1st Final Draft Merve Yüksel

THE ENGLISH TEACHING IN TURKEY

English has been taught in schools in Turkey for years, but can English really be taught? According to the results of the EF English Proficiency Index, Turkey ranks 66th among 113 countries and is second to last in Europe in terms of English skills. These results clearly indicate that the problem is not the duration of education, but rather that something fundamental is being done wrong or overlooked in English teaching. In this essay, the causes of this problem will be examined.

Most students start learning English in primary school, and some even begin in preschool. These early years are the most productive times for second language learning; however, during this period, children often memorize the stereotypes through repetitive methods, such as drilling, not learning how to use them. The drilling method, based on the principle of memorizing information by repeating it, can be useful for teaching English to new learners. However, while they have been learning the same subjects and writing the same words over and over for years, they are deprived of the most basic and crucial skills, such as speaking and writing. 

When the colorful pictures on English textbook pages slowly disappear and students start to be exposed to repetitive education for at least 4 hours a week, methods based on memorization alone will not be sufficient to keep student motivated; overuse of these methods may even cause students to get bored. The lack of practical training in classes, the fact that students only listen to the subject and then go, and the fact that English is not even included in the university exam except for the YDT, which is an exam for language students, cause students to see the English lesson as a course that requires a passing grade rather than a basic requirement. In the long run, the information will not be remembered and this may cause students to lose interest in the course. 

Schools and Teachers who do not leave their comfort zones and insist on using the traditional teaching style play a major role in English teaching. The methods they use, which are far from the use of the real language, are used not only in training students but also in training future teachers. As a result, many teachers who are products of this more rote than functional system sometimes fall far short in their speaking skills, and they can not develop their students in this regard. This paradox persists when effective teachers are not trained and it becomes impossible to raise effective students. As an exception, there are some qualified teachers, but they encounter many students crammed into small classes and do not have the opportunity to provide practical instruction to all of them at a sufficient level.

In order to raise individuals and teachers who are knowledgeable in English, practical teaching should be provided from the beginning of  English education. To keep students' interest active, monotonous teaching methods should be avoided, and action should be taken to develop their productive skills. Separate speaking and writing lessons can be added to the curriculum at least once a week. Speaking lessons should be supported with live dialogue and English conversation exercises. English may be included in the basic proficiency test for university so that students do not see English as a temporary course. To allow teachers to better engage with their students, English classes can be divided into smaller groups. 

To sum up, teaching methods focus on grammar structures rather than practices to improve language use from an early age. The lack of innovative and practical teaching in classes can cause students to lose motivation in English. English should be included in the basic exams to emphasize it is importance. Training a new generation of teachers with overcrowded classes and archaic methods restricts both students and teachers. To achieve effective results in education, some changes are necessary. In this way, students can understand the true function of the language, and Turkey can reach much higher ranks in the language proficiency index.