English Proficiency and Global Readiness of Gifted and Talented Students: An Intercultural Perspective
Pelin Ertekin & Betül Kinik (Türkiye)
Abstract
The recognition and nurturing of gifted and talented students are crucial aspects of educational systems worldwide. In Türkiye, such students are often enrolled in specialized centers known as Science and Arts Centers (BİLSEM), where they receive education adapted to their unique skills and interests. A significant milestone for these students at high school level is their participation in competitions organized by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK). Those who excel, particularly by ranking in the top three, represent the country in global competitions, such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where they present their projects in English. This study aims to explore the English language dimension of their participation, focusing on their level of English competence, their perceptions of their intercultural competence, and their preparation process for these English-medium presentations. The study will adopt a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with both the students and their English teachers to gain insights into their experiences and perspectives. By examining the intersection of gifted education and English language proficiency, this study seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on intercultural communication and the preparation of students for the global stage. The findings will be discussed considering existing literature on gifted and talented education and English language learning, providing implications for educators, policymakers, and researchers interested in the support for gifted and talented students in Türkiye and beyond.
Bio
Dr. Pelin Ertekin, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Gifted Education at Inonu University in Turkey. In 2017, Dr. Ertekin received her PhD on gifted students with her thesis entitled “Investigating the Relationship of Middle School Gifted Students’ Spatial Reasoning Skills with Their Conceptual Understanding of Astronomy Subjects and Academic Achievement”. Her research interests are in inqury based science teaching, gifted’s perceptions on scientist, scientific creativity, developing educational metarials and activities for gifted students, astronomy education, spatial reasoning, environmental education, and science and art centers teachers training. Dr. Ertekin has organized international conferences on gifted and talented education.
https://avesis.inonu.edu.tr/pelin.ertekin
Dr. Betül Kinik completed her doctorate at Gazi University, Department of English Language Education. She worked as a Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at University of Arizona between 2016 and 2017 as a Fulbright scholar. Currently, she works at Inonu University as an assistant professor. In addition to publishing and presenting internationally, she is one of the editors-in-chief of the Journal of Language Teaching and Learning. Her research areas are second language teacher education, academic discourse socialization, and online pedagogies.
https://avesis.inonu.edu.tr/1175