A research on Turkish as a foreign language teachers' competencies

Language teaching and learning began to be seen as inevitable in conditions of the changing world and countries participated in a race of teaching their own language as a foreign language. In this study it is aimed to identify competence areas, competences and performance indicators for teachers who teach Turkish as a foriegn language in an effective and efficient way.As an introduction to study, subjects of language, language teaching, native language and foreign language mentioned and historical development of teaching Turkish as a foreign language which is the main subject of this study. After reviewing literature about teaching Turkish as a foreign language in Turkey and abroad in order to find answers to the question ?,what should be the competency areas, competences and performance indicators of teachers who teach Turkish as a foreign language? related studies in Turkey and abroad are examined.After area reviewing, interviews were evaluated with the teachers who teach Turkish as a foreign language for data collection. As in accordance with the data obtained from the interviews appropriate ones turned into competence and performance indicators. Then, according to the data obtained from the literature reviews and interviews, the draft competencies and performance indicators converted into 5-point Likert-type questionnaire. Survey was applied to teachers who teach Turkish as a foreign language and faculty members who work in this area.In this study, after given the findings and interpretations of survey, some comparisons are made according to stated features and performance indicators shown in sequence on the degree of importance. The study ended with proposals obtained from evaluation of interview and survey data.Key words: teaching Turkish, Turkish as a foreign language, teacher competences, competences of teacher who teach Turkish as a foreign language.