southern new hampshire university

Turkey Prep: Meeting Colleagues in Vermont

I’ve had the chance this week to meet two wonderful new friends, David and Lois Bradt, who will be joining me in Kayseri, Turkey this September.  David will serve as an English Language Fellow (ELF for short) at Erciyes University while I work in the English Preparation (hazırlık) program.  David and Lois are both retired professors from Southern New Hampshire University.  After having to reschedule the invitation a few times because of the Red Sox and the Turkish Consulate, I was finally able to visit them at their camp in Vermont Monday.

David and Lois at their camp in VT. David shows off his Turkish pride!

This is a good chance to explain the differences between the two programs.  David is an English Language Fellow (ELF).  ELFs are Americans usually with higher degrees in English brought in to actually teach English subjects versus the English language.  For example, David is expecting to teach some Literature survey courses and Literary criticism.  My program is to help students pass an English proficiency examination at the end of the year.  However, English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) are paired with ELFs to have someone to reach out to if needed.  I’m elated to have David and Lois in Kayseri with me.

David and Lois welcomed me into their home, a gorgeous camp in rural Vermont just north of Montpeiler.   Both of them had many stories to tell from their prior work in Turkey, and also with their work in the Czech Republic.  I’m looking to traveling with them in Turkey, they are well connected with friends in the East and Western shores of Turkey.  They each have a lot to add with their own experiences, and I hope you may catch and interview or two with them on this blog later in the year.