Evaluation of the conformity of TÖMER language teaching programmes with the skills of the common European framework of reference for languages: The case of Bartın University TÖMER

There is no generally accepted language education programme at university level in teaching Turkish to foreigners. For this reason, institutions prepare their own language teaching programmes based on the course levels specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and the basic language skills appropriate to the relevant levels. In this study, it is aimed to investigate to what extent the language teaching programme implemented at the B1 level of Bartın University Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Centre, which is taken as a sample, is effective in helping students acquire the competencies specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and accordingly, the adequacy of the programme and the programme components that need to be developed, if any. Data were collected from 95 B1 level students and 11 instructors working at the same level at Bartın University Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Centre. Quantitative data were collected by applying the Basic Language Skills Assessment Scale consisting of 27 items and the Course Centre / Curriculum Evaluation Scale consisting of 30 items. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the teachers and by adding 4 open-ended questions to the form containing the scales applied to the students. Descriptive statistics was used for quantitative data analysis and content analysis was used for qualitative data analysis. As a result of the research, it was determined that although there is no common programme, Bartın University Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Centre course programme is carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It was concluded that the implemented programme generally serves the needs of the students, that the students find themselves adequate according to their skills at the level they are at, and that they have mostly positive opinions about the programme, the course centre and the instructors, although some weaknesses were mentioned. In addition, it was determined that they wanted more emphasis on writing and speaking lessons. The views of the instructors also support the views of the students. The instructors stated that they found the writing and speaking lesson durations insufficient, that they carried out book-based activities since there was no common programme, and that out-of-book activities were carried out in order to better acquire skills. In addition to language teaching, cultural elements are also given importance in the course centre. Keywords in English: Common European framework of reference for languages, program evaluation, qualification