A language needs analysis in tecahing Turkish as a foreign language: An example of Istanbul

This study aims to define the language needs of foreign students who learn Turkish as a foreign language in İstanbul University Language Center and to assess whether these needs vary according to variables such as participants' age, gender and native language. The study was carried out with 125 (63 male, 63 female) foreign participants who were learning Turkish at different levels in Istanbul University Language Center in 2019. As a data collection tool, a questionnaire consisting of 36 items developed by Iwai et al. (1998) to analyze the language needs of Japanese learners was utilized. The questionnaire was translated into Turkish and then analyzed for reliability and validity by Çangal (2013). The data collected via the questionnaire were transferred to the SPSS 21 program. Percentage, arithmetic mean, ANOVA and t-test for variance analysis were used to analyze the data. According to the results of the analysis, "Interaction needs in the classroom" comes to the forefront in the language needs of the students who learn Turkish as a foreign language. Then this is respectively followed by "academic and occupational needs," "individual interest and needs" and "business and tourism related needs" In the statistical studies, it has been determined that the language needs of the participants do not show a significant change according to the factors such as gender, age and mother tongue.