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Farewell ENKA teachers

  Farewell ENKA teachers June 28, 2022 This may be my final post from Istanbul, but may not the last of my Turkish teaching experience. My colleagues prepared the BEST farewell I could hope for.   First a lovely gift of a crescent moon and star necklace and bracelet.   They gave many hugs and best wishes with sentiments that I impacted their lives, the lives of ENKA students and I will be remembered!   Finally, my last day at ENKA, a video of memories and farewells was presented. I could not imagine getting a better tribute to my 24 years of teaching and my mere 2 years here in Istanbul. With time rushing by, and the almost impossibility of packing two years of shopping, work and memories, I am only able to write about a few special people. For now and for the future. The Brits I appreciate the hilarity and wit of the British people.   In ENKA English department we had 3 – Simon, Christina and Nida . All great colleagues.   Two special people from the UK I want to write a
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My last days of a teaching – marred by cheating.

 June 18, 2022 I waved goodbye to my last class at ENKA School and possibly my last ever yesterday.   Sadly because of an incident that happened in the last days, I feel rather hollow at the moment.   I have written before about the pressures students undergo because of the high stakes testing that occur four times a year.   Students and teacher live and die by “the exam.”   Most students only care about what will be asked from them on “the exam.” So, one could rationalize what happened over the past two weeks is the result of this pressured filled environment created by the Ministry of Education.   Or, one could realize that, when given the opportunity, students cheat.   And lie.    I wish I could see otherwise. All exams at ENKA are created “in-house,” by the team of teachers teaching that grade and based on the goals of the current unit.   The creation of the exam and rubric takes a few weeks as we toss around ideas, write and revise.   Sometimes the exam is written on a WORD do
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What I want to remember of Turkey

  What I want to remember of Istanbul. *The cold chills I get when hear the call to prayer.   Especially in the early morning when I am still in bed *The way the fruit is displayed by small grocery stores.   Especially the pomegranates opened to show their red beads. *My favorite Turkish expressions         Kolay gelsin – may your work be easy         Meraba – Hello         G ü nad ı n – good morning         G ü r ü sh ü r ü – good bye         Maalesef – unfortunately         Öğ retman – teacher *How awful, yet how rewarding, to learn the technology to teach students online during   the COVID pandemic * Students starting every inquiry with: “Can I ask you a question?” * Questions asked as an American:   Are you afraid in America?   Do you own a gun?    But also comments like: I want to go live in America with you! *The miracle of the Metro transportation to Taksim Square, Galata, The Grand Bazaar, Sishane *Turkish coffee and Ç ay *Juniper Café, its ow
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