Free beginning and intermediate Turkish language classes are being offered twice a week to any student interested in learning about the language and culture of Turkey.

The class started with 25 enrolled members and is taught by Turkish volunteer instructors. Turkish Student Association President Arif Keceli is a geography doctorate student and one of the instructors.

Keceli said he came up with the idea for the classes as a way to let OU students know about Turkish culture and values.

Students usually take the class to introduce themselves to the language and culture in preparation for trips to Turkey during breaks or before studying abroad there, Keceli said.

Kristin Collier, geography junior, said she began taking beginner classes after hearing about them through the Turkish Student Association.

“I got interested in learning Turkish because I am working on a research project about Turkey and took a trip over the break and I just fell in love with the language,” Collier said.

After two weeks of class, Collier said it is helping her learn about Turkish culture and better understand about the research she is working on.

Serkan Ozturk, another volunteer instructor and electronic engineering doctoral student, has been teaching Turkish for two semesters.

“Learning a new language is not as easy as it seems, so something that challenges me when teaching them is explaining some of the meanings of the phrases or words and the pronunciation as simple as possible,” Ozturk said.

Nolan Kraszkiewicz, religious studies and political science sophomore, said he enrolled in the beginning Turkish class as a way to prepare for a summer study abroad trip to Turkey.

I wanted to complete my degree in political science and religious studies with focuses on Islam, and I wanted to go to Middle Eastern countries to actually study, and Turkey seemed like the best option for me,” Kraszkiewicz said.

Some students who have taken the Turkish language class are now living in Turkey, and some taking it now are hoping to study abroad there, Keceli said.

Keceli said the Turkish Student Association hopes to propose the class to OU as a credited course, so students can earn credit while learning the language.

The class will be offered until the end of the semester in its current form.

More info
» Beginners classes are held Monday and Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Dale Tower, Room 907
» Intermediate classes are held Monday and Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Dale Tower, Room 906
» Students interested in participating can send an e-mail to Keceli@ou.edu