GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TURKISH SUMMER SCHOOL

Since2009, the Yunus Emre Institute has offered students from around the world the opportunity to study the Turkish language in Turkey. Students are able to attend classes that correspond to the level of their skill in the Turkish language. Students who have never taken Turkish before, as well as those who have studied it for years, are able to improve their language skills through classes that are taught entirely in Turkish, allowing for an immersive experience.

Last Summer, 700 students representing 57 countries partook in the Summer School. The groups were able to visit the 81 different cities throughout the 7 different regions of Turkey, allowing each group to have their own unique experience. At the end of the program, the groups came together in Ankara, Turkey for the closing ceremonies of the Summer School. Afterwards, the groups travelled to Istanbul together for the last three days of the program.

Program Details

The 2018 Turkish Summer School will run from July 16 to August 12, 2018. The entire cost of th
e program, including the flights to and from Turkey and the meals on the program, will be covered by the Yunus Emre Institute.

Students will be separated into groups and will live in cities across Turkey. With seven regions comprising of 81 cities, every group will have their own unique experience during the

program. Scatteredacross Turkey, each group will live in their own city. Fro
m that city, they will venture out on the weekends to experience more of the region that they are living in and the unique subcultures that can be found in each one.

During their stay in Turkey, students will be housed in either university dorms or guest h
ouses.

Every morning, Monday through Friday, students will have class for three and a half hours. The classes are taught entirely in Turkish, allowing for an immersive environment.

Students will have totally 60 hours Turkish classes during the program.

During the classes:

*Students will learn about Turkish grammar and its structures, along with vocabulary;

*Students will apply what they learned through speaking, reading, listening and writing exercises.

*Students will also participate in hands-on activities that will test their vocabulary and speaking ability.

*Class will also include cultural activities, with students learning traditional group dances and how to make authentic Turkish cuisine from
various regions across Turkey.

After class, students will have lunch and then will depart for their daily activity. Activities may include guided tours of historical sites, horseback rides, cooking classes on authentic and regional Turkish dishes, visits to the local market, or free time to explore the city.


These daily field trips encourage students to use their language skills that they have learned in the classroom, and provide them with the opportunity to experience every aspect of Turkish culture.

Atthe weekends, students will travel to cities across Turkey, allowing them to experience the unique
heritage of each city and region.

At the last weekend, students will travel to Ankara, Turkey, the capital city, for the closing
ceremonies of the program. Locatedin the heart of Anatolia, Ankarawas declared the Turkish capitalin 1923 with the founding of theTurkish Republic by Mustafa KemalAtatürk. During Turkey
’s war for
independence from 1920 to 1923,
the city served as the base of
operations for the Turkish military.Being the capital city, it is nowhome to the Turkish parliament,as well as the country’s PrimeMinister and President. Notablesites include the Ankara castleand the mausoleum of MustafaKemal Atatürk.

The closing ceremonies bring together all of the students from the
Yunus Emre Institute’s Summer School who studied Turkish throughout the seven
regions of the country. Prior
to the ceremonies, studentshave the chance to connectwith one another through theirshared knowledge of Turkish.The closing ceremonies includemusical and dance performancesfrom artists hailing from differentregions of Turkey, allowingstudents another glimpse intothe diversity and complexityof Turkish culture. Following the closing ceremonies, students will travel with theother groups to historical sites across the city. Not only will students learn about the

rich history and importance of the capital city, but they will also have the chance to
forge lasting bonds of friendship with their colleagues from around the world as they
converse in Turkish and share their experiences.

After two days inAnkara, all of the studentswill travel to Istanbul,Turkey. Situated onBosphorus Straight, whichconnects the Sea of Marmaraand the Black Sea, Istanbulis a city on two continents.The Western side of thecity located in Europe andthe Eastern side in Asia,allowing for a blend ofcultures. Originally known as Constantinople, the city was established in 330 AD as
the new capital of the Roman Empire by emperor Constantine the 1st. From the 4th
century to the 13th century, Constantinople was the wealthiest city in Europe. In 1453,Constantinople was conquered by Mehmed II and renamed Istanbul. Established as

the new capital of the Ottoman Empire, it would remain as such until the founding of
the Turkish Republic in 1923. Home to both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, the
city of Istanbul is rich with history. Once they arrive in Istanbul, students will spend
the remainder of theprogram visiting importantand historical places suchas Hagia Sophia, the BlueMosque, and TopkapiPalace. Students will alsohave the opportunityto explore the variousneighborhoods of Istanbulon both the European andAsian sides of the city.

For more information and applicationplease visit https://www.turkceyazokulu.com/