THE TURKISH PROGRAM
BIO
Our main instructor and founder Yağız is an experienced professor of the Turkish language with a deep knowledge of and passion for every aspect of its culture and history. He strives for a pedagogy that is both eclectic and adaptable in an effort to remain sensitive to each student’s needs and learning styles. Outside of teaching Turkish, Yağız likes to spend his time doing creative writing and performing traditional Turkish and Greek music.
From Former Students
"Being a science professor, I know how very difficult it is to effectively teach students in a way that captures and maintains their interest and, in this regard, Yağız is an outstanding success."
- Jonathan M. Scholey, Ph.D. (former student)
Distinguished Professor Emeritus,
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology,
University of California, Davis
"Yağız is simply the best teacher of language I know. He effortlessly attends to the needs and interests of each student, and brings a wealth of cultural knowledge and linguistic detail to each lesson. His joy for language, culture, and life is infectious."
- Jason R. Vivrette, former student and Turkish Program Coordinator
Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
University of California, Berkeley
"The course was excellent, well-crafted, and very helpful. I am sad to have ended it."
- Summer program student from BoÄŸaziçi University
"Always prepared, varied exercises, adjusted course based on what we needed... Definitely enthusiastic about the subject matter"
- Summer program student from University of Pittsburgh
"Simply amazeballs! Legit progress in just 8 weeks!"
- Fall program student from The Turkish Program
Teaching Experience
2017
University of Pittsburgh
Turkish Instructor
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Created a new Turkish curriculum, brought beginners to intermediate level in only 8 weeks
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Facilitated a learning environment where students scored record oral proficiency results in standardized testing
2013-2016
BoÄŸaziçi University
Turkish Instructor
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Turkish instructor at the top Turkish language program in the world
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Revised program curriculum and materials
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Taught large classes of students of different levels, ranging from beginner to upper advanced
2016-2018
ABC Language School
San Francisco, CA
Turkish Tutor
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Tutored Turkish language to students of all ages and all backgrounds privately and in groups
2009-present
Private Tutor
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Tutored students of all ages primarily in Turkish, but also German, English, History, Mathematics, Economics, Political Science, Geography, Physics
Education
2015-2017
BoÄŸaziçi University
Master's Degree in Linguistics. Dissertation Title:
Idiomaticity, Formulaicity and Semi-Fixed Constructions in Turkish (read here)
2015
Università degli Studi di Pavia
Third Pavia International Summer School for Indo-European Linguistics
2013
BoÄŸaziçi University
Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Certificate in Linguistics at the top Turkish college, BoÄŸaziçi University