Banu Ozer-Griffin

Banu Ozer-Griffin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds an M.A. in Turkish Languages and Literatures from Yildiz Technical University, where her specialization included Historical Turkish Languages and Ottoman Folk Tales. Her academic interests focus on Teaching Turkish as a Second Language, Curriculum and Test Design, and Intercultural Competence in language learning.

Her research explores pedagogical approaches like

• Genre-based instruction
• Intercultural competence frameworks
• Real-life scenario improvisation

to enhance Turkish language acquisition. She has published studies analyzing writing skill development, task-based scenarios, and productive skill training, often integrating sociocultural theory and Byram's intercultural competence model.

At Cornell, she teaches

• Elementary Turkish I & II
• Intermediate Turkish I & II
• Graduate Studies in Turkish
• Independent Study courses

and serves as advisor for the Turkish Student Association and Translator–Interpreter Program. Her work emphasizes practical application of Turkish language in multicultural contexts.