CELOP Alumni: Where Are They Now? Onder Safak Tongal, Turkey

in Highlight
March 1st, 2018

1. What is your name?

My name is Onder Safak Tongal.

2. Where are you from?

I’m from Ankara, Turkey.

3. Where do you live now?

I live in Ankara.

4. When and for how long did you study at CELOP?

I studied in Spring-2016 at CELOP for one semester.

5. Why did you choose CELOP?

Even though my TOEFL score was enough to start my master’s degree at BU, I wanted to improve my speaking and writing skills for my following 2 years in Boston. My friends suggested me to study at CELOP because it was a successful and well-established institution in teaching English. Also, I knew that CELOP helps students to overcome possible cultural and academic orientation issues.

6. What were some of the things you liked most about CELOP? Do you have a favorite memory?

CELOP helped me to meet lots of friends all around the world. I cannot forget my first road trip in the U.S. with my new friends from Korea, Taiwan, and China. We went to New York, Philadelphia, and Washington during the Spring Break.

7. In what ways did CELOP help you prepare for what you are doing now?

Thanks to CELOP I got mastered in giving presentations which helped me a lot throughout my academic studies at BU. In my opinion, this is not only a significant skill for university courses but also crucial for professional life.

8. Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree? What was your major and when did you graduate?

I studied at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey for my undergraduate degree. My major was Business and I graduated in 2006.

9. Where are you working/studying now?

Now I’m working as a Customs and Trade Investigator in Ankara.

10. Tell us about what you want to do in the future. What is your dream job?

I have a dream to run a company that provides consulting services in the fields of customs and foreign trade.

11. What was your favorite thing to do in Boston?

Attending concerts and doing one-day road trips around New England areas with friends were my favorite things to do in Boston.

12. What was your favorite restaurant in Boston?

Definitely, BU Pub was my favorite restaurant in Boston. It is located in BU castle and serves only for BU students. Every Tuesdays, it has traditional Karaoke Nights which allows you make a lot of friends and strengthen the bonds with them. Additionally, Audubon was always a nice option near the campus.

13. What would you tell someone who is thinking about studying at CELOP but is unsure?

Communication is key. I believe that being fluent in English is as important as having a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the professional environment. For sure, self-effort plays the most important role in this journey. But I can easily state that CELOP is a strong and reliable guide for this journey with its experience and high quality of English teaching. Finally, attend CELOP Conversation Partner Program and improve your fluency spending more time with native English speakers.