A critical examination of imperialism and language teaching in Turkey

Abstract

This study aimed to answer the following question: what relations are there between the teaching of English in Turkey and Turkish socio-economic and political life? Socio-economic and political relationships between the Turkish governments and Western nations are considered as the background for the study. To determine the relationships between foreign language teaching and Turkish socio-economic and political life, data concerning the promotion of foreign languages and cultures in Turkey since the Second World War were obtained. The main sources of data were statistics produced by State Statistical Institute and from interviews with the administrators of the Ministry of National Education, and representatives of the United States Information Service. Textbooks and syllabi used in state schools to check the language teaching methodologies in light of changing socioeconomic and political relationships between Turkey and Western nations were also examined. The above data were compared to the results of 1500 questionnaires given to the graduates of both private English medium schools and non-English medium state schools.The findings of this study show strong relationships between general trends in Turkish economic, social and pohtical history; the teaching of foreign languages; and the lifestyles of graduates of Enghsh medium secondary schools.