How to Learn a Foreign Language?
The Conference on Foreign Language Acquisition Practices in Turkey and the World was held at Altınbaş University. Professor Rod Ellis, whose works are the most cited in the world, was one of the main speakers of the conference.
A conference on foreign language acquisition practices in Turkey and around the world took place at Altınbaş University's Mahmutbey campus. Foreign language educators from 19 countries around the world, including Japan, Chile, and Germany, participated in the conference. Approximately 220 academics and educators from foundation and state universities in Turkey also attended the conference.
The conference, hosted by Altınbaş University on September 7-8, 2023, addressed successful foreign language education models, evaluations of the adaptation of successful models to the Turkish education system, and workshops on language learning.
Dr. Merve Selçuk, the Director of the School of Foreign Languages at Altınbaş University, stated during the event, "We have very important guests at our event. There are participants from 20 different countries. We conduct significant academic studies on foreign languages. We see this event as an exchange of knowledge. We want to teach English to our students much better. For this, we use science. We progress by adapting and exchanging knowledge in the practical part. By drawing strength from science, we teach foreign languages with a scientific approach."
One of the main speakers at the conference was Professor Rod Ellis, whose studies on second language acquisition and task-based language learning are widely cited worldwide. Ellis, an academic and author, shared insights on teaching foreign languages with University and K12 educators for two days.
Rod Ellis, a Research Professor at Curtin University's Faculty of Education in Australia, emphasized, "Learning a language is a slow process; there is no need to rush. Saying, 'I entered the class and took a few lessons,' is not possible for language learning. One must be patient, resilient, and work hard. Parents in Turkey are very insistent about children's language learning. Teachers and parents can work together and teach children more easily by doing activities at home. It is beneficial for children to start learning a language at an early age. We want children to learn experientially and task-based. By following this path, we can achieve better results."
Professor Constant Leung, a Professor of Educational Linguistics at King's College London, also participated in the conference and emphasized the importance of communication in language learning. He stated, "There are many models for language learning. Our focus should be on communication. We should receive language education tailored to the environment in which we need to communicate. For example, if I am a student living in Turkey, I should receive education tailored to that environment. Language education can start at any age, and the curriculum should be adapted based on the age of commencement."
Maggie Kubanyiova, a Professor of Language Education at Leeds University and the Director of the Center for Language Education Research, emphasized that there are multiple methods for learning languages and stated, "It is important when the language will be used. We should receive education tailored to what the target communication is about. Language education should be adapted to the age at which education begins. I was very happy to learn that there are many foreign students at Altınbaş University. New learning methods can be developed in this field here."