Macro-level foreign language education policy of Turkey: A content analysis of national education councils

Abstract

This study aims to investigate foreign language education policy of Turkey at the macro level. It gives prominence to English language teaching as it plays a major role in Turkey’s education system. Data were collected through official documents which involve the national education councils organized from 1939 onwards. The documents were scanned and evaluated by means of qualitative research. In doing so, the information on foreign language education obtained from these primary sources was summarized and analysed through main themes. The results indicate that although the top- level state authorities in Turkey theoretically give importance to foreign language teaching, they show inconsistency in their decisions while translating them into practice.