Atatürk and the History of Foreign Language Education in Turkey

Abstract

Background and Problem: There have been various opinions on the policies of foreign language education in our country since the foundation of our republic. There is no doubt that Atatürk placed much more importance in foreign language education than the other nations’ founders on earth. For the purpose of foreign language education, the department of western languages and literatures was established in the faculty of language, history, and geography at Ankara University. This department was also considered to contribute the fields of history and Turkish studies. Foreign language and literature studies are believed to be responsible for establishing interaction and communication between cultures. If a scientific approach to a foreign language and its literature and the knowledge of methodology leads to acquisition of a native language, this means that it performs its real function. Atatürk, believing this contribution of knowing a foreign language to the mother tongue of a nation, absorbs the importance of this fact. He strongly asserted that we should make use of this advantage for our national benefits: by not teaching a topic in a foreign language, but teaching a foreign language. To him, the courses should be conducted in Turkish. However, just contrary to his views, we had courses conducted in the foreign language in Anatolian high schools, science high schools, and/or in private colleges. Thus, the number of these schools has increased and therefore, the importance of mother tongue has lessened even in our country.
Purpose: This study aims at discussing the foreign language policies followed in our country by referring to certain periods.
Method: For the purpose of the current study, the researchers have gone through literature review process in detail and compiled the data they could reach from various reliable sources.