Interview with Jordan Scepanski, December 3, 2020

Interview Summary

Jordan Scepanski served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Turkey from 1964-1966. He taught English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) during the first year in Elâziğ, a provincial capital in eastern Turkey, and during the second year in Pamukova, Sakarya, a small town in northwestern Turkey. He discusses his group’s training at Portland State University and his surprise over the deselection process. He also talks about his different teaching experiences in these sites, including girls' education and corporal punishment, and his close and continuing friendship with his fellow volunteer, John Thomas. He also talks about the political context in eastern Turkey at the time, his return to Turkey after graduate school as a Fulbright Fellow, and his continuing professional and personal connections with Turkey and the Turkish community in the U.S. through Arkadaʂlar, Bridge to Türkiye, and as a board member of the Aziz and Gwen Sanzar Foundation.

Interview Keyword

Turkey (Country of service) Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) 1964-1966 (Date of service) Peace Corps training Eastern Turkey politics Third Goal activities U.S. policy

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Turkey Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers

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Interview Usage

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