It was last year when I felt the power of a leading international association. I had the opportunity to go to the 43rd IATEFL Conference in Cardiff and present there. I can describe this experience as inspiring, enriching and connecting.
IATEFL, which stands for the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language has Associates in different countries to link, develop and support English Language Teaching professionals worldwide as its mission states.
Having this in mind, I think that setting up IATEFL Turkey is a great opportunity for English teachers in Turkey to feel this connective spirit and develop professionally.
In order to set up a teachers’ association in Turkey, there are some legal conditions:
If you want to take an active role in the founding process, you cannot be a teacher or an administrator who works at a state or private school. (I know that this doesn’t sound logical and hope that it changes in the near future especially if the association is set up for professional development purposes.)
So, this leaves us the option to build a team of freelance teachers/trainers and university instructors (who live in Turkey) to fulfill the legal requirements and apply for an approval.
Come join the team of volunteers to actively contribute and take part in this new adventure.
You can contact me by leaving a comment or filling out this form.
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April 22, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Wow, I never realised there wasn’t one. Went searching for a TESOL affiliate (like TESOL Spain) and ended up here:
http://www.inged.org.tr/
Are they anything like IATEFL?
PS I wonder if the Turkish law is to stop teachers setting up trade unions
.-= Alex Case´s last blog ..A history of TEFL blogging Part One =-.
March 21, 2010 at 8:18 pm
I would like to take part in, too, if any help is needed…
March 2, 2010 at 11:29 am
Great idea. I'm more than happy to be a part of it.
February 28, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Hi Burcu
Just managed to get to this… I am willing to help in any way I can …we can discuss when we meet in March….happy to run some workshops for teachers and or trainers ( some people object to the word 'trainer'!)
February 16, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Hi Burcu!
Wonderful idea and I wish you the best of luck with it!
Congratulations on your idea and I “keep my thumb pressed” as they say here in Switzerland for good luck!
Kindest regards,
Vicky
.-= Vicky Loras´s last blog ..Teachers and Learners – Roles That Complement Each Other =-.
February 16, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Really amazing idea and chance to join this.I wish I could join this project..
.-= Özcan D.´s last blog ..Fostering Learner Autonomy in EFL Classrooms by Cem BALÇIKANLI =-.
February 16, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Hi Burcu!
Best of luck with this – it sounds very exciting. I can’t help but echo what other people have already said re “If you want to take an active role in the founding process, you cannot be a teacher or an administrator who works at a state or private school.” Very odd – I also hope this strange bureacracy changes.
Aside from sending you wishes of good luck, crossing fingers and using my Chinese good luck charm, there’s not much in the way of concrete help I can offer, so just let me say again
GOOD LUCK!!
.-= Mike Harrison´s last blog ..Techno Tool Tames Transcription Trouble =-.
February 16, 2010 at 4:06 pm
All of the (many) Turkish teachers I know on Twitter are incredibly talented at what they do. I can’t help but think IATEFL Turkey would be an astounding success – especially if you were involved Burcu. Let’s hope things change. I’ve no doubt your energy and desire for it will be powerful enough to make it happen.
Wishing you all the best in this important endeavour.
Sean
.-= Sean Banville´s last blog ..People Making Free Lesson Plans =-.
February 16, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Thanks a lot Sean! You can help by coming as a speaker to the first IATEFL conference in Turkey. Fingers crossed:-)
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February 16, 2010 at 3:55 pm
What a fantastic idea, and I really wish you the best of luck. IATEFL Hungary had a similar struggle at the outset but is now very well established, as I am sure IATEFL Turkey will be too. I don’t really know what I can do to help, but if I can do anything from International House London, then of course I will.
February 16, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Thanks for the support Maureen! I’m very excited about it:-) I hope things go well and I can announce it at my school’s ELT conference in March.
February 16, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Oh, and if you need any help/support me and George Pickering ran a series of workshops for a number of TAs in Asia a couple of years ago, so let me know!
.-= Andy Hockley´s last blog ..Feedback =-.
February 16, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I’ll keep that in mind Andy. Thanks a lot! Looking forward to organizing IATEFL conferences in Turkey.
February 16, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Good luck! I guess you’re probably familiar with this free downloadable book, but if not, then you are now!
.-= Andy Hockley´s last blog ..Feedback =-.
February 16, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Wow! I haven’t seen this book. Looks very useful. Thanks for the support Andy!
February 16, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Congratulations on this bold initiative, Burcu.
But is this really true? “If you want to take an active role in the founding process, you cannot be a teacher or an administrator who works at a state or private school.”
What on earth is the point of excluding the people who the new organisation needs?
Hope it changes, for your sake.
.-= Ken Wilson´s last blog ..Thought for the day… =-.
February 16, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Unfortunately yes, Ken. In my case, it is not a problem because I work at the Head Office and am not assigned as a teacher or administrator in one of our schools. However there are many people that I really want to include in this process but they work as teachers or department heads at private schools. Luckily, they will be able to be a member and work voluntarily. The legal constraint I have mentioned is for taking active role in the founding process. This constraint has some historical background and I hope it will change in the near future.
Thanks for your comment.
Burcu
February 16, 2010 at 12:12 am
Wow! Finally!
I was always wondering why there wasn’t one in Turkey.
The logic of why teachers and school admin can’t participate escapes me. Maybe because it would give them a marketing advantage?
Nergiz
February 16, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Yes, it is a big question. Why don’t we have IATEFL here?
It would be great if teachers and administrators could take active role but unfortunately “Associations Law” in Turkey says so…
Thanks for the comment Nergiz!