Discover the Best Turkish Classes in NYC
The Turkish language has a rich history extending back thousands of years and is a prime example of how languages evolve and adapt. The language in Turkey first emerged in the Ottoman Empire, but it's believed to have originated some 2,500 years ago. It is among the most significant languages in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia with as many as 80 million people worldwide speaking Turkish as their mother tongue (and several million more speaking it as a second language).
Proficiency in Turkish is not limited to the country of Turkey itself. Turkish is the official language of Turkey and Cyprus, but many people in Germany, Bulgaria, France, the Netherlands, and other countries speak it. Originally based in the Arabic alphabet, Turkish officially transitioned to the Latin alphabet in 1928 to increase literacy and bring the language into the modern era. Adaptable and forward-thinking, Turkish can claim influence from both the Semitic languages and the Romance languages, making it a unique foreign language for anyone to learn.
If you’re looking to learn Turkish, then CourseHorse can help. Through centralizing learning opportunities, CourseHorse increases ease and confidence in discovering your path to personal enrichment. Studying a new language can be challenging but with the right class environment, passion, and determination, anyone can learn to speak Turkish in no time.
Why You Should Learn Turkish in NYC
Learning a foreign language has been proven to improve brain function, memory, mental flexibility, and creativity, and can even help ward off dementia. Challenging your brain by learning Turkish can help you learn other things more efficiently, too, as your brain has been conditioned to handle challenges better. While not an exhaustive list, there are many more benefits to learning Turkish listed below, as food for thought.
There are only around 350,000 Americans of Turkish descent (as in from Turkey) living in the United States, according to the Turkish Coalition of America, and a majority of those are in the metropolitan area of New York. There’s even a thriving Turkish community located in Queens, creating plenty of opportunities for immersion and community engagement. (There are an additional 500,000 Americans of Turkic descent in the US, including Americans of Uzbek, Kazakh, and Azerbaijani descent, and many of these speak Turkish as well.)
Learning Turkish could provide you with a community that could help you explore a new culture and history. You could volunteer as an English conversation partner to help freshly relocated Turkish neighbors practice their new language (and maybe learn a few Turkish tips and tricks from them). Or you could donate your time to a local refugee group and use your new-found language skills to help recent immigrants feel more at home.
Being fluent in Turkish can also open new career paths in refugee or immigration services or as a translator. You could also work as a foreign language instructor, igniting a passion for learning Turkish in others. There are many professional and cultural organizations for those interested in the language. You can learn more by contacting the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA), Turkic American Alliance, or the Turkish Cultural Center in NYC.
In-Person Turkish Classes & Schools in NYC
New York’s vast immigrant population, celebration of other cultures, and thriving Turkish community make it an ideal place to learn Turkish. You can attend an in-person class and then walk to your nearest Turkish bakery to practice your language skills and enjoy delicacies like baklava or tulumba.
Turkish ConneXion is a boutique language school located in Manhattan. Their small class sizes create an emphasis on individual attention with extensive conversational aspects and they only use English only when it is necessary to encourage comprehension. They offer several Turkish language classes like Turkish Absolute Beginner 101. This class will teach students the basics like common phrases, greetings, and how to answer questions about their personal lives. Unlike traditional Turkish language teaching programs, they use structure and grammar as a tool to teach the four major communicative skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
The Turkish Cultural Center is a nonprofit committed to sharing Turkish history and culture. Located in Manhattan, they offer a variety of Turkish language courses like Turkish Course—Speaking, Turkish Course—Intermediate, and Turkish Course—Advanced. Each course is four weeks long and private classes can be provided upon request. They also offer English conversation classes, discussion panels, and even cultural events like pop-up bazaars, Turkish coffee-making classes, and a Ramadam celebration at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
ABC Languages also offers a Turkish beginner course at their Chelsea location. This eight-week course meets for two hours each session and focuses on basic vocabulary, sentence structure, and the Turkish alphabet. You’ll learn to introduce yourself and carry on basic conversations and all materials are included in the cost.
The 92nd Street Y is a world-class cultural and community center that helps people from across the globe connect through culture, arts, entertainment, and conversation. For over 140 years, they have harnessed the power of arts and ideas to enrich, enlighten and change lives. Located on the Upper East Side, they offer top-notch programs, events, concerts, and over 4,000 classes (including foreign language courses) taught by today’s most talented professionals.
The Bronxville Adult School serves the greater Westchester community and the tri-state area. They recognize the importance of lifelong learning and offer a variety of foreign language classes that help students develop life-enhancing skills and explore other cultures. Founded in 1957 as a not-for-profit school, their classes are open to all students who wish to attend.
Virtual Turkish Classes & Schools
Prefer a more flexible learning environment? Live in an area with limited in-person classes? There are a variety of reasons for choosing virtual learning and these online classes still have all the main benefits of learning in-person. You’ll still have an expert instructor and a structured classroom environment to keep you on task. Plus, you’ll have extra benefits like avoiding traffic and working from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose).
Below are just some of the best online Turkish classes, but make sure to check the listings on Coursehorse frequently as new classes are added often.
Hyperfluent is a self-described “one-stop shop” language service from CEO and founder Eva Rosales who is also a university professor and proficient in nine languages. Services include private tutoring, interpretation services, translation, and speaking engagements. Her Turkish 1 & 2 Fundamentals programs are available on an hourly basis.
Pasadena Language Center is just northeast of Los Angeles and serves the entire region, including L.A., Burbank, Glendale, and other cities. Weekly Turkish classes include beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
ABC Languages SF offers Turkish Total Beginner which is available online and will also be available in-person soon. If you are more familiar with the language, you can fill out the ABC Languages evaluation form to get recommendations for other levels such as their High Beginner level. Training options include private lessons and online lessons for kids and teens.
Karaman Language Solutions is based in Alexandria, VA, and serves the Washington, D.C. metro area, northwest Virginia, and Baltimore. Their Online Turkish Language and Culture Training Program is one of several services they offer, including translation and interpretation services. Contact Karaman directly for more information.
StoryLearning is another course provider for foreign languages, including Turkish. Their Turkish Uncovered course is an on-demand (self-paced) program based on language expert Olly Richards' method. Many graduates worldwide, from NYT best-selling authors and academics to YouTubers with millions of subscribers, have used Olly's method to learn languages. Turkish Uncovered is made up of 20 modules and over 60 video lessons. You can try the course completely free for seven days and StoryLearning offers a 365-day money-back guarantee.
Private Group Turkish Classes in NYC
Do you have a group of friends or colleagues that would like to learn Turkish together? CourseHorse has Turkish classes for private groups that they can deliver to you, both online and in-person. They also offer a range of team-building events in areas like wellness, crafts, and public speaking.
While there aren’t currently any Turkish language courses for private groups available, you can reach out to CourseHorse through the form on their website to request exactly what you need. Plus, make sure you check the website frequently as private group class offerings are constantly being added and updated.
Ready to create your dream course? CourseHorse also makes booking as easy as possible thanks to zero booking fees and confirmation within 24 hours. You can even change the size of your group after booking if needed. Discounted pricing for bulk session purchases may also be available for training classes. Contact CourseHorse through the contact form on their website to learn more about the available options.
