Is learning Turkish difficult for non-native speakers? This is a question raised by anyone who intends to travel to Turkey either for leisure or for study purposes, which is why we at Skyline Educational have prepared this article for you.
In order to answer this question and find solutions that help you learn the language, we will also discuss its levels, stages, and the most important tips for learning it, as well as mention the key applications that will help you master it.
We wish you an enjoyable reading.
How to Learn Turkish Easily
Learning Turkish is not difficult, but it does require effort and persistence. Below are some tips for learning Turkish easily:
Learn Sentence Structure and the Basic Framework of the Language
Turkish is an agglutinative language, which means that words receive suffixes at the end. This can make learning Turkish vocabulary somewhat more challenging, but once you learn the basic structure, you will be able to remember words more easily.
Similarly, when you learn the structure of Turkish sentences—including the placement of the verb, subject, pronouns, and suffixes—you will be able to adapt to Turkish sentence construction and form grammatically correct sentences.
Memorize More Turkish Vocabulary
One of the most important steps in learning Turkish is to improve your vocabulary. There are many words in Turkish, but you can start by learning the basic words, then learn new words every day and use them in your daily life.
Speaking in Turkish
Speak in Turkish, as this helps you learn faster through practice. Talk with Turks at work, in your neighborhood, at the market, and at every available opportunity. Even if your language skills are weak at first, you will gradually improve.
Join a Turkish Language Learning Course
Take a semester or join a training course, as these courses help you commit to learning the language and provide you with a more efficient and serious approach to studying it.
Check out: Turkish Language Course
Some Resources to Help You Learn Turkish
Below are some resources that can help you learn Turkish:
- Turkish books and magazines
- Turkish films and TV series
- Turkish music
- Turkish language courses
- Turkish language applications
By dedicating time and effort to learning Turkish, you can master this beautiful language in a short period.
The Number of Turkish Words and Their Role in Facilitating Its Learning
One of the factors that affects the ease of learning Turkish is the number of its words and how familiar these words are. We will explain this in the following paragraphs:
Number of Turkish Words
Turkish is very rich in vocabulary, and according to the TDK (Turkish Language Association) dictionary, it contains more than 100,000 words.
However, the number of words used in daily life is very limited, and most Turks use a specific range of words, which makes learning the language easier.
In general, this richness in vocabulary increases expressive ability in Turkish and makes communication easier on various topics.
Read more about:
The Number of Arabic Words in Turkish
Considering that our article is directed at Arabic speakers, it is essential to know that the Turkish language is very rich in Arabic vocabulary. The spread of Islam among the Turks has led to the extensive use of many Arabic words and expressions in daily life.
Examples of this include:
Category | Word in Turkish | Word in Arabic | Word in English |
Islamic Vocabulary | Allah | الله | Allah |
kuran | القرآن | Quran | |
cami | جامع | Mosque | |
zekat | الزكاة | Zakat | |
Ramazan | رمضان | Ramadan | |
iman | إيمان | Faith | |
islam | إسلام | Islam | |
müslüman | مسلم | Muslim | |
kafir | كافر | Infidel | |
cennet | الجنة | Paradise | |
cehennem | جهنم | Hell | |
dua | دعاء | Supplication | |
Times | sabah | الصباح | Morning |
sene | سنة | Year | |
vakit | وقت | Time | |
saat | ساعة | Hour | |
dakika | دقيقة | Minute | |
saniye | ثانية | Second | |
Beverages and Foods | çay | شاي | Tea |
kahve | قهوة | Coffee | |
limonata | ليموناضة | Lemonade | |
baklava | بقلاوة | Baklava | |
künefe | كنافة | Kunefe | |
salata | سلطة | Salad | |
şeker | سكر | Sugar | |
baharat | بهارات | Spices | |
Family | aile | عائلة | Family |
Baba | بابا | Dad | |
Words with an Arabic Pronunciation but Different Meaning | zihin | عقل “ذهن” | Mind |
seyahat | سفر “سياحة” | Travel | |
Other Vocabulary | Kitap | كتاب | Book |
merkez | مركز | Center | |
araba | عربة “سيارة” | Car | |
kalp | قلب | Heart |
Of course, there isn’t enough space here to discuss all the Arabic words in Turkish, but in general they are very numerous, and getting to know them makes learning Turkish much easier.
Turkish Language Levels
According to the TOMER methodology for teaching Turkish, studying this language until mastery goes through the following stages and levels:
Level A1: Basic Level
Suitable for complete beginners in learning Turkish. At this level, students can introduce themselves using simple words and expressions, answer basic questions, and understand simple sentences and expressions used in daily life.
Level A2: Basic Communication Level
This level is appropriate for students transitioning to more advanced levels in learning Turkish. At this stage, students learn more complex sentence structures and vocabulary, improve their speaking, reading, comprehension, and writing skills, and are able to communicate simply on a variety of topics.
Level B1: Intermediate
At this level, students learn more challenging words and sentence structures and can communicate easily on more complex topics. Additionally, noticeable improvements in speaking and listening skills enable students to express themselves effortlessly and actively use the language in various aspects of life.
Level B2: Advanced
This is the level required for students to communicate fluently in Turkish, where they can speak easily about almost any topic. Furthermore, there are advanced improvements in reading, writing, and the ability to use more complex sentence structures.
Level C1: Very Advanced
After reaching this level, students can speak Turkish almost fluently. At this stage, they can handle complex topics, understand the basic grammatical rules required for academic or professional work, and express themselves easily using highly complex sentence structures.
Level C2: Native-like Proficiency
This is the highest level, which may be challenging even for native Turkish speakers. At this stage, students can communicate with native Turkish speakers without any obstacles, as if it were their mother tongue.
And since they have advanced reading and writing skills, they can make better use of Turkish in academic or professional work.
How Long Does It Take for Foreigners or Arabs to Learn Turkish?
The duration of studying each level ranges between 5 to 7 weeks, which is sufficient to cover everything included in each level individually.
The Turkish language learning curriculum is divided into four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and a student cannot succeed at any level until they pass the test in these four sections together.
Students should keep in mind that Turkish universities require them to present a Turkish language certificate at the C1 level when enrolling in any program taught in Turkish. If their level is lower, they can take the language exemption exam organized by Turkish universities.
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What Are the Most Popular Turkish Language Learning Apps?
Turkish language learning apps are considered one of the best means to learn this language, as they are divided into several stages and follow an integrated methodology that develops the student's level and cultural repertoire, enabling them to acquire the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
These apps also save the learner time and effort since they can be used at home, without the hassle of going anywhere that might cost extra time and energy. The most popular of these apps are:
Italki App
The italki app is considered one of the most popular Turkish language learning apps, used by millions around the world. The app aims to connect people with Turkish language teachers, allowing you to find courses and lessons in a sequential manner, as well as prepare for exams, practice the language, and acquire conversational skills.
Moreover, the language teachers available on the app set their own prices, which range from 6 to 20 dollars per hour. You can also browse the programs, find native Turkish teachers, chat with them, and even form friendships.
Memrise App
Memrise is one of the most popular programs specialized in teaching Turkish. It offers you the best way to learn this language along with plenty of fun during your learning journey, based on the slogan “Learn quickly and enjoy.” It begins by teaching you as many words and expressions as possible for 5 minutes a day in an entertaining manner.
Additionally, Memrise gives you the opportunity to integrate with native Turkish speakers through videos that help with pronunciation. This method gives you the feeling of having a real Turkish language teacher, and you can also download the lessons to review them later. This way, you won’t have difficulty continuing your learning if you encounter any technical issues. You can download the app and its lessons for free; however, if you wish to access additional features, you will pay $24.99 for 3 months for those features.
Duolingo App
Duolingo is one of the well-known apps that help in learning various languages, including Turkish. It offers everything that Memrise does, allowing you to learn some terms for a duration that you set according to your free time, with daily learning sessions ranging between 5 to 20 minutes.
Duolingo differs from other apps by providing lessons in grammar and how to construct sentences correctly, whereas the other apps focus on offering words to memorize.
You can download these apps from the following links:
Download link for the italki app for learning Turkish
Download link for the Memrise app for learning Turkish
Download link for the Duolingo app for learning Turkish
Thus, we have reached the end of the article in which we answered your question, “Is learning Turkish difficult?” We discussed the key details about the Turkish language and its levels, provided the most important tips for mastering the language, and listed the top applications that can help you learn it. For more information, you can contact us at Skyline Educational.