Gulsen "Seda" Duru-McClintock
Huntington Beach
Summary
Dynamic ESL Instructor with a Master's in TESOL and extensive experience at Rancho Santiago Community College District. Proven ability in curriculum design and fostering equitable student success through creative problem-solving and effective communication. Skilled in engaging diverse learners, enhancing their English proficiency, and preparing them for academic challenges. Detail-oriented professional well-known for promoting positive environments for learners. Reliable and dedicated with excellent interpersonal skills. Expert in various subjects and multiple teaching methods.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
4
4
Certifications
Work History
English as a Second Language (ELS) Instructor
Rancho Santiago Community College District
Santa Ana
03.2025 - Current
- Beginning-High, Beginning Multilevel and American English Pronunciation Adult ESL Instructor, which involves Lesson Plan Development and classroom instructions including various visual, audio and authentic materials.
- Pair and group work activities such as information gap exercises, role-play, discussion, are frequently incorporated to promote students' English language skills.
- A safe, motivating, and enjoyable classroom environment is created to support learning through active participation and experiential learning for the students who are coming from not just diverse age groups but also different linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Graduate Student Research Assistant
Cal State Long Beach
Long Beach
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Supported the work of three professors for their research paper 'How Countermovements Shape Policy Discourse and Outcomes: The Role of Disinformation Campaigns in Turkey's Withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention' by reading thousands of Twitter/X postings and labeling these within a taxonomy developed by the faculty.
High School English Teacher
Ahi Evran Vocational Trade High School
Istanbul
01.2012 - 12.2024
- ESL Teacher in a medium-class-size (30-35 students) vocational school which had 9th through 12 grade students commuting to the school from different parts of Istanbul.
- Students were coming from a variety of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.
- Students included those with learning disabilities.
- Subject matter focused on technical & business trade English, but also included general English and English culture.
ESL Teacher for adults for night courses
Sisli Belediyesi Private Course
Istanbul
01.2014 - 12.2015
- Private course English Instructor for adult students from various linguistic, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds and attending English Reading and Writing classes after work.
High School English Teacher
Ibrahim Turhan Anatolian High School
Istanbul
01.2011 - 12.2012
- Teacher in a larger-class-size school with students between the 9th and 12th grades coming to the school from different parts of Istanbul.
- Students came from a variety of culture, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds with the large class sizes (60-77 students) made for a crowded classroom.
- This was a more challenging teaching experience than smaller class sizes with high achieving students.
- However, it presented an opportunity for me to develop teaching techniques and methods for a very crowded classroom with the students who have different learning styles.
- Different teaching methods, techniques and approaches helped me encourage students to participate in classroom activities in addition to maintaining classroom management among students in large classrooms.
High School English Teacher
Turkan Omer Okan Anatolian High School
Gaziantep
01.2009 - 12.2011
- English teacher in a high achieving student program to small class sizes of nine students.
- A prerequisite for teaching these students was passing an additional Anatolian teachers' exam.
- This exam served as a credential to qualify teachers to instruct these students.
- Students similarly had achieved high scores in entrance exams to be eligible for this program.
Middle School English Teacher
Kibris Middle School
Gaziantep
01.2007 - 12.2009
- English Teacher for 4th through 8th grade students.
- Class sizes were large ranging from 40 to 50 students.
- Employed techniques and methods involving singing, drama and play acting to aid English comprehension by these children.
Education
Masters - Linguistics (TESOL)
California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA12.2024
Bachelor of Arts - English Teaching
Anadolu University
Eskisehir, Turkey12.2005
Skills
- Master's degree in TESOL
- Classroom teaching experience
- Curriculum design and development
- Grant writing expertise
- Application of educational methodologies
- Student preparation for university entrance exams
- Academic success guidance
- Equitable student success responsibility
- Awareness of student insecurities
- Cultural asset utilization in education
- Creative problem-solving
- Situation analysis and solution definition
- Relevant factor identification
- Logical conclusion formulation
- Alternative recognition
- Proficiency with online educational platforms
- Proficiency with in-person educational platforms
- Communication skills
- Presentation skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Clear and persuasive writing
Activities
- Volleyball (6 Years competitive on High School team)
- Dancing, Drama (High School)
- Singing (lead singer in a rock band while in college)
Certification
Teaching Turkish to speakers of other languages
Marmara University, 2016
Marmara University, 2016
Accomplishments
Fall 2024 “Best Comprehensive Paper” award.
California State University, Long Beach Department of Linguistics, 2024
California State University, Long Beach Department of Linguistics, 2024
Timeline
English as a Second Language (ELS) Instructor
Rancho Santiago Community College District
03.2025 - Current
Graduate Student Research Assistant
Cal State Long Beach
01.2024 - 12.2024
ESL Teacher for adults for night courses
Sisli Belediyesi Private Course
01.2014 - 12.2015
High School English Teacher
Ahi Evran Vocational Trade High School
01.2012 - 12.2024
High School English Teacher
Ibrahim Turhan Anatolian High School
01.2011 - 12.2012
High School English Teacher
Turkan Omer Okan Anatolian High School
01.2009 - 12.2011
Middle School English Teacher
Kibris Middle School
01.2007 - 12.2009
Masters - Linguistics (TESOL)
California State University Long Beach
Bachelor of Arts - English Teaching
Anadolu University