Contemporary madrasahs in Bitlis and Arabic language education

This thesis, titled "Contemporary Bitlis Madrasas and Arabic Language Instruction," is composed of three main chapters. The introduction presents the aim, methodology, and scope of the study. The first chapter discusses the definition of the madrasa, its historical development, and the transformation of the classical model. It also emphasizes the continuity of the scholarly tradition by examining prominent madrasas in Bitlis and its districts, along with the intellectual legacy of their notable scholars. The second chapter analyzes the organizational structures and educational systems of currently active madrasas in the region. Within this framework, pedagogical practices specific to the madrasa tradition—such as individualized instruction, mütalaa (textual study), müzakere (scholarly discussion), and takrir (formal lecture)—are evaluated, together with the roles of key educational figures including the seyda, müderris, and mir. The chapter concludes with an assessment of the fundamental structural and curricular shortcomings observed in these institutions. The third and final chapter examines the function of Arabic language and rhetoric textbooks used in Bitlis madrasas within the context of contemporary foreign language teaching methodologies. This evaluation culminates in a comprehensive assessment of the current state of Arabic language instruction in Bitlis madrasas. By offering an updated perspective on both the institutional structure of the Bitlis madrasa tradition and its core component—Arabic language education—this thesis aims to contribute meaningfully to the field. Keywords: Arabic Language And Rhetoric, Bitlis, Madrasa, Education And İnstruction, Müderris.