Medipol University English Language School Administrative Staff
General Coordinator of Foreign Languages
Asst. Prof. Murat Culduz
After studying Tourism & Hotel Management at Cukurova University for two years, he transferred to Ege University and graduated from English Language & Literature Department in 1997. He started working at Ankara University the same year and he taught ESL classes there. In 1999, he joined the army and came to Istanbul as a Supplementary Officer. After finishing his military service, he worked as an English Teacher for Preparatory Classes at a private college for 9 years. In 2009, he started working at Istanbul Aydin University. In 2010, he founded the Preparatory Program at Istanbul Medipol University and became the head of the program. He had his MA in English Language & Literature at Namik Kemal University in 2014, and received his Phd. Degree in Educational Technologies at Bahcesehir University in 2022.
He also taught various classes in the USA at IEC ( Intensive English Center ) and Language and Literature Department, Tennessee State University as a Fulbright SIR ( Scholar In Residence ) in 2019- 2020 Academic year. He returned to Turkey and currently he is working at Istanbul Medipol University as The General Coordinator of Foreign Languages and The Language School Director.
Murat Culduz went to The USA as a Fulbright SIR ( Scholar In Residence ) and worked at IEC ( Intensive English Center ) and Language and Literature Department, Tennessee State University during 2019- 2020 Academic year. He returned to Turkey and currently he is working at Istanbul Medipol University as The General Coordinator of Foreign Languages and The Language School Director.
Vice General Coordinators of Foreign Languages
Murat Şahin
Murat Şahin completed his bachelor’s degree in American Culture and Literature at Ege University. He completed his MA degree in International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University. He has still been doing his doctorate in Translation and Cultural Studies program of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University. He has a certificate of Pedagogical Formation for English Language Teaching from Dokuz Eylül University, First TEFL certificate from Hunter College in collaboration with Pearson. He has consolidated his teacher training skills with a successfully completed Teacher Trainer Program in London. Before being a member of Istanbul Medipol University, he worked at Foreign Languages Department of Yıldız Technical University, Galatasaray University (Continuing Education Center) and some Language Schools. He started to work as an English Instructor at Istanbul Medipol University in 2010 and still continues as the Deputy General Coordinator.
Recep Murat Nurlu
Murat Nurlu had a business career in food industry until he started teaching English at Ege University School of Foreign Languages in 1998. He worked in various positions in the department and retired as the Vice Director of Ege University, SFL at the end of 2013. Then, he joined the editorial team of Oxford University Press as the ELT editor for Turkey. During his post, he contributed to five region specific ELT titles. Nurlu, who has been working in Istanbul Medipol University since fall, 2016, conducted the international accreditation and Quality processes of Medipol University Language School and since 2017, he has been the Vice General coordinator of Istanbul Medipol University.
Information Technologies and Planning Group
Fatih Bayrakçıl
Fatih Bayrakçıl completed his bachelor’s degree at the Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies at Boğaziçi University. He worked as a freelance translator and interpreter, translating a wide range of technical texts including medicine, law, automotive as well as translating the book “Billy Budd” by Herman Melville into Turkish. He started working as an English Instructor in 2016, received his CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) in 2018. He got his MA degree from Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Yıldız Technical University in 2019. Having started working at Medipol University at the beginning of 2017-2018 academic year, he has started working in the position of IT vice supervisor as of the beginning of 2019-2020 academic year.
Onur Polat- Information Technologies and Planning Group Leader
[email protected]
Onur POLAT graduated from Mersin University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of English Linguistics in 2010. Here, he involved in the formation stage of the first Turkish Language Corpus which was conducted by University of Mersin in Turkey. After working in the field of Forensic Linguistics during his studies, he started his business life by teaching English with cognitive methods in a company based on Cognitive Learning methods in Istanbul and at the same time he took the task of education coordinator of this company. After opening his own company under the name of Akademi7, he organized Turkish language trainings for foreigners in addition to English language services, professional English, aviation language trainings, YDS, TOEFL, and IELTS courses for the personnel of many organizations within the scope of corporate agreements. Finally, in 2016, he took faculty-based general English and professional English lecturer tasks and helped preparing course contents for general and vocational English classes at Istanbul Medipol University.
Gamze Uçak
[email protected]
Gamze Uçak graduated from Boğaziçi University, Foreign Language Education Department in 2014. She completed her master’s degree in Educational Technology at Boğaziçi University in 2019. For her master’s thesis, she designed an experimental online tool and studied the effects of strategy training given with this tool on reading comprehension, engagement, and metacognitive awareness of English language learners. She started her PhD degree in Learning Sciences at the same university in 2021. She has been continuing Web Design and Coding departments in Anadolu University Open Education Faculty and Arizona State University TESOL Professional Certificate online course since 2020. She had worked in a language school and Istanbul Aydın University before she started working as an instructor at Medipol University in 2017.
Ezgi Köse
[email protected]
Ezgi Köse graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English Language Teaching from Istanbul University after English Language and Literature education in the same university. She is doing her Master on the use of Gamification and FRP in English Language Teaching in Bahçeşehir University. Ezgi Köse worked as a lecturer in Aydın University before she joined Medipol University.
Unit Supervisors
Emrah Gültekin – Unit Supervisor (MED)
Emrah Gültekin graduated from Boğaziçi University English Language Teaching Department. He has also completed her MA study in English Language Teaching Department at Maltepe University. He participated in various European Union projects with international students while continuing his undergraduate education. He worked as a lecturer, coordinator, and assistant manager of the Continuing Education Centre at Istanbul 29 Mayıs University English Preparatory Unit between the years of 2013-2016. He started to work as an English instructor at Istanbul Medipol University Language School in 2016. He has been working as a unit supervisor at Istanbul Medipol University Language School since 2017. He has also been studying Delta Module One at ITI (International Training Institute) Istanbul.
Fatma Altınöz | Unit Supervisor (ENARC)
Fatma Altınöz completed her university education at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in 2006. At the same university, by attending a pedagogy programme in 2005-2006, she got her certificate. After working for various schools at MEB for three years after graduation, she worked as an English Language Teacher in General English and exam groups at YDS Academy Language Schools for three years. She is continuing her master’s degree in the Cultural Studies at Istanbul Bilgi University. She also holds a CELTA certificate taken from ITI-Istanbul in 2017. Fatma Altınöz has been working at Istanbul Medipol University as an English Instructor since September 2015 and as ENA Unit Supervisor since 2018.
Serap Özmen – Unit Supervisor (APT)
Having received her bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Karadeniz Technical University in 2006, Serap Özmen has currently doing her M.A. at İstanbul Okan University on Translation Studies. After seven years of experience in various positions such as Import Specialist in an international company, and Project Supervisor, Consecutive Interpreter and Teacher of English in two E.U. projects, implemented within the scope of Ministry of Customs and Trade and Ministry of Justice, she has worked as an English Instructor since 2013. Teaching previously at Istanbul Aydin University, Özmen has been at İstanbul Medipol University as an instructor since 2016 and Prep Anesthesia/Physiotheraphy/Nursing Unit Supervisor since 2018.
İldeniz Keskinkaya – Unit Supervisor (LAW)
[email protected]
İldeniz Keskinkaya has completed her undergraduate degree in Istanbul University – American Culture and Literature department. She got her English Teaching Certificate from Yıldız Technical University and completed her Masters Degree in the same university in the department of Educational Management. She has started her second masters education on Media and Communication Systems at Medipol University. She worked at several private colleges and İBB Vocational Training Courses as an English Instructor and International Relations Specialist. She has been working as an English Instructor at Istanbul Medipol University since 2016.
Asst. Prof. Ferit Acar – Unit Supervisor (TH)
Dr. Ferit Acar has been working as an English Language Instructor at Istanbul Medipol University since 2011. He received his BA in English Linguistics from Mersin University in 2009. He received his MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Ankara University in 2013. He completed his PhD in the department of Translation Studies at Istanbul 29 Mayıs University in 2022. His academic interests are translator training, translation studies and English language teaching.
Sedef Çetin – Unit Supervisor (SS)
Sedef Çetin graduated from Middle East Technical University’s Foreign Language Education Department in 2012. She worked as an instructor in School of Foreign Languages at Anadolu University in Eskişehir from 2012 to 2015. She also worked in the Testing Unit at Anadolu University and holds Testing Certificate certified by ITI (International Training Institute). In 2013, she received CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) within the body of International House in London and completed the course with a degree of Pass A. She has successfully completed her MA studies in the field of ELT at Yeditepe University. She has also successfully completed DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Module 1 at ITI in Istanbul. She has been working as an instructor at Istanbul Medipol University since 2015, and as of 2017-2018 academic year she is the unit supervisor of Social Sciences at the same university.
Sema Babacan – Unit Supervisor (EFT)
Sema Babacan graduated from Istanbul University, American Culture and Literature Department in 2007, and did her double major in Sociology in the same university. She holds a certificate of Pedagogical Formation for English Language Teaching from Istanbul University and CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) from ITI (International Training Institute). She is currently doing her DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) of which Module 1 was completed successfully. Before joining Istanbul Medipol University, she worked at Haliç University for seven years. She has been a member of Istanbul Medipol University as an Instructor of English since 2015, and she has been the unit supervisor of Economics, Finance and Trade Unit since 2018-2019 academic year.
Buğra Bal – Unit Supervisor (EDU)
Buğra Bal completed his bachelor’s degree at Istanbul University American Culture and Literature department and graduated as an honor student. He received his Master’s degree from the same University and same department. He also received his English Teaching Certificate from Istanbul University. Before Istanbul Medipol University he gave IELTS, FCE, BULATS lessons at private language school and worked as an English lecturer.
Celal Sarıoğlu-Head of Applied English and Translation Program
Celal Sarıoğlu graduated from Karadeniz Technical University Western Languages and Literature Department, Department of English Language and Literature. He completed his master’s degree at Istanbul Okan University, Department of Translation Studies. He is currently studying at Sakarya University PhD in Translation Studies program. He received “English Language Teaching to Adults” from Oxford Teachers’ Academy, and participated in the 6th International Language Education Conference on “Using Technology in Student-Based Education”. He made a presentation on “Teaching Writing Skills” at Istanbul Aydin University. He participated in “Professional Development Seminars” within Bahçeşehir University. Prior to joining Istanbul Medipol University, he worked at Karadeniz Technical University, Istanbul Aydin University, Bekent University and Bahçeşehir University. In addition, he worked as an instructor and administrative officer in various language education institutions and served in exam commissions. Celal Sarıoğlu has been working as a lecturer at Istanbul Medipol University since 2014.
Unit Supervisors for Departments
Onur Kavak – Departmental English Supervisor
Onur Kavak received his B.A. from Karadeniz Technical University, Department of Western Languages and Literature in 2004. He worked as a teacher of English at TÖMER Trabzon Branch of Ankara University from 2004 to 2006. From 2006 to 2012, He worked as an instructor of English at Istanbul Aydın University. From 2007 to 2011, he was assigned as the coordinator of evening class and as the testing unit coordinator in 2011. He also took part in ERASMUS Exhange program as an academician in the spring term of 2008 and gave lectures at the University of Lodz, Institute of English Studies in Lodz in Poland. Onur KAVAK also translated many official documents during this period and took part in the editorial of a scientific journal and in the translation of one chapter of an international book on educational studies. In 2012, he was entitled to work at İstanbul Medipol University, Since 2014, He has been the supervisor of Professional and General English classes at faculties. He was also the editor and one of the authors of three published books written for the students at the department. Onur Kavak is having his Master’s degree at Yeniyuzyıl University, department of English Language and Literature.
Müge Sarı – Departmental English Specialist
Müge Sarı graduated from American Culture and Literature Department of Istanbul University in 2006. She received her ELT certificate from Marmara University in 2006 and her MA degree in English Language and Literature Department from Istanbul Aydin University in 2014. She also holds a TESOL certificate from ITTT. She worked at Istanbul Aydin University as an English Language Instructor for seven years. In the meantime, she was responsible for preparing questions in Testing Office. She has been working for İstanbul Medipol University since 2015 and has been the supervisor of Professional and General English classes at faculties since 2017. She was also one of the authors of three English course books written for the students at the departments.
Quality and Accreditation Specialist (Foreign Languages General Coordinatorship)
Çiğdem Taşkın Geçmen
Çiğdem Taşkın Geçmen completed her B.A. at the Department of English Language and Literature at Ege University and her M.A. at the department of Translation Studies. She received her TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Trainer certificate from American Culture Association in addition to a Pedagogical Formation Certificate for English Language Teaching, received from Karadeniz Technical University. Before joining İstanbul Medipol University’s Coordinatorship of Foreign Languages, she worked at American Culture Association where she taught TOEIC, IELTS, TOEFL and General English courses and then, she started to work at Istanbul Aydın University. There, she became a member of the units of Material Production and Development, Testing and Assessment and ESP respectively. She also played an active role in the accreditation process of the mentioned institution. She has been teaching at Istanbul Medipol University since 2016.
Continuous Professional Development Unit (CPD)
Elizabeth Coleman- CPD Academic Unit Supervisor
[email protected]
Elizabeth S. Coleman was born and educated in the UK. She holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and an LL.M Gender and Human Rights. Ms. Coleman began her EFL career in South Korea where she worked from 2007 to 2012. During this time, she served as an instructor and later Foreign Academic Manager of a private language school. After moving to Istanbul in 2013, Ms. Coleman worked at Beykent and Kemerburgaz (Altinbaş) universities before joining IMU in 2016. Ms. Coleman is CELTA certified and is also a qualified teacher trainer having undertaken the School of Languages Trainer Education Programme (SLTEP) from Sabancı University, for which she was a scholarship recipient. A firm believer in education as a transformative and developmental tool, Ms. Coleman is engaged in research around social constructions, gender, and the representation of minorities in education, and she has presented internationally on these topics.
Hatice Granados Fuquene -CPD Academic Unit Supervisor
Hatice Granados Fuquene completed her Bachelor’s Degree in English Language Teaching from Anadolu University. She received her CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) from International Training Institute in 2017. She has also taught IELTS, TOEFL, YDS at various institutions. She holds a Train the Trainer certificate (SLTEP) from Sabancı University in addition to her Train the Trainer certificate from Cambridge English. She completed her Master’s Degree in English Language Teaching at Bahçeşehir University in 2020. Currently, she is a student at Anadolu University Laboratory and Veterinary Assistance Services Department. Before joining Istanbul Medipol University, she worked at several language schools and private colleges as an English teacher. Hatice Granados Fuquene has been working as an instructor at Istanbul Medipol University since 2017, and as of the 2020-2021 academic year, she is a unit supervisor in the Continuous Professional Development Unit.
Aynur Yılmazer -CPD Academic Unit Supervisor
Aynur Yılmazer graduated from Marmara University, Department of English Language Teaching in 2010. In the second year of her education, she was in Wyoming, Utah and New York states in the USA as part of a Work and Travel program. In 2010, when she graduated, she started her career by giving English lessons at the Faculty of Fine Arts within the Kocaeli University Foreign Languages Preparatory Program. Between 2011-2013, she completed her master’s studies in Sociolinguistics at the University of London, Goldsmiths College. As of 2014, she worked as a lecturer at Istanbul Aydın University and contributed to the same university’s Study Abroad Unit Programme. Working at secondary and high school levels afterwards, Aynur also gained experience with the student groups in this age and joined Istanbul Medipol University Language School family as of September 2019. Aynur Yılmazer has started to work as a supervisor of the Professional Development Unit (CPD Unit) at Medipol University since 2021 and continues this duty.
Serkan Yar – Social Activity Specialist
Serkan Yar completed his bachelor’s degree on Translation and Interpreting Studies (English) at Marmara University in 2013. He got his Pedagogical Formation Certificate at Marmara University in 2015. Besides, he studied Media and Communication at Anadolu University in 2017. He also got the certificate of Foreign Trade Specialist at Istanbul Business Management Institute. He started his career on translating medical, advertisement and law texts. He also worked as an Import and Export Assistant in different companies. Then he started working as an English teacher in different language schools. He has been teaching at Medipol University since 2015. In addition, he has been working as a Social Activities Expert since 2018.
Erasmus and Protocols Unit
Asst. Prof. Zühal Aydın
Zuhal AYDIN completed her B.A in English Language and Literature at Canakkale 18 Mart University. She also studied in Pomorska Wyzsza Szkola Humanistyczna University in Poland as an Erasmus student. She got her M.A on English Language and Literature in Istanbul Aydin University. She is currently a Ph.D student in the department of English Language and Literature. Before becoming a member of Istanbul Medipol University, she worked as an English Language Instructor for 5 years. She also worked as the Coordinator of Testing Unit and Study Abroad Unit. She coordinated Erasmus+ Projects in English Prep. School and exchanged letters with European countries. Furthermore, she gave courses as a guest teacher in the department of English Language Teaching at Anglia Ruskin University (England/Cambridge) and Thessaly University (Greece/Volos). Zuhal Aydin has been working as an English Language Instructor in Istanbul Medipol University since 2016. She is also the Supervisor of Erasmus+ and Protocols Unit as of the dates of 2017-2018. She coordinates Erasmus+ Projects and sends the students abroad by Erasmus+ Youth Exchange Projects.
