Academic Turkish learning objectives and usage proficiency of Syrian students learning Turkish as a foreign language

Abstract

The number of Syrians migrating to our country as a result of the civil war started in Syria in 2011 is 3 million 632 thousand 622 as of 17 January 2019. Kilis is the province that has the highest population rate of Syrians (84.48%), compared to the local population. Although the reasons of Syrian students’ learning Turkish vary, their willing to continue academic education in undergraduate and graduate institutions in Turkey comes forward. The Turkish lessons taken by the students are mainly general Turkish and aimed at fulfilling their daily needs. The aim of the study is to determine the academic purposes and usageproficiency of Syrian students who continue their undergraduate and graduate education at Kilis 7 Aralık University. In the study which was carried out by using qualitative research method, phenomenology design was used. In the study, the data were obtained through interviews with Syrian students who continue their academic education and their lecturers, and the data obtained were analyzed using content analysis technique. Based on the views of Syrian students, it has been determined that very few Syrian students take academic Turkish lessons and need academic Turkish lessons. According to the opinions of the faculty members, most of the Syrian students do not have C1 level language proficiency, changes should be made in the certification exams, and the academic Turkish skills of the students are insufficient.