TESTIMONIALS

Embarking on this intensive TESOL course has been a true game-changer for me as an English Language Teaching (ELT) professional. The transformation I’ve witnessed in my teaching approach is nothing short of remarkable. From the moment I delved into the course materials, I knew I was embarking on a journey that would redefine my teaching strategies.

The course introduced me to a diverse range of innovative teaching methods, breathing new life into my classroom. The workshops and hands-on exercises not only expanded my toolkit but also reshaped my perspective on education. What’s truly remarkable is the seamless blend of theory and practical application – I not only learned about effective techniques but had the chance to put them into action.

The emphasis on self-reflection and feedback was a revelation. I now find myself critically evaluating my teaching methods and constantly striving for improvement. This newfound awareness has elevated my teaching to a whole new level, fostering a more engaging and interactive learning environment.

Without a doubt, I’m an advocate for this course. I’ve already recommended it to every ELT teacher I know, and I’ll continue to do so. If you’re seeking a transformative experience that revitalizes your teaching and amplifies your impact, this TESOL course is the answer. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and equipped with the tools you need to revolutionize your teaching journey.

Deniz SAL CUZDAN- 2023 SIT TESOL Cert Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

As a teacher with 13 years of experience, I was thinking about the ways of rejuvenating myself, keeping up-dated and catching up with the latest classroom implications. However, I barely had an idea on where to start. When I first heard about the course application period had started, I felt that was the very thing I was looking for. SIT TESOL course was more than that. It has made me realize that I have teaching beliefs thanks to the reflective practice. I have raised an awareness on the reasons of my teaching practices. Now, I can easily see the rationale of my implementations. The constructive feedback I received from my peers and trainers have enabled me to improve my teaching skills. All the assignments starting from the lesson planning to writing essays or reading articles contributed to both my knowledge and my practice. It was challenging, but I did not feel any moment as a waste of time. Despite the hectic schedule and stressful period, our trainers were so helpful and supportive that I could focus on my work rather than my feelings. I totally recommend this course to everyone, especially experienced teachers, to see how far you can achieve and actualize yourself as a teacher. You will use your experience, think about it, gain knowledge and build a brand-new teaching style. Everything I learnt in the course has brought me a new perspective. I can’t wait to put them into practice in my classroom.

Fatma Duygu KAYA – 2023 SIT TESOL Cert Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

As an English Language Teacher and student, I always heard the “TESOL Certification Course”, I know that it is a great opportunity for teachers who wants to teach at abroad, but I had no idea of its’ content. When I saw the announcement of “SIT World Learning TESOL Course”, only thing that comes to my mind was applying it. Because as an English Language Teacher, I knew how qualified “SIT World Learning Institute” is and it is one of the most well-known and respected institutions in the terms of TESOL Certification Courses. I always believe that there is always something to learn so I applied for the course. I took this course with an U.S Embassy Grant. I always feel my gratitude to SIT (School of International Training) World Learning Institute, Izmir Yasar University School of Foreign Languages, U.S Embassy Ankara and RELO Türkiye Team for providing such a great opportunity for all of us!

First of all, most important thing that I took from this course was “Reflective Cycle” and “Reflective Thinking/Teaching”. It was one of the biggest main components of the course. This course gives the opportunity to reflect on myself. We learn more when we reflect on ourselves. We reflected on every little thing on this course, we reflected on our own teaching practices, we reflected on other colleagues’ teaching practices, we reflected on their reflections of our teaching practices, we even reflected on our own reflections, we reflected on reflection, it was so intense reflective based course, it was my favorite part of it! By the time, we learned the importance of little details and how can it lead to bigger results in learning outcomes and effectiveness of learning. By reflective cycle and practice, we learned what aspects we should improve ourselves and how can we do better in our next lessons. We also had chance to observe our colleagues, it also gave us to a chance to learn from their experiences, too. We learned the importance of these questions, “Why?” “Why do you think so?” “How do you feel” “Why did you feel in that way?” and “Why do you think it happened in that way”, “If you could change one thing, what would it be?” “What does it mean for your future lessons?” There is a rational reasoning for every little thing we said, we do, we plan, we design before-during-after the teaching practices. In this course, we challenged a lot and by the time, we learned from reflections we have gained during the course, we had opportunity to improve ourselves. We learned how to analyses and evaluate themselves a teacher and a person in reflective cycle!

Secondly, my other favorite thing about this course was learning from experiences! I always thought that we learn better from each other, we can learn many things from resources and our mentors or academic books but as collaborative learning suggests, we also learn many things from our experiences, too. We can learn from each other, too! Thanks to SIT World Learning TESOL Course, we had many chances to see each other’s’ perspectives, experiences and learn from each other. We had many chances to work as a group and pairs, we also had chance to interact and communicate with each other a lot, we also had chance to create great social experiences, memories and interactions! We also learn a lot about ourselves as a person and as a teacher. In our course, we had many chances to create great deep discussions about English Language Teaching and teaching four language skills, listening, reading, writing, listening skills which are main language skills in English Language Teaching. We went deeper into each language skill as a language module. We made great discussions about these modules, their challenges, how can we design more effective lessons about these language skills based on important frameworks, ECRIF (Encounter, Clarify, Remember, Internalize and Fluency) and PDP (Pre-During-Post) Frameworks, we analyzed each module for different kind of aspects.

Lastly, this course gives great chance to challenge yourself as a teacher, as a person academically and professionally. This course is for you, if you want to LEVEL UP yourself and your teaching skills in many aspects! This course is for you, if you want to have a door to teaching abroad! This course is for you, if you want to challenge yourself, your beliefs, your knowledge from different layers and met many great people who have big desire for their profession, learning, improving and doing better! Because in this course, you will meet amazing passionate people that you will learn a lot and create great social interactions! Their dedication, passion, desire, motivation for their profession and life will also inspire and motivate you. If you are person who does NOT want to settle for the less, and raise your standards to higher level and do better professionally and personally, this course is for you! No matter your teaching context and circumstances is, this course is for you! If you are young-learner or kindergarten teacher, you can still come! If you are a K-12 teacher, you can still come! If you are private or public-school teacher, you can still come, if you work at upper-pre-intermediate level or university level, you can still come! If you have less or more experience, you can still come! This course welcomes all kinds of teachers, only component you should have is passion and desire for teaching, learning, improving and doing better! If you want to be better, you should do better. If you want to do better, you should act better and apply for this course! If you want to inspire and get inspired, please apply for this course!

Gökçe GÖK- 2023 SIT TESOL Cert Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

Taking the TESOL course has been an incredibly enriching experience that has broadened my understanding of language teaching and learning. Over the duration of the course, I explored various teaching methodologies and approaches. The course content was well-structured, covering topics ranging from second language acquisition theories to practical classroom management strategies. This journey has not only deepened my knowledge of effective language teaching but also provided me with a valuable TESOL certification, empowering me to embark on a path of impactful language education                                                                                                     

One of the most eye-opening aspects of the course was the exposure to diverse teaching methodologies. Learning about the communicative approach highlighted the importance of fostering real-life communication skills, while discussions on the cognitive approach underscored the significance of critical thinking in language learning. Engaging in peer discussions and collaborative projects allowed me to share ideas and learn from the experiences of fellow participants, enhancing my perspective on effective teaching techniques. Additionally, the practical component of the course, including lesson planning and micro-teaching sessions, provided hands-on experience that bridged the gap between theory and practice. This not only supported my confidence as an educator but also illuminated the dynamic nature of the classroom environment.

As I reflect on this journey, I am excited about the prospects of applying the knowledge gained from the TESOL course in real-world teaching settings. The insights into various teaching methodologies and the emphasis on student-centered learning have encouraged me to create engaging and effective lessons. The course’s focus on adapting to diverse learners has reinforced the importance of catering to individual needs and learning styles. I am grateful for the guidance and mentorship provided by the instructors throughout this course, as well as the support from my peers. I look forward to making a positive impact in the lives of English language learners with TESOL certification and the lessons learned.

Hatice KAYA – 2023 SIT TESOL Cert Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

As a novice English teacher who only has 2 years of teaching experience in an unprivileged village school and trying to form some grounded teaching beliefs, SIT TESOL Certificate Program was just I have been looking for.

It was an immense opportunity for professional development, we were given a lot of chance to practice and received valuable feedback from both our trainers and our colleagues. This hands-on model specifically facilitated our improvement, and though 4 weeks sounds pretty short the improvement in our teaching practices were totally unbelievable.

If I had to sum up what I have gained from these 4 weeks I would say; “practicality and value of peer learning/peer planning” “importance of detailed lesson planning” and “prioritizing the learning process, atmosphere and the learner readiness over the plan”.

I absolutely recommend both novice and experienced English teachers to enroll in this course, by making sure that they have enough energy and time to be completely present during that month, as it takes a lot more effort than one expects, but it surely does worth everything!

Meral Reha KZILKAYA – 2023 SIT TESOL Cert Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

I recently completed the SIT TESOL Certificate Course at Yaşar University, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. I am incredibly grateful for the knowledge and support I received throughout the program.

The instructor of the course was not only expert in his field but also fantastic mentor. He created a warm and nurturing learning environment, allowing us to explore and develop our teaching style while giving constructive feedback to enhance our skills. The emphasis on experiential learning and hands-on practice allowed me to develop my teaching skills with real students, making me feel confident and prepared for any classroom situation. What impressed me the most was the practical approach of the course. We were encouraged to apply the teaching techniques we learned directly in the classroom with real ESL students. This hands-on experience was invaluable and gave me the confidence to tackle various teaching challenges. The course curriculum was well-structured and covered a wide range of topics, including language acquisition theory, lesson planning, and classroom management. The course also included feedback sessions after each teaching practice, which helped me identify my strengths and areas for improvement.

The administrative team at Yaşar University was also very supportive, assisting with any queries or logistical concerns promptly. The overall organization of the course was commendable. I would like to express my special thanks Burcu Tügen in this regard for her valuable assistance in every part of the course.

I am now equipped with the necessary tools and skills to continue my career as a more professional ESL teacher. I would highly recommend the SIT TESOL Certificate Course at Yaşar University to anyone looking to pursue a career in English language teaching. It’s a transformative experience that will open doors to exciting opportunities in the field of education.

Nermin YILDIZ YÜKSEL –2023 SIT TESOL Cert Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

Attending the SIT TESOL program in the summer of 2023 helped me widen my horizon in my teaching practice. The program was intense and challenging. It was also informative and fun. Our trainer was always there for us. He made himself available whenever we needed his guidance. I have learnt a lot from him and from my lovely colleagues. By the end of the program, I was able to reflect on my own teaching practice, renew my teaching strategies, give and receive feedback and get practical ideas to be applied in my future lessons. All of these areas were the ones I wanted to improve myself in and I am very happy to have achieved all my objectives by the end of the program.

I have learnt a lot both from my trainer and my lovely colleagues. One of the best things about SIT TESOL, apart from its unique approach to teaching, is the community you enter. To be honest, I didn’t expect to be in such a supportive, friendly atmosphere where every participants’ and trainers’ only concern was to make each other better teachers by gently leading them to that path.

From the bottom of my heart, I can say that SIT TESOL is one of the best investments both experienced and inexperienced teachers can make for their careers. I can’t recommend this course enough and I am grateful for the opportunity.

Sinem TÜRKEL– 2023 SIT TESOL Cert Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

When I first heard about the program, I got excited thinking that I would refresh my whole teaching practice after so many years and have some new perspectives towards the field. I also was thrilled to find out that the whole program was based on the philosophy of “Experiential Learning Cycle”, meaning lots of hands-on practice and reflection for me.  After only a couple of days, it turned out that it was not just one of those regular teacher training courses where you are introduced with basic methodological concepts and follow-up practices and left with little actual hands-on experience and one-to-one feedback from the trainers. It was a month full of hard-work, preparation like you never had before, sleepless nights spent on lesson plans and assignments, collaboration with your peers and getting actual feedback and learning how to give one.

I can reassure that The SIT TESOL program is not like its counterparts. It is based on solid practice. It is arranged in such a smart way that it gets to surprise you with lots of new awareness every single day even if you are teacher with 13 years of experience. The trainers are well-organized, always meticulously prepared and available for guiding you in every step of the way. They are friendly and down-to-earth, and always kindly push you to reach your true potential. There is also a great variety of background among the participants which make it possible to learn from each other in every step of the way, and this I believe is something that you cannot easily have anywhere else.

My biggest concern throughout the course was how I would apply all that I learned in the course into my daily practice at prep school as the curriculum at the department is often pre-arranged and not subject to change at state schools. However, since you have a different perspective as a teacher after the course, it reflects on every step of your teaching along the way. It reflects on how you plan your lessons, how you modify them, how you give feedback and create space for your students within a hectic schedule. As a PDU member, my unit and institution also benefited from my experience when we were planning the yearly PD activities and the peer-observations we would have during the year.

I would definitely recommend the program to all the professionals who are open to improving their practice. Vecihe Kafadar – 2019 SIT TESOL Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

I would often quote ‘I didn’t choose to be a teacher. I was born one.’ in the description of myself as a teacher. Although I still believe in that, I have learned that one can always improve and learn no matter how good they are or consider themselves to be. For me, that learning experience was taking part in the SIT TESOL Certificate Course in June of 2019. I attended it a US Embassy grantee and I am extremely grateful to have had that opportunity. The theoretical knowledge, practical skills, useful tips, and a wide range of classroom ideas and activities I have acquired during the course is what I now use in my everyday teaching. I am thankful and appreciative of the trainers and other participants as they played an important role in this whole process. It has been five months since I have completed the course. I have used the acquired skills to advise my colleagues on ways they can make the most out of their teachings, shared materials I have gathered during the course with them and they are all very pleased about it. In the near future, I will be working closely with my university’s Professional Development Department on creating workshops for new instructors as part of their induction program. I sincerely advise inexperienced, as well as experienced EFL and ESL teachers to take part in this course. It is a one of a kind rollercoaster of hard work, a few hours of sleep, the stress of writing lesson plans and teaching, laughter, fast food, tons of paper, and lots of Turkish coffee that you will not want to end.

Edin Omerovic – 2019 SIT TESOL Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

Whether you are a novice teacher in need of the best practices for TESOL or an experienced teacher who needs refreshment, I cannot think of a better place than SIT TESOL Course for an English teacher’s continuous professional development. I am in the second category as an EFL teacher at tertiary level for 21 years. I am also PhD student who has in times felt ‘carried away’ from practice when so engulfed in theory. Thanks to SIT TESOL Certificate Course, I could observe and experience how to relate classroom practice to relevant research and theory in a very positive atmosphere where collaboration rather than competition is highlighted from the very beginning until the last minute of the course. Another crucial aspect of SIT TESOL Certificate Course for me is that it is never ‘sink or swim’; on the contrary, it is always ‘walk your talk’. Each and every bit of behavior we are expected to demonstrate throughout the program is modelled by the competent trainers of the course by their verbal or non-verbal communication skills. To sum up, the two very important lessons I have ‘relearned’ during the course are:

• Planning is of crucial importance for classroom practice, but what is the use of a meticulously prepared lesson plan if we cannot put it into practice at the chalk face, i.e., in our teaching practice?
• Teaching is at the heart of our profession because we are ‘teachers’, but what is the use of teaching thousands of hours for many years if we do not/cannot reflect on our practice in its real sense?

Any person who intends to teach or who have taught a little or a lot knows or will see that it is easier said than done. With SIT TESOL Certificate Course, we have observed and experienced that it is possible for each and every teacher who are at different points in the experience conundrum. Yes, this is definitely a demanding program, but it is worth every millisecond of the effort spent there. Aliye Evin Yörüdü – 2019 SIT TESOL Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

From the beginning to the end, SIT TESOL was an invaluable experience for me! In this course, I learnt many different kinds of educational teaching styles, tactics, theoretical, and extremely useful knowledge. There is a huge difference in me in teaching before and after. I learnt lots of activities which I didn’t know about until this course. Our teachers gave us enough opportunity to practice those activities such as mingles, roleplays, debates, etc. I also learnt how to prepare an ideal lesson plan in a very detailed manner. I had a chance to apply what I have learnt theoretically later in practice activities. Being observed and being given feedback during the practicum hours was extremely helpful. Above all, I haven’t had such an intense month in my life before, but it was our trainers who made this a fantastic month by creating a friendly and nice atmosphere at every lesson and my new friends who were always encouraging and supportive. Thanks for every single moment we shared here! Cansu Kalkan -2019 SIT TESOL Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

I feel really happy to be a part of the 2019 summer SIT TESOL course. This month has been the most fruitful month in my life to have a chance to synthesize my existing knowledge with international, new and contemporary methods of education and to enhance it to be a more successful English teacher. I have always considered about how to convey my knowledge of literature to my students in a better way and with the help of this course, I have had an opportunity to have a wide range of workshops, to apply theory into practice and to get qualified feedback on my teaching. Moreover, by the help of the experience, I have had in this course, I have learned how to make self-observation while teaching to be able to describe, interpret my teaching to generalize it and most importantly to take a plan action for my next teachings. What’s more, thanks to new frameworks, methods and practice teaching lessons, I have obtained a different awareness of my teaching skills. I absolutely recommend the SIT TESOL course to everyone who wants to broaden their perspective on teaching and learning.  I would like to thank you to my valuable trainers who helped me develop my teaching skills and spent their time on us patiently. Fulya Çolak – 2019 SIT TESOL Course (US Embassy Scholarship Recipient)

I attended the TESOL program in the summer of 2019. As a person with zero experience in teaching, this program helped me a lot. It gave me self-confidence and self-discipline, helped me with strategies for teaching and classroom management, encouraged me to empathize with students more effectively and many more things.  

Education: Learning theoretical strategies and then implementing them the same day in the classroom brought me from an inexperienced student to a person who could start working in an establishment. The things I learned were so diverse as well. You learn theories about teaching and then apply it to the classroom, and then you learn small things like sitting down while helping a student while he/she has problems during an exercise.  

Community: In one month, the TESOL students/teachers and the trainers, we became like a family. We helped each other while we prepared our lessons, we gave emotional support, we went out for drinks and food. The stress that we had to endure during this course brought the trainers and the students/teachers closer together and this in order helped us endure the stress.  

Trainers: The trainers were very helpful. They were nearly always ready to give advice and guide while we were preparing our lessons. From the way they managed the classroom we could see they were very experienced and they gave out a very professional look. Further, it was very noticeable that they had been preparing for the TESOL course for months. The course went really smoothly. 

Do not expect this course to be a cake walk! It is stressful. Your whole month will only be consisting of TESOL. You will become frustrated, you may cry, you may end up preparing a lesson at 4 o’clock in the morning. Prepare accordingly; but there is no need to be afraid because the certificate, the community the education and the trainers definitely make it worth it.  

Ten out of ten, would definitely do it again! Ramon Delp – 2019 SIT TESOL Course 

SIT TESOL was like a Midsummer Night’s Dream considering it is taking place in midsummer and it makes you have night dreams (not nightmares) in which you give endless  feedback. Aside from that, it was a rewarding course assisted me to reflect on my own learning and teaching. What I learned in TESOL, was patience. I was super excited to “teach” that I would not allow my students to digest what was learned. Also, before the course, I knew some terminology but everything was all over the place. Now, I am glad that I can see the big picture in a certain framework. I was not sure what had been required from me as a teacher but now I understand what is expected. Seeing other teachers’ classes also helped me reflect my own teaching.

I would suggest this course to the individuals who would like to broaden their perspective in teaching and learning regardless of their profession, because I believe, SIT TESOL is not a course that is only designed for inexperienced teachers but any teacher –experienced or inexperienced- and  people deriving from other professions can find up-to-date elements of learning and teaching and the elation of creating with the guidance of two awesome trainers.  Fatma Hüsmenoğlu – 2017 SIT TESOL Course

To me, being a participant in TESOL Cert. was a fruitful experience as a whole. The learning outcomes like getting from learner’s viewpoint to a teacher’s, building upon the experience and tasting “reflective practices”, helping others as well as yourself with a humble manner and having your “competencies” assessed in a constructive way were literally groundbreaking! This course is both useful and demanding, so you had better tune in and be truly present in this course. The best part is, it is worth all! As a participant, you realize that it is so essential to care for your teaching and learners. The course notifies you how precious learning is for everyone, which is a great lesson for life, too.   Burak Aydın – 2016 SIT TESOL Course

It cannot be denied that TESOL course is ultimately a rewarding teacher training experience for everyone. Wholeheartedly, I believe that it has broadened my horizon in terms of teaching and questioned my traditional style. It entirely changed my way of teaching and my lessons became more engaging for students.

The course was intense and tough but definitely worth it. Besides, the course atmosphere was also very warming and our trainers were highly supportive. Apart from filling some of your gaps in your own knowledge of English teaching and equipping yourself with substantial skills, you also receive a very prestigious certificate beyond dispute. Do not hesitate a second to take this course.  Cüneyt Gaffaroğlu – 2015 SIT TESOL Course

I would definitely recommend the course to any English teacher regardless of their experience. I had been teaching for five years when I attended the course in 2014. I have not only learnt many new things but also had a chance to explore myself as a teacher. One of the most essential things that I acquired during the course was being able to reflect on my own teaching. I believe that it is an ability that can help you improve your skills throughout your whole career.

Even though it was an intense programme, I never felt under pressure thanks to the supportive trainers and cooperative trainees. There was always a positive atmosphere, which made the whole experience as smooth as possible. The course was not based on competition but cooperation and self-improvement, and I believe this is what makes TESOL course different from similar programmes.  Zeynep Özcan – 2014 SIT TESOL Course

I expected to learn strategies of how to teach crowded and small classes, problematic and unproblematic students and a way to teach grammar and pronunciation. I was more focused on the teacher, how an effective teacher should be and how not to be boring in class.

What I found was that I have to focus on the student more than the teacher. Student-student interaction and eliciting from students is much more important than being the holy source of the class. We experienced during our workshops how important different cultures are and we experienced classroom culture. I learned also about effective frameworks to use for creative and also receptive skills lessons.

I would definitely recommend the course. The major reason for it is that there is absolutely no competition; on the contrary, being cooperative, we were all encouraged to assist each other before our teaching sessions, and to observe and give feedback to each other when teaching classes. We were given more than enough material to use in our lessons and got help anytime we needed (even at 6am in the morning I received answers to my questions). Although we were usually sleepless and very busy with lesson planning, reading articles & writing report papers and evaluating our experiences, I must admit that I had the time of my life. It was the most challenging but exciting 4 weeks of my life and I’m incredibly sad that it has come to an end.  Jennifer Delp Çelik – 2013 SIT TESOL Course