Dear All,

Two of our colleagues recently presented at the TESOL Türkiye 5th International ELT Conference, bringing back valuable insights. In this post, we share their key reflections and takeaways from this event.

Reflection by Sultan Zeydan

The 5th TESOL Türkiye International ELT Conference took place on October 20th-21st, 2023, with Pre-Conference Events held on October 19th, 2023. The theme of this year’s conference was “Embracing Differences: The Key to Inclusive Education”.

I attended the pre-conference sessions organised by TESOL Türkiye LAMSIG on October 19th. The session titled ‘Role of the Teacher as a Leader in Inclusive Education” presented by Prof. Dr. Neslihan Güney Karaman was useful in understanding the concepts related to discrimination, segregation, integration and inclusion at the workplace and the key dimensions of effective inclusive leadership. Following this session, I participated in a workshop facilitated by LAMSIG Executive Board. The vignettes, addressing various inclusivity issues, led both me and my colleagues to reflect on our practices and collaboratively devise solutions for each identified problem.

The next day, it was a pleasure to attend the plenary session given by Ahmet Şerif İzgören. In his talk, he raised key questions about education from cultural, systemic, and personal perspectives. In his insightful talk, he focused on issues such as active engagement in learning and the impact of standardised testing on individual achievement, the need for holistic education and the importance of values such as respect, trust, kindness, and ethics.

The closing plenary ‘Do less but better: Streamlining our lessons’ given by Gabriela Kleckova was significant as it emphasized the idea that having a smaller quantity might be more beneficial than having an excess. Gabriela helped us grasp this philosophy in education, particularly in our approach to teaching, classes, and lesson planning. Throughout her speech, we reevaluated our views on lesson planning and questioned the concept of achieving deeper learning with fewer activities.

Over the two days, not only did I attend various workshops and paper presentations on inclusivity, differentiation and equity, but I also delivered a presentation entitled “Breaking Down Barriers: Building Inclusive Learning Environments”. In my session, I focused on the foundational principles of inclusion in education and discussed the barriers to creating inclusive classroom environments. In the session, the participants were also given the opportunity to reflect on practices aimed at creating an inclusive classroom climate at the tertiary level.

In conclusion, the conference proved to be a fruitful and enriching experience for me, leaving me inspired and equipped with valuable ideas for inclusivity and equity.

Reflection by Aida Görgülü

As a presenter and participant at the 5th TESOL Türkiye International ELT Conference, I had the pleasure of learning about and discussing the latest trends and challenges in English language teaching. The conference took place on the 20th and 21st of October 2023 at Bartın University. The conference theme, “Embracing Differences: The Key to Inclusive Education,” was timely and important, as educators worldwide strive to create more equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students. The program offered a variety of sessions that were relevant to my interests and needs as an ELT instructor. I am grateful to Özyeğin University for providing me with the opportunity to attend and present at the conference.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the conference was the diverse range of topics covered. It began with discussions on inclusiveness in education, highlighting the importance of creating equal opportunities for students, teachers, and leaders from all backgrounds. In a world that is becoming increasingly diverse, it is crucial to embrace differences and foster inclusive educational environments, and this theme was aptly captured in the conference’s title, “Embracing Differences: The Key to Inclusive Education.”

During the conference, I had the honour of presenting my research report titled “The Effects of Technology-Mediated Task-Based Language Teaching on Turkish EFL Learners’ Grammar Achievement.” This session aimed to explore the effectiveness of technology-mediated task-based language teaching (TBLT) in improving grammar skills among Turkish EFL learners. TBLT is a powerful approach that promotes interactive and communicative language use, creating a more engaging learning experience. The session offered practical insights, including online tools, sample lesson plans, and materials for creating effective TBLT lessons.

Several other notable presentations were delivered at the conference. Ahmet Şerif İzgören’s session, “In Fairy Tales, a Fairy Appears; in Real Life, a Teacher,” offered a thought-provoking perspective on the roles of teachers and students within the educational system. Esra Yatağanbaba’s systematic review of inclusive education in EFL higher education contexts provided valuable recommendations for educators, policymakers, and researchers seeking to improve inclusive education practices in tertiary settings.

Hakan Tarhan’s workshop on “Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI for Enhanced Language Learning Experiences” shed light on the transformative potential of generative AI tools in language education. His session encouraged educators to break free from traditional limits and explore innovative ways to harness AI for more efficient and engaging language learning experiences.

Finally, Sultan Zeydan’s workshop, “Breaking Down Barriers: Building an Inclusive Classroom Environment,” addressed the complexities and challenges of creating truly inclusive classroom environments in higher education. This session allowed participants to explore various practices and strategies for promoting inclusivity.

In conclusion, the 5th TESOL Türkiye International ELT Conference was an enriching experience that provided a platform for educators and professionals to exchange ideas and insights on crucial topics in English language teaching. The discussions on inclusiveness, technology-mediated teaching, and innovative teaching practices have left a lasting impact on my teaching approach, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this event. I look forward to implementing the knowledge and inspiration gained from the conference in my future teaching endeavours.