Welcome to the reworked version of the most popular self-directed Turkish study program available. This version of TalkinTurkey is based upon Greg Thompson’s Guided Participant Approach. It has expanded upon that foundation to specifically apply to Turkish culture and communication, with the aim of making your study of Turkish effective and efficient. Feel free to download the resources on this page for your personal use.
The program has four levels. Levels 1-3 are designed for full-time language study (an average of 30 hours per week). Level 4 is meant to be part-time study combined with regular life activities. Average study/lesson time is a minimum of 5 hours per week (based on learner needs).
Each level has a “Start Here” document. This document, combined with the Learner Manual should help you design your general learning approach for that level. Each level then has supporting documents to be used for specific tasks.
The General Resources file is the place to find all the “other” things that aren’t specific to a given level. Some of these tools will be specifically referenced in task/activity instructions. Others are for your use as needed.
Most of the resources on this site are PDF files. Your browser and operating system should be able to open these natively. However, if you need software to open the files, we recommend using XODO, a fast, free PDF viewer.
All the work presented on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. In using this site you agree to these licensing conditions and the web site Terms of Service.
For those who prefer the original TalkinTurkey (v.1.2.1) program, it is also available from this site. You can reach it by using the link in the menu.
Manual for learners. Read this first.
Manual specifically for coaches. Learners do not need to read this.
Special instructions on how to implement Level 1 with JumpStart and 40 Days of Learning.
Level 1 is designed to take you through the first 40 days of your Turkish study. You will listen a lot at first, but learn to speak soon. The goal is for you to reach Benchmark 2 by the end of this level. Look in the 40 Days Guide & Jumpstart folder for instructions how this level works.
The 40 Days Guide will give you a detailed understanding of how to go through the first 40 days of your language learning using TalkinTurkey v.2.0. Jumpstart is a method built into the first 40 days to get you into listening to Turkish much faster as you’re settling in to the country.
Read this first! A timeline for all the lessons you’ll have in your first 40 days of learning. Refer to this document before each lesson.
The first document you’ll need to review for understanding how to structure your lessons, study time, and community time in Level 1. Refer to this document regularly.
Use this to properly order the contents of the binder you create when you print all of the documents in this section.
A graphic explaining the Thomsons’ Iceberg Principle of language learning in both Turkish and English.
Instructions to orient your language helper in Turkish (for the helper) and in English (for the learner and coach).
A list of helpful phrases, with the Turkish in the left column for people who like having their helper to sit at their left hand.
A list of helpful phrases, with the Turkish in the right column for people who like having their helper to sit at their right hand.
English and Turkish instructions on the 2-step / 2-activity method of apprehending new vocabulary and how to properly record the new vocabulary for use in study time. You’ll use this document regularly in your lessons.
The key explaining the graphical instructions for the 2-step vocabulary apprehension and pronoun explanation.
Graphical instructions for the 2-steps vocabulary apprehension and pronoun explanation with the instructions for the language helper on the left (for people who like their helper at their left hand).
Graphical instructions for the 2-steps vocabulary apprehension and pronoun explanation with the instructions for the language helper on the right (for people who like their helper at their right hand).
Graphic of a single cartoon man.
Graphic of three cartoon guys.
Key explaining the symbols for various grammatical constructs, like tense, forms, plural and singular and locations.
Chart with symbols for various grammatical constructs, like tense, forms, plural and singular and locations.
Table containing numbers from 1 to 31 laid out like a calendar.
A table containing the numbers from 11 to 100
A table of numbers from 101 through 1000
Instructions on how to prepare a family tree along with a graphical example.
Two family tree graphics explaining the relationships of children and parents.
Two family trees explaining the relationships of grandparents, aunts and uncles.
List of tasks that the learner needs to be able to complete to attain Benchmark 1 status.
List of tasks that the learner needs to be able to complete to attain Benchmark 2 status.
A list of projects that you should be able to do by the time you complete Level 1. This also contains recommendations for how to test your completion of various Benchmark tasks.
A list of tasks that will help you in your observation of Turkish life and culture. This will take up the bulk of your community time in your first few weeks of study. They can be used as starting points for future lessons/culture topics in Level 2.
‘Foundations’, as the name suggests, gives you foundational or ‘survival’ Turkish. The later pages actually go beyond ‘survival’ level, but they cover many of the standard social expressions used frequently in Turkish culture.
Recommendations by the Thomsons as to how to learn the survival expressions presented in the Foundations material.
Dialogue guide instructions in both English and Turkish
English text of the Foundations phrases.
Turkish text of the Foundations phrases.
Pictures to use while learning Foundations phrases. Note: These pictures were specifically created for TalkinTurkey v.2.0 and are thus subject to the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License this product is released under.
Description and examples of how to properly use the singular and plural forms of first and second persons, as well as the familiar and formal forms of the second person singular form.
Instructions on how best to do part-time language study in your first two to three weeks in the country. Especially helpful for those who are setting up a living situation.
A list of survival phrases that you can use to practice your Turkish pronunciation.
The first picture set used in Jumpstart; contains the digits from 1 to 10.
The second picture set used in Jumpstart; contains the tens of 20 - 100 and 1000, 1,000,000 and 1,000,000,000.
These are the documents that you will use during your first 40 days of language learning.
Use this as the table of contents for a binder when you print out the files for the 40 Days of Learning.
English instructions for studying grammar during the first 40 sessions.
Turkish instructions for studying grammar during the first 40 sessions.
Lists of English equivalents of Turkish words to use during the first 40 sessions.
Lists of Turkish words to use during the first 40 sessions.
Instructions on how to start speaking while using various grammatical forms in sessions 12-40 (in English and Turkish).
Instructions on how to practice and expand your vocabulary in sessions 12-40 (in English and Turkish).
Instructions on how to use the Iceberg to see where you are at in sessions 15-16 (in English and Turkish).
Lesson specific instructions in English for speaking tasks during sessions 17-22.
Lesson specific instructions in Turkish for speaking tasks during sessions 17-22.
Supplementary comments on how to use the ‘-iyor’ present tense statement, based upon pp.42-43 of Teach Yourself Turkish.
These picture sets are for you to use in building your vocabulary. Because there are a lot of them, we deliver these as a single ZIP file here (they are in a separate individual folder in the full download). Note: These picture sets are released under a different license from the rest of TalkinTurkey v.2.0. Please read the LICENSE.txt file in the ZIP file before using them to see the license.
More resources to help you with your language learning.
Image drawn by Meghan Burns depicting a Turkish bus station for use with the 40 Days of Learning.
A summary of the grammar explanations from the first two DLI books as a supplement to the forms presented in the 40 Days of Learning.
Image drawn by Meghan Burns depicting a Turkish park for use with the 40 Days of Learning.
Recommendations on how to respond to questions that may be difficult to answer regarding occupation, religion, children and income.
Image drawn by Meghan Burns depicting a Turkish supermarket for use with the 40 Days of Learning.
Steven Woodard’s paper on how to properly stress syllables in Turkish.
Graphic of a clock face that can be used to learn to tell time.
TalkinTurkey v.2.0 tracks your progress using the Canadian Language Benchmark system. The files in this subfolder will help you as you work towards Benchmarks 1 and 2.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 1.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 1.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 2.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 2.
A list of projects you can do in the community around you to practice Benchmark 1 and 2 tasks.
A list of observations you can do in your local community learn more about Turkish life and language.
This is a sample report you can use to communicate with your coach. Because it is an Excel Spreadsheet Template, you cannot download it directly from this site for security reasons. It is, however, available in the Level 1 archive file available for download at the top of this tab.
Instructions and support materials to learn Turkish pronunciation properly.
The table of contents to order things properly when you print off the documents in this folder.
A two-page chart of numbers from 11 to 999.
A chart explaining how to structure a pronunciation exercise session.
A chart containing the alphabet and special syllables to teach proper pronunciation of the Turkish sounds that are difficult for the English speaker.
A chart containing the alphabet and special syllables to teach proper pronunciation of the Turkish sounds that are difficult for the English speaker. (This document has shaded rows to help you distinguish the various related sounds.)
Instructions for the learner and helper on how to properly do the pronunciation exercises
Exercises to help the learner be able to distinguish the vowel sounds and harmony of Turkish.
Exercises to help differentiate between various similar sounds.
Instructions on how to do exercises to focus on specific vowel sounds within a word.
Instructions on how to do dictation exercises.
A list of words to help you distinguish vowel sounds (taken from TalkinTurkey 1.)
Instructions on how to do sound contrast exercises to learn to hear the contrast between two similar vowel sounds.
An excerpt from Steven Woodard’s paper on how to stress syllables correctly. The full paper is found in the Additional Resources folder.
Part 1 of Greg and Angela Thomson’s original instructions on how to learn language using the Growing Participater Approach.
Part 2 of Greg and Angela Thomson’s original instructions on how to learn language using the Growing Participater Approach.
Books and materials needed to transition from the Growing Participator Approach in the 40 Days program to using the DLI drilling method for practicing and employing grammar.
Lessons 1-8 - For reference only.
DLI Volume I with revised drills to reflect the bulk of the DLI drilling format. To be used during this transition as described in the transition instructions
Lessons 9-16 - For reference only.
DLI Volume II with revised drills to reflect the bulk of the DLI drilling format. To be used during this transition as described in the transition instructions
Level 2 takes you into self-directed language study, with the aim of bringing you up to Benchmark 5 in listening and speaking, reading and writing. You will be able to participate in conversation with native Turkish speakers and hopefully cultivate a lifestyle that will immerse you in Turkish environments. You will develop storytelling skills based upon the Guided Participant approach.
This document provides an overview of how Level 2 functions. Read this first!
Below are files that summarize the requirements of Canadian Language Benchmarks 3 through 5 and lists of tasks that you must be able to complete to pass each Benchmark.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 3.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 3.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 4.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 4.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 5.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 5.
This document explains how to structure lessons around the concept of culture topics, simultaneously deepening your understanding of Turkish culture and language.
Below are the manuals for DLI Turkish Basic Course Volumes 3 through 8.
Lessons 17 - 24
Lessons 25 - 32
Lessons 33 - 40
Lessons 41 - 45
Lessons 49 - 56
Lessons 57 - 64
Pattern sentences provide a way to practice and deepen the use of Turkish to the point of fluency. This document explains how to structure pattern drill lessons.
These optional resources provide some deeper insight into Turkish from a grammatical and cultural perspective as well as biblical terminology.
This document contains a list of Turkish versions of names and places found in the Bible.
Detailed descriptions of how Turkish Grammar works from the DLI Turkish Basic Course.
This supplement to the DLI Turkish Basic Course contains examples of various patterns of speech that should help a language learner better use forms that they have already learned in other parts of the program.
A list of expressions and idioms used in everyday social interactions.
A summary of what concepts are covered in each chapter of Teach Yourself Turkish by Pollard.
These documents will explain how to properly implement Phase 2 of Greg and Angela Thompson’s Growing Participator Approach (GPA).
Greg Thompson’s original text on GPA Phase 2.
Foundational instructions on how GPA Phases 2A and 2B work.
Turkish-language instructions that will explain to your helper how to help you work through GPA Phase 2A storytelling.
Instructions on how to complete GPA Phase 2C.
Some extra tasks to use for Phases 2A and 2B after you have started on the Phase.
These documents will explain how to properly implement Phase 3 of Greg and Angela Thompson’s Growing Participator Approach (GPA).
Greg Thomson’s original document on how GPA Phase 3 works.
Some extra tasks to use for Phase 3 after you have started on the Phase.
This is a sample report you can use to communicate with your coach. Because it is an Excel Spreadsheet Template, you cannot download it directly from this site for security reasons. It is, however, available in the Level 2 archive available for download at the top of this tab.
In Level 3 you will begin to develop language for your professional roles, as well as progressing in “Deep Life Sharing” as a Growing Participator. Your aim is to attain Level 7 on the CLB scale in speaking, listening and writing.
This document provides an overview of how Level 3 functions. Read this first!
Level 3a looks much like Level 2 does, only at a more advanced level.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 6.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 6.
Lessons 57 - 64
Lessons 65 - 72
In Level 3b, you will continue much as above, but include spiritual language in your Turkish learning.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 3.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 7.
Lessons 73 - 80
Lessons 81 - 88
Lessons 89 - 96
Lessons 97 - 104
Lessons 105 - 112
A chart containing the requirements necessary to complete the spiritual vocabulary and expressions for use in Turkish.
These resources will help you learn the proper terminology to address and respond to spiritual topics in Turkish.
Sample verses from the Bible that will help you consider what to memorize.
Audio recordings and a document containing the books of the Bible and how to pronounce them.
A list of the books in the Old and New Testaments, along with a few other terms used to define collections and sections in the Bible.
The contents of the list above read at a slower-than-normal speed with and without pauses between phrases.
The contents of the list above read at a normal speed with and without pauses between phrases.
The contents of the list above read syllable-by-syllable with and without pauses between phrases.
Resources to help with responses to common objections leveled against Christianity.
Biblical and spiritual terminology necessary for proper expression.
A list of names and places found in the Bible, English and Turkish side-by-side.
Archive containing several files with audio recordings of the above list.
Technical spiritual terminology for Christian concepts.
Resources to teach how to pray properly in Turkish.
An interactive prayer chart that teaches how to pray various sorts of prayers (thanksgiving, petition, healing etc.).
Some sample prayers covering a variety of topics.
A recording of the prayers in the text document above.
Hristiyan Hayatın Temelleri (“The Foundations of the Christian Life”) is a widely used, 16-unit study series that introduces the foundational doctrines of Christianity to new Christians. It is available from the Tanrıbilim Hazinesi web site and is used in TalkinTurkey by Permission. TalkinTurkey provides the first four units of the series to help you work through the standardized terminolgy and expressions for living out the Christian life.
God’s path to salvation
I’m Saved! And I’m sure of it!
Oh No! I’ve Sinned...
I Love Because He Loves Me
A list of books and brochures that will help you learn to use spiritual Turkish in context.
A booklet in Turkish that explains what Easter is.
Audio recording of various Bible passages being read out loud by a native speaker.
Instructions on how to proceed through GPA Phase 4.
Greg Thompson’s original guide on how Phase 4 is to be used.
Detailed instructions on how TalkinTurkey learners are to work through Phase 4.
Extra activities that you can do while working through Phase 4.
Instructions on how to proceed through GPA Phase 5.
Greg Thompson’s original guide on how Phase 5 is to be used.
Detailed instructions on how TalkinTurkey learners are to work through Phase 5.
Extra activities that you can do while working through Phase 5.
This is a sample report you can use to communicate with your coach. Because it is an Excel Spreadsheet Template, you cannot download it directly from this site for security reasons. It is, however, available in the Level 3 archive available for download at the top of this page.
Level 4 is the final level of TalkinTurkey, in which you will continue to develop language skills for your professional roles and deepen in comprehension of native-to-native discourse. Your goal will be to complete Benchmark 9.
This document provides an overview of how Level 4 functions. Read this first!
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 8.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 8.
A list of the tasks you will have to be able to do to complete Benchmark 9.
A summary of the skills you will have to master to complete Benchmark 9.
This is a sample report you can use to communicate with your coach. Because it is an Excel Spreadsheet Template, you cannot download it directly from this site for security reasons. It is, however, available in the Level 1 archive file available for download at the top of this tab.
The general resources found here will help you whether you use TalkinTurkey or not. You can download this whole section in a single ZIP file by using the green download button.
A quick list of basic Turkish phrases that can be memorized and used for daily conversation.
Indexes comparing which units or sections cover similar grammar topics. This document compares Teach Yourself Turkish by Asuman and Pollard, DLI, Teach Yourself Turkish by Lewis, Turkish Grammar by Lewis, Turkish Grammar by Underhill and Türkçe Öğreniyoruz I,II and III by Hengirmen (TÖMER).
The ideas contained in this document come from mothers of small children who have made their way through language study. This will give you some good ideas as to how to keep your kids busy while learning language as well as getting them involved.
The DLI Turkish Basic Course is not exactly intuitive to use. This document will help you make the most of getting a start on learning Turkish with it.
This document explains how the program works using an excerpt from Greg Thompson’s Kick-Starting your Language Learning. It also contains a Turkish translation of the English content that can be handed to a potential language helper to help them understand how to help you learn Turkish properly.
This document contains a summary of PILAT language learning techniques.
This document is a translation of the document above. It can be given to language helpers to help them understand how the program is to work.
A list of Turkish proverbs and sayings and their English counterparts.
A list of all 81 Turkish Provinces for reference.
A list of social expressions used in everyday life and their English meanings.