Students, Teachers, Work, Communication

Aren't they cute? These are the students from one of my conversation classes. I love this picture because it really shows their different personalities.

We are now in the second week of mid-terms, and I finally have some breathing room to evaluate how the classes have progressed, what has succeeded, what hasn't, and what I need to change.

I will be embarking on some experimental projects in my conversation classes that will (hopefully) yield some interesting multi-media projects at the end of the semester. I sent a "come to Jesus" email(I know, not exactly an apropos term to use in a Muslim country) to my education students after I had to ask a student to stop text messaging while a student group was presenting.

One thing I have noticed is that the student/teacher relationships here are much different than in the U.S. The students see their teachers as second parents, and as such the students are extremely aware of and responsive to teachers' moods. When I enter the classroom the students immediately react to my state. If I am happy and carefree, the whole class palpably relaxes and has fun. Conversely, in my difficult class, I often come with things on my mind, ways I want to improve the class, and honestly, some stress. No matter how I try to conceal my excitement, disappointment, frustration, it is disconcerting how well the students can read me.

Work Differences

Unlike in the U.S. where it is acceptable to be task-focused at work, to the exclusion of socialization with colleagues, here relationships take the priority. When the head of the department comes in, work stops and conversation begins. When the rector "requests" our presence at a performance or demonstration, classes are canceled. Days in the office consist of offering, accepting, and declining all kinds of food and drink; when I have work to do, I do it at home. But I have come to realize that this relationship network is really the way that things get done at my University (maybe Turkey in general?).

Communication

While I think Americans focus on the value of giving and receiving information, Turks seem to be more sensitive to the way in which that information is shared. In the US, asynchronous information exchange is used all the time, in fact it is favored (email, voice mail). In Turkey, the priority is on real-time communication, preferably in person. Voicemail is virtually unheard of here. No one has it. In addition, email is used only as a secondary source of information exchange. Emailing is seen as impersonal and I have been warned not to use it for anything important or to initiate conversations or requests.

If you want something from a co-worker, you find her/him. If you want to contact a friend, SMS message or phone calls are used. Not answering your phone or responding to a SMS message immediately is not understood and seen as a sort of affront. (This has proven a bit problematic for me, someone who is doing well when she remembers to turn off the stove, forget remembering where a little phone is all day, every day)