Unlocking the Linguistic Wealth: A Call for Bilingual Education in the Republic of Türkiye

Dilsel Zenginliğin Keşfi: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nde İki Dilli Eğitime Bir Çağrı

Authors

  • Dr. Lisa DiCarlo Brown University
  • Dr. Rabia Hoş Southern Connecticut State University

Keywords:

Multilingualism, migration, language policy, bilingual education, language education in Türkiye, Çok dillilik, Göç, yabancı dil politikası, çift dilli eğitim, Türkiye’de yabancı dil eğitimi, dilin korunması

Abstract

As Türkiye transitions from a sending to a receiving country for migrants, it faces new challenges and opportunities. The country has experienced a significant influx of migrants, notably Syrian refugees, which has strained its educational infrastructure while also presenting potential benefits. This paper examines the role of Türkiye's linguistic landscape in integrating diverse migrant populations, considering its historical emphasis on a singular national identity. Türkiye’s evolving sociocultural context invites a reassessment of linguistic diversity policies, particularly for national minorities and immigrant communities. We propose a systematic bilingual education programs to foster a bilingual future in Türkiye, advocating for educational policies that preserve minority languages and encourage linguistic pluralism in an increasingly interconnected global society.

Türkiye göçmen gönderen bir ülkeden göçmen alan bir ülkeye dönüşürken yeni zorluklar ve fırsatlarla karşı karşıyadır. Ülke, özellikle Suriyeli mülteciler olmak üzere önemli bir göçmen akını yaşadı ve bu durum eğitim altyapısını zorlarken aynı zamanda potansiyel faydalar da sundu. Bu makale, Türkiye'nin dilsel manzarasının çeşitli göçmen nüfuslarını entegre etmedeki rolünü, tekil bir ulusal kimliğe olan tarihsel vurgusunu göz önünde bulundurarak incelemektedir. Türkiye'nin gelişen sosyokültürel bağlamı, özellikle ulusal azınlıklar ve göçmen topluluklar için dilsel çeşitlilik politikalarının yeniden değerlendirilmesini gerektirir. Bu makalede Türkiye'de çift dilli bir geleceği teşvik etmek için azınlık dillerini koruyan sistematik bir çift dilli eğitim programı öneriyoruz ve artan bir şekilde dilsel çoğulculuğu teşvik eden eğitim politikalarını savunuyoruz.

Author Biographies

Dr. Lisa DiCarlo, Brown University

Lisa Di Carlo is a cultural anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Brown University, where she also serves as the Interim Organizational Studies Track Lead Advisor. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Anthropology from Brown and both B.I.S. and M.S. degrees from Georgia State University. Her interdisciplinary research spans migration, identity, religious conversion, and the movement of ideas, with a regional focus on Türkiye. She is the author of Migrating to America: Transnational Social Networks and Regional Identity among Turkish Migrants and has conducted Fulbright-Hays-supported fieldwork on spiritual migration in Türkiye. Dr. Di Carlo teaches courses in design anthropology, ethnographic methods, and Mediterranean migration, often integrating experiential and interdisciplinary approaches. Recognized for her contributions to teaching and governance, she has received the President's Award for Excellence in Faculty Governance and been named a Provost’s Faculty Teaching Fellow and an Equitable Learning Inquiry Fellow for 2024–25.

Dr. Rabia Hoş, Southern Connecticut State University

Rabia Hoş is the Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Southern Connecticut State University, where she leads strategic initiatives to enhance access, equity, and innovation in graduate education. Her research centers on bilingual education, teacher preparation, and the schooling experiences of immigrant and refugee students with interrupted/inconsistent formal education (SIFE), with a particular emphasis on the ethics of care as a foundational framework for supporting multilingual learners. Dr. Hos has conducted extensive ethnographic research on newcomer programs, teacher beliefs, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Dr. Hos has authored over 40 publications and secured major funding to support educator training in English learner instruction. She serves as Vice President of the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Educational Research, contributing to the advancement of equity-focused education both nationally and globally.

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Published

2025-09-15

How to Cite

DiCarlo, D. L., & Hoş, D. R. (2025). Unlocking the Linguistic Wealth: A Call for Bilingual Education in the Republic of Türkiye: Dilsel Zenginliğin Keşfi: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nde İki Dilli Eğitime Bir Çağrı . Bilingual Review Revista Bilingüe , 37(2), 169–184. Retrieved from https://bilingualreviewjournal.org/index.php/br/article/view/550

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 2 (2025): Bi-/multilingual Education Around the World: Advances in the International and Comparative Dialogue

Section

Research and Criticism / Investigaciones y Crítica