Through an arrangement with the Lexington Park Rotary Club, the Kusadasi/Soke Rotary Club, and St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS), Ms. Sinem Ozyagci, who teaches English to elementary and high school students at the Ozel Naci Akdogan Foundation School in Kusadasi, Turkey, is spending one month with SMCPS shadowing teachers of English Language Learners (ELL).

 The purpose of Ms. Ozyagci’s visit is to observe the methods used to teach English to students whose native language is not English, and to replicate some of the strategies used in the Turkish schools, particularly in high poverty schools. In Turkey, students begin to learn English as early as kindergarten.  Ms. Ozyagci is also interested in learning about the integration of technology into instruction.  While here, she is serving as an ambassador from her country to promote goodwill, friendship, and to encourage a lasting partnership between SMCPS and schools in Kusadasi/Soke, Turkey.


Under the arrangement, a SMCPS teacher will spend three weeks shadowing English language teachers in Turkey and will show them strategies for teaching ELL’s.   Ms. Judith Downing, who teaches ELL at eight schools in the school system, will be returning to Turkey with Ms. Ozyagci for this purpose. Dr. Linda W. Lymas, SMCPS supervisor of world languages and services to English language learners, and Dr. Paul Manchak from Lexington Park Rotary are the project coordinators.  For more details, contact Dr. Lymas at (301) 475-5511, ext. 118.