"Ilımlılık" kavramı örneğinde Türkçenin yabancı dil olarak öğretiminde dil-kültür ilişkisinin rolü

The role of language-culture relationship in teaching Turkish as a foreign language, on the example of the concept of ‘moderation’ Abstract: In the process of teaching a foreign language, not only the lexical items, grammatical rules and their proper use are taught, but also the culture of the community which use the language taught. In this paper I wish to emphasize the importance of proverbs in teaching Turkish as a foreign language. The knowledge of Turkey and Turks displayed by learners of Turkish as a foreign language mostly comes from history lessons and films, and it very varies from one person to another. Hardly do they know the full variety of Turkish culture. Therefore, together by explaining proverbs to students, one can successfully present not only the language structures, but also Turkish culture and system of values. The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of proverbs in the Turkish language education, on the example of the rarely mentioned concept of ‘moderation’. According to the definition, proverbs are short sayings stating advise and admonition based on experience of a particular community. Thus they present language as well as are representative of language culture. Because the language-culture relationship is inseparable, the teaching process incorporates both. Proverbs with similar meanings can be found in the native culture of the learners of Turkish as a foreign language. If found, students learn how to express familiar sayings in Turkish, though advice, warnings and decency described in proverbs are often located in different cultures. If not found, which rarely happens, students learn some new viewpoints of the world and find out that reality can be interpreted differently.