The perceptions of international students learning Turkish through distance education on Turkish language course and language skills: A metaphor study

Abstract

In this study, the perceptions of international students who were learning Turkish through distance education regarding Turkish language course and language skills were examined. The research was designed in accordance with the phenomenology pattern. The study group of the research consisted of 27 international students who received Turkish preparatory education at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University. To collect the data of the study, the students were asked to create a metaphor for the Turkish language course and language skills and to write the reason for this metaphor. The data of the research were collected electronically. The form created for this purpose was transferred to electronic media via Google Forms and sent to the e-mail addresses of the students. As the result of the study, it was seen that the metaphors created by international students about Turkish language course were gathered in six categories. Two of these categories consisted of positive and four of them were negative metaphors. When the students' metaphors for language skills were examined; three of the five categories created for reading skill were positive and two were negative; three of the four categories for writing skill were positive and one was negative; three of the four categories for listening skill were positive and one was negative. It was also determined that four of the five categories created for speaking skill consisted of positive metaphors and one of them consisted of negative metaphors.