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2020, Cilt 10, Sayı 2, Sayfa(lar) 264-275 |
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DOI: 10.5961/jhes.2020.388 |
General Picture of English Language Teaching Programs and Students in Turkey |
Mehmet ASMALI |
Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, School of Foreign Languages, Antalya, Turkey |
Keywords: English Language Teaching, Turkey, English proficiency, University preference factors, ELT statistics |
English language teaching (henceforth ELT) has always been criticized due to the performance of Turkey in global English proficiency
indices and students’ lack of speaking ability. Despite several attempts to change language teaching programs, it cannot be claimed that the
situation has transformed. ELT programs and students studying in these programs as one of the major elements of language teaching and
learning issues in the country have been investigated in this study. The statistics regarding ELT programs and ELT students between the
years 2016 and 2019 have been taken from YÖK Atlas, an online platform launched by the Council of Higher Education. The statistical
data taken from this platform were analyzed, taking students’ gender, educational background, university preferences, and foreign language
test mean scores as well as ELT programs’ academic staff, performance in exchange programs, and students’ program preference statistics
into account. The statistics indicated the dominance of female students and relatively low English proficiency of the students in ELT
programs. Assistant professors were found to be the leading academic staff in these programs. Moreover, ELT students’ preferences with
regard to geographical proximity and availability of student exchange programs have been provided in the findings. Finally, some potential
future research topics have been suggested.
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