Bursa, Turkey

iEARN, TÖMER Institute

Turkish

Beginning, intermediate and advanced

June 15 – August 16, 2010

Dates are inclusive of travel and the pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC. Students are required to participate in the full program, including the pre-departure orientation. All travel will be arranged for participants following selection.

The CLS Program offers courses designed to develop students’ listening, reading, speaking, spoken interaction, and writing skills. Students will use textbooks, workbooks, and audible CDs designed by the TÖMER Institute’s language instructors. These materials have been developed according to the European Council’s Common European Framework Guide and have been looked to as models by other institutions teaching Turkish as a foreign language. Social activities such as seminars, symposiums, concerts, and drama activities will also be provided to help students get to know each other, learn about Turkish culture, and interact with the local community.

Students will receive a minimum of 20 hours per week of formal classroom instruction. Participants will also be required to take part in organized semi-formal and informal learning activities that will promote interaction with the host community and culture. These activities will support the formal classroom instruction. Students will also participate in a variety of cultural enrichment lectures and activities.

All components of the CLS Program have been developed as part of the language acquisition process. CLS participants are required to attend all program components, including, but not limited to, language instruction (formal/informal), cultural activities, and excursions. Absences will only be excused for medical or other approved reasons.

Students will be housed with host families and receive stipends to cover meals not included with the home stay.

CLS participants will attend classes at the TÖMER Turkish and Foreign Languages Research and Application Centre. The TÖMER Institute was founded in 1984 as a part of Ankara University for the purpose of teaching Turkish to foreigners and was the only institution in Turkey at that time where Turkish was taught as a foreign language. TÖMER has undertaken an active role in developing materials for the teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language. The TÖMER Institute in Bursa functions in collaboration with Bursa Governorship, the Directorate of National Education, and the Municipality of Greater Bursa. Studying in Bursa provides students the opportunity to explore local historical and tourist sites such as the Inkaya plane tree, Oylat Thermal Springs, Su Uçtu Waterfall, Yesil Türbe, the tombs of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi, samples of Iznik tiles, Karagöz Monument, Uludag National Park and Ski Centre, House of Armistice in Mudanya, and Atatürk Museum.

For more information about the TÖMER Institute, please visit: http://www.tomer.ankara.edu.tr/english/index.html

iEARN, the International Education and Resource Network, serves as the primary coordinator for the CLS program in Turkey, overseeing host families, peer tutors, and cultural excursions, and working with the TÖMER Institute on the academic program. A global consortium of NGOs, affiliated partners and universities, government representatives and educators, iEARN leads school reform and community networking efforts through curriculum enhancement and technology-based collaborative project-based learning. Having implemented successful educational programs for 20 years, iEARN currently engages an estimated two million participants working together to enhance teaching and learning in more than 35,000 schools in 125 countries in 30 languages.

For more information about iEARN, please visit:http://iearn.org/