Üsküdar University Turkish Teaching Application and Research Center (ÜSTOMER) organized a Turkish Language Festival online with the participation of international students. In the second festival, international students learning Turkish presented poetry, songs, folk music recitals, as well as plays, interviews, and drama performances. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, also attended the festival, where he highlighted that the world is moving towards a multilingual system.
“We see our international students as honorary cultural diplomats”
Selçuk Duman, Lecturer and Director of ÜSTOMER, who delivered the opening speech, stated that Turkish is an ancient and rich language that has been used for centuries. Duman noted that Turkish has historically been one of the most widespread languages in the world, emphasizing that according to UN findings, it is the fifth most spoken language globally in terms of population density, after Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and English. Duman said; “This year has been accepted as ‘Yunus Emre and the Year of Turkish Language’ by UNESCO and the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. Üsküdar University, which hosts students from different countries around the world through the efforts of ÜSTOMER, provides an education that encompasses the systematics and intricacies of the language to its students. Not content with only academic education, Üsküdar University carries out activities aimed at introducing our nation and values to hundreds of students coming from abroad. These students, who are seekers of our language and culture, will become honorary cultural diplomats of our country when they return to their home countries.”
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk: “Turkish embodies love, compassion, and tolerance”
Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk stated that Turkish belongs to the Ural-Altaic language family, like Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian, and Korean languages, and conveyed that Turkish is a language where new words can be produced within a logical framework. Prof. Dr. Konuk said; “Turkish is a very rich language; many words can be derived from a single root word. There is love, compassion, and tolerance in Turkish. Language, being one of the most important characteristics of a culture, reflects on life and behavior. It is a source of pride for us that students from different parts of the world learn Turkish.”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka: “I advise students to develop their human capital”
In the event, which continued with the speeches of Üsküdar University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka, Prof. Dr. Zelka stated that every international student is a voluntary ambassador; “Our students returning to their home countries will take roles in administrations as voluntary ambassadors. To date, our university has organized nearly 2000 events for international students, with the support of our students who speak English and Arabic, by establishing an international relations office. My advice to all students is to develop their human capital as much as possible; these qualities will differentiate you from others and become the characteristics that define you.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The world is moving towards a multilingual system”
Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan congratulated the students who strive to learn Turkish at the Turkish Language Festival event; “To learn a language, one needs to be assertive and not afraid of making mistakes. Turkish is a rich language spoken over a very wide geography. Knowing this language is an investment in the future. The world is moving towards a multilingual system. As cultural mobility increases, so does the need to learn languages.”
The Turkish Language Festival continued with international students reciting the Turkish National Anthem, and students also read poems by Yunus Emre and Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, two of the most important figures in Turkish literature.
During the event, students performed ‘Sarı Çizmeli Mehmet Ağa’, one of Barış Manço’s unforgettable classics, and the festival concluded with a special play performance prepared by international students regarding Covid-19.