NSLI-Y 2022 Turkey – Week 4
Back in the Groove
It was a bit of an adjustment as students returned from their week long break from classes on Monday. More than a few students had grown accustomed to sleeping in, if their drowsy looks were any indicator, but everyone was ready to get back to the books. Having spent most of the week with their host families, the students were able to practice their speaking and listening skills more intensively, but they could also see where there were still gaps in their knowledge. Real time experience can be a great motivator to keep learning!
On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to visit a museum dedicated to the Ottoman shadow puppet theater tradition known as Karagöz. Although Karagöz is now performed mostly for children, in its heyday, shows attracted older crowds as the puppeteers lampooned Ottoman society. Students were able to appreciate the intricate designs of some of the museum pieces and even had the opportunity to try their hands at the art of shadow puppetry themselves.
We closed our group activities for the week on Thursday with another Peer Language Partner session in the local park. Students practiced vocabulary related to time and interviewed their partners about activities they like to do. To end the day, students were able to let their minds wander as they worked with their partners to design a travel brochure for a place they would like to visit. The results were as varied as their personalities, ranging from the well-thought out itinerary to the more relaxed (and often comical) improvisational approach.
By this point in the program, students have been able to spend a lot of quality time with their host families, and the occasional photos that get shared with the group suggest a wide range of activities. You can see a few of these in the gallery.
Group photo outside the Karagöz Museum.
Christie, Noura, and Sachleen view the puppet designs.
Justin tries his hand at puppetry.
Language partners Merva and Freya plan a detailed trip to London.
Greg and his language partner Hüseyin take a more casual approach to Peru.
Sophia and her language partner Aslı dream of Paris.
Ready to learn! (Photo provided by Christie)
Out and About
The students submitted some photos of their activities outside of class.
Evan learns to cook a Turkish dish.
Chelsea visits Kozahan, the Ottoman-era silk market.
Christie and host sister Ece at Yeşil Türbe, the mausoleum of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I.
Lucia enjoys Turkish breakfast with her host family.
Kathryn and our local coordinator Nalan visit the 600 year old plane tree at Inkaya.
Seth is wowed by the view of the city from Tophane.