While coming to Turkey to study, it is highly possible that you might be knowing little or even none of the Turkish language. Even though the new generations are able to talk some English, especially in the Universities, being able to use the local language can come in handy to adapt yourself successfully in your daily life. Learning Turkish will be the best way for you to try to blend in and the local people will appreciate to see your efforts to adapt to their own language.
So, in order to help you with it we tried to list for you some of the ways and advises to learn and practice the Turkish language so that you can be in position to spread your cultural experience in the country beyond your scholar sphere.
1 - Pocket dictionary / phrase book
As obvious as it may seems, having a pocket dictionary by your side at your arrival in Turkey will be very helpful. Before you even realize, it will become your best friend when you will be trying to explain yourself at the grocery store or trying to find your way in the local transportations.
2 - CD's / Books / programs and online learning
For the most rigorous and motivated among you, books and CD's still remain a very efficient way to learn about grammar and vocabulary as well as working on the your pronunciation. However, this process of learning is not tailored for everyone since its method of teaching can appear quite dull to some of you. That is why, on a more interactive approach, you could find some computer programs very helpful, such as Rosetta Stones, or some free online learning websites, such as Duolingo. Of course those programs will never replace a proper learning lesson and practice with local people but they are being a much more interactive option than books while still offering to work on many areas such as grammar, vocabulary, writing, speaking and listening.
3 - Languages exchanges
Once you will be in Turkey you will find plenty of opportunities to "trade" lessons from your own language for Turkish lessons. You can find many offers online, especially on "expats" websites. These languages exchanges are a very practical and interesting experiences to learn Turkish from a local speaker and for free! Languages exchanges are very rewarding in this that you are in position of being both student and teacher with sharing about your own language and culture as well.
4 - Language schools
Taking courses at a language school represents probably the best way to learn in depth the structures of Turkish language and to be ready to practice additionally outside of the classroom. If you are truly feeling like being dedicated in learning Turkish, resorting to language classes is most likely the best option to learn methodically with a proper teacher in a group of 10 or less students.
Languages are then a good choice for more involved and demanding students in their process of learning Turkish but it should be remembered that this way of learning is not obviously not cost free. If money is a concern, taking some private tuitions can also be an interesting alternative solution for more individual attention for a cheaper price.
5 - People
In the end, there is no better way than leaning on the field ! Just go ahead, do not hesitate to try to use the little vocabulary you have. You will probably feel first as if submerged by a wave of incomprehensible words but soon enough you will realize that you're starting to act like a "sponge" absorbing the linguistic matter surrounding you!
6 - Living with locals
- Home stay courses
The concept is simple: to place student to live with a local family somewhere in Turkey. The options can vary quite greatly which means that you could either find yourself living with a traditional family in the Turkish countryside or in a much more urban context with a family living in the heart of Istanbul. Beyond the linguistic benefits of such program, home stay courses are a good way to learn from your own cultural experience about the real way of living of Turkish people.
- Au pair
Affordable option by excellence, Au Pair is a practical way to work on your Turkish skills since you will be living within a Turkish family for usually a period of about 3-12 months. In exchange for daily house care, including childcare and property maintenance (such as gardening or house cleaning), you will be hosted for free and will be paid some extra spending money.
Even though Au Pair represents an attractive experience, both on the financial and cultural level, it requires to search carefully about your future host family to make sure that you do not end up working much harder and longer than expected.