How do we learn English?
The Turkish government is currently implementing a process of ambitious and far-reaching educational reform. The introduction of 12 year compulsory education (4+4+4) along with the FATİH Project provide an exciting opportunity to review and reform the teaching and learning of foreign languages, especially English, in the Turkish state school system.
In partnership with TEPAV (Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey) and the Turkish Ministry of National Education, the British Council conducted a nationwide needs assessment in the period February-May 2013.
The Research
The aim of this research was to provide the Turkish Ministry of National Education with an analysis of the current condition of state school English language teaching and a set of recommendations which the Ministry can take forward for its teacher education programmes. The report also includes a possible model for a countrywide English language awareness campaign.
This research, the largest study of its kind, included observation of 78 English language classes in 48 schools in 12 cities throughout Turkey, semi structured interviews with 87 teachers and a survey of 21,000 teachers, students and parents. The field research is accompanied by an economic analysis of the importance of learning English both for the life prospects of individuals and as a driver for a country’s economic growth.
In all, the report provides a unique insight into current state school English language teaching practice along with the views of a very large number of students, parents and teachers from across Turkey.
Read the report below.
Learn more about our work on Teaching English.