Turkish I (111-1-1)

Instructors

Oya Topcuoglu
847/491-2402
Crowe 4-121

Meeting Info

Parkes Hall 214: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

This course offers a distinctive introduction to modern Turkish language and culture through highly interactive TV shows. Turkish television reaches nearly one billion viewers across 170 countries, and Turkey ranks second only to the United States in worldwide TV distribution, with large audiences across the Middle East, Latin America, Europe, and South Asia — making Turkish an emerging language of global entertainment.
In this first quarter, students will immerse themselves in the personal stories and everyday realities of Istanbul life through compelling TV characters, whose rich storylines provide ample opportunity to develop listening skills, pronunciation, vocabulary, polite expressions, and verb tenses and moods. Beyond language, students will also gain insight into Turkish culture, history, and politics through the show's narratives.
The course employs a communicative approach emphasizing group collaboration and active language production, and culminates in a class excursion to a Turkish restaurant in Chicago where students can put their skills to use in a real-world setting.
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Registration Requirements

No prior knowledge of Turkish is necessary. (Students with prior knowledge of Turkish will need to take the Turkish Placement Test to identify their level).

Learning Objectives

The second quarter (Turkish 111-2) will be offered in Winter 2027 and the third quarter (Turkish 111-3) in Spring 2027.  By the end of the third quarter, students will be able to use all common grammatical structures and engage comfortably with other Turkish speakers on a variety of everyday topics. Turkish is used in class whenever possible, and by the third quarter, it becomes the primary language of instruction.

Teaching Method

First-Year Turkish uses a communicative, proficiency-oriented approach with fully integrated audio-visual media to teach modern Turkish as a living language. The instructor will use an interactive approach in the classroom, including reading, translations, listening, and conversational practice as interactive small-group exercises.

Evaluation Method

The final grade for the course will be based on the following criteria:
• Class participation and attendance (including Turkish Table Meetings and Cultural Events)
• Class preparation and homework assignments
• Three short exams
• Final Project

Class Materials (Required)

Elementary Turkish: A Complete Course for Beginners. Revised Third Edition (2015). Kurtuluş Öztopçu. Kebikeç-Yayınları Sanat Kitabevi. An additional workbook will be provided by the instructor.

Class Notes

Full attendance and class participation are strongly encouraged for the successful completion of the course. In addition to regular participation in class activities, it is important to complete all your homework on time. The course meets MWF for 70 minutes.