Turkish vs. American Students and me, the teacher
Teaching Turkish students face –to – face at ENKA School the past two months I see similarities and difference between the American students I taught for 20 years. Are Turkish students as loud and rowdy? YES! They burst into a classroom with the same questions I’ve always heard, “What are we doing today?” A expected practice when I taught at Tates Creek High School was to have an agenda on the board. An agenda keeps me on track AND informs students what they are doing today. (We were also supposed to list standards being taught, but no student in the world wants to know that stuff!) So , when Turkish students arrive for a lesson, the want to hear what's on from my mouth. I guess, reading the agenda from the board takes too much effort! American students would do the same. Every day without fail: “What are we doing today?” I sigh, point to the board, or I simply tell them. Do they care about their grades? Take an American student who IS motivated in the classr