Turkish and Arabic promoted in German schools
The German state of Niedersachsen has endorsed Turkish, Arabic and Russian as languages to be offered and promoted in schools as way to encourage mutual understanding and open-mindedness. The drive, known as 'Mehrsprachigkeit födern' (promoting multilingualism)...
Visiting a Turkish home
Invitation to a Turkish home Turkish people love inviting guests to their homes for dinner. As a foreign guest you will be treated especially well. Take your shoes off on the mat as you enter the house: in most households shoes are not allowed inside, and a pair of...
Sunrise in Istanbul
Early morning: the tides flushing through the Bosphorus; Miles of water gushing under the bridge. Fish swept one way and another. Fishermen Lined up, casting their lines and luck into the depths. Sardines and sprats wiggling on the sloppy sidewalk floor, Young city...
Egyptian Bazaar in Istanbul
Mısır Çarşısı – Egyptian Bazaar An absolute must for any visitor to Istanbul is the Egyptian Bazaar. Here you can find every type of spice you can imagine. The market received this name as Egypt was once part of the Ottoman Empire and all spices as well as coffee were...
Turkish Language Politics – “Turkish Olympics” threatened
It appears that the friction within Turkey has also spread to the language learning arena. The Turkish Government has taken steps to try to prevent the "Turkish Language Olympiad" taking place. The event was already banned in Turkey so ever since 2014 it has been...
Has the situation in Turkey affected Turkish Language learning?
As a litmus test, we asked language learners whether the political turmoil in Turkey has changed their desire to learn Turkish. Only a couple of years ago, Turkey was heralded as the “China on the Bosphorus”. The economy was booming and investment firms waxed...
Poll: Turkish Politics and Turkish Language Learning
Over the past few weeks there has been a drop in numbers on the site particularly those looking for Turkish language learning materials such as our online courses. Interestingly, there was, however, during this period a surge of interest related to our article on...
What to wear for a business meeting in Turkey
Initial business meetings are usually formal, as business is a serious matter and must be treated that way. Even though the first steps towards a personal relationship may have taken place in a restaurant, it is important to avoid being too casual and friendly when...
Any time is tea time in Turkey
Drinking tea has long been a part of Turkish culture. It is said that tea arrived from China in what is now present day Turkey via the Silk Road. The Turkish word for tea is çay, which is very similar to the Chinese word. During the Ottoman Empire attempts were made...
Book review: The Last Frontier
The Last Frontier - A Sufi Journey by Reshad Feild If thou wilt be observant and vigilant, thou wilt see at every moment the response to thy action. Be observant if thou wouldst have a pure heart, for something is born to thee in consequence of every action. - Mevlana...
Turkish is an official EU language
Turkish has become an official language of the European Union. It is now the 25th official language of the European Union. By implication this would mean that all public EU reports and documentation now need to be translated into Turkish. The breakthrough has little...
Turkish negotiation process
The negotiation process may take longer than expected or anticipated. Turkish business people do not like to be put under pressure and do not like deadlines. Therefore, any attempt to hurry the process will only produce negative results. Being patient is an asset when...
Slump in Turkey’s Tourism Sector
The political instability in the wider Middle East region is having a devastating impact on Turkey’s tourism industry which has now seen a collapse for the summer of 2016. Tourism remains a key revenue generator for the country. According to figures from the World...
Turkish Lamb Shank Recipe – Kuzu İncik
Incik is a popular Turkish dish found on many menus. Lamb shanks provide a hearty and delicious meal but they do require long cooking times to tenderise the tough meat. Lamb: Kuzu Shank: İncik In this recipe we used a "Dutch Oven" - a cast iron pot which can be...
Turkish proverb – Don’t roll up your trousers (yet)!
A wise Turkish proverb to bear in mind at the start of any week, task or journey! Dereyi görmeden pacalari sıvama. Do not roll up your trousers before reaching the stream. This saying is used to make a point that one should not be overly eager and optimistic about an...
Business etiquette: Greeting a colleague in Turkey
Greeting a Turkish colleague When greeting a Turkish colleague formally for the first time, it is polite to address a man by his full name proceeded by Bay (Bay Frank Campbell). You can address a woman with her full name and Bayan (Bayan Sarah Campbell). Greeting in a...
Turkish business etiquette: Exchanging business cards in Turkey
What you need to know about exchanging business cards in Turkey If you are new to business dealings in Turkey, then business cards are important element of networking and business interaction in Turkey. It is important therefore that you have some business cards on...
Introduction to the Turkish Language: There Are No Cats in Turkey
We recently created a video for the HandsOnTurkish project with the aim of sparking some interest in the Turkish language - particularly for people who have never considered learning the language or may not have had sufficient reason to do so. Interestingly, we were...
