Page 7 - ELG2410 October Issue 492

NEWS
orld
English in a Changing W
English in a Changing World

Attending the recent forum in Türkiye, Wayne Trotman reports on the

insights into the past, present and future of English language education.

n November, 2015 I had the Following this, Ayşen Güven,
pleasure of attending and recently awarded an MBE for, in
reporting for the Gazette on the the words of the UK Ambassador
Irollout of the British Council to Türkiye, ‘...transforming the
report, ‘The state of English in way English teaching is delivered
higher education in Turkey’. in Turkey,’ set out the context:
Ten years, and several further ‘The main purpose of the forum
insightful reports later, including is to assess the impact of reports
a recent one in 2023 on artificial and subsequent projects related
intelligence, I was again delighted to 2013 and 2015 surveys into
to accept the invitation to the the condition of English in state
British Council Türkiye English schools and higher education
in a Changing World Forum which respectively, and by using our
would take stock of all such forces and working collectively,
reports and assess impact along to shape the priority areas of work
with outcomes achieved. which can lead to innovative,
‘It’s a forum, and not a scalable, impactful and sustainable
conference,’ Ayşen Güven, British partnerships.’
Council Director Education The first of the three scheduled
Türkiye explained to me over panels on Day One explored what
lunch on Day One. ‘We’ve invited changes had been made in terms Ersoy, President of the Centre Day Two began with a round-
key partners and collaborators, of technology, along with the for Assessment, Selection and up by moderators of issues
both local and international, to needs of the labour market and Placement (known in Türkiye as arising on Day One, during
help us reflect on progress we’ve the demand for English. ÖSYM), who outlined a soon- which Andy Hockley advocated
made in the past decade and Dr Işıl Boy Ergül, founder of a to-be introduced computer-based a smoother transition for
highlight goals to guide us towards digital ELT company in Türkiye test in Türkiye known as E-TEP, language students from the prep’
an even better future.’ known as Teacher X and ETZ, and who, in his opening speech, year to faculty classes, while
Highly placed figures were explained how AI, far from said ‘...we aim to create areas both Evrim Üstünlüoğlu and
certainly evident throughout being a tool, was in fact a new where we can learn from each Richard Spiby encouraged the
the two-day event, held in the dimension, explaining that claims other by closely following the work coming together of stakeholders
Ankara Hilton. These included: for a teacherless classroom were being done in the field of language to assist with this.
Dr Yusuf Akbaş, Deputy General baseless as learning coaches were assessment internationally and by Sustainable Futures, the final
Director, Teacher Training still required in the room. ‘AI,’ she communicating with different panel, was devoted to partnership
and Development Directorate, concluded, ‘is able to enhance practitioners.’ models for equitable English
Ministry of National Education; learning, but could never replace it.’ Following a scrumptious lunch, language education. Sezin Dereci
Professor Güven Sak, President The second panel discussed over which all participants Kösem spoke of The Sabanci
of TEPAV, The Economic Policy systems to support better English discussed points raised, panel Foundation, which supported
Research Foundation of Türkiye; language outcomes for learners. three on Supporting Teachers, the British Council’s ‘English
and TESOL Türkiye President, Didem Mutçalioğlu, President moderated by Andy Hockley, Together’ project, focusing on
Evrim Üstünlüoğlu. Also in of the Accreditation Board— took place. empowering teachers, regardless
attendance was Chris Graham, another valued partner with the Panellist Evrim Üstünlüoğlu of gender. Along with the previous
Vice-President IATEFL, and British Council, and known in explained how she believed three, there were certainly plenty
Sezin Dereci Kösem, Sabanci Türkiye as DEDAK—explained professional development on a of clear issues from this panel for
Foundation Programme Manager. that in order to support learner macro-level needed to be more the British Council to work on in
Opening the proceedings, outcomes there was a need for meaningful and based on data, the near future.
Country Director for British interconnected systems that rely while on a micro-level it should During the evening closing
Council Türkiye, Gill Caldicott on consistency and alignment. involve learning opportunities reception at The British
pointed out that the British She concluded that ‘currently we and mentoring programmes. Embassy, kindly sponsored by
Council was celebrating 90 years do not have the right system.’ Chris Graham of IATEFL felt ELT publishers Macmillan and
since its inception; and its 84th On the same panel, Richard the less motivated members of Macenta, UK Ambassador to
year in Turkey. Spiby, Head of Assessment, the ELT community should be Türkiye, Jill Morris, shared her
‘Last year alone,’ she explained, English Language Research encouraged more, and plenty delight with all, explaining how
‘we delivered more than 30,000 British Council, explained the of online material for them was during a recent visit to a local
exams, and 23,000 teachers necessity of working in a triangle available. More urgently, he school, young Turkish pupils there
accessed Teaching English, which consisting of curriculum, delivery, energetically stated his policy had enlightened her in excellent
provides support for teachers of assessment, and not treating of ‘No teacher left behind’. Far English on artificial intelligence;
English. An example of what we assessment as a single entity. He too many teachers are under- evidence, if needed, of the work
know is significant demand for felt there was an urgent need for privileged by living in rural areas of The British Council, and that
English and we believe a very real assessment literacy. with low connectivity, poor language teaching and learning
need for the country to build on It was also encouraging to resources plus low English levels, programmes in Turkey are in
its already impressive potential.’ hear from Professor Bayram Ali he believed. good hands.
editorial@elgazette.com 7