Institutional Culture

             Should you let it get under your skin?

I believe each and every institution has its own unique culture that determines many things such as:

·     The relationship between teachers and students

·     The interaction among colleagues

·     The quality of communication between the teachers and their supervisors

·     The communication between parents and teachers

·     How the institution do things/do business

·     The quality of meetings

·     How content the teachers, students or the parents are

·     Teachers’ future career

·      Teachers’ perceptions about their job

·     How much quality time is spent at work

·     (Sometimes) How teachers and

 administration spend their free time

·     How teachers and administration make decisions

·     Level of stress of the people working in an institution

·     How much employees and supervisors can find ways for self-actualization

·     Employee empowerment

And many more.

So far I have worked:

·     For state schools

·     For a very prestigious private school

·     On private language courses

·     As an English teacher in the UK.

And I’m currently working at Gazi University as an English Instructor.

Based on my experience of working for different organizations, I think it is possible to say that institutional culture sometimes might be like a virus and it may start to penetrate into skin if you are not fully aware of it.

How to avoid it:

I believe the most important thing to do is try to be a global teacher.

 To achieve that ask yourself these simple question:

·     ‘Am I qualified enough to work for a private school?

·     What about a private university?

·     Can I work on a language course?

·     If I have a chance, will I be qualified enough to work abroad? How would I fit in if I had a chance?
Or even better how about these questions:

• Am I willing to improve myself?

• Am I willing to be at my best?

• Am I willing to adapt, change and learn?

• Am I willing to reflect on my own teaching?

 I believe as long as we ask these questions- or similar ones- to ourselves and  give ourselves a room for questioning the things around us, wemight as well be a global teacher.