Reflection on Weekly Webinars

Name & Surname: Esin Duran Practice Teaching School: Cumhuriyet Anatolian
High School
Theme of webinar: Expectations from teacher candidates Date of the webinar: 17.10.2022
Name of the guest speaker: Deniz Yıldırım
Please answer the following questions below by referring to the theme of the webinar and your
own experiences as a SLA learner and a prospective FLE teacher.

1. Provide a short summary of the webinar that you attended below by listing the key
issues/points mentioned.

The theme of this webinar was what was expected from us, candidate teachers. Guest speaker
Mr. Yıldırım mentioned his expectations from us. In my opinion, they were basically
characteristics of teachers. As teachers, we should meet certain outcomes. We should pay
attention to our attitudes towards our students. We should keep in mind that they are not only
there to learn what we are supposed to teach, and their feelings matter. Another point
mentioned was how important it was to maintain a distance between our students and
ourselves. No matter how much we want to show our affection to them, we should always find
alternatives instead of giving them food or even touching their shoulders. They may have
allergies that they are not aware of which may result in unanticipated and unwanted things.
2. What was the most relevant point/issue in this webinar for you? Why do you think it was
interesting/enjoyable? Please discuss by giving examples from your own practicum
schools.

I believe the most relevant point mentioned in this webinar was how we should approach our
students. No matter how good our intention is, when parents are included in any situations,
things may get out of hand in favor of them. As teacher candidates, we should just do what we
are supposed to do and not get into any situation that may be used against us. To make things
clearer, guest speaker Mr. Yıldırım provided an example that is really upsetting. In the past
years, a teacher candidate tries to break up a fight among students, and one of the parents
complains about the candidate teacher whose only aim was to break up the fight and prevent
students from hurting each other. In the end, that teacher candidate is the one whose career
was harmed. I have been going to practicum for 4 weeks now, I have not witnessed such a
situation yet, however now, I know what I should do in case of such a situation thanks to Mr.
Yıldırım. As to why I think this was the most relevant point, it is because the issue mentioned
here seems so normal that it could happen to anybody. This occasion seems like it is of no
importance however, it may damage our career for which we have been trying so hard for
years.
3. How do you think you will use this webinar in your professional life as a prospective
teacher? Please provide examples.

In our second webinar, I think Mr. Deniz Yıldırım mentioned important and sensitive issues that
are of huge importance. When I become a teacher, I will do my best to be very careful with how
I contact my students. Thanks to this webinar, now I know that each student is different from
one another and may have different needs. Besides, it is clearer in my head that even our well-
intended actions may lead to occasions that may harm our future. We should only do what we
are supposed to do. When I become a teacher, I will always remember that it is my number one
responsibility to create a learning environment where my students are comfortable. All in all,
this webinar was quite fruitful for us teacher candidates.