A Framework for Understanding of Bilingual Education in Turkey: A Mixed Method Approach

Abstract

This study seeks to identify the obstacles and opportunities involved in setting up a bilingual education system and to identify the challenges and benefits associated with the daily experience of maintaining a bilingual education model. This study discusses the benefits of developing a bilingual education program and what these programs can offer regarding concerns related to the lives of minority people in Turkey. Explanatory sequential mixed method was used for this study. The first phase of this study was a survey that measured the perspectives of educators regarding potential bilingual education curricula in Turkey. The second phase comprised a qualitative data collection process to expand on the findings of quantitative results. For quantitative data collection, 140 participants responded the survey instrument. Participants included 96 males and 44 females. For qualitative data collection, eight participants were interviewed. Both quantitative and qualitative data reflected the benefits of a bilingual education program. First, minority students who are taught by means of a bilingual education program can protect their linguistic knowledge, cultural heritage, ethnic, and religious identity. Second, they can increase their understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity. Third, school attendance at the primary school level could be increased. Fourth, a bilingual program could contribute to the reduction of inequalities.