ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME, KEY ACTION 2

CAPACITY BUILDING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Furthering International Relations Capacities and Intercultural Engagement to

Nurture Campus Diversity and to Support Internationalisation at Home
(FRIENDS)

Unit 7: Linguistic barriers as hidden dimensions of culture

Part 5
Dr. Cemre Erciyes, Dr. Elmira Hendvari

TRANSCRIPT

Dr. Elmira Hendvari: My name is Elmira and I come from Iran. I completed my B.A. and M.A.
and PhD of Sociology at Thebes University in Iran and I worked three years as a teacher in
the Thebes University. After that I wanted to improve my language and Turkish language
because the education language in Iran is Persian. And being familiar with other cultures I
wanted to move to Ankara and I moved to Turkey in 2013 and I have been living here for six
years now. Being in Turkey, it was very good experience for me because there are so many
people from other countries and we can see many cultures in Turkey because Turkey is a
touristic country for many people; you can see people from South America and Africa and
eastern countries here. When I came to Turkey as a foreigner student, I never felt as an
outsider or a stranger here, because Turkish people are very helpful, friendly, hospitable,
they love children and make you so many and tasty foods. And that were good things for me.
About my education: I also completed my PhD in Social Work in Hacettepe University in
Ankara and after I had completed that, I worked as a social worker in some NGO and in other
institution as a social worker or as a translator.
Dr. Cemre Erciyes: And how was your childhood like in Iran?
Dr. Elmira Hendvari: In Iran, my mother tongue is Azerbaijan-Turkish. When I was seven
years old, I went to school and the education language in Iran is Persian. And I learned
Persian and for a long period it was the Persian language. And it was very strange for me
because I talked at home, Turkish and in school Persian. But I think it was really good for me
because now I know about Persian cultures, Azerbaijan cultures and Turkish cultures. I think
it's like a capital when you know another language, it's like a capital.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views
only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein. 1
Dr Cemre Erciyes: It definitely is and you have collected so many. I'm interested to hear about
your life here more a little bit from the perspective of raising a child. So, under which cultural
norms and values do you raise your child?
Dr. Elmira Hendvari: I have a three years old boy and his name is Sam. At first, I wanted to
raise my child as an international person in the global perspective. And it's very important
for me because I want him to know other cultures, other language and I want him to be a
global citizen. Now, my child knows Turkish, Persian and a little English.
Dr. Cemre Erciyes: Three years old and those three languages already.
Dr. Elmira Hendvari: Because in my family, my husband speaks Persian with Sam and I speak
Turkish and sometimes animations teach him English.
Dr. Cemre Erciyes: Very nice. And do you have any experience from another culture?
Dr. Elmira Hendvari: No, just Turkey.
Dr. Cemre Erciyes: Okay, is there anything else you want to tell?
Dr. Elmira Hendvari: Thank you.
Dr. Cemre Erciyes: Thank you very much.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views
only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein. 2