Abstract
Alphabet Issues in Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language
This study aims to reveal the extent of alphabet problems experienced by foreigners as they learn Turkish and offer solutions. Even though the literature includes numerous studies that focus on alphabet issues in the teaching of Turkish to foreigners, the topic has never been studied independently. In order to do this, 45 foreign students attending Atatürk University Language Education Training and Research Center, Gaziantep University Turkish Education Training and Research Center and Fırat University Language Education Training and Research Center to learn Turkish at C1 level were asked to respond to an 8-item semi-structured interview and write a dictated text. The data showed that most students had difficulty vocalizing and writing the following letters/sound of the Turkish alphabet: a, e, ı, i, o, ö, u, ü, c, ç, ğ, l, ş, y. Usually, they were confused between back and front vowels.
Keywords
Turkish for foreigners, alphabet, pronunciation, writing