On May 27, 2025, the Independent Learning Center hosted a workshop titled “Word of the Year: Language that Captures Our Times”, led by Lect. Anıl Çobanoğlu Dede. Students worked in groups to explore how language reflects social and cultural changes. The session offered a fun and interactive way to think about the words we use every day. Thank you to all students who joined and shared their ideas!

  The Independent Learning Center organized Demo Speaking Exams for intermediate-level students to help them prepare for the upcoming CPT Speaking Exam. Students booked time slots and practiced in an exam-like setting, gaining experience and receiving useful feedback. The sessions aimed to boost confidence and support students as they get ready for the real exam. Thank you to all students who participated and made the most of this opportunity!

IKCU SFL has hosted the 2025 Teacher Trivia with the participation of the University of Economics, Yaşar University, Ege University, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir Demokrasi University, Bakırçay University, Manisa Celal Bayar University, and İzmir Institute of Technology. We thank all of our colleagues from different universities joining us for this traditional fun event to strengthen our collaboration. We congratulate Manisa Celal Bayar University for winning the trophy, Bakırçay University, and Yaşar University for winning the 2nd and 3rd places.  We also thank our presenters, Lect. Anıl Ç. Dede and Lect. Nazlı Çakır, musician Yağmur Pak, and all our students for their great efforts during the event.

As part of our social responsibility project “English Days with Little Stars,” our prep students are organizing fun English activities for the little ones at Çelebi Kindergarten! With songs, games, coloring, and movement-based activities, kids are learning basic English concepts like colors, animals, numbers, and shapes. Huge thanks to our students and project advisors, Dr. Suzan Yıldırım & Hülya Uçak Öz, and the Çelebi Kindergarten team for this meaningful collaboration!

The 17th annual meeting of the School of Foreign Languages (SFL) Administrators from across Türkiye was held on 15–16 May 2025, hosted by Kocaeli University at the Baki Komsuoğlu Congress Center. The event brought together SFL directors, deputy directors, and university representatives nationwide. The first day of the program included an informative session on the “ÖSYM E-TEP Exam” presented by the project team online via Microsoft Teams. Throughout the day, various key topics were addressed, including accreditation requirements, survey result analysis, group workshops, report presentations, and best practice sharing. On the second day, the program continued with the presentation of working group reports, a plaque ceremony, candidate presentations for the 18th SFL Platform host institution, and the final selection. The event concluded with a field trip to Ormanya National Park. Representing İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Assist. Prof. Dr. İrfan ARIK, Director of the School of Foreign Languages, actively participated in the sessions, contributing to the exchange of ideas and experiences in the areas of innovation in language education, digitalization, AI integration, and quality enhancement in foreign language teaching.

IKCU SFL PDU member Lect. Dr. Ezgi Çetin conducted a fruitful session entitled 'Communicating Beyond Words: Practising Soft Skills in the Language Classroom'. During the session, lecturers gained insight into the term 'soft skills' through interactive hands-on activities and speculated on possible scenarios in EFL classes.

On May 7, 2025, the Independent Learning Center hosted a fun and engaging Cooking Contest led by Lect. Fehim Hur. Four student groups, each consisting of four members, competed to prepare a dish within 30 minutes. A jury of lecturers from the School of Foreign Languages evaluated the dishes. We thank our jury members for their support and congratulate the winning team for their creativity and teamwork. It was a lively event filled with teamwork, flavors, and laughter. Thank you to all who participated!

In this week's PDU session, IKCU SFL hosted Reza Vahdani from Oxford University Press. Lecturers involved in testing have received a very fruitful training by working on item writing, analysis and test specifications.

The Independent Learning Center hosted a lively Trivia Challenge on April 29, 2025, led by Lecturer Fehim Hur. Students answered general knowledge questions covering a wide range of topics, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere. We thank all participants for their enthusiasm and contribution to the event.

Trivia Event Brings İzmir University Students Together at Yaşar University On May 6, 2025, Yaşar University hosted a lively Trivia Event with student teams from various universities across İzmir. İzmir Katip Çelebi University participated in the event along with our lecturers, joining other universities in this enjoyable knowledge-based competition. The event featured a range of fun questions, giving students the chance to test what they know, work as a team, and connect with peers in a relaxed setting. We thank our students and lecturers for representing our university in this engaging and collaborative event.

On 30th April 2025, IKCU SFL lecturers Esra Topaloğlu and Ömer Dağdelen delivered an informative session on E-TEP: Integration of Technology and Artificial Intelligence into English Proficiency Exams. In a vibrant atmosphere, the participants got valuable insights into the novelty of language proficiency exams conducted around the country.

İKÇÜ Yabancı Diller Yüksekokulu’na DEDAK Akreditasyonu İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi (İKÇÜ) Yabancı Diller Yüksekokulu, kalite güvence süreçlerindeki başarısını bir kez daha tescilledi. Türkiye’de yabancı dil eğitimi alanında en saygın değerlendirme kuruluşlarından biri olan DEDAK’ın (Dil Eğitimi Değerlendirme ve Akreditasyon Derneği) yürüttüğü değerlendirme süreci sonucunda, Yüksekokulumuz 8 ana ölçütün 7’sinde DEDAK kriterlerini başarıyla karşılayarak Mayıs 2025 - Mayıs 2027 tarihleri arasında geçerli olacak şekilde akredite edildi. Yükseköğretim Kalite Kurulu (YÖKAK) tarafından tanınan DEDAK, Türkiye’deki en kapsamlı ve etkili dil eğitimi akreditasyon kuruluşları arasında yer alıyor. Bu bağlamda, İKÇÜ Yabancı Diller Yüksekokulu, İzmir’de devlet üniversiteleri arasında akredite edilen ilk, Türkiye genelinde devlet üniversiteleri arasında dördüncü, tüm üniversiteler içinde ise yedinci program olarak önemli bir başarıya imza attı. Yüksekokul Müdürü Dr. Öğr. Üyesi İrfan ARIK, değerlendirme sürecine ilişkin yaptığı açıklamada, “Akreditasyon, kurumsal olarak kalite kültürümüzü geliştirme yolunda attığımız önemli bir adımdır. Öğrencilerimize sunduğumuz dil eğitiminin ulusal ve uluslararası düzeyde kabul gören standartlara ulaştığını belgelemekten büyük gurur duyuyoruz ve kalite çalışmalarına aynı özveriyle devam edeceğiz.” ifadelerini kullandı. Akreditasyon sürecinde desteğini esirgemeyen Rektörlüğümüze ve emeği geçen tüm akademik ve idari personele teşekkür eden Yüksekokul yönetimi, sürdürülebilir kaliteyi esas alan çalışmaların kararlılıkla devam edeceğini vurguladı.

IKCU SFL Lecturers visited the University of Lisboa Faculdade de Letras and meet with Dr. Miguel Gomes (the head of the department and and Erasmus Coordinator), Dr. Marisa Salvador, the Managing Officer of Certification and Assessment, and Dr. Anabela Machado, the Managing Administrator of Academic Services to discuss Accreditation and Quality Processes and common practices among two institutions. However, presentation by Dr. Neslihan Köroğlu and meeting with Ana Maria Lóio, President of the Pedagogical Council, to discuss education quality practices and its specific purposes and methods delayed due to electricity cut off throughout the country to be scheduled online later. Two institutions agreed to keep in touch for mutual benefits and improve their relationships.

Second İzmir Universities Student Debate Held at İzmir University of Economics   The Second İzmir Universities Student Debate took place on April 2025 at İzmir University of Economics, bringing together prep school students from various universities for a day of discussion and exchange of ideas. Our school was represented by Rufina Ali, Ceren Koyun, Kerem Hıra, and Selim Zunluoğlu as the main participants, with Mutlu Gürsel serving as the substitute. Eren Katın, Yağmur Karataş, Esma Mutlu, and Ece Nur Altun also attended the event as audience members and supporters. We would like to thank our coaches, Lect. Büşra Kamaz and Lect. Nazlı Civelekoğlu, for their time and guidance in preparing the students. We also extend our thanks to our Director, Assist. Prof. Dr. İrfan Arık, for his support and presence during the event. We appreciate all our students for their participation and contribution to this enjoyable and meaningful experience.

Our lecturer, Ömer Dağdelen, represented our university at the 14th Forum on Assessment Issues (FOAI-14), which took place at Sabancı University on 18–19 April 2025. This year’s theme focused on “Speaking Assessment: Current Trends and Opportunities.” The event commenced with welcoming addresses delivered by representatives of the host institution, followed by a keynote presentation by Neus Figueras titled “Revisiting the assessment of speaking after the CEFR CV.” In the afternoon, Ömer Dağdelen joined  one of the five focus groups, each engaging in detailed discussions surrounding the central theme. These collaborative sessions culminated in group presentations that reflected the outcomes of their insightful and productive exchanges.Revisiting the assessment of speaking after the CEFR CV”.

Dr. Lect. Gamze Er Karoğlu from the Faculty Dentistry, Dr. Lect. Mustafa Öncül  from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Prof. Dr. Alper Doğan from the Department of Finance visited our school for demo lessons with Prep Students. We thank them for their support.

In the second week of April 2025, lecturers from the School of Foreign Languages at İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University—Nazlı Çakır, Dr. Ezgi Çetin, Ayşen Kaynak, Sinem Aydoğan Karaman, Pınar Tural, and Hamdiye Avcı Önalır—conducted an academic visit to Ghent University, where they met with Tom De Moor, Coordinator of Academic and Professional Language Education. The meeting provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on Ghent University’s pedagogical frameworks, including its partnership and coaching model, strategies for teaching Dutch as a foreign language, the integration of English for academic purposes, and the implementation of a portfolio-based system for professional development. This engagement not only offered valuable institutional insights but also laid the groundwork for potential future collaborations. IKCU SFL remains committed to fostering international academic partnerships to enhance educational practices and professional growth.

Vice Director of İzmir Katip Çelebi University School of Foreign Languages Lect. Burak Çavuş attended a key informative meeting focused on sharing institutional experiences regarding accreditation processes in higher education at Dumlupınar University School of Foreign Languages. Representing the IKCU SOFL, Burak Çavuş contributed to the session by presenting the university's journey, challenges, and successful practices in achieving and maintaining quality standards in language education. The presentation highlighted strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement efforts that supported the accreditation process. The meeting provided a valuable platform for mutual learning and collaboration among institutions, promoting best practices in quality assurance and institutional development.

On 16th April, IKCU SFL PDU hosted Merve Bako from Oxford University Press to deliver a session on 'Using Online Platforms and AI in Classes'. SFL lecturers enjoyed being a part of an interactive and hands-on session where they had opportunities to discover new AI tools in English Language Teaching.

On Monday, April 13, 2025, the Independent Learning Center hosted an inspiring Coffee Talk titled “Female Figures in Art Nouveau”. The speaker, Ezgi Özgültekin, an art educator from Arkas Art Gallery, shared her knowledge and passion with intermediate-level students. Participants explored the role and representation of women in Art Nouveau art, discovering the connections between art, design, and society. The talk also gave students the chance to practice listening and speaking skills in an engaging, real-world context.