculum reforms in English language teaching at the primary level education. However, the situation of the assessment practices of the teachers has been unclear due to lack of relevant research, particularly in Turkish context. Purpose of Study: This study aims to investigate the written assessment practices of young English language learners in Grades 4-5 in state Turkish primary schools with a focus on comparing the question types posed by the teachers prior to and following the 2005 curriculum innovation in English language teaching (ELT) in primary education in Turkey. Method: In order to identify the teachers’ written assessment practices, 100 written examination papers were collected from 25 teachers who had been teaching in grades 4 and 5 since 1997, the papers were analyzed with regard to the question types based on the categorization suggested by Brown and Hudson (1998), and descriptive statistics wa...
English Language Education, 2018
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Shanlax International Journal of Education, 2021
In many countries where English is used as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL), the classroom ... more In many countries where English is used as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL), the classroom is the main context for students’ exposure to the target language (L2); however, English teachers have a tendency to use the mother tongue (L1) excessively. As a result, the appropriate use of L1 in language classrooms remains as a major problem. This study investigates Turkish EFL teachers’ perspectives on the use of L1, and functions that the teachers’ use of L1 serves in foreign language classrooms. Mixed method research design was adopted using a questionnaire and semistructured interviews. English teachers (n=43) responded to the Use of L1 Questionnaire and semistructured interviews were held with eight volunteer teachers working in Beyza private schools in a province in Turkey. Quantitative data from the Likert scale questionnaire items was analysed using descriptive statistics to reveal frequency, mean and standard deviation scores, and inductive content analysis was applied for t...
Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, 2018
The present study aimed to investigate perceptions of EFL teachers working at state primary schoo... more The present study aimed to investigate perceptions of EFL teachers working at state primary schools on core language skills, assessment types and question types used in assessing student’s foreign language development and proficiency during an academic year. Data were gathered from 56 EFL teachers working at 42 primary state schools in Turkey through a questionnaire comprising a variety of items to elicit their perceptions and applications of language assessment in the classes of 4th to 6th graders. Results obtained from frequency analyses indicated that the pen-and-paper tests, performance tasks, and in-class observation are the mostly used assessment tools, and that the selected response items are mostly employed question types in the tests, and that performance-based and communication-based assessment types are preferred more frequently than the traditional types in evaluating students’ success in learning EFL.
Research in Educational Administration & Leadership, 2020
Mission statements are increasingly becoming an inevitable component of educational institutions.... more Mission statements are increasingly becoming an inevitable component of educational institutions. The main reason behind this can be attributed to the fact that they are determinants for the accreditation of schools in today's competitive educational arena. Thus, gaining an insight into the emphasized concepts in mission statements of primary schools is essential since primary schools are the places where the education starts for every single individual. In this regard, the aim of this study is to provide a document analysis of mission statements of Turkish public primary schools which are governed by the Ministry of National Education. To achieve this, mission statements of 500 primary schools across Turkey were compiled; particularly schools from the Western and the Eastern parts of the country were randomly selected and included in the analysis. As well as the comparison between mission statements of schools located in two opposite sides of the country, a special attention was paid to whether any reference to language teaching and learning was available in the mission statements. The whole data were analysed via content analysis. The results give in-depth information about common and differing points among mission statements. The most common mission was found to be educating individuals who valued Atatürk's principles and reforms underpinning the Turkish education system. Besides, a number of distinct missions Article History:
Reflective Practice, 2018
ABSTRACT This study aimed at investigating English language teacher candidates’ reflections based... more ABSTRACT This study aimed at investigating English language teacher candidates’ reflections based on observations of real language teaching. Participants were 49 third-year undergraduate students studying at the English Language Teaching Department of a state university in Turkey. The rationale for selecting third-year students as participants was to describe the characteristics of written critical reflections of teacher candidates before they started practicum experience in their fourth-year of study at university. Participants’ critical reflection writings were utilized as data collection tools. The data obtained from reflective writings were analysed based on the Reflection Scale by Bain, Packer and Mills (1999). The analysis of data related to participants’ views on the observation and reflection writing process was conducted via inductive content analysis. The qualitative data indicated that English language teacher candidates did not reach a high degree in terms of criticality in their reflections. In addition, they did not tend to become more critical in their reflections over time even though they believed that reflection was beneficial for their professional development.
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Papers by Yasemin Kırkgöz
Keywords: English curriculum, language curriculum, curriculum development, language education, language teaching, English as a foreign language