Vision:
At the İstanbul Gedik University- School of Foreign Languages-English Preparatory Program, our vision is to be recognised as the centre of excellence in the domain of English language education for programs with English as medium of instruction, and to be widely-acclaimed as a platform for developing , innovations and continuous improvements, also committed to the maintenance of our core values, some of the key attributes of which are, respect for diversity, integrity, professionalism, lifelong learning.
Mission:
- At the İstanbul Gedik University-School of Foreign Languages-English Preparatory Program, our mission is to nurture our learners by engaging them in innovative and challenging experiences and skills that foster well-being and a growth mindset in a diverse community. By so doing, we enhance our students’ English proficiency, to cater for learners’ English language, individual differences, and to foster a culture of independent, progressive life-long English language acquisition throughout the University.
- We also embrace internationalism through acceptance of differences, values, and beliefs, whilst inspiring a love of learning and fostering an enquiring mind, by providing a broad, balanced, and integrated education that encompasses academic, creative, social, and moral development, as well as engaging in social and environmental projects to develop informed, responsible, and active citizens.
- We value the empowerment of our members through advocacy and leadership while driving higher levels of professionalism. We are committed to advancing the quality of English language teaching by contributing to the sustainable quality of teacher education and in-service professional learning in Turkey through collaboration, open exchange of practice, research, standards, and advocacy.
(b) There is flexibility in picking any feature or method that teachers believe is appropriate for teaching inside the classroom.
(c) Learners can observe various teaching strategies and instructional tools that help to make classes more interesting and assure greater grasp of the topic on the other hand.
(d) Resolving issues that may arise from the presentation of textbook materials.
(e) Finally, it saves time and effort while presenting language tasks
The information in this section is intended to introduce our students and their families to the English Preparatory Program.
Although English preparatory is not mandatory in their departments, students who choose to attend the English Preparatory Program as an elective are also provided with English preparatory education. The procedures and practices of the Preparatory Program also apply to these students.
Our goal is to teach our students English within the framework of internationally recognized qualifications.
After registering at Istanbul Gedik University, students will go through the English Preparatory Program and English courses as follows.
*General Principles Regarding the Compulsory English Preparatory Class Education Program*
*English Proficiency Exam
Students who wish to be exempted from the mandatory foreign language preparatory class education program must take the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam conducted by the Foreign Languages School.
Students who score at least 60 out of 100 in the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam will be exempted from the foreign language preparatory class education program and will begin their studies in the programs they are placed in.
The following students are exempt from the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam:
- Those who have completed their secondary education in institutions where the language of instruction is the foreign language spoken as the native language in a country, where the country’s citizens attend, and have spent at least the last three years of their education in these institutions are exempt from the foreign language preparatory class education.
- Those who obtain the scores listed in the table below from the international foreign language exams recognized as equivalent to the central foreign language exams accepted by the Higher Education Council will be exempt from the foreign language preparatory class education, provided that the certification and validity period are not expired.
| YDS/YÖKDİL/KPDS/ÜDS | At least 55 | 5 years |
| TOEFL-IBT | At least 66 | 2 years |
| PTE (Pearson Test of English) | At least 50 | 2 years |
| CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) | At least C | Indefinite |
| CPE (Cambridge English Proficiency) | At least C | Indefinite |
*Foreign Language Proficiency Exam
Students who do not participate in the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam or fail to achieve a passing score will take the Foreign Language Level Determination Exam.
Based on the scores obtained from the Foreign Language Level Determination Exam, the level at which students will receive education in the foreign language preparatory class is determined.
Students who do not take the Foreign Language Level Determination Exam will start their foreign language preparatory education from the lowest level.
*Early English Proficiency Exam
The Early English Proficiency Exam is an optional English proficiency test offered twice a year by the School of Foreign Languages at Istanbul Gedik University. This exam is designed to assess students’ language skills and better prepare them for their academic careers, taking place at the end of the fall semester and during the summer term.
Students who achieve a score of 60 or above in the exam at the end of the fall semester can begin their departmental courses in the second semester without continuing in the preparatory class. Similarly, students who take the exam in the summer and score 60 or above are eligible to transfer directly to their departments at the start of the following academic year. In this case, they do not need to take another proficiency exam.
Participation in the Early English Proficiency Exam is not mandatory but requires a fee, providing an additional assessment opportunity for those interested. This exam serves as a crucial tool for accelerating the academic preparation process and facilitating students’ timely placement in their respective departments.
*Optional English Preparatory Class Education Program
Students who enroll in departments and programs whose language of instruction is Turkish can take English preparatory class upon their request. Optional English preparatory education program is one year. Students who fail at the end of one year cannot repeat the second year preparatory class.
Students who successfully complete the optional English preparatory class can request exemption from the common compulsory Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II courses. The success grade of the exempted students is transferred to the student information system as AA.
*English Preparatory Program Levels
A1-A2, B1, B1+, B2
*English Preparatory Program Duration
The English preparatory class is one academic year, with a maximum duration of two years. The academic year consists of fall and spring semesters. Each fall and spring semester has a regular duration of seventy working days. Exam weeks or days are not included in this duration.
*Weekly Lesson Hours
The weekly class hours, groupings, assessment methods, and evaluations are determined by the relevant department of the Foreign Languages School based on the number of students attending the preparatory class and the levels determined by the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam. This information is communicated to the students at the beginning of the academic year.
Each level’s weekly class hours are determined by the Foreign Languages School, ensuring they do not fall below 20 hours.
*Achievement and Evaluation
The criteria (midterm exams, quizzes, assignments, participation, etc.) and percentages of activities during the year are determined by the School of Foreign Languages and announced to the students at the beginning of the academic year.
Students have the right to take the English Proficiency Exam held at the end of the year, provided that the average of the total criteria determined during the year is 60.
The success of English preparatory class students is determined by the English Proficiency Exam held at the end of the academic year.
Students who score at least 60 points in the English Proficiency Exam successfully complete the English Preparatory Program.
* Attendance
It is compulsory to attend at least 85 percent of the courses in the compulsory or optional English preparatory class education program. Students who do not meet the attendance requirement are considered unsuccessful due to absenteeism. Students who fail due to absenteeism cannot take the last midterm and year-end English Proficiency Exam.
At the beginning of the academic year, students are informed about the number of hours of absenteeism limit. It is recommended that you do not make absenteeism, except for mandatory situations that will be considered an excuse.
Students can learn their grades and course attendance status by accessing the following web page.
*To Be Successful in the Preparatory Program for One Semester
Students who start the English Preparatory Program at B1+ levels in the Fall semester can take the English Proficiency Exam given at the end of the Fall semester, provided that they have a grade point average of 60 and above and do not exceed the absenteeism limit. English Proficiency Exam success grade is 60 out of 100.
According to this test result:
Students who score 60 out of 100 can take the courses in their department/program.
Students who score below 60 points can continue their education in the Spring semester together with other students at B1 + level. They have to comply with the semester measurement and evaluation criteria at B1+ level. These students can take the English Proficiency Exam given at the end of the Spring semester, provided that they have a grade point average of 60 or higher in the spring semester.
Students who start their langSuage education at A1 and A2 levels in the fall semester cannot take the English Proficiency exam given at the end of the Fall semester. Students at this level take the English Proficiency Exam given at the end of the Spring semester, provided that their academic success average is 60 and above and the absenteeism limit is not exceeded.
Students who fail the English Preparatory Program at the end of two semesters take the English Proficiency Exam, which will be held at the beginning of the next academic year, regardless of their grade point average and attendance. Students who are successful in this exam can start their department/program.
*Repeat: It is a level where students who fail the English Preparatory Program for two (2) semesters and fail may continue. If the number of students who will continue with this program is 10 and above, the program can be opened. If the number of students is below 10, the Repeat course will not be opened. At this level, students’ reading, writing, listening and speaking skills are developed by reviewing their previous knowledge.
*Other Rules and Regulations:
When you start the English Preparatory Program, an advisor is assigned to each student. You can consult your class advisor when you have problems concerning education.
At the beginning of the academic year, you will be informed about the projects, presentations and written assignments you have to complete. As your activities are graded, it is very important to hand them in on time and complete them as your teachers instruct you to do.
Students are required to bring in class the materials they need. Students are responsible for providing their books and other course materials. It is not welcome for the student to come to the class without books or other course materials, and the instructor may not take the student in this situation. Students who come to class without their books or other materials may not be admitted to the class by the instructor.
Students are required to be punctual and come to class on time. Those who come later than the teacher are allowed to come to class, but they will be marked absent.
*Summer School :
Summer School starts on the date announced in the academic calendar and lasts for 7 weeks. Students who wish can attend the summer school. Students who have a grade point average of 50 or higher during the year and who have not passed the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam before can continue their education then. For students enrolled in summer school, the attendance requirement is 85%. At the end of the Summer School, the students take the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam. To take this exam, students must meet the attendance requirement. Students who have taken the previous English Proficiency Exams and have not been successful can also take this exam. Foreign Language Proficiency Exam success grade is 60 points out of 100.
-Foreign Language I (ING101) and Foreign Language II (102) Exemption Exam –
Compulsory Foreign Language I (ING101) and Foreign Language II (ING102) Courses of Turkish Programs
Istanbul Gedik University, School of Foreign Languages, Foreign Language I (ING101) Exemption Exam is given to all newly registered students whose language of instruction is Turkish at the beginning of the fall semester of the academic year. Students who score 55 points out of 100 points according to this exam result are exempt from YÖK compulsory Foreign Language I (ING101) course in the lesson plan of their program/department. As a result of the exemption exam, students who take the exam are given a passing grade based on the grade ranges in the 38th article of the Istanbul Gedik University Associate Degree, Undergraduate Education and Exam Regulations.
At the beginning of the spring semester, the Foreign Language II (ING102) Exemption Exam is given to all newly registered students whose language of instruction is Turkish. Students who score 55 points out of 100 points according to this exam result are exempt from YÖK compulsory Foreign Language II (ING102) course in the lesson plan of their program / department. As a result of the exemption exam, students who take the exam are given a passing grade based on the grade ranges in the 38th article of the Istanbul Gedik University Associate Degree, Undergraduate Education and Exam Regulations.
If there are other English lessons in their lesson plans (English III, IV, V….), they take these lessons (later).
For students who cannot take the English Exemption Exam at the beginning of the academic year, make-up exams are not held.
It is recommended that all students in departments/programs where the medium of instruction is Turkish take the English Exemption Exam. However, if your English language knowledge and skills are at a very basic level, you may prefer not to take the exam. Students who do not/cannot take the exam take English courses at the beginner level.
Students who have taken Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II courses in another higher education institution and have successfully completed the foreign language preparatory class, and they meet the conditions specified in paragraph 1 of article 6 of the Istanbul Gedik University Exemption and Adaptation Directive, can request exemption from Foreign Language I and II courses.