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If you decide to teach overseas, the first things that you would explore would be living conditions, teaching conditions and job opportunities there. Then you would probably start to investigate the culture and the state of languages in your target country. If this country is Turkey, you are lucky, because there are hundreds of sources from which you can learn about Turkish culture.
One of those reliable sources is Geocities. This web site provides general information about Turks and Turkish culture, population, language, religion, daily life, family, food, social life, recreation, arts, and music. Although the page is not updated frequently, the information is quite up-to-date. More expanded and more official information can also be found at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism website of Turkey. It is the most comprehensive site about the Turkish culture. The website also has a culture and tourism TV, which makes it unique among the other sites that are about the culture of Turkey. Films about Turkey are other significant components of the website.
If you do not know the fact that about 98% of Turkey's population is Muslim and if you wonder what religions constitute the remaining percentage, I would recommend Enjoy Turkey.com. If you wonder how the Islam is practiced and the place of religion in education and in other governmental institutions and organizations, you might visit Kwintessential which offers invaluable information about Turkish culture specifically religion.
Another important component of Turkish culture is, without doubt, Turkish cuisine. Turkish food is regarded as one of the world's great cuisines and Sallys Place provides a brief history of Turkish diet. Besides, you will find great Turkish recipes that you can try at your home before going to Turkey
Now that you know at least a bit about religion, food and language, you get your flight ticket, finally arrive in Turkey and start to work. It is a very busy semester and you are already looking forward to having holidays, but you have no idea when the holidays are in Turkey. There is actually no vacation in Turkey. Just kidding! Turkish people love holidays and that is why they have many vacations. The holidays in Turkey are categorized into two: Islamic and Secular. If you wonder what they are and how they are celebrated, you may simply visit Wikipedia. Turkey is rich in traditions, from folk dance, folk music, folk heroes, and traditional sports to popular customs:. Very similar information can be found at A Holiday in Turkey.
However, if you have still questions about what to do and what not to do in Turkey, please read Arins Bayraktaroglus book titled Culture Shock: Turkey. You will read a great list of dos and donts in Turkey. Sometimes it will make you smile, sometimes think and sometimes surprised.
After visiting all those web sites and reading this enjoyable book, you are ready for your Turkey adventure. Have fun!
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Ministry of Culture and Tourism
The most comprehensive site about the Turkish culture is the official web page of Ministry of Culture and
Tourism. Anything about the Turkish culture and tourism can be found on the web site. Besides, culture and
tourism TV and films about Turkey are significant components of the web site.
Turkish Culture Portal
The following website highlights some of the distinct characteristics and qualities of Turkish culture including
architecture, literature, music, culinary arts, lifestyles philosophers, fine art, ceramic arts, applied arts,
fabric and patterns, tapestry, nature and military. The information is supported through numerous pictures which
are worth seeing.
Who Are the Turks
This is an online book about Turkey and Turkish culture, which is sort of a manual for teachers. The book is
divided into two sections: history and related social disciplines, and art and literature. Each part contains
lesson plans, homework readings and worksheets to photocopy as handouts for students. The book also has recipes
of main Turkish dishes.
Turks and Turkish Culture
Turkish Culture: The following web site provides general information about Turks and Turkish culture, population,
language religion, daily life, family, food, social life, recreation, arts, and music. Although the page is not
updated frequently, the information is up-to-date.
Turkish Culture Shock
This is a very interesting web site that talks about culture shock foreign people might have in Turkey. Turkish
cultural habits, Turkish proverbs and body language are the main titles of the web page. Highly recommended for
people who think about visiting Turkey, moving or working there.
Culture Shock!: Turkey by Arin Bayraktaroglu
This is a book about culture shock. It is an extremely enjoyable book with useful explanations and tips to prepare
the reader for a variety of contexts and characteristics, well beyond the stereotypes. The style is chat-like and
personal; the tone is level-headed. Dos and donts lists for people who plan to go Turkey. If you would like to
buy the book, here is one of the options:
Turkish Culture
The following web site is about Turkish culture. What makes this site different than the other ones is that the
information provided is through a western European perspective. The author talks about climate, culture, food and
drinks, getting around, history, things to do and shopping. Pictures of the touristic and historical places are
nice to see on the web site.
Turkish Traditions
All you want to learn about Turkish traditions, from Turkish folk music, folk dances, traditional sports to popular
customs, is included on this web site.
Turkey and Turkish Culture
Another web site that gives information about Turkey and Turkish culture is the link below. Maps of some important
cities of Turkey are provided. Climate, government system, education, Ataturk, Turkish arts and folklore, Islam,
cultural history are some of the topics that are portrayed. There is also a link to the Turkish language classes
offered at University of Arizona.
Turkish Culture
At this web page, you may find information, news and articles about Turkish culture, history, tourism, celebrities,
and Turkish products. The web page is updated frequently.
Turkish Culture and Tourism
This web page is designed to give information to tourists who are interested in visiting Turkey. Seven Regions of
Turkey, visa formalities, tourism establishments are the main topics of the web page.
Wikipedia - Culture of Turkey
Provides information about the culture of Turkey. Turkish people, music, literature, architecture and cuisine are
some of the contents that are each looked at as separate topics.
Anatolian Culture
The web site gives information about Turkish language, religion in modern Turkey, Turkish people including family,
women, marriage, birth, divorce, sunnet (circumcision), death and burial issues in Turkey. Some other topics are
settlements, holidays, mythology, Anatolian arts, and Islamic art.
Turkish Customs
The following link provides brief information about Turkish culture and customs. If you want to learn about the body
language of Turkish people, you should visit this page.
Turkish Food
Great recipes of Turkish food.
Ethnic Cuisine: Turkey
Turkish food is regarded as one of the world's great cuisines. The web page provides a brief history of Turkish diet.
Besides, you will find great Turkish recipes.
Turkish Food
Everything about the history of Turkish kitchen and food in Turkey can be found at the following link.
Discover Turkey
An online guide to Turkey. Includes many pictures about Turkish culture.
Explore Turkey
This site provides a tour of Turkey through photographs. Business and travel information is also available
Turkish Music
This site offers several selections of Turkish music.
Anatolia
This site is designed to share travel experiences, and photo albums of Turkey. Background information about Turkish
culture and history is provided as well.
All You May Need to Know Traveling Turkey
Turkey in brief, preparation for your trio, how to come to turkey, frontier formalities, how to travel in turkey,
suggested itineraries, hotels - camps-restaurants, youth and student travel, recreation, Turkish traditions and
useful addresses
Turkey at a Glance
Information about geography, resources, economy, climate, government and legal system, people, education and
educational system in Turkey.
Turkish Items
The first Turkish doll store in the world. Turkish culture is one of the richest in the world and each region in
Turkey has its own culture with different dress traditions. You may see different examples of female and male
Turkish clothing on the dolls from Ottoman bridal dresses to sufi darwish clothes. All of the items are handmade
in Anatolian Turkish style and are the result of a careful design and labor. The fabrics used in the dolls
(kutnu kumas) are in the traditional style and are the same as the ones used in traditional costumes. A nice
site to visit.
Turkey Facts
This is a presentation about the Turkey facts. Religion, history and every other interesting thing about Turkey.
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Information shown on this website is the result of a collaborative effort by Dr. Rod E. Case and the EDS491/691 Special Topics in Teaching English
as a Second Language Class, Wintermester, 2007. |
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