Covid-19 In Turkey
©Stock image – 1016497315 – Resul Muslu
Currently, Turkey is at high risk for the Coronavirus. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has placed Turkey at a level 3 Warning for the Coronavirus, which means the CDC recommends, ‘travellers to avoid all nonessential international travel to Turkey,’ because medical resources may be limited. If a traveler were to contract the Coronavirus while in Turkey, he or she may not be able to get the necessary treatment in order to get well.
According to the World Health Organization, Turkey has reported over 267,000 Coronavirus cases. Additionally, in the last 24 hours, there have been 1,500 newly cases and 39 deaths (Coronavirus statistics updated 31 August 2020).
As many schools have had to implement online schooling measures due to the Coronavirus pandemic, I reached out to English school Teacher Kathleen Phelps who works at Two Private English Schools – for kids and adults – based in Istanbul, Turkey.
Ms. Phelps shared with with about what the people of Turkey have experienced since the initial outbreak of the Coronavirus and how the people of Turkey have handled the pandemic.
“Overall, it shut us down for a good three months, until we started to open our doors and go outside.
Turks are very cautious with their health – it’s just a part of their culture.
So they’re still very cautious to get out, to get started, and that’s why school – we’re still not quite sure if it’ll resume.”
– English Teacher, Kathleen Phelps
As many counties all over the world have decided to make it mandatory to wear face masks with hopes to overcome the pandemic, Ms. Phelps did say that Turkey has opted to adapt the law to make it mandatory for the people of Turkey to wear face masks. She said, the Turkey government has imposed a fine of ₺900 Lira ($122.36 USD or £91.84) to those who do not abide by this law.
Video featured below: English Teacher Katie Phelps shares more with me how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the people in Turkey. Interview conducted on 13 July 2020. Duration 1:01.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ar_Yd45DgI
Coronavirus 2019-nCov novel coronavirus concept. Microscope virus close up. 3d rendering. ©Stock image -1625951248 – by creativeneko
English Teacher speaks out about online schooling measures implemented at private school
©Stock image – 1707724354 – by FamVeld
English Teacher Ms. Phelps, who teaches ages 7 to 11 years old at a private English school, has said that ‘her students are doing very well with online learning,’ and believes that her and her colleagues teaching methods during this pandemic has been effective.
“At my school, we decided to completely forego homework, because it’s already stressful enough having to deal with Coronavirus, staying inside, and being bored.
So, we decided to forego homework and we have really tried to make class more fun and enjoyable.”
– English Teacher, Kathleen Phelps
As Ms. Phelps and her colleagues have tried to create a more fun and educational environment for their students while teaching online, this has included creating online games for their students as they learn English from home.
“We play a lot of games and that’s how we learn English.
We learn English through fun rather than – sit down, lecture, and do in-class work.”
-English Teacher, Kathleen Phelps
Ms. Phelps said there are certain parts of Turkey that have had issues with the internet while either working or doing school from home. She said, for Eastern parts of Turkey the internet can be ‘touch and go’, but for the Western parts of Turkey – such as Istanbul where she is based – it is a more developed region and is more populous; therefore, the internet connection is not that as bad in Istanbul Turkey.
Additionally, Ms. Phelps said, “the Turkey government has been really good about providing the schools with the necessary tools to connect with their students.” However, she did say that even though the Turkey government has tried to ensure that the internet will not be problematic in order for people to work or do school from home, it has still been one of the biggest challenges at times.
Video featured below: English Teacher Kathleen Phelps shares more with me about what measures have been implemented with online schooling at her private institute, if her students have had all of the resources they need in order to do online schooling from home, how she and her colleagues have been working together amid the pandemic, and what plans will be implemented when school does resume. Interview conducted on 13 July 2020. Duration 5:15.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntuyfLWTvc&feature=youtu.be
Homeschool Asian little young girl student learning virtual internet online class from school teacher by remote meeting due to covid pandemic. Female teaching math by using headphone and whiteboard. ©Stock image – 1739402348 – by Hananeko_Studio
English Teacher Kathleen Phelps provides a message about online learning and a message to her students:
“Online education is not for everybody. It’s very hard to sit down and focus, looking at a computer for hours upon hours a day. This is natural – not everybody was built to do online, but we try to make it as fun and engaging as possible.
I can’t wait to see my students in class again.”
– English Teacher, Kathleen Phelps
Video featured below: English Teacher Kathleen Phelps shares more with me her thoughts on online learning and how much she misses her students. Interview conducted on 13 July 2020. Duration 1:17.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p7EF6Q3UTY
Featured above: English Teacher Kathleen Phelps with student
