Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language and Problems Encountered

Abstract

Currently, Turkish courses as a foreign language are provided by the schools, the language schools subject to universities, or the language schools subject to private institutions through different levels of course curricula. The study covers the problems encountered in the teaching of Turkish as a foreign language and the considerations of the teaching staff of this field. The study is a qualitative study. The data analysis is carried out via semi-structured interviews. The participants of the study comprise the teaching staff that is experienced in the teaching of Turkish as a foreign language for a period of 10 years at least. The voluntary teaching staff is employed both in two schools subject to universities and a private school subject to the Ministry of Education. The problems encountered in the teaching of Turkish as a foreign language are identified under the light of the teaching staff's voluntary considerations. On account of the occasion that the teaching of Turkish as a foreign language does not have a long history, there are few investigations regarding the education programs and the students' needs. Therefore, it is necessary that multi-aspect identifications in regard to the teaching of Turkish as a foreign language and its problems in addition to the relevant studies be carried out. Ultimately, this study dwells on the problems encountered in the teaching of Turkish as a foreign language in terms of education programs, education environments and the students. Following the identification of the problems, they are expounded and some resolutions as to these problems are put forward.