About Me

I hold an MA in English Studies (TEFL & Linguistics) from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, graduating with distinction (Grade: 1.09), and a BA (Hons) in English Language & Literature from Ege University, Turkey. With CELTA and DELTA qualifications, I bring over 18 years of experience as an EAP & ESL instructor, exam writer, materials and course designer, CELTA trainer, and Academic Manager at the tertiary level. My extensive experience in language teaching, course development, coordination, and teacher training has shaped my research interests, allowing me to approach language and linguistic research with a well-rounded teacher-scholar perspective. I am currently working on my PhD project which brings learner corpora and digital methods together as a way to learn and teach English from early ages on. My interdisciplinary project, which is funded by DAAD, employs principles of second language acquisition, corpus linguistics, teacher training and multimodality in digital tools. I am also involved in several other research projects including the PROCEED (PROcess Corpus of English in EDucation) project, where I focus on L2 writing processes.

If you are interested in getting a more detailed overview, please check Research Projects, Courses or Corpish as relevant.

My career has been an exciting journey, much like a voyage of discovery in education and research. Every step, from my early studies to my current PhD research project, has built on the last. I’ve enjoyed exploring new areas, facing challenges, and growing my expertise in both teaching and scholarly investigation. This CV-like voyage depiction shares my story as a dedicated professional who loves learning, leading, and making an impact, always finding new ways to contribute and achieve through both practical application and research.

Voyage: Foundation

Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA) | London, United Kingdom March 2013 – April 2014

  • Awarded Merit in ELT Terminology and Practice.
  • Dissertation: Focused on Needs Analysis, Curriculum and Materials Design.

Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) | Istanbul, August 2009

  • All teaching practice sessions graded Above Standard, awarded PASS B

B.A. in English Philology | University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain September 2006 – June 2007

  • Completed senior year as an Exchange Student.

Pedagogical Formation in English Language Teaching | Ege University, Izmir, Turkey September 2006 – June 2008

B.A. in English Language and Literature | Ege University, Izmir, Turkey September 2003 – June 2007

PhD. in English and Digital Linguistics | Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany September 2024 – Present

  • Working on a PhD project which focuses instructional design on gamified data-driven learning, and young learners of L2 English.

M.A. in English Studies | Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), Munich, Germany September 2017 – September 2019

  • Graduated with Distinction: GPA 1.09/1.00 (equivalent to 4.00/4.00 US scale)
  • Specialization: Applied Linguistics, with a Secondary Field in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
  • Thesis: The Interface between the Common European Framework of Reference and Processability Theory: Empirical Research. Conducted empirical research exploring the intersection of linguistic frameworks.
  • Key Coursework: Processing, Processability, Corpus Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, Psycholinguistics, Synchronic Linguistics, Multilingualism, English Morphology, Linguistic Theories, TEFL.

Testing and Assessment Unit Coordinator, ESL/EAP Test Writer, EAP Instructor | Boğaziçi University – School of Foreign Languages, Istanbul, Turkey February 2013 – August 2022

  • Ensured quality assurance and statistical validity of language assessments through proofreading, piloting, administration, proctoring supervision, and statistical analysis (SPSS) of exam data to evaluate curriculum and instruction effectiveness.
  • Collaborated closely with administration on policy and decision-making; led training and meeting sessions to standardize exam delivery and marking.

ESL/EAP Instructor, Curriculum and Materials Designer | Istanbul Bilgi University – English Language Programs, Istanbul, Turkey February 2009 – February 2013

  • Developed course objectives, program goals, and conducted CEFR-mapping for all levels, contributing to CEA Accreditation efforts.
  • Designed syllabi and materials for Cambridge ESOL ICFE, ILEC, and BEC courses for professional programs; coordinated course flow.
  • Authored academic writing program and instructional materials for B1-B2 level students.
  • Taught A1-C1 levels and mentored new instructors, delivering in-service training workshops.

CELTA Main Course Teacher Trainer and Online Tutor | Cambridge University ESOL Teaching Qualifications, Freelance, Worldwide August 2015 – Present

  • Designed comprehensive course programs, weekly workflows, instructional materials, and moderated online synchronous/asynchronous training sessions.
  • Managed projects for establishing two new CELTA training centers (Italy, Turkey); designed online and face-to-face programs, oversaw trainer recruitment, candidate selection, course delivery, and certification for five years.
  • Cultivated international experience by running courses in Turkey, Germany, Italy, China, UK, Australia, and Macedonia; trained over 750+ teachers globally and led diverse teams of trainers and trainees from various nationalities.

Assistant Director, Academic Affairs | Boğaziçi University – School of Foreign Languages, Istanbul, Turkey August 2022 – Present

  • Directed day-to-day operations, managing inquiries, complaints, budgeting, and inter-departmental needs for a large academic institution.
  • Oversaw the recruitment, academic content, and performance of four departments (English Preparatory, Advanced English, Modern Languages, English Courses & External Projects) comprising 182 teachers and 31 administrative staff.
  • Spearheaded long-term strategic planning and restructuring of ESL & EAP curricula, instructional materials, and tests; conducted comprehensive 4-step needs analyses, analyzing results to revise program content and effectiveness.
  • Established four new academic units: Professional Development, Quality Assurance & Accreditation, Writing & Academic Support Center, and Bridge Program; designed instructional models, developed online/offline content, and recruited/supervised teams.
  • Initiated and managed the EAQUALS accreditation process, leading continuous supervision, stakeholder communication, conflict resolution, and policy/procedure design in preparation for the April 2024 inspection.
  • Designed and implemented a flipped EAP program leveraging Moodle and digital video-based platforms.
  • Devised a robust recruitment and task-based selection system for internal and external faculty and students, managing shortlisting, interviews, onboarding, and offboarding.
  • Developed a comprehensive performance management system, long-service appreciation scheme, and 360-degree feedback cycle to enhance instruction, teacher well-being, and service quality.
  • Supervised the administrative team in digitalizing 20 years of staff and student data, optimizing record-keeping systems.

Here you can find some of the selected trainings/ courses I have taken in my professional development journey.

DAAD Doctoral Research Grant –  2024-2028

TU Chemnitz Project Acquisition Grant for the Coding and Interface Design of the Corpish application- 2025 

  • LCA (Learner Corpus Association)
  • EUROCALL (The European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning)
  • EuroSLA (European Second Language Association)
  • EALTA (European Association for Language Testing and Assessment)
  • ISLE (International Society for the Linguistics of English)
  • IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)