TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN TURKEY

1. TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN TURKEY

2. The New Education System ( 4+4+4) in Turkey In March 2012 the Grand National Assembly passed new legislation on primary and secondary education usually termed as "4+4+4" (4 years primary education, first level, 4 years primary education, second level and 4 years secondary education). Children will begin their primary education in when they are sixty nine( 69) months old and will come to a close during the school year in which students turn 14 years old.

3. Foreign Languages InTurkeythemostcommonforeignlanguage is English tokeepupwiththedemands of globalization, internationaltradeandacademia.

4. In public schools, English is taught from 2nd grade (age 7) onwards through to the end of high school. • In 2nd and 3rd grade classes, English Lesson is taught for 2 hours in a week. • In 4th and 5th and 6th grade classes, it is taught for 3 hours in a week.

5. From 2ndgradeclassesto 6thgradeclasses, the main target is listeningandspeaking. Therefore, lessons which are enriched with audio visual materials and game based activities are planned. Thus, reading and writing tasks at the lower grade levels are limited • In 7nd and 8th grade classes, students have 4 hours English lessons in a week.

6. Inhighschool, English lessonhoursshowsdifferencesaccordingtotheschooltypes.InAnatolian High Schools, whichstudents can enterafter an exam, English lessonsare 10 hours in a weekandadditionallysomeschoolshaveextra 2 hours video lessons. However, in normal highschools, English lessonsareonly 3 hours in a week.

7. Furthermore, a second foreign language is introduced in high schools, German or French.

8. Howeverthenumber of lessonsgiven in publicschools is minimal comparedtoprivateschools, whichbeginteaching English in kindergarten, havetwoorthreetimes as many English lessons in thetimetable, and in manycasesemploynativespeakers of English as teachers.

9. As a result of the poor standards achieved by the public system many students take an intensive English language "prep year" when entering university. These are offered by both state and private universities throughout Turkey.

10. Turkish Ministery of National Education (MEB) and Higher Education Council (YOK) has decided to reform the curriculums of English Language Teaching.

11. Theyemhasizestheimportance of alteringthepedagogicalapproachtomake it morecommunicativeandlearnercentered. Theyhaverealizedthevalue of thecommunicativeapproachtolanguagelearningandteachersareexpectedto do pairandgroupworkandmeaningfocusedactivities.

12. The communicative approach entails use of the target language not only as an object of study,but as a means of interacting with others;the focus is not necessarily on grammatical structures and linguistic functions, but on authentic use of the language in an interactive context in order to generate real meaning

13. Our language learning environment is characterized by the followingcommunicative features: • Communication is carried out in English as much as possible. • Communication is focused on the creation of real meaning. • Students listen and speak just as they would in a target language community

14. • Students are continuously exposed to English through audio and visual materials. • Enjoyment of language learning is fostered through activities such as arts and crafts, TPR, and drama. • L1 usage is not prohibited or discouraged, but it should be employed only as necessary (i.e., for giving complex instructions or explaining difficult concepts). • Students are supported and guided by smiling teachers who “understand” what they are saying. • Teachers are present in the classroom mainly for communicating in English (and, if necessary, in Turkish).

15. • The focus of learning is on deepening communication, rather than on completing curricular items within a given period of time. • Errors are not addressed during communication, so as not to disrupt the flow; problem areas are noted by the teacher and addressed at a later time through practice and reinforcement. • Students frequently encounter materials that have previously been covered in order to reinforce what they already know. • Students develop high motivation for learning by completing challenging, yet achievable activities.

18. EuropianUnionEducationandYouthProgrammes in Turkey

19. LifelongLearning Programmes • Youthin Action programme

20. Lifelong Learning Programmes: education and training opportunities for all TheEuropeanCommission’sLifelong Learning Programmeenablespeople at allstages of theirlivestotakepart in stimulatinglearningexperiences, as well as helpingtodeveloptheeducationandtrainingsectoracrossEurope.

21. Therearefoursub-programmeswhichfundprojects at differentlevels of educationandtraining: •Comeniusforschools •Erasmusforhighereducation •Leonardo da Vinciforvocationaleducationandtraining •Grundtvigforadulteducation

22. ComeniusProgramme: Europe in theclassroom TheComeniusProgrammefocuses on alllevels of schooleducation, frompre-schoolandprimarytosecondaryschools. It is relevantforeveryoneinvolved in schooleducation: mainlypupilsandteachers but alsolocalauthorities, representatives of parents’ associations, non-governmentorganisations, teachertraininginstitutesanduniversities.

23. TheErasmusProgramme – studying in Europe andmore Celebratingits 25th anniversary in 2012, ERASMUS is themostsuccessfulstudentexchangeprogramme in theworld. Eachyear, morethan 230 000 studentsstudyabroadthankstotheErasmusprogramme. Italsoofferstheopportunityforstudentplacements in enterprises, universitystaffteachingandtraining, and it fundsco-operationprojectsbetweenhighereducationinstitutionsacross Europe.

24. Leonardo da Vinci programme TheLeonardo da Vinci Programmefundspracticalprojects in thefield of vocationaleducationandtraining. Initiativesrangefromthosegivingindividualswork-relatedtrainingabroadtolarge-scaleco-operationefforts.

25. Grundtvig: practicallearningforadults TheGrundtvigprogrammefocuses on theteachingandstudyneeds of learnerstakingadulteducationand ‘alternative’ educationcourses, as well as theorganisationsdeliveringtheseservices. Itaimstohelpdeveloptheadulteducationsector, as well as enablemorepeopletoundertakelearningexperiences, notably in otherEuropeancountries.

26. Youth in Action programme: Mobilising the potential of young Europeans Youth in Action is the EU Programme for young people aged 15-28 (in some cases 13-30). It aims to inspire a sense of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future. Formoreinformationvisitwww.ua.gov.tr

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