Language Policy

Some bullet points regarding the language policy: 
  • At Tarsus University, the students registered to the program with 100 % and 30 % English instruction have to attend English Language preparatory-year at the School of Foreign Languages. 
  • First time registered students may take the English language proficiency test at the beginning of the year. The students enrolled to the preparatory course and the students who failed the course in previous term must take the test. 
  • If the language of the program is Turkish, it is required to have proficiency in a second language. Thus, the students have to attain language courses. The language requirement can be satisfied by an examination administrated by language department, showing language proficiency.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    To reach the original text of Tarsus University Language Policy (in Turkish)
Full text in English: 
 

TARSUS UNIVERSITY 

FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE PREPARATORY CLASS EDUCATION-TEACHING AND EXAM DIRECTIVE 

SECTION ONE 

Purpose, Scope, Basis and Definitions 

Purpose 

ARTICLE 1 – (1) The purpose of this directive is the compulsory foreign language courses conducted by the Department of Common Courses of Tarsus University and compulsory and to regulate the procedures and principles regarding the optional foreign language preparatory classes, education and examinations. 

Scope 

ARTICLE 2 – (1) This Directive covers the principles of administration, implementation and evaluation of Compulsory Foreign Language Course, Compulsory and Optional Foreign Language Preparatory Classes conducted by the Department of Common Courses at Tarsus University. 

Basis 

ARTICLE 3 – (1) This Directive; Item (i) of the first paragraph of Article 5 of the Law No. 2547, Articles 14, 44 and 49, Article 3 of the Law No. 2923 on Foreign Language Education and Teaching and Learning Different Languages ​​and Dialects of Turkish Citizens, and Foreign Language Teaching in Higher Education Institutions and It is based on the Regulation on the Principles to be Followed in Teaching in a Foreign Language and the provisions of the Tarsus University Associate Degree and Undergraduate Education and Examination Regulations. 

Definitions 

ARTICLE 4 – (1) In this directive; 

a) Unit/related unit: An institute, faculty, college or vocational school affiliated to Tarsus University, 

b) Head of Department: Head of the Common Courses Department,  

c) Optional preparatory class: Before the first semester of the program in which the students are enrolled and the language of instruction is completely Turkish foreign language education upon request, ç) Partial foreign language education: Education in which at least 30% of the total credits of the courses given in the program is given in a foreign language, 

d) Exemption Exam: The exam to determine the exemption from the common compulsory foreign language course, 

e) Rector: The Rector of Tarsus University, 

f) Senate: The Senate of Tarsus University, 

g) Turkey Higher Education Qualifications Framework: The framework of qualifications designed to be compatible with the European and Turkish Qualifications Frameworks and including education and training programs for higher education levels, 

ğ) University: Tarsus University, 

h) Education in a foreign language: the entire curriculum of the program training is given in a foreign language, 

then) Qualification exam in language skills related to requested for Students program whether it has the competence measuring exams 

i)compulsory preparatory classes: language of instruction fully or partially to have its foreign language education have to keep the students in the program are foreign language, 

expression it does. 

SECTION TWO 

Fundamentals of 

Foreign Language Teaching and Purpose of Foreign Language Teaching and Teaching in a Foreign Language 

ARTICLE 5 – (1) The purpose of foreign language teaching is to teach students the basic rules of the foreign language they have learned, to develop their foreign language vocabulary, to understand what they read and hear in a foreign language, and to develop themselves in oral and written language. to be able to express; The purpose of teaching in a foreign language is to enable graduates of associate, undergraduate and graduate diploma programs to acquire foreign language proficiency in their fields.

Foreign Language Proficiency, Placement and Exemption Exams 

ARTICLE 6 – (1) Students who enroll for the first time in a higher education program where the language of instruction is partially or completely in a foreign language is subjected to a foreign language proficiency exam organized by the Common Courses Department at the beginning of the academic year in which they are enrolled. Students enrolled in the compulsory preparatory class and students who failed the preparatory class in the previous year take this exam. Foreign language proficiency exam is not compulsory for students who register for the first time. 

(2) When necessary, a placement test can be applied together with a foreign language proficiency test. The Senate determines whether the placement test will be administered or not, and whether the placement test and the proficiency test will be administered as a single exam or as separate exams. 

(3) The proficiency exam passing grade for the preparatory class students of departments whose medium of instruction is partially foreign or Turkish is at least 60 out of 100 points, and at least 70 out of 100 for preparatory class students of departments whose language of instruction is partially foreign. 

(4) Exemption exam is given as a single stage (written) at the beginning of the academic year. Students registered for the first time who want to be exempt from compulsory foreign language courses take this exam. In order to be exempt from compulsory foreign language courses, it is necessary to pass the exemption exam with at least 50 points out of 100 full points. 

(5) Foreign language proficiency, level determination and exemption exams for students who come to the University within the scope of additional placement to higher education programs and foreign student admission quotas are held in the week following the completion of additional quota registrations. 

(5) The scope, content and form of foreign language proficiency, level determination and exemption exams are determined by the Department Head taking into account the foreign language knowledge level stipulated for that level in the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework. 

(6) The students listed below do not have to take the foreign language proficiency exam and the exemption exam.  

a) Those who certify that they have completed their secondary education in secondary education institutions in a country where the foreign language determined as the language of instruction is spoken as their mother tongue, at least in the last three years. 

b) Those who are successful with at least 60 points out of 100 full points in the international foreign language exams accepted as equivalent to the central foreign language exams accepted by the Council of Higher Education. 

c) Those who certify that they have successfully completed the foreign language preparatory class at a university accepted by the Higher Education Institution. 

(7) Among the students who do not have a preparatory class and are enrolled in departments that teach completely in Turkish, those who succeed with at least 50 points out of 100 in the central foreign language exams accepted by the Council of Higher Education and whose equivalence is accepted, without taking the exemption exam. are exempted from their classes. 

(8) In order for the score obtained from the exams falling within the scope of subparagraph (b) and subparagraph seven of the sixth paragraph of this article to be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of this Directive, the validity period determined by the relevant institutions conducting the exam as of the date of application is taken as a basis. If the validity period of the exam is not certain, this period is determined by the Higher Education Council.  

Compulsory Foreign Language Courses 

ARTICLE 7 – (1) Students who enroll for the first time in a higher education program whose language of instruction is Turkish take compulsory foreign language courses in accordance with subparagraph (i) of the first paragraph of Article 5 of the Law No. 2547. Students who want to be exempted from the compulsory foreign language course take the exemption exam specified in the fourth paragraph of article 6 of this directive. However, students who meet the exemption conditions specified in the sixth and seventh paragraphs of the relevant article may be exempted from the exemption exam with the decision of the institute, faculty, college or vocational school where the diploma program is registered. 

(2) Students who do not take the exemption exam or do not fulfill the exemption conditions must take compulsory foreign language courses and be successful in these courses.  

(3) Students who will take the exemption exam must indicate to the unit they are registered with at least three days before the exam that they want to take the exam. Students who do not apply will not be admitted to the exam.

(4) For students who do not/cannot take the exemption exam for any reason, no make-up exam is given. 

(5) The grades of the students who are successful in the exemption exam are converted into letter grades according to the absolute evaluation system grade ranges table determined by the Senate and recorded on the transcript separately for Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II courses. 

(6) Compulsory foreign language courses are scheduled for at least two semesters to meet the foreign language knowledge level stipulated for that level in the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework. (7) The examination commission and the compulsory foreign language course coordinator are determined by the Department Head in order to develop and implement the educational activities related to compulsory foreign language courses. 

Foreign Language Teaching and Foreign Language Preparatory Class 

ARTICLE 8 – (1) In Tarsus University associate degree, undergraduate or graduate programs, a compulsory preparatory class is opened in programs in which education is given partially or completely in a foreign language, upon the decision of the Senate and the approval of the Higher Education Council. 

(2) In programs that provide education partially or completely in a foreign language; 

a) Preparatory class is mandatory. 

b) Except for those who are successful in the foreign language proficiency exam and those who are exempt from the exam, students who have enrolled in associate, undergraduate or graduate programs are obliged to attend the foreign language preparatory class. 

(3) In programs where the language of instruction is completely Turkish, a compulsory foreign language preparatory class cannot be opened, but an optional foreign language preparatory class can be opened with the decision of the Senate. In case of optional preparatory class;  

a) Students who register to the University for the first time can apply to the optional foreign language preparatory class. Students who want to take optional preparatory class education should apply to the Registrar's Office with a petition stating their request until the last day of the registration date. The course registration of the student who submits the petition for the diploma program registered in the Student Affairs Information System is converted to the preparatory class. 

b) Students who enroll in the optional foreign language preparatory class can give up the preparatory education until the end of the add and drop period stipulated in the academic calendar in the fall semester and can enroll in their own programs. If they pass the stipulated period, they continue their diploma program in the next academic year. 

c) All students who apply to the optional foreign language preparatory class are accepted to education within the quotas determined by the Senate, taking into account the possibilities of the Common Courses Department. In case the applications exceed the quota, students are enrolled in the preparatory class within the limits of the quota, starting from the highest according to their university placement score. 

(4) Compulsory and optional foreign language preparatory class education is carried out by the Department Head. The education period of the preparatory class covers one academic year and is not included in the education period of the program in which the student is registered. 

(5) Students enrolled in the foreign language preparatory class cannot take courses from the department or program they are accepted to during the foreign language preparatory education they receive. 

(6) Course credits in the foreign language preparatory class are determined by the Department Head and submitted to the Senate for approval, taking into account the foreign language level of the student at the beginning of the preparatory class, within the framework of Turkish Higher Education Qualifications.  

(7) The number of students in preparatory classes is determined by the Department Chair, taking into account the possibilities of the relevant department. The credits of the courses to be taught in the branches are determined as a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 30 hours per week, depending on the level of the classes. 

(8) The exam commission and the preparatory class coordinator are determined by the Department Head in order to develop and implement the educational activities in the preparatory classes. 

SECTION THREE 

Examinations and Assessment 

Examinations 

ARTICLE 9 – (1) Exams and assessment in common compulsory courses are made in accordance with the provisions of Tarsus University Associate Degree and Undergraduate Education and Examination Regulations.

(2) In compulsory and optional preparatory classes; if any, placement test, midterm exams, end-of-year exam and proficiency exam are applied. And also; short-term exams, homework and similar studies can be done during the year. Which of these exams will be administered is decided by the Department Head within the framework of the provisions of the Tarsus University Associate Degree and Undergraduate Education and Examination Regulations and is announced within the first three weeks from the start of education. 

a) Placement exam: It is the exam to determine from which level the student will start the preparatory class education. 

b) Midterm Exams: Considering the scope and objectives of the studies carried out during the preparatory class, a total of three midterm exams are held in an academic year, one midterm exam in each semester and one midterm exam at the end of the fall semester. The contribution of each midterm exam to the success grade is at least 10%. 

c) Short-term exams: Except for midterm exams, short-term exams can be held without prior notice. The contribution rates of these exams to the studies during the year are determined by the Department Head. Make-up exams are not applied for students who do not take these exams. 

ç) Homework: Apart from midterm exams, homework can be given to the student. Contribution rates of homework to studies during the year are determined by the Department Head. 

d) Year-end exam: It is the exam that students who have fulfilled the attendance requirement have to take at the end of the year. An end-of-year exam is held in an academic year. The contribution of the end-of-year exam to the success grade is 60%. 

e) Make-up exam: A make-up exam is held for students who cannot attend any midterm exam for justified and valid reasons and whose excuses are accepted by the board of directors of the relevant unit. (3) Classes are not held on the dates of midterm exams. Midterm exam dates are announced by the Department Head two weeks before the exams are held. 

Success Status of the Preparatory Class 

ARTICLE 11 – (1) In the programs in which the compulsory foreign language preparatory class is applied; a) Those who pass the foreign language proficiency exam and are exempt from the exam, and those who attend the foreign language preparatory class and pass the foreign language exam at the end of the year, are entitled to continue the associate, undergraduate or graduate education program in a foreign language. b) A student who is not successful at the end of the compulsory preparatory class has to attend the preparatory class for an additional year and be successful. However, students are entitled to attend an associate, undergraduate or graduate education program in a foreign language by successfully passing the foreign language proficiency exam held before the start of the additional preparatory class education (at the beginning of the academic year) or by meeting the condition in subparagraph b of the sixth paragraph of the 6th article of this Directive. . 

c) Students who cannot successfully complete the preparatory class within two years despite attending the compulsory foreign language preparatory class are dismissed from the program. The provisions of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 and the Regulation on the Principles to be Followed in Foreign Language Teaching and Teaching in a Foreign Language in Higher Education Institutions are applied to the associate and undergraduate students who are dismissed from the program for failing in the preparatory class.  

(2) Students who attend an optional preparatory class can continue to associate, undergraduate or graduate programs even if they are not successful at the end of the year. However, those students who are not successful in the exemption exam have to attend the compulsory foreign language courses in accordance with subparagraph (i) of the first paragraph of Article 5 of the Law No. 2547. 

(3) In compulsory and optional preparatory classes; 

a) Attendance to classes is compulsory. Students whose absenteeism exceeds 20% of the total annual course hours cannot take the end-of-year exam and are deemed unsuccessful. Students who are absent from the first year of the preparatory class and fail to repeat must attend the classes in the repeat year as well. If these students do not fulfill the attendance requirement in the repeat year, they will not be taken to the relevant exams. Students in this situation are deemed unsuccessful in the compulsory and optional preparatory class education. 

b) The success grade is obtained by adding 40% of the sum of the midterm exams held during the academic year and the grades taken from the studies during the year, if any, to the extent of the contribution rates determined in this directive, and 60% of the end-of-year exam grade. In order for a student to be successful in the preparatory class, provided that he/she gets at least 50 out of 100 points in the end-of-year general exam or make-up exam, the success grade must be at least 60 out of 100 points for programs in which partly foreign language education is given, and at least for programs in which education in a foreign language. It should be 70.

(4) The list of students who successfully complete the optional preparatory class and their success status are notified to the Registrar's Office. An "Optional Foreign Language Preparatory Class Success Certificate" is issued and given to these students by the Registrar's Office. 

(5) Students who have fulfilled the requirement to attend the compulsory preparatory class, have participated in the exams but failed, are given the right to participate in the proficiency exams to be held during the education period. Students in this situation are required to notify the Department Head with a petition, at least seven days before the exam date. 

(6) Students who have fulfilled the requirement to attend the optional preparatory class, have participated in the exams but failed, are given the right to take the end-of-year exam for the optional preparatory classes until they graduate from the programs they are enrolled in. Those who score 60 and above in this exam are considered to have successfully completed the optional preparatory class. An "Optional Foreign Language Preparatory Class Success Certificate" is issued and given to these students by the Registrar's Office. 

(7) At the end of the optional preparatory class, the status of successful or unsuccessful students is recorded by entering the Student Affairs Information System. Students who successfully complete the optional preparatory class are exempt from the compulsory foreign language course if they apply. 

Year-End Make-Up Exam  

ARTICLE 10 – (1) At the end of the second semester, after the end-of-year exam, students who fail to meet the conditions specified in this Directive take the make-up exam.  

(2) Students who fail due to absenteeism cannot take this exam.  

(3) There is no excuse for the make-up exam.  

(4) Those who do not take the make-up exam or fail this exam can take the Proficiency Exam held at the beginning of the next academic year. 

PART FOUR 

Miscellaneous and Final Provisions 

Authorization 

ARTICLE 12 – (1) Disciplinary affairs of preparatory class students Higher Education Institutions Student Disciplinary Regulation and all kinds of education-related works such as registration freeze, student fees, excuse exam Tarsus University Associate and Undergraduate Education and Training According to the provisions of the Examination Regulations, it is carried out by the administrative boards of the institute, faculty, college or vocational school where the diploma program is registered. 

Cases Not Provisioned in the Directive 

ARTICLE 13 – (1) In cases where there is no provision in this directive, the provisions of the Higher Education Law No. 2547, the Regulation on Foreign Language Teaching in Higher Education Institutions and the Principles to be Followed in Teaching in a Foreign Language, and Tarsus University Associate Degree and Undergraduate Education-Teaching and Examination Regulations are applied. . 
E
nforcement 

ARTICLE 14 – (1) This Directive enters into force at the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year. 
Execution 

ARTICLE 15 – (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector of Tarsus University.