The role of European Union education and youth programmes in foreign language learning at vocational and technical highschools in Turkey

The aim of this study is to reveal the attitudes of the students attending European Union programs in vocational and technical high schools in Istanbul after the project. The role of EU Education and Youth Projects in vocational high school students' foreign language learning process is tried to be determined based on the theoretical framework. The study consists of three parts. In the first two sections, a literature study on the subject was made. In the first part, the Education and Youth Programs in the European Union were examined in the light of the general and vocational education policies of the Union and youth policies. In the second part, the EU Education and Youth Programs Implemented in Turkey were discussed. EU programs which Turkey, a candidate in Union, is included in the historical process were investigated. Foreign language learning and participation in EU Programs at Vocational and Technical High School in Turkey were also evaluated based on applications within the country. In the last section, the data,findings and results of the survey conducted on the subject were presented. The population of the study consisted of 115 students participating in EU Education and Youth Programs and 85 students who did not participate in EU Education and Youth Programs. As a result of the research, it was found that vocational high school students participating in EU projects developed more positive attitudes towards English language learning than those who did not.