Turkey’s economic growth overtakes China’s
According to the German news magazine Der Speigel, Turkey's economic growth has overtaken that of China. After a dip in growth due to the coup attempt in 2016, Turkey's economy grew even faster in the past year than China's. The Turkish economy grew in 2017 year on...
Turkish language: Vowel harmony (Part 2)
This blog article is a follow-up on Vowel Harmony (Part 1), so please make sure you read Part 1, otherwise this blog article will not make sense. To put it all together, we can use a string of suffixes long beloved of Turkish teachers and a tongue-twister it is worth...
Turkish language: Vowel harmony (Part 1)
Vowel Harmony In order to provide additional help to new learners of Turkish, Hands on Turkish is publishing a series of articles focusing on particular sticking-points in the grammar that often confuse learners whose first language is not Turkic. These are not...
Business Etiquette in Turkey. Do’s and dont’s
When first arriving at the office of a prospective business partner in Turkey, why not bring a small gift? It will be very well received, especially if it is something that represents your culture or what your business does. When meeting new business partners for the...
Best museums in Turkey – Useful phrases: Visiting a museum in Turkey
Here is the list of the best Turkish state museums Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul Mevlana Museum, Konya Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Istanbul Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Gaziantep Museum of Turkish...
Did you know….. some lesser known facts about Turkey
Here are some facts about Turkey that you might not have heard before. Turkish cuisine Almost every city in the country has its own cuisine. It might be worth checking what local specialities there are before visiting in order to prepare your responses if your host...
A Poem from Rumi
Here is one of Rumi"s most popular poems for you for the New Year. With best wishes from the Handsonturkish Team. The Guest House This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an...
Turkish business meetings and useful phrases
It is important to show patience It is important to show patience when dealing with Turkish business partners. Initial meetings hardly ever lead to decisions and are used primarily to get to know each other. So don’t try to rush into business or limit the discussion...
A famous Turkish hotel – and useful phrases: checking into a hotel.
Çelik Palas This is one of the oldest and best-known hotels in Bursa, in Turkey. The original construction of this hotel was ordered by Kemal Atatürk as a hotel belonging to state. It was designed by one of most famous architects from the 1900s: Giulio Mongeri. He...
Greetings in Turkish
Here are some useful Turkish phrases for greetings you might find useful when travelling in Turkey. Turkish greetings Günaydın - Good morning Merhaba / Selam - Hello İyi akşamlar - Good evening İyi günler - Good day Asking how someone is Nasılsınız? -...
Getting around in Turkey
When you travel around inside Turkey, you can chose between different modes of transport: trains, buses, planes and even sea planes. Air travel is a common mode of transport inside Turkey. There are many cheap airlines flying between cities, and if you are flying to...
Useful Phrases Public transport in Turkey
Here are some useful phrases you might need when using public transport in Turkey. Bana bir taksi çağırır mısınız lütfen? - Can you order a taxi for me, please? Saat dokuz buçukta gelsin lütfen. - For 9.30, please. Borcum ne kadar? - How much do I owe you? Kaç para...
Useful Phrases: Dining in a Turkish restaurant
Here are some useful Turkish phrases for when you are dining in a Turkish restaurant. Saat bir için bir masa ayırtmak istiyorum. - I would like to book a table for 1 o’clock. Dört kişilik lütfen. - For four people, please. Yemek listesini alabilir miyiz lütfen?...
Sights in Istanbul (part 2)
İstiklal Caddesi İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Street) is the long main street defining Istanbul’s historical Beyoğlu district. It’s perhaps best known for its shopping opportunities, which range from the high-class to the hipster. Equally worth seeing, though, is...
Sights in Istanbul (Part 1)
Although Istanbul is a major business centre, it is also an important tourist destination. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque or The Blue Mosque One of the most prominent sights is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Sutanahmet Camii), which is famous for its six minarets and its immense...
Turkish working hours
Turkish working hours Turkish employees work some of the longest hours in Europe, but this isn’t always reflected in productivity figures. Tea breaks and smoking breaks The business culture in Turkey allows for a lot of smoking and tea breaks and often discourages...
Time Management Tips That Every Online Student Should Know
The growing availability of online courses is one of the biggest success stories of the digital age. It has opened up the possibility of further education to a wider range of people than ever before. Suddenly, domestic commitments, a young family and even a career are...
Turkish Proverbs (part 1)
Proverbs offer an important insight into a nation's culture. Here are some Turkish proverbs with their English translations. Kendini evindeymiş gibi hisset. Feel at home. Şu duvarların bir dili olsa da konuşsa … If these walls could speak a language … İt ürür, kervan...
