Summary: I have been working for Sabanci University in Istanbul Turkey at the School of Languages since 2006. I teach English for Academic Purposes to newly admitted students from CEFR A1 to C1 level at Foundations Development Program. Prior to my current position, I worked at several internationally recognized language schools with a wide variety of contexts such as General English, Young Learners, Business English; in class, in company, and one-to-one.

In addition to my passion for teaching and learning, I am interested in educational technologies, computer assisted learning, and professional development.

My position at Sabanci University: I teach English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to newly admitted students from CEFR A1 to C1 level at Foundations Development Program. In addition, I teach AL102 (Academic Literacies 102 ), which is a 3-credit university course, which is part of the Foundations Development Program. It aims to promote multiple literacies so as to guide students in understanding, creating and communicate meanings both to further develop themselves and effectively participate in an academic and professional environment.
– Giving presentation and technology training to newly admitted students
– Giving in-house training and professional development sessions to faculty on the use of educational technology
– Organizing mini-conferences for faculty mainly about educational technology
– Taking part in project and task group work
– Being a level coordinator for several terms
– Being involved in assessment

My Conference presentations:

– “Online Collaboration and learning Environments” 2nd ISTEK Schools International ELT Conference 2-3 April 2011 Istanbul – joint presentation
– “Effectiveness of Students’ Use of Laptops in FDY” SL 2nd International Conference on Language Education 2-4 June 2011 Istanbul
– “Technology: A Bridge to Language Learning” The 3rd Black Sea ELT Conference 15-17 November 2012 Samsun – joint presentation
– “Effectiveness of Students’ Use of Laptops Outside the Classroom” 3rd ISTEK Schools International ELT Conference 27-28 April 2013 Istanbul
– “Changing the Trend in Writing: from process essays to short answers” Bilgi University ELT Conference 11 May 2013 Istanbul – joint presentation
– “Catering for the Kinesthetic Learner: 100% Fun and Skills Training” 1st International Gazi University YDYO ELT Conference on 15-16 November 2013 Ankara
– “The Power of Strips” Sisli Terakki Schools TELT Conference 15 March 2014 Istanbul
– “Treasure Hunt Using QR Codes” LIF – Language in Focus Contemporary Perspectives on Theory, Research, and Praxis in ELT and SLA, March 4-7, 2015, Cappadocia, Turkey
– “Using Technology for Collecting Feedback” Language Teaching in Higher Education Conference Istanbul Aydın University 9-10 April 2015 Istanbul
– “Innovative Vocabulary Practice in the Post-Method Era” Istanbul Bilgi University 5th ELT Conference, The Post-Method Era in English Language Teaching, May 9, 2015 Istanbul – joint presentation

– “Using Technology to Collect Student Feedback” Transitions in Higher Education, Izmir University of Economics, 1st International Conference on Educational Theory and Research (ICETR, 2016), Turkey, February 11-13, 2016

– “Turning Long Academic Texts into Fun” Boğaziçi University, School of Foreign Languages, 1st ELT Conference. Towards Higher Education (THE): Bridging the Gap. 15 April 2017, Boğaziçi University (Istanbul, Turkey)

– “Digital Tools for Getting Feedback” Boğaziçi University, School of Foreign Languages, 2 nd ELT Conference. Towards Higher Education (THE): Teaching for a Better World in the 21st Century. 27-28 September 2019, Boğaziçi University (Istanbul, Turkey)

– “Making Academic Texts Fun” Marmara University, English Language Teaching Conference (MELT Conference). ‘Changing Identities, Agencies and Mindsets: 21st Century English Language Learning and Teaching’ 11-12 October 2019, Marmara University (Istanbul, Turkey)

My Publications:

Bolukbas, Okan (2011) “Effectiveness of Student’s Use of Laptops Outside the Classroom” Conference Proceedings of the 2nd Sabanci University ELT Conference: Expectations eclipsed in foreign language education: learners and educators on an ongoing journey pp. 217-227. ISBN: 9786054348220

Bölükbaş, O. (2016). Using WEB 2.0 Tools in Teaching Reading. In A. Burns & N. Kurtoglu-Hooton (Eds), Using action research to explore technology in language teaching: international perspectives (pp. 34-37), London: British Council. ISBN: 978-0-86355-848-1

Education:

B.A. in English Language Teaching, Hacettepe University, 1998

Certificates and Diplomas:

SLTTP Sabancı University School of Languages Trainer Training Program 2009

DELTA International Training Institute İstanbul, 2007

LCCI-London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Certificate in Teaching English for Business, 2001

RSA/CELTA Hammersmith and West London College, 2000

CERTELT British Council – Ankara, 1999

Certificate of Pre-service Teacher Training Program, Başkent University School of Languages, 1998

Experience:

Sabancı University, School of Languages, 2006 – present

EF-English First Suadiye Istanbul, 2003 – 2006

IH-International House Istanbul, 2002 – 2003

BKC-International House Moscow, 2001 – 2002

Başkent University, School of English Language, 1998 – 1999

TAA-Turkish American Association, Ankara, 1997 – 1998

Interests: