School of Foreign Languages - Professional Development

"Give up the idea that only children should spend their time studying. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life." Henry L. Doherty

 

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT BAU SFL

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Bahçeşehir University School of Foreign Languages (BAU SFL) values the professional development of its teaching staff. To this end, it has a Professional Development Unit (PDU) whose mission is "to contribute to both the personal and professional development of the BAU SFL academic staff". The PDU has two goals: (1) to bring teaching and learning within the institution in line with international standards, and (2) to build an academic staff that is aware of its own needs and able to act autonomously.

In line with the interests and needs of its instructors, the PDU organizes the following activities:

1. Induction Training: A two-week induction training program is organized to prepare newly hired instructors for their roles in the best possible way. This training aims to help new instructors adapt to the school more quickly and effectively, and thus achieve their professional and personal goals in their new environment more successfully. This induction training is mandatory for every newly hired instructor.

2. Teacher Presentations: Teacher presentations aim to (1) create a platform where instructors can share their "best practices" with colleagues and (2) build and sustain a shared understanding of "best practice" within the institution.

3. PD Days: The PDU organizes "PD Day", which can be described as a "BAU-only" in-house conference open exclusively to BAU SFL staff. The primary aim of PD Days is to bring BAU and SFL teachers together with other academics and professionals working within or outside the university, creating a context for exchanging ideas on ELT. Another aim is to contribute to the personal development of SFL teachers by organizing workshops in areas outside ELT. PD Days are held twice a year: once in January and once in May.

4. TELU Workshops: Throughout the year, the PDU organizes workshops at different times in collaboration with TELU (Technology Enhanced Learning Unit). These TELU workshops aim to (1) develop and refresh instructors' existing knowledge and skills in integrating technology into their teaching, (2) introduce instructors to recent changes and developments in educational technologies, and (3) build a shared institution-wide understanding of integrating technology into ELT.

5. Developmental Classroom Observations: The PDU carries out Developmental Classroom Observations to improve instructors' ability to evaluate their own practice and to help them become more reflective practitioners. Observations are conducted together with pre- and post-observation meetings. Based on the issues that come to the fore in the post-observation meeting, the observer guides the instructor in creating and implementing an action plan to meet the instructor's needs.

6. Peer Observations: For continuous learning and development, instructors are encouraged to observe other teachers and to be observed by them at least once each academic year. These observations are considered beneficial for both the observing and the observed instructor. The observing instructor becomes aware of different teaching styles and realizes that everything may be different in every classroom, which gives them a realistic goal for reflecting on their own practice. The observed instructor, in turn, has the opportunity to learn about issues they might normally overlook from an observer with an objective perspective.

7. Reflection Sessions with a Trainer: These sessions are organized to offer newly hired instructors any extra support they may need. They provide new academic staff with a forum where they can share possible challenges in their daily responsibilities and look for solutions together.

8. Postgraduate Programs: In addition to the PDU activities above, Bahçeşehir University may offer partial funding to its full-time faculty members, administrators and staff for master's and doctoral programs offered at the university.

9. Buddying: The PDU organizes a program that pairs experienced and newly hired instructors to ease new academic staff's transition into the institution. Since the first weeks in a new environment are the most stressful and challenging, the program starts at the beginning of the academic year and continues until the end of the first module.

10. Collaboration with the Bahçeşehir University Center for Learning and Teaching (CLT): The BAU PDU also collaborates with the Center for Learning and Teaching (CLT), which organizes training programs for the development of BAU students and teachers. Through this collaboration, the PDU can request special training tailored to the needs of SFL instructors.