Fatih Hafız Mehmet
July 26, 2018•Update: July 26, 2018
By Ilhami Elkilic and Yasin Temel
ERZURUM/NEVSEHIR, Turkey
Foreign students are learning Turkish in a summer school program organized by Yunus Emre Institute (YEE) in Turkey's eastern Erzurum and central Nevsehir provinces.
A total of 24 students from 17 countries arrived at Erzurum Ataturk University Turkish Language Education Research and Application Center (ATATOMER) and 26 students from 25 countries at Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University (NEVU) and Turkish Language Education Research and Application Center (TOMER).
The students will receive theoretical education on Turkish language for four hours every day. They will visit historical sites to increase their knowledge about Turkish culture.
They will also participate in courses on classical Turkish arts like ebru (Turkish paper marbling), hat (Islamic calligraphy) and woodburning art.
ATATOMER head Bahadir Gucuyeter told Anadolu Agency that the students are learning Turkish by "living it" in the summer school.
"They learn from us by living it, by seeing it, not like it is told from outside," Gucuyeter said.
NEVU TOMER head Mehmet Ceribas said that the students are not only learning Turkish, but they are building bridges of friendship.
Ceribas said they are introducing students to examples of Turkish culture, history, geography and tourism.
"We are extremely happy to introduce both Nevsehir and diverse geographies of Turkey to our students," Ceribas added.
Algerian student Hanane Ammar Boudjelal, who is learning Turkish in Erzurum, said she is happy to be there.
"I am very happy for coming to Erzurum. I learned both the Turkish culture and met friends from different countries," Boudjelal added.
