Holistic Approach To Language Learning For Kids

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TR, Istanbul, Dogus Schools

Contact

Dogus Schools is an established (33 years) private Turkish group of schools, serving in Istanbul community, covering kindergarten, primary, middle, high school, and university. They provide services for the full age and ability range. Their primary aim is second language development starting with an immersion program in kindergarten. The school offers students the chance to develop a second and third foreign language from French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and German. These opportunities exist all the way into university. The teaching staff meet the requirements of The National Ministry of Education. They provide scholarships at all levels and work in an advisory capacity to state run schools.

Dogus Schools will participate as an umbrella organisation using two representatives: Michael O'Neill and Songul Yerli. One representative will act as a theoretical source of expertise, the other representative as a practitioner source of expertise. The two will work separately but in harmony through regular contact and discussion. They will be working closely with an associated school. They will bring in intercultural reflection and strategies for dealing with the transition of one type of character to the other.

Dogus Schools has a School of Foreign Language in the University which provides a regular and thorough review of all department practices based on theoretical expertise in areas of language acquisition, pedagogic and didactic competencies and holistic approach. Consequently, they have participated in many conferences local and international with presentations on excellent practice in language education.

Songül Yerli is Head of the Foreign Language Department of Dogus Schools (some 550 students) where 7 languages are taught. At Dogus they start language education from kindergarten. She works in a structured immersion programme, a half day immersion programme and in an international program at kindergarten level. In addition she works in the primary and middle school in the same capacity. They approach language within a framework building on developmental and procedural knowledge.

Michael O'Neill is the Head of English at Dogus Schools University. He draws on a varied expertise as during his time there he has been teacher of English, Coordinator of English, Head of the Foreign Language Department and Academic Director of Dogus Schools.