SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

School Philosophy

SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY

School of Foreign Languages takes its values into account in its actions. Our values are respect, responsibility, integrity, commitment, dialogue, transparency.

Karabük University SFL covers a level-based one year English language preparatory program for students who will study at a department where medium of instruction is partly/fully English. SFL has been offering a more multi-cultural environment by welcoming more international students from different countries every year so we believe in contributing to students’ understanding of different cultures as well as their academic and social development.

Considering the nature of SFL, our main philosophy is to have a welcoming environment by building a valuable learning community for our students where they will feel safe and confident to try, learn and use the target language, where they are not afraid to make mistakes and volunteer to speak their minds freely and finally where they grow into active members of society.

We believe that learning is a continuous process and also an individual responsibility. To that end, our main aim, is to provide an effective language teaching by using a variety of methods and techniques in classes, to help students to discover their own learning styles and be active participants of language learning process by motivating them, teaching them to take responsibility for their own learning and to develop critical thinking skills.

We strongly believe that every student is unique and has something valuable to bring to the class, so does every teacher. Thus, we offer a universal design for learning where teachers might adapt their methods according to students’ needs. We ensure that the various methods and techniques applied by each instructor do not contradict our general pedagogic approach where the fundamental values are as follows:

*exposing students to target language as much as possible,
*encouraging learner-centred instruction,
*enhancing collaboration and student participation,
*ensuring the use of contextualization in language teaching process.

In order to achieve high quality language education which will also meet the current international standards, the curriculum have been aligned with Common European Framework as Reference (CEFR) and language levels have been organized accordingly as A1, A2, B1 and B1+. SFL applies continuous assessment where learners are assessed regularly throughout a module by which both students and teachers can receive information on what they know/ can do and identify areas of weaknesses. In both course objectives and assessment tools, CEFR is utilized and it is aimed to enhance students’ ability to use English in the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing as well as contributing to their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. The curriculum is revised and renewed depending on the feedback from students and instructors which is received through questionnaires and focus group meetings.

Technology is widely utilized throughout the program both in and outside the class. In language laboratory courses, students study and practise the language through online programmes of qualified publishing companies. They are also offered a variety of language exercises on a software programme they can use on their mobiles both in and outside the class. Through these programmes, they also have the chance to monitor their own progress and identify any weaknesses. Moreover, through the use of interactive boards, educational websites such as Padlet, Quizlet and Kahoot, and video-recording speaking tasks they can both engage in language activities and improve their knowledge of technology usage for learning.

As personal and social development is also considered to be an important part of education, we also offer students extra-curricular activities; such as trips, and competitions, where they can develop social skills by teamwork. Throughout a year, clubs are also organized according to students’ needs and interests where they can enhance their language skills. The school newsletter, The Owls, is published regularly which is prepared by students and instructors collaboratively.

The SFL staff consists of well-qualified instructors who seek continuous professional development to be able to provide high standards in language teaching and to respond to students’ needs. With this belief, most of the instructors continue their MA and PhD studies, attend seminars, workshops and training programs while several other instructors completed MA studies and gained valuable certificates in language teaching field. Lesson observation and student feedback is valued and used as a tool for professional development. Professional Development Unit organizes meetings, trainings and events on a regular basis in order to meet instructors’ needs.

The key to success is to make the most of the program in every possible aspect. We believe that students will be able to accomplish it through active involvement in the whole process and by taking responsibility for their own learning.

Our vision is to achieve international quality standards in institutional and educational practices and thus to become a prestigious language institution that has gained credibility among other institutions across the world.

Our primary mission is to provide quality language education for students and parallel to this:

To help students gain essential academic and language skills to continue their studies in their departments or programs where the medium of instruction is partly or completely English;
To enable students to communicate effectively in the target language in future social and professional contexts;
To encourage students to be more autonomous and disciplined in their own learning process;
To promote technology use in language learning process.

Educational Aims and Institutional Objectives
Our principal aim is to help students to reach a certain level of English by which they will be able to continue and follow their studies in their departments.

It is our goal to contribute to students’ academic, cultural and social development as well as language skills and thus to encourage them to prepare for future global environment in that sense.

We also aim to foster students’ understanding in the merits of language learning and multi-culturalism.
In relation to the educational aims, following objectives have been established:

To enable students develop required language and skills in order that they can pursue their academic studies;
To encourage students use the target language in oral and written communication contexts;
To foster students’ exposure to the target language to promote their language skills;
To create a positive learning environment which provides students with opportunities to develop their social and academic skills as well as language skills;
To promote technology use by including up-to date techniques in language instruction;
To increase students’ active involvement in the learning process by using a variety of teaching techniques and assessment tools;
To design course content and ensure course delivery to meet the needs of students with different learning styles;
To keep the design of language teaching process relevant to the students’ needs by making necessary changes and improvements in the long term.

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