Americans, Turks find common ground through conversation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elaine Aviles
  • 39th Air Base Group Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) --  Divided by cultural beliefs and thousands of miles, the gap between U.S. and Turkish people may appear, at first, somewhat insurmountable.

Tech. Sgt. Norvel Brown, however, recently found a surprisingly simple connection -- conversation.

As a volunteer at the English Language Training Center here, Sergeant Brown’s job is to talk with Turkish people.

His topics range from the finer points of American football to the latest action flicks. Although seemingly trivial, the topics are less important than the purpose behind the discussions, training center instructors said.

“The volunteers help students learn to speak, write and read English better,” said Turkish Chief Master Sgt. Saffet Aktuna, an English instructor. “By talking with the volunteers, the students can learn proper grammar and pronunciation, and improve their vocabulary.”

This knowledge is vital for the students, he said. Every Turkish person on base, from sergeants to civilian workers, is required to pass the full-time English language course, which runs six hours a day, five days a week, for nine months. Students must pass the English comprehension-level test, a Department of Defense test used to assess English language proficiency. The test is used in more than 110 countries, as well as the United States, according to the Defense Language Institute English Language Center Web site.

“The students’ only job is to pass the (test),” Chief Aktuna said. “Once they complete the course, they resume their normal duties.”

These duties include everything from aircraft maintenance and civil engineering to customer service and contracting.

“It’s impossible to function on this base without English knowledge,” Chief Aktuna said. “Maintainers have to read technical orders and customer service people have to review English documents. Without this knowledge, they won’t be successful.”

Throughout the course, the students read 48 books, listen to tapes and practice writing. But their greatest leaps in knowledge spring out of conversations with American volunteers, students said.

“Speaking with Americans is very useful for us,” said Turkish Senior Master Sgt. Ahsen Seskiner, an aircraft mechanic with the 10th Tanker Base. “We need help with pronunciation. It helps us to better understand the English language.”

Turkish Master Sgt. Halis Alkan, a maintenance squadron planner and programmer, particularly enjoys hearing about American sports, including ice hockey and basketball.

“I’ve learned a lot about American culture,” he said. “I find it very interesting. That’s the part I most enjoy.”

Although the students are the most obvious recipients of knowledge, the American volunteers said they also benefit from the exchange.

“I learn a lot, too,” said Sergeant Brown, a senior controller with the 728th Air Mobility Squadron’s air terminal operations center here. “The Turkish students have a good grasp of the English language, but sometimes I have to look up a word they use. It’s helping my (English) vocabulary.

“But more than just an exchange of words, our conversations are an exchange of experiences,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed learning about Turkish language and culture.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)