Elif Vardar Solak

Experience

2021- Present Coordinator of Consulting Service Division ÖĞREM İSTİNYE ÜNİVERSİTESİ 2017–2020 English Language Teacher Education; Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities • ISTANBUL BİLGİ UNIVERSITY

▪ Teaching core courses ELT 401, ELT 402, ELT 406 Practice Teaching and Seminar on Practice Teaching to lead students complete the compulsory internship to graduate as English Language Teachers. Liaising internship students from Bilgi University to secondary schools such as Eyüp Anadolu High School, Şişli Terakki Foundation Schools, ITU Foundation Schools

2009–Present Prep School • ISTANBUL BİLGİ UNIVERSITY

▪ Prep School Level Coordinator, part of Prep School management team, CEA-Commission on English Language Program Accreditation Steering Committee member; responsible for (previous exit) B1+ Level(4) curriculum, assessment and coordination of the prep program; advising assessment unit; leading instructors towards achieving goals of the school.

2010–Present

Teacher Trainer Online Tutor • LAUREATE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

▪ International Teacher Training and e-moderation on productive and receptive language skills; Developmental Modules on Reading and Listening; Writing and Speaking; teaching, assessing language skills, monitoring classroom environment for these skills, leading instructors towards achieving goals of the school.

▪ International Specialty Course Tutoring for managers and prospective teachers to hold managerial positions in the field of education; the course aims to improve participants’ understanding of managing, facilitating issues about management topics and skills in an ELT environment, leading participants towards achieving goals of the school.

2007–2009 Curricular design, assessment and instruction of Elective Support Courses • ISTANBUL BİLGİ UNIVERSITY

▪ LAN 107 & LAN 108: Instruction, material and test design in advanced English support courses offered on a compulsory basis for the Vocational School students

▪ ARW 149 & ARW 150: Instruction, material and test design in Academic Reading and Writing courses offered on an elective basis for 1st year faculty students and compulsory basis for Vocational School students.

2004–2007 Foundation Year English Program • ISTANBUL BİLGİ UNIVERSITY

▪ Curricular design, assessment and instruction of academic study skills, critical thinking, reading and writing skills for freshman courses

2001–2003 Social Sciences Institute Graduate Program • ISTANBUL BİLGİ UNIVERSITY

▪ Program coordinator in all academic and administrative terms; providing the link between the Social Sciences Institute and the English Language Programs

2000–2001 Social Sciences Institute Graduate Prep Program • ISTANBUL BİLGİ UNIVERSITY

▪ Level coordinator for Pre- intermediate entry, responsible for designing, updating and revising the program, preparing quizzes for all 4 skill areas and preparing Placement tests.

1996–2000 English Prep School • ISTANBUL BİLGİ UNIVERSITY

▪ Level coordinator in the modular system responsible for updating the curriculum, organizing and guiding teachers in reaching the targets of the program observing teachers and giving feedback. Functioning as a liaison between the curriculum and testing departments to maintain consistency and efficiency in reaching the targets of the program. Counseling to help students with learning strategies to reach their academic goals. Taking active role in hiring teachers as well as evaluating their performance throughout the year. I initiated and integrated academic project writing.

Education

The Consultants-E, Online, 2010-2011

▪ E-moderation: Online Tutor in training courses for language instructors and prospective managers

Istanbul Bilgi University, e-MBA, 2005-2008

▪ Master of Business Administration

Boğaziçi University Faculty of Education, 1991-1996

▪ MA TEFL

Galatasaray Lisesi, 1982-1990

Relevant qualifications / Certificates of attendance

2014 July – 2015 April, Laurate Education, Inc. International, Online ▪ Standard Setting Judge for Laureate’s General English Tests CEFR A1-

A2-B1 and English for Academic Purposes Exam CEFR B2-C1 2010-2011 The Consultants-E, online training- development consultancy

▪ E-moderator, Online Tutor (Pass with Distinction) 2001- 2002 Istanbul Bilgi University by Dr. Deniz Eken, Istanbul, Turkey

▪ Teacher Trainer Certificate 1997 October British Council at Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey

▪ Teacher Training Sessions

Relevant achievements

2018 June ECLL

▪ Accepted workshop presentation about the compatibility of generations in the 21st Century Education; benefiting from EQ skills and twisting the ways we use to reach our goals as multiple generations interact with each other holding different purposes, expectations, and roles in an educational setting

2017 September Orientation Concurrent Sessions

▪ Extra-curricular You Have Got Talent- Fun Session

▪ Presenting all about TEA; its types, origin, health benefits, cold and hot brews, hands on task tea making experience, facts and practices around the world, connecting teatime experience to me time reflection, competitions, gifts.

2017 May 9th T-Plus, Higher Education Event, EMU, North Cyprus

▪ Trainers’ Professional Learning and Unlimited Sharing

▪ Presenting the understanding and practice of collaborative implementation of curriculum development and training activities to cater for real learning in class

2017 May 9th FOCI XV, Higher Education Forum, EMU, North Cyprus

▪ Forum on Curricular Issues

▪ Presenting how collaboration for curricular and professional development in a joint effort can work for sustainable standards and continuous improvement in English Language Teaching programs

2017 April 51st IATEFL, International Conference, Glasgow, UK

▪ Presenting the understanding and practice of conducting program review for the betterment of a program for sustainable standards and continuous improvement

2016 September Orientation Concurrent Session, Istanbul, Turkey

▪ Curriculum Change: Empower Book Series Online Component

▪ Presenting how to exploit materials and raise awareness on the use of Empower Online activities, its adaptive feature; revisiting learning opportunities of online activities; discovering some digital tools in a fun way

2015 September Orientation Plenary Session, Istanbul, Turkey

▪ Curriculum Change: Empower Book Series Session

Presenting the methodology, strengths, sources of the new book with a contrastive analysis of the previous Touchstone book series for a smooth transition in curricular, teaching, and assessment practices

2015 September Orientation Plenary Session, Istanbul, Turkey

▪ Curriculum Change: Prep Program Level Progression Presentation

Presenting the level achievement scopes, expectations in skills areas, challenges and patterns in level progression within the program with mini quiz, games, and competitive group activities for a smooth and enjoyable revisit of curricular, teaching, and assessment components of the program.

2014 July – present Laurate Education, Inc. International, Online

▪ Standard Setting Judge for Laureate’s General English Tests

(CEFR B1, A2 and A1 levels) Listening and Reading components

▪ Standard Setting Judge for Laureate English for Academic Purposes Exam- LEAP (CEFR B2 and C1 levels) Listening and Reading components

2011-present Laureate E-Moderation Course, International, Online

▪ Tutoring Developmental Modules on teaching skills for participant instructors as part of their professional development from Laureate Universities Network.

2011 Adana College for Cambridge University Press, Adana, Turkey ▪ Workshop Presentation for Touchstone book philosophy & syllabus fit 2001 Istanbul Bilgi University, Foundation Program, Istanbul, Turkey ▪ Workshop Presentation “Giving feedback in writing at higher levels”

Areas of Professional Interests

Curriculum Design, Teacher training, Professional development in Teacher Education-duality of teaching & learning, Educational Psychology and Management; Personal growth, Astrology, Tea culture with its culinary and health benefits.

Areas of Personal Achievements 2019-2020 III Arts Club, Inspiration and Discovery Workshops, Istanbul, Turkey Presenting about Astrology; TEA culture, its culinary and health benefits, cold and hot brews, hands on task tea making & tasting experience, facts and practices around the world, connecting astrology and tea time experience to me time self-discovery, reflection, storytelling, astrology, analysis of elements and their connection to senses. 2019-Presemt BUMED, Personal Development Workshops, Istanbul, Turkey Presenting about TEA; its types, origin, health benefits, cold and hot brews, hands on task tea making & tasting experience, facts and practices around the world, connecting teatime experience to me time self-discovery, reflection, and games.

Training/ conference participations/certificates of attendance 2019, March 22 Cambridge University Press; Teresa Doğuelli; Developing Speaking Skills

2017, March 31 Cambridge University Press; Ray Wiggin; Teaching Speaking and the state of English in higher education in Turkey

2017, March 21 Cambridge University Press; Craig Thaine; Maintaining Motivation: Engaging learners during the lesson and throughout the course

2015, April 6 Oxford University Press; Robert Mac Larty; Building Academic

Skills in the 21st Century

2014, Dec 6-7 Laureate Education, Inc.; Training on CEFR listening and reading descriptors for an understanding of a minimally competent B1 proficiency level by Donald Van Metre

2014, Oct 25-26 Laureate Education, Inc.; Training on CEFR listening and reading descriptors for an understanding of a minimally competent A2 proficiency level by Donald Van Metre

2014, Sept 27-28 Laureate Education, Inc.; Training on CEFR listening and reading descriptors for an understanding of a minimally competent A1 proficiency level by Donald Van Metre

2014, July 19-20 Laureate Education, Inc.; Training on CEFR listening and reading descriptors for an understanding of minimally competent B2 and C1 proficiency levels by Donald Van Metre

2014 April 25-27 Pearson ELT Event Mardin, Turkey; Next Generation Learning and Assessment; impacts on higher education

2013 May 4th Bilgi ELT Conferences Istanbul, Turkey; Changing Trends, Timeless Principles: Learning Dynamics in English Language Teaching

2012 February IATEFL TEA SIG Event Istanbul, Turkey; TEA, Using the CEFR for Classroom Assessment

2012 May 3rd Bilgi ELT Conferences Istanbul, Turkey; Using resources efficiently

2011 Yeditepe University ISTEK ELT Conference, Istanbul, Turkey; Reflections and Innovations in ELT

2011/2010 CUP 3rd /4th ELT Symposiums in Antalya, Turkey; Making it Real Learning from our Learners

2012/2010 May 2nd/3rd Bilgi ELT Conferences Istanbul, Turkey; Using resources efficiently - Joint Collaboration in ELT

2009 September Bell Educational Trust, Laureate Universities Istanbul, Turkey; Induction Training

2008 May 1st Bilgi ELT Conference Istanbul, Turkey; Assess Thyself, Assess Thy Students

2007 September Inservice training Istanbul Bilgi University; Vocabulary Inset

2006 June 7th BUSEL, FAE Symposium Bilkent University Ankara, Turkey; Challenges and Expectations in English-medium Higher Education

2005 November Training by Frank Heyworth at Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey; Adaptation of programs to Common European Framework for Languages

2005 January ITU ELT Seminar, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey; Teacher

Training for Program Enrichment

2004 December Management Training by George Pickering at IBU, Turkey; Quality Management in ELT

2004 November Action Research Project by Prof. Dr. Kari Smith at IBU, Turkey; Action Research in Continuous Assessment

2004 June 3rd Joint International ELT Conference Trakya University, Edirne; INGED-IATEFL-TESOL

2003 January Language Testing Seminar by Dr. Barry O’Sullivan IBU, Turkey; Language Testing Seminar

2002 February 18-21 Training by Dr. Brian Tomlinson at IBU, Turkey; Training in Syllabus and Materials

2002 March IATEFL Congress at University of York in UK

2002 January 7thInternational BUSEL Conference-Bilkent University, Ankara Turkey; A Fresh Look at Grammar and Vocabulary: A Quest for Alternative Teaching Approaches

2001September Training by Dr. Tony Humphreys at IBU, Turkey; New Psychological Perspectives in Education

2001April ELT Management Training- By Brian Gilroy at IBU, Turkey; Administrative Management in Education Seminar

2001 February Conference by Jean Zukoiwski – Faust at IBU, Turkey; Importance of Critical Thinking in Reading

1999 March Seminar by Nial Handerson at IBU, Turkey; Testing and Evaluation

1998 March Oxford University Press Seminar at Lütfü Kirdar Congress Hall, Istanbul, Turkey; Role of Grammar in Language Learning by Tom Hutchinson

1997 October Teacher Training Sessions by The British Council at IBU

References

[Available upon request.]