Dear all,

We hope you are all doing well.

Here are the updates for this week:

1. A Workshop on English Language Teaching in Turkish Higher Education System

As Özyeğin University School of Languages, we are planning to organize a 1-day workshop in November, to create a platform where experts on specific areas in English language teaching in Turkish higher education context can share their expertise to brainstorm future practices in the light of current state.  If you would like to take part in the organizing committee, please send an e-mail to esra.celik@ozyegin.edu.tr by the end of 11.06.2023.

2. ScOLa Faculty Reading Club

ScOLa Faculty Reading Club convened for its third meeting, with a focus on mass communication, propaganda, and persuasion (Aronson, 2015, p.59). Language, as a communication, propaganda and persuasion tool used by instructors, took the spotlight. Participants explored its influence on classroom atmosphere and student outcomes.

In this regard, participants discussed communication sources, including credibility, trustworthiness, and attractiveness. They examined how these factors shape the impact of messages transmitted. The instructors emphasized the need to establish credibility and trust for a receptive group of students. Moreover, attractiveness discussed as beyond physical appearance, encompassing compelling content and strong teacher presence. Participants discussed ways to ensure that messages are engaging and effective. The instructors outlined the importance of understanding the students at hand and tailoring the message accordingly. They also highlighted the need for consistency in communication.

The group also delved into the role of student attitudes, moods, and intentions in effective communication processes. The concept of the size of discrepancy between students’ self-perception and expected academic outcomes received significant attention. Teachers stressed the importance of addressing affective aspects of learning. This is so that students can become self-aware, confident, and motivated by recognizing their strengths and uncovering the reasons for their weaknesses. They discussed ways to create an environment where students can communicate and share their worries and emotions. Moreover, they discussed strategies for helping students become resilient and recover from failure by avoiding self-sabotage. Finally, teachers discussed the importance of providing support and guidance to students to build their confidence and motivation. Overall, the discussion provided valuable insights into the intricate interplay between language, student attitudes, and communication sources within the realm of communication in the class.

The club decided to continue their meetings in the summer term to read and discuss about the issues of social cognition, self-justification, and prejudice.

3. Co-published Article by Ülkü Güleşçe

One of our colleagues, Ülkü Güleşçe, has co-published an article titled “A Psychoanalytic Analysis of Motherhood in Emma Donoghue’s Room and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter” in one of the refereed and prestigious journals “Pamukkale University Social Sciences Journal.”  The article focuses on the complex and multi-layered nature of maternal relationships, themes of trauma, identity, societal expectations, and the transformative power of motherhood.

You can find the article via the link below :

 https://doi.org/10.30794/pausbed.1130322