Yunus Emre Institute, in cooperation with the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of Communications, has launched an online education programme for the members of foreign media in our country to learn Turkish.

Yunus Emre Institute contributes to Turkey's mission to be a bridge of intercultural peace. Our institute, which aims to carry the breath of the famous folk poet and Sufi Yunus Emre to all geographies, is taking new steps in the fields of culture, art, literature and science, and contributes to the collaborations and partnerships with other countries. Yunus Emre Institute has now started to offer online Turkish courses for the members of the international media in our country in cooperation with the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of Communications. 

In his opening speech for the online course, Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of Communications Head Fahrettin Altun stated that they were taking many steps not only to facilitate the works of the media members but also to contribute to their professional and social development.

Altun explained that they were enhancing the access of the members of the international media to the decision makers and field by organizing contact meetings and press tours and expressed that they were pleased about the extraordinary interest by journalist from many different countries from the USA to China, Argentina to Yemen for the Turkish education programme, which they started for the first time.

THE MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ARE LEARNING TURKISH

Altun mentioned that this year, a total of 258 the members of the international media from 36 countries and 151 institutions from around the world received accreditation from the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of Communications in order to follow the developments in Turkey and the region, and said:

"These members of the international media serve in many regions of Turkey, and especially in Ankara and Istanbul. We know that this is an important opportunity for countries with a story to tell, such as Turkey, and we care that the members of the international media will learn the Turkish language and gain the opportunity to contact all parts of our society. It is clear that the journalists who serve the cause of truth will perform their duties much more competently when they learn the language of the society in which they are located." 

"COME, LET US GET ACQUAINTED"

President of Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Şeref Ateş expressed the following during the opening speech of the programme:

"As Yunus Emre Institute, we see the Turkish language courses as a tool to meet different people and cultures and get to know each other better. Our country has served as a bridge between different geographies and cultures for hundreds of years. For this purpose, we are establishing partnerships with other countries in other areas of language and culture-art.”

Prof. Şeref Ateş stated that the salvation from the COVID-19 pandemic, which encompassed the entire world and turned our lives upside down, was to unite, share and work together, and said that the remedy was the "philosophy of life", which considered other people and entities as parts of ourselves and was put forth by Yunus Emre who also witnessed difficult times when he was alive.

"OUR GREATEST EXPECTATION IS TO SPREAD THE UNDERSTANDING OF LOVE AND UNITY"

Prof. Şeref Ateş highlighted that this philosophy guided Yunus Emre Institute, and said the following:

"Our greatest expectation from our Turkish courses, which we have had to continue via the Internet due to the pandemic, but which also allowed us to reach the whole world, is to share and spread this understanding of love and unity. Learning a new language is communicating directly with a new culture. Today, you are going on a journey full of adventure in order to get to know a new culture closely. This time, you will learn about our country, where we would be more than happy to host you, with each of its expressions and essences, and you will become familiar with its spirit and philosophy of life.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN ABOUT YUNUS EMRE BEFORE LEARNING TURKISH

Prof. Şeref Ateş stated that UNESCO declared 2021 as the Year of Yunus Emre and emphasized that Yunus Emre was one of the greatest cornerstones of the Turkish culture and therefore it was important to learn about Yunus Emre before learning Turkish.