Menu
Expat.com

Learning Turkish.

Last activity 28 February 2014 by ahmad alomari

Post new topic

ahmad alomari

Dear expats, i just moved to Istanbul, and hoping to settle here, so please tell me how long does it take to learn Turkish language and is there and communities or meeting groups or even individuals who can teach me Turkish and i will teach them English in return or anything like that? thanks :top:

djoh270687

From an English language point of view Turkish seems very difficult and makes English grammar look simple in comparison. Turkish grammar adds letters to words and sometimes makes the word sound different. As a foreigner trying to listen you sometimes think 'well it sounds like that word but it's slightly different too' by which time the conversation has finished and you find yourself confused. For example...

My car = Benim Arabam
Your car = Senin Araban
His/Her car: Onun arabası

'Araba' is the word for 'Car' but the grammar changes it slightly depending on who it belongs to. There are other grammar rules like Ğ (soft G) and so on but if you are new to Turkish do not worry about it yet.

Also when you speak Turkish the sentence structure is different to that of English, for example....

English: 'On Saturday I will go my friend's home'
Turkish Structure: 'Saturday day friend my 's home to I will go'
Turkish: 'Cumatesi günÜ arkadaşIM'IN evİNE giDECEĞİM'

I have put the capital letters so you can see the grammar added/changes just to give you an idea of what it changes. Once you understand the rules on the grammar Turkish isn't really that hard to learn.

How long does it take to learn? Depends on the person I guess, I have been living and working here for 10 months and I am not fluent yet. Where can you learn it? There are courses at universities and some private tutors and companies that will teach you for a fee. If you have a tight budget make a Turkish friend, they are very friendly and welcoming people and there are always people looking to practice their English.

Good luck.

David

ahmad alomari

I would like to thank u for all these valuable info,
you have given them in an easy way to be understood,, really appreciated.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Istanbul

  • Universities in Istanbul
    Universities in Istanbul

    Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, has long been a melting pot of cultures, ideas, ...

  • Student life in Istanbul
    Student life in Istanbul

    If you are going to study in Istanbul, you need to discover the best spots for students, such as where to study, ...

  • Study in Türkiye
    Study in Türkiye

    Türkiye is a wonderful country to travel to and an interesting place to work from. But what if you are here ...

  • Learning Turkish in Turkey
    Learning Turkish in Turkey

    So you have decided to move to Turkey.  Congratulations! You are in for a wonderful adventure. Turkey will ...

  • Learning Turkish
    Learning Turkish

    Everybody in Turkey does not speak English, especially outside of the major cities. Although not an absolute ...

  • Accommodation in Istanbul
    Accommodation in Istanbul

    The largest city in Türkiye, Istanbul is one of the most popular travel destinations for foreigners. There is ...

  • Working in Istanbul
    Working in Istanbul

    Just like most big cities, Istanbul has a variety of job opportunities in industries ranging from electronics to ...

  • Buying property in Istanbul
    Buying property in Istanbul

    Istanbul is a city that regularly welcomes newcomers. With its relentless energy, it attracts all types of ...

All of Istanbul's guide articles