A Review of New Istanbul B1 Level Textbook Writing Activities

Abstract

Writing skill is seen as a complex and difficult skill compared to other language skills. In order to improve the writing skills of language learners, it is necessary to both diversify the writing activities and work with activities that include different methods. Considering that textbooks are the resources that learners and instructors can easily access in foreign language learning, textbooks should have diversity in terms of writing tasks and methods. The aim of this study is to determine the writing tasks in the textbooks used in teaching Turkish as a foreign language, the compatibility of these tasks with the B1 level skills determined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and the writing methods used in the activities. In the study, "New Istanbul B1 Level Textbook" is examined. First of all, the compatibility of writing activities in the book with CEFR B1 level writing skills was examined. Then, the writing methods used in the activities (controlled writing, guided writing, critical writing, fill-in-the-blank, etc.) were determined. In this study, document analysis, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. In the study, it was concluded that New Istanbul B1 Level Textbook writing tasks were compatible with CEFR B1 level writing skills and different writing methods were used in writing tasks.

Keywords

• Writing task
• Writing methods
• New Istanbul textbook
• B1 level

References

1. Bölükbaş Kaya, F., Keskin, F. ve Yılmaz, M.Y. (Ed.). (2020). New Istanbul Turkish Textbook for International Students B1. Culture and Art Publishing House.
2. Council of Europe (2020). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment – Companion volume, Council of Europe Publishing, Strasbourg, available at www.coe.int/lang-cefr
3. Çakır, İ. (2010). Why is it difficult to acquire writing skills in foreign language teaching? Erciyes University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 28(1), 165-176.
4. Çekici, Y. E. (2018). Writing tasks in textbooks used in teaching Turkish as a foreign language: A comparative study on Yedi İklim and Istanbul. Gaziantep University Journal of Educational Sciences, 2(1), 1-10.
5. Ekinci, M. (2020). Examination of writing activities used in teaching Turkish to foreigners: a textbook analysis. International Journal of Language Academy,8(5), 65-75.
6. Tiryaki, E.N. (2013). Writing education in teaching Turkish as a foreign language. Journal of Mother Tongue Education, 1(1), 38-44.
7. Tok, M. (2013). Evaluation of Writing Studies in Turkish Teaching Textbooks for Foreigners. Uşak University Journal of Social Sciences ,6(1), 249-279.
8. Yaylı, D. ve Yaylı, D. (2018). Evaluation of Writing Activities in Textbooks for Teaching Turkish to Foreigners (Seven Climate Turkish Examples). Pamukkale University Faculty of Education Journal, 44, 132-145.

9. Yıldırım, A. ve Şimşek, H. (2016). Qualitative research methods in the social sciences. Seçgin Publishing.
10. Yılmaz, F. (2014). An Investigation on the Activities of Writing 2 Turkish Textbooks for New Hittite Foreigners. International Journal of Turkish Educational Sciences, 2(2), 37-48.