How do children abroad learn to read and write in Turkish?

Short answer: if your child is learning to read in another language at school, choose when to begin Turkish reading and writing around their interest, experience and the teacher’s observations; completing reading in the other language first is not a requirement. Turkish is largely read the way it's written, which helps a lot; the main thing to watch is letters that sound different in the two languages.

When to start

• If your child understands and speaks some Turkish, reading and writing build on that. For a child with limited spoken Turkish, exploring books, sounds and meaningful words can be supported together.
• Knowing letters and sounds in the school language makes the step into Turkish easier.
• There's no need to rush; waiting for a time when your child is curious about reading boosts motivation.

The advantage of reading Turkish

Most Turkish letters always make the same sound. Once your child learns the letter–sound match, they can usually read new words correctly too. Compared with a language with irregular spelling such as English, this builds children's confidence.

Letters to watch

For children who read and write in English, these letters are the most commonly confused:

Ideas for home

• Names and family: write and read your child's and family members' names with Turkish letters.
• Labels: stick Turkish names on a few things around the house.
• Picture books: read first, then ask your child to find familiar words.
• Short messages: writing a short Turkish message to grandparents gives writing a real purpose.
• Little and often: try a short, regular time, adjusted to your child’s interest.

How it works in lessons

For children ready for reading and writing, lessons combine speaking with reading and writing. The teacher starts from words your child already knows, then moves to short texts. For programmes, see Turkish for schoolchildren and Programmes.

For other questions, visit our Parent Decision Centre.