Teaching Turkish to Foreigners Certification Program Started

“Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language Certification Program”, a collaboration of Yunus Emre Institute, Ankara University TÖMER (Turkish and Foreign Languages Research and Application Centre) and Gazi University TÖMER began on 31 August 2015. Director of Turkish Education and Training Centre Dr. İbrahim Gültekin, Ankara University TÖMER Director Prof. Dr. Ertan Gökmen, Gazi University TÖMER Assistant Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nezir Temur, Vice President of the Institute Dr. Ebubekir Ceylan, and Vice President of the Institute Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş made speeches in the opening ceremony.

In his speech Gültekin drew attention to the point reached at teaching Turkish as a foreign language, and the importance of such programs for the subject. Gültekin also informed the participants on the program content.

Ertan Gökmen, expressing their appreciation for Yunus Emre Institute for taking over the important task carried out by Ankara University TÖMER for the last 31 years, said that each individual receiving Turkish language instruction should be perceived as a seed for the bright future of Turkey.

Nezir Temur represented Gazi University TÖMER, and addressed the importance of such certification programs for the lecturers who aim to work in this field and pointed out how Turkish has become a language in demand today.

Ebubekir Ceylan expressed that as Yunus Emre Institute, they work on promoting Turkey through culture-arts activities in addition to Turkish instruction. Noting that Sound of 1000 Years Turkish Festival celebrated in Istanbul on 22 August was the biggest activity organized to this day, Ceylan also informed participants on Institute's vision and missions.

In the opening ceremony Şeref Ateş stated that certification program is significant for making collaboration with two prominent Turkish universities at the same time possible, and added that Yunus Emre Institute has become a major power in cultural diplomacy of rising Turkey.

Throughout the month-long program, participants are expected to attend lessons at Turkish Instruction Centres on weekday mornings, and foreign language instruction method and techniques seminars given by field experts in the afternoons. In the closing ceremony to be held on 1 October 2015, applicants who complete the program with success will receive their certificates and other participants, participation certificates.