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Bilkent University Faculty Academic English Program BEWARE
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Caterinamh



Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Posts: 140
Location: Istanbul
PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:58 am    Post subject: reply Reply with quote
eha wrote:
crazycatlady wrote:
at bilkent, a troublemaker is someone who speaks up when management does something unfair or unethical. or someone who, when asked by management for feedback, gives *negative* feedback.

Not only at Bilkent! This is the ITD (International Tefl Definition) of a troublemaker!




TRUE!
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paracelcus



Joined: 02 Jul 2011
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:40 am    Post subject: FAE "coursebooks" Reply with quote
quagmire wrote:
Unfortunately, FAE adhere to using "coursebooks," photocopied manuals compiled by instructors - often a mish-mash of Nietzsche and Hegel, God forbid Wittengenstein, too - philosophers and thinkers native-speaking freshman can hardly undertstand in western universities let alone non-native speakers fresh out of "Hello, my name is _____ ." Hazirlik.

Actually this is the best feature of the programme for both teachers and students. Rather than the standard EFL mish-mash of topics (global warming in Week 1, polygamy in week 2 etc.) teachers design a content-based course around a subject they are interested in and hopefully students get some choice about the topic they study (although recently this has been curtailed somewhat for administrative reasons). As for Nietzsche, he's a set author on some courses our students do anyway (along with Locke, Hobbes, Marx etc.), so I don't think it would be too traumatic for students to encounter him in their English courses. I've used Wittgenstein in class (the famous passage from "Philosophical Investigations" about the impossibility of defining "game"), and it was actually pretty easy for students to follow because, no matter how difficult his ideas sometimes get, Wittgenstein writes in very simple, clear English.
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caravanesque



Joined: 09 Jun 2011
Posts: 16
PostPosted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:16 am    Post subject: bilkent problems? Reply with quote
Hi, I've been interested in teaching at Bilkent to do some qualifications, but there has been such a history of people complaining about the place, that I never got round to actually going ahead. Is there anyone who can give me a good overview of the pros and cons for the FAE program, especially pay, benefits and workload. And if you like, dump some more on the managers, it seems they have to be the most psychopathic in the Middle East. Are these westerners or locals? Thank u!!
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_smaug



Joined: 08 Sep 2010
Posts: 92
PostPosted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Bilkent University Faculty Academic English Program BEWA Reply with quote
crazycatlady wrote:
1) they may delay your pay at the end of your contract for questionable reasons.

2) the FAE director and the School of English Language director are big fans of encouraging feedback, but do not give it to them. negative feedback will probably get you fired. if decisions are made that you believe are unfair or unethical, just nod and smile.

3) unfortunately, no matter how good a teacher you are, if you rock the boat, there's little hope for you. all of your teaching observations can be great, and your unit head can totally support you, but if you're considered a "troublemaker," management will fire you anyway. it's the students who suffer, which is a shame.

4) a lot of instructors are unhappy here, so turnover of international staff is extremely high.

5) the students and colleagues are great. this could be a fantastic place to work if only the management would change. it's really a pity.

That pretty much describes every school I ever worked for. Laughing
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Vanica



Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 368
Location: North Carolina
PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 2:42 am    Post subject: Re: FAE "coursebooks" Reply with quote
paracelcus wrote:
no matter how difficult his ideas sometimes get, Wittgenstein writes in very simple, clear English.


I guess English is more clear when it is written ... in German!
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paracelcus



Joined: 02 Jul 2011
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:15 pm    Post subject: Re: FAE "coursebooks" Reply with quote
Vanica wrote:
paracelcus wrote:
no matter how difficult his ideas sometimes get, Wittgenstein writes in very simple, clear English.


I guess English is more clear when it is written ... in German!


Haha - that should of course have read "Anscombe uses very simple, clear English when translating Wittgenstein," given that I was referring to the Philosophical Investigations. OTOH, the Blue and Brown Books were written (or rather, spoken) in English.
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Vanica



Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 368
Location: North Carolina
PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:30 am    Post subject: Re: FAE "coursebooks" Reply with quote
paracelcus wrote:
Vanica wrote:
paracelcus wrote:
no matter how difficult his ideas sometimes get, Wittgenstein writes in very simple, clear English.


I guess English is more clear when it is written ... in German!


Haha - that should of course have read "Anscombe uses very simple, clear English when translating Wittgenstein," given that I was referring to the Philosophical Investigations. OTOH, the Blue and Brown Books were written (or rather, spoken) in English.


Thanks for taking it the right way. My Slavic nature keeps me from smiling, even virtually Smile
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caravanesque



Joined: 09 Jun 2011
Posts: 16
PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 10:33 am    Post subject: bilkent problems Reply with quote
@ crazycatlady:

Are there separate managers for what they call BUSEL and FAE, or how does it work? Perhaps the problems are only restricted to the language school and the people teaching composition can get on with their work?
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