The Best Way To Learn Turkish

Would you love to learn Turkish? No wonder. Knowing how to communicate in Turkish opens you up to travel in Turkey (and beyond) or to everything Turkish TV and entertainment has to offer. 

And in the digital age, you can learn Turkish anytime, anywhere. But with so many ways to learn Turkish, from apps and courses to Netflix series or tutoring to name just a few, you can feel a little overwhelmed. 

So I’ll be your guide to help you make sense of all the options and discover the best way to learn Turkish. 

Whatever way you choose to learn Turkish, it’ll change your life. Once you get going, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner! 

Here’s what you’ll discover in this post.  

How NOT To Learn Turkish 

Have your attempts to learn Turkish ended in failure? Maybe you forgot most of the Turkish you tried to learn. Perhaps speaking Turkish was an embarrassing struggle. 

Whatever your difficulties, know that you’re not alone. Most people who attempt to learn Turkish bump up against the same difficulties. But it’s not because you’ve done anything wrong. 

You’re not the problem. But the Parrot Problem of language learning is. 

The Parrot Problem is the “repeat after me, like a parrot” approach where you try (and usually fail) to commit a bunch of vocabulary and grammar rules to memory. 

When you try to cram Turkish into your mind like this, it only goes into your short-term memory. So when it’s time to speak Turkish, you can’t find the language you “memorised”. 

The Parrot Problem sounds like the language learning approach you remember from school right? Sadly, it hasn’t been left in the past where it belongs and it remains present in many modern-day Turkish apps and courses. 

Repairing Turkish words like a parrot fails you because you don’t put Turkish in your long-term memory. So when you want to chat in Turkish, you have a hard time remembering it. 

What Is The Best Way To Learn Turkish? 

The best way to learn Turkish online is using a natural approach that lets you download Turkish directly into your brain while having fun. 

I’ve created a fresh approach to language learning that avoids the downsides of the Parrot methods. It’s called StoryLearning and it harnesses the same natural learning process children use to learn their native language.

With StoryLearning, you don’t have to memorise lists of vocabulary or endless grammar rules. Instead, it’s a story-first approach where you read and listen to a story in Turkish at your level. This natural way of learning helps you think in the language. 

Stories are our most ancient form of communication and we’ve been using them for thousands of years to educate, entertain and more. 

That’s why, with StoryLearning, you learn Turkish in reverse, starting with a story, so that you get to see Turkish in a meaningful context, where it starts to make sense intuitively to you. 

And because you want to know what happens next in the story, you have fun and you’re motivated to keep learning Turkish. 

This natural, brain-friendly way of learning makes StoryLearning the best way to learn Turkish. 

Best Way To Learn Turkish Online

The best way to learn Turkish online is with my popular Turkish Uncovered courses which teach you via the StoryLearning method. 

Turkish Uncovered will take you from total beginner to confident, intermediate-level Turkish speaker with the power of story. You’ll start learning by listening to and reading a story from day one, even if you don’t know any Turkish. 

The StoryLearning method combines all of the benefits of online learning—like flexibility, modern engaging materials, and different types of media—with a fresh approach that places story at the centre so that you can learn Turkish naturally. 

If you’ve had enough of messing around with apps and forgetting all the Turkish you’ve learned then Turkish Uncovered is the breath of fresh air that will finally get you fluent. 

Best Way To Learn Turkish Fast

The question on so many Turkish learners’ lips is – what’s the best way to learn Turkish fast? And I have to admit that it takes a lot of daily effort and plenty of practice to get there. Especially since Turkish is so different from English. But it can be done. 

So if you’re motivated and you can put in the time, you can learn Turkish quite fast. But if you’re determined to hit your Turkish fluency goal, don’t leave it to chance. If you’d like to make guaranteed fast progress in Turkish, you can’t go wrong with StoryLearning VIP. 

StoryLearning VIP is a 10-week coaching programme to get you your big Turkish breakthrough! You’re paired with a professional native-speaker coach to get you the complete structure you need to succeed – the proven StoryLearning method and ample 1-1 speaking practice. 

Let’s be clear – VIP is no walk in the park. In addition to your twice-weekly coaching sessions, you’ll need to make time to learn Turkish every day with my course, Turkish Uncovered.  But if you’re serious about learning Turkish fast, you do StoryLearning VIP. It’s that simple. 

Best Way To Learn Turkish For Travel

What if you’re not bothered about full Turkish fluency and just want to pick up some Turkish for a trip to Turkey? In that case, what’s the best way to learn Turkish for travel? 

Learning Turkish for travel means preparing for scenarios you’ll find yourself in on the ground in Istanbul or Izmir and beyond. So you’ll need some Turkish words and phrases for greeting people, asking for directions or eating at a restaurant. 

You don’t need a hardcore daily learning schedule. By learning these phrases to use in the field, you’ll pick up Turkish fast because you’re learning in context. 

You can use my blog post about Turkish phrases to prepare for your trip to Turkey. You’ll discover 51 useful expressions to be polite, ask for help, make small talk and more. 

This effective approach will ensure that you’re ready for travel in Turkey in no time!  

Best Way To Learn Turkish While Driving

I’m sure you’re more than motivated to learn Turkish. But the big problem all learners struggle with, even the highly motivated ones, is finding the time to fit Turkish into their lives. And this is especially true if you have to commute to work daily. 

Believe it or not though, your daily commute is also a chance to learn Turkish from the comfort of your car. But what’s the best way to learn Turkish while driving? 

Now, I want to ensure that you stay safe while driving and learning Turkish. You need to keep your eyes on the road so I won’t suggest reading a book or watching videos. That would be dangerous! 

So if you’re focusing on the road ahead of you, how can you learn? By listening, not by reading or watching videos. 

Nowadays, there’s plenty of Turkish audio for learners that you can tune into as you drive. This could be Turkish podcasts, audio courses or other kinds of Turkish listening resources. 

Listening to lots of Turkish is essential for fluency. And if you listen to Turkish twice daily between work and home, your brain will quickly adapt to the language. 

If you’re at the beginner stage in Turkish, I recommend listening to a beginner audio course like the Michel Thomas one. 

What about if you’re at an advanced level in Turkish? If that’s you, then you need to stop listening to material for learners and tune into real Turkish audio designed for native speakers. 

Your best bet is to subscribe to podcasts by your favourite Turkish-speaking media companies and creators. Listen to podcasts on topics that interest you so that you don’t get bored! 

Best Way To Learn Turkish On Your Own

Not a fan of group classes or rigid curriculums where you get stuck learning things you don’t need? I’m the same. 

I much prefer self-directed learning. As I always say,  languages can’t be taught, only learnt. So self-directed learning is what matters most. 

My own self-directed language learning meant I could learn eight languages to fluency and start StoryLearning to help other independent learners on their journey. 

I’ve poured my many and varied experiences of solo learning into my Uncovered courses which were created with independent learners in mind. And Turkish Uncovered is no exception. 

Turkish Uncovered is a self-study course that solo learners can use as the core of their language learning. The course also gives advice on the best way to learn Turkish on your own. 

Best Way To Learn Turkish Fluently

If you’re dreaming of Turkish fluency then don’t learn Turkish alone. Personalised Turkish coaching is the best way to learn Turkish fluently. 

With 1-on-1 language coaching, you'll also get the speaking practice and confidence you need to truly engage with native speakers. Plus the support and accountability that will not let you fail.

My own personalised coaching programme called StoryLearning VIP provides exactly these keys to success.  

StoryLearning VIP is the ultimate investment in your language goals: It’s an intensive programme that includes not just the language curriculum, but also the 1-to-1 coaching for support and ample speaking practice. 

StoryLearning VIP works because it gives you the complete structure you need to succeed with your new language – the proven StoryLearning method and the expertise to hold you accountable.

Personalised coaching is the best way to learn Turkish fluently because you get: 

• Ample 1-to-1 speaking practice
• Unlimited feedback and corrections
• A fully personalised learning pathway
• Full accountability and life-changing results

If learning to speak fluently truly matters to you, personalised coaching gives you everything you need to succeed. 

Best Way To Learn Turkish Suffixes

Suffixes can pour fear into the heart of even the most enthusiastic Turkish learner. And at first glance, they do look pretty intimidating.

Learning the Turkish suffixes ends up being harder than it needs to be because of the Parrot Problem. 

When you try to learn Turkish suffixes by thorough rote memorisation, you put them into your short-term memory. So then you can’t remember them when you need to make sentences in Turkish. 

The best way to learn the Turkish suffixes is to forget this rote memorisation approach. By all means, you can read or watch an explanation of Turkish suffixes. But don’t go off an try to learn them all by heart. 

Once you’ve got the basic hang of the concept of Turkish suffixes, don’t waste time studying them. Simply observe the suffixes in a natural context. The best way to do this is to read and listen to short stories in Turkish. 

As you read and listen to Turkish stories at your level, you’ll pick up Turkish suffixes almost passively. Sounds much more tempting than hitting the books and studying them right? 

If you’re wondering where to find Turkish stories at your level, my top recommendation is my short story book, Short Stories in Turkish. 

Best Way To Learn Turkish At Home

One of the most persistent myths in language learning is that you need to start over in a new country to get fluent. But there really is no need to relocate to Turkey to learn Turkish! 

I’ve learned many of my languages successfully from home. And when I’ve moved to the country where the language is spoken, I didn't necessarily get fluent faster!  

The best way to learn Turkish at home is to spend an hour every day reading and listening to Turkish at your level. The options are endless – you can read a beginner Turkish book, work through a StoryLearning Turkish course, or listen to Turkish podcasts. 

If you keep this up, Turkish will soon make sense to your brain because you’ve immersed yourself in it. And if you do ever re-locate to Turkey one day, or just go on holiday there, you’ll be able to improve your level even faster. 

Best Way To Learn Turkish FAQ 

Ready To Start Your Turkish Learning Journey? 

Turkish is among the tougher languages for native English speakers to learn.

That's why knowing the best way to learn Turkish is key, so that you reach fluency quickly and enjoy yourself while you're at it. 

Reading and listening to stories in Turkish at your level is the best way to learn Turkish. The StoryLearning method is based on this story-focused approach.

Learning through story is nothing like the Parrot methods from school where you use a repeat-after-me approach based on learning by heart.

Although you learn best with a story-centred method, it’s completely different to what you're used to. So you might find it strange at first and even resist it. 

But you’ll soon be more motivated than ever to learn Turkish, because you want to know what happens next in the story. 

Plus you’ll have an intuitive feel for what “sounds right” in Turkish by learning it in a meaningful context. Thanks to story, your brain will adapt to it.

That’s what makes stories the best way to learn Turkish fast. 

Olly Richards

Creator of the StoryLearning® Method

Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.

Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.

When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.