Never underestimate W-H questions in your life!

by Eda Türkcan

Hi everyone,

I graduated from Metu, FLE in 2012. I was a student of Section 4, sometimes 3 or 5 depending on the capacity of the class as you guess. I mentioned my section because section is a divine term in our university. By the way, one of the most important profits this section issue provides you is that you remember your fellows with their first and second names. I am Eda Türkcan, from section 4, FLE, Metu.

In the last spring term before I graduated, lots of career choices appeared. Working as a teacher: in a state or private school? Working with young learners or adults? Going on my career applying to a master degree? In which area? ELT, Linguistics or Literature? The other choices were also possible: Women Studies was another one for me for instance. In short, Which-Where- How and Why questions were going around and around in my mind until I made a decision. A humble tip from me is that: Never underestimate W-H questions in your life!

I made my decision based on why question and I decided to work in the kitchen at least for some time. Now, I was an English teacher in a state secondary school, Muş. I have been working with 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders for one and a half year.

This was and still is a radical decision for my life. Muş was the east-est spot that I have gone so far. Life styles, customs and people were very different from the ones that I get used to. However, my university motivated me to make a difference in people’s lives, in the world.

The first moment that I was on the stage being a real teacher, not an intern is very precious to me. Students, lots of students looking at you and curious about you. Unfortunately, they did not know much about English and more important was that they were afraid of English and the term of teacher. When I touched one’s shoulder, he jumped. He thought that I would beat him! It was disappointing.

In the first months, I thought that the things that I learnt in the university was highly an utopia. There weren’t computers in every class, the books were very useless and their CDs were not available and the level of the students were low and highly heterogeneous. I was about to give up. However, I set down my priority as changing the attitude of students’ towards English rather than trying to teach 3rd person singular -s and I managed. They loved me and so my lesson. I always expressed my love and trust on them. I answered their each and every question. I never yelled at them. Classroom management, yes! How can it be possible to manage a class smiling with your all teeth and providing them a space to talk, to move, to cut, to paste and to act? Love and accessibility are two key terms for classroom management in my opinion. If they feel your love, if they love you and find you when they need, they never turn into trouble-makers.

English as a lesson is another issue. It is not a lesson but a language. You can’t restrict it with multiple choices and vocabulary lists. However, you have to fight with the system in this point. Because there are exams and degrees and syllabus to rush. However,  I insist on my idea and I had to move against the administration, other teachers and parents. Just a little time and patience. Love kids, work at home as well, cooperate your colleagues and adapt your book. Afterwards, you will see that you win. Another tip is that: Adaptation is important and never give up.

Life itself in 20s can be very problematic. You are a teacher but a human-being at the same time. Turkey is very different environment than the one in METU. People are intolerant to each other and each other’s ideas and beliefs. They ask you such questions: “Is it true that couples can make love on the grass?” or “Do homosexuals really walk hand in hand at the campus?” or “Do your instructors really drink beer with you outside?”! As you are a graduate of Metu, they regard you as the tail of the serpent. Oh, John Milton! You are like in Paradise Lost, really lost. You inevitably get disappointed. You can’t express your own ideas on politics, on life and you tend to hide your own existence for some time. You start to think that the life you experienced at Metu was on the edges and it is impossible to reflect into real life. You try to smooth your ideas and beliefs. You become a loner at last. Another tip: Never do that! Keep in touch your friends, your instructors, go to Graduation Ceremony at Metu and refresh. Yes, we, serpents of the Metu can show courage to live our love without hiding it behind the walls and trees. Yes, homosexuals walk hand in hand and none of us finds it odd. Yes, our instructors drink beer with us in and outside because we are friends, as well.

Fortunately, these serpents are motivated to do their best. Almost two years passed from my graduation and I am so glad that I can stand behind all my fellows and I know that all of us try to make a difference wherever we are.

Sorry for this long reflection, I never write a piece of short story as well. Sorry for the grammar mistakes. My grammar was DC, anyway. Good luck!