Use of educational games in teaching Turkish as a foreign language

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of educational games on achievement of students in teaching Turkish as a foreign language, student's success, attitude towards the course and permanence of knowledge learned. The study also aimed to investigate the changes in student achievement and attitudes towards the course due to some demographic variables. The study group of the study was selected from 8-12 year old students learning Turkish as a foreign language at the Beginner (A1) level in Adıyaman Public Education Center in 2018-2019 academic year. An experimental and a control group consisting of 20 matched in terms of achievement score, gender, age and time of presence in Turkey were formed. In the study, descriptive design, which is one of the mixed methods that comprises qualitative and quantitative research methods, was used. In the quantitative dimension of the study, quasi-experimental design with paired pre-test - post-test control group and in qualitative dimension semi-structured interview technique were used. "Beginner (A1) Level Turkish Proficiency Exam", "Attitude Scale for Children Learning Turkish as a Foreign Language" and semi-structured interview form were developed by the researcher as data collection tools. In addition, structured educational games used in the application stage of the research were developed by the researcher. SPSS 23. 0 statistical package program was used for the analysis of quantitative data obtained from achievement test and attitude scale, and content analysis was used for the analysis of qualitative data obtained from the interview. As the result of the study, significant differences were found in favour of the experimental group between the experimental group and the control group in which traditional teaching was applied. It was concluded that the use of educational games in teaching Turkish as a foreign language increases student achievement and provides permanent learning and positive attitude development. In addition, it was found that the students who learned Turkish as a foreign language had positive feelings and thoughts about educational games. Key words: Foreign language, Turkish, educational game, methods and techniques.