Engaging Lessons from an Experienced English Teacher

I earned my degree in English Language Teaching from
Yıldız Technical University in Istanbul.
During my studies, I worked once a week at a kindergarten for two semesters, where I
supported young learners through songs, storytelling, and play-based activities. I also taught
at a language school in Istanbul, working with high school students and adults to improve
their speaking and writing skills. I completed an internship at a Turkish high school, where I
gained my first experience working with adolescents. Later, I moved to Spain for another
internship at a language school called Enseñalia, where I taught students aged 3 to 13 in
kindergarten, primary, and middle school groups. After completing my internship, I was
offered a teaching position there, where I continued working until the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic. In both Spain and Turkey, I also provided private lessons to students of all ages,
including adults, tailoring my instruction to individual language needs and goals.
Upon returning to Turkey, I joined Bilfen Schools, one of the country’s most respected private
school institutions. I began as a Side-by-Side classroom teacher, co-teaching with a
Turkish-speaking educator in a bilingual environment for Grades 1 and 2. Later, I taught
4th-grade students. We implemented a CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning)
approach, where English was taught through science, technology, and the arts rather than
isolated grammar instruction. I also participated in Bilfen’s critical thinking programs, helping
students to develop independent thinking and problem-solving skills alongside their
language development.