STUDENTS’ FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN TURKEY: HISTORICAL ASPECTS AND TODAY

Abstract

The article, based on the analysis of modern scientific research, characterizes students’ foreign language training of higher education in Turkey. It is presented that the study of languages is an important and significant issue of the Turkish education system.
The development of language policy in Turkey has been analyzed. It is indicated that the Ottoman Empire (which lasted from 1299 to 1922 CE) was influenced by Islamic culture (Muslim culture). At the same time, it is stated that the state language was Turkish, Arabic and Persian were studied as foreign languages. Arabic was the language of science and Persian was the language of literature. The activation of the study of Western foreign languages began with French, which was the language of diplomacy, philosophy and science.
It is found that during the Tanzimat Period, English was introduced into the Turkish education system. It is established that the intensification of the study of English in Turkey began after the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, intensified after the Second World War, and it gained a significant advantage over other foreign languages.
It is stated that modernization and westernization movements led to closer ties with Europe and the US and accelerated the spread of English language teaching in the country.
It is established that the 80s were characterized by the inclusion of the foreign language in educational programs. At the same time, with the foundation of two public universities with the English language teaching (Middle East Technical University and Boğaziçi University), a university model with the English language teaching was created, which formed the basis of the popular model of private universities.
It is pointed out that English teaching in higher education institutions has made it possible to attract foreign students, including the ERASMUS exchange, has made it possible to prepare Turkish students for studying and working abroad. It is emphasized that there is a tendency among state universities with Turkish as the language of instruction to open programs with parallel teaching in English of some disciplines.