Seyda Ergül

Seyda Ergul

Teaching Turkish is my passion. I love being a language teacher. For me, teaching is a “work of heart” (and art!).

I think of my class as people first, and as students, second. As a “people person,” I’m sensitive to individual personalities and styles—what one person might enjoy, but what might make someone else uncomfortable. I suppose you can say that I teach from the heart, not just from a book. I’ve taught Turkish to young kids, university students, expats living in Turkey, and professionals needing advanced fluency. But regardless of age, the magic moment is the same: it’s when that “light bulb” of understanding turns on right in front of me.

Of course, teaching is an art, too, requiring specific skills and professional training. I’ve earned university degrees and certifications for teaching foreign languages, as well as comparative literature. I’ve also prepared materials for teaching Turkish as a foreign language on the university level. And instructed other language teachers in how to teach Turkish to young Syrian refugees, in cooperation with UNICEF.

Game-playing is one of my favorite learning tools. It relaxes people, creates camaraderie, and it’s fun! And when you’re having fun, you learn more quickly.