Research Article

Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands

Number: 3 December 30, 2025
TR EN

Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands

Abstract

This study comparatively examines the primary school foreign language education curricula and English teacher education systems of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands, and aims to identify the similarities and differences among these countries’ systems. The study seeks to understand the reasons for Türkiye’s low level of foreign language proficiency and draw implications from the practices of countries that achieve success at the international level. The study adopts a comparative education research model. Within the scope of the research, the general comparison criteria used to examine the foreign language education curricula of the selected countries include structure and administration, objectives and learning outcomes, content and curriculum, and assessment and evaluation. The study employs document analysis as a qualitative data collection method, and the data are analyzed using descriptive analysis. The study analyzes the current state of foreign language education and teacher education policies in the selected countries based on their rankings in the 2024 English Proficiency Index (EPI). The findings indicate that the Netherlands introduces foreign language education at the earliest stage, while Norway and the Netherlands provide flexibility in their education curricula. In contrast, Singapore and Türkiye implement centralized education systems. With regard to teacher education, the study finds that all countries except Türkiye allocate significantly more time to teaching practicum courses. Based on the findings obtained from the examined countries, the study develops several recommendations for primary school foreign language education and English teacher education programs in Türkiye, drawing on the education systems of the Netherlands, Singapore, and Norway, which achieve high performance in the EPI. In this respect, the study constitutes a comparative education analysis that contributes to the improvement of foreign language policies.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

There is no statement of support for the article.

Ethical Statement

The article titled “Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands” is original research; we hereby state that we have acted in accordance with scientific ethics, principles, and rules at all stages of this research (preparation, literature review, data collection, data analysis, and presentation); that all sources consulted in the course of this study have been duly included in the reference list; that no sources not consulted have been included; that no alterations have been made to the data during their use; that the research does not contain any form of plagiarism; and that we have complied with our ethical duties and responsibilities by fully accepting all the terms and conditions of the Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive of Higher Education Institutions and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Principles. We further state that we accept full moral and legal responsibility for any consequences that may arise should any situation contrary to the statements made herein be identified in relation to our research.

Thanks

There is no statement of acknowledgement for the article.

References

  1. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (2024). ACTFL proficiency guidelines 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2025, from https://www.actfl.org/news/revised-actfl-proficiency-guidelines-released
  2. Arslan, G. (2020). An overview of the European profile for language teacher education on the language teacher education reforms in Türkiye. Near East University Online Journal of Education, 3(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.32955/neuje.v3i1.181
  3. Arslan, S., & Ozpinar, İ. (2008). Teachers Qualifications: Comparison Between Primary School Curriculum Expectations And Teachers Acquisitions In Education Faculties. Necatibey Faculty of Education Electronic Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 2(1), 38–63. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/balikesirnef/issue/3366/46484
  4. Aslan, N. (2008). Early foreign language learning around the world and the situation in Türkiye. Çukurova University Journal of Education Faculty, 3(35), 1–9. https://search.trdizin.gov.tr/en/yayin/detay/96298
  5. Aslan, Y. (2016). Comparison of primary school foreign language curricula of Türkiye, Germany and the Netherlands. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 4(8), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v4i8.1581
  6. Avci, B., & Yucel Toy, B. (2018). Comparison of Norwegian and Turkish education systems and teacher training systems. Mediterranean Journal of Educational Research, 12(25), 39–59. https://doi.org/10.29329/mjer.2018.153.3
  7. Aydin, S. (2024). Foreign language education at primary and secondary education levels in Türkiye: Current situation, problems and proposed solutions (Technical report] İstanbul Medeniyet University. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10903.59045
  8. Baltaci, A. (2019). The qualitative research process: How to conduct a qualitative research?. Ahi Evran University Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences, 5(2), 368–388. https://doi.org/10.31592/aeusbed.598299

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Comparative and Cross-Cultural Education, Higher Education Policies, Education Policy

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 30, 2025

Submission Date

September 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 27, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 3

APA
Özdemir, O., & Elmaz, Z. (2025). Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands. İstanbul Eğitim Dergisi, 3, 284-336. https://doi.org/10.71270/istanbulegitim.istj.1781041
AMA
1.Özdemir O, Elmaz Z. Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands. ISTJ. 2025;(3):284-336. doi:10.71270/istanbulegitim.istj.1781041
Chicago
Özdemir, Osman, and Zeynep Elmaz. 2025. “Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands”. İstanbul Eğitim Dergisi, nos. 3: 284-336. https://doi.org/10.71270/istanbulegitim.istj.1781041.
EndNote
Özdemir O, Elmaz Z (December 1, 2025) Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands. İstanbul Eğitim Dergisi 3 284–336.
IEEE
[1]O. Özdemir and Z. Elmaz, “Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands”, ISTJ, no. 3, pp. 284–336, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.71270/istanbulegitim.istj.1781041.
ISNAD
Özdemir, Osman - Elmaz, Zeynep. “Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands”. İstanbul Eğitim Dergisi. 3 (December 1, 2025): 284-336. https://doi.org/10.71270/istanbulegitim.istj.1781041.
JAMA
1.Özdemir O, Elmaz Z. Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands. ISTJ. 2025;:284–336.
MLA
Özdemir, Osman, and Zeynep Elmaz. “Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands”. İstanbul Eğitim Dergisi, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 284-36, doi:10.71270/istanbulegitim.istj.1781041.
Vancouver
1.Osman Özdemir, Zeynep Elmaz. Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teacher Training Policies: A Comparison of Türkiye, Singapore, Norway and the Netherlands. ISTJ. 2025 Dec. 1;(3):284-336. doi:10.71270/istanbulegitim.istj.1781041

Istanbul Education Journal (ISTJ) is licensed under .