Vision
As the English Preparatory Program of the School of Foreign Languages at Istanbul Gedik University, we aim to be recognized as a center of excellence in English language education for English-medium programs and to become a widely appreciated platform for the development of innovations and the implementation of continuous improvements. Throughout this process, we are committed to remaining faithful to our core values, including respect for diversity, integrity, professionalism, and lifelong learning.
Mission
- As the English Preparatory Program of the School of Foreign Languages at Istanbul Gedik University, we aim to promote well-being and a growth-oriented mindset by providing our students with innovative and challenging experiences and skills. In this way, by improving our students’ English language proficiency, we aim to establish an independent and progressive culture of lifelong English language acquisition throughout the university, taking into account their language needs and individual differences.
- Furthermore, we embrace international understanding through the acceptance of differences, values, and beliefs, and aim to instill a love of learning and encourage an inquisitive mindset by providing a broad, balanced, and integrated education. Our educational philosophy encompasses academic, creative, social, and moral development and also supports participation in social and environmental projects in order to educate informed, responsible, and active citizens.
- We value empowering our staff through advocacy and leadership while also enhancing their level of professionalism. We are committed to improving the quality of English language teaching in Türkiye, contributing to the sustainable quality of teacher education, and advancing in-service professional learning through collaboration, open sharing of practices, research, standards, and advocacy.
Educational Philosophy of Our School of Foreign Languages
As the School of Foreign Languages, we adopt a communicative and student-centered approach to education. In our teaching processes, we take principled eclecticism as our fundamental approach. This approach provides the opportunity to make the best use of different teaching methodologies in order to adapt to our students’ needs, learning styles, and language proficiency levels.
There is no single correct teaching method that is suitable for every situation in education and instruction. Therefore, principled eclecticism is the most meaningful and logical pluralistic teaching approach for providing both context-specific and high-quality language education.
Our General Principles
(a) Our instructors are given the opportunity to use a variety of teaching strategies throughout each lesson in order to achieve the objectives of the lesson.
(b) During the lesson, instructors are given the flexibility to choose any feature or method they consider appropriate for classroom instruction.
(c) Our students are provided with the opportunity to observe various teaching strategies and tools that make lessons more engaging and facilitate a better understanding of the topics.
(d) Approaches are developed to solve problems that may arise from the presentation of the materials contained in coursebooks.
(e) Time and effort are saved when presenting language tasks.
In line with these principles, we aim to provide our students with language education that is context-appropriate, effective, and of high quality.
The information in this section is intended to introduce the English Preparatory Program to our students and their families.
English Preparatory education is also provided to students whose departments do not require compulsory English preparatory education but who wish to attend the English Preparatory Program voluntarily. 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 proficiency standards.
After students complete their registration at Istanbul Gedik University, the English Preparatory Program and English course process will proceed as follows:
General Principles Regarding the Compulsory Foreign Language Preparatory Class Education Program
Foreign Language Proficiency Examination
Students who wish to be exempt from the compulsory foreign language preparatory class education program are required to take the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination administered by the School of Foreign Languages.
Students who receive at least 60 points out of 100 on the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination are exempt from the foreign language preparatory class education program and begin their studies in the programs to which they have been admitted.
The following students are exempt from the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination:
- Students who have completed their secondary education in educational institutions attended by citizens of a country where the foreign language designated as the medium of instruction is spoken as the native language, provided that they studied there for at least the last three years, are exempt from the foreign language preparatory class education.
- Students who obtain the scores specified in the table below from the central foreign language examinations accepted by the Council of Higher Education or from international foreign language examinations recognized as equivalent, provided that they submit valid documentation within the validity period, are exempt from the foreign language preparatory class education.
Note: TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted.
| Examination | Minimum Score | Validity Period |
| YDS / YÖKDİL / KPDS / ÜDS | 55 | 5 years |
| E-TEP | 50 | – |
| TOEFL iBT | 66 | 2 years |
| PTE (Pearson Test of English) | 50 | 2 years |
| CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) | Grade C | Unlimited |
| CPE (Cambridge English Proficiency) | Grade C | Unlimited |
Foreign Language Placement Examination
Students who do not take the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination or who take the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination but fail to obtain the required passing score shall take the Foreign Language Placement Examination.
Based on the scores obtained from the Foreign Language Placement Examination, the level at which students will study in the foreign language preparatory class is determined.
Students who do not take the Foreign Language Placement Examination will begin their foreign language preparatory education at the lowest level.
Early English Proficiency Examination
The Early English Proficiency Examination is an optional English proficiency examination offered once a year by the School of Foreign Languages at Istanbul Gedik University. This examination is administered at the end of the fall semester in order to assess students’ language skills and better prepare them for their academic careers.
Students who obtain a score of 60 or above in the examination held at the end of the fall semester are not required to continue the preparatory class. In this case, they are not required to take another proficiency examination and may proceed to their departments.
Although participation in the Early English Proficiency Examination is not compulsory, the examination is subject to a fee and provides an additional assessment opportunity for students who wish to participate. This examination is an important tool for accelerating students’ academic preparation process and placing them in their departments as soon as possible.
Optional Foreign Language Preparatory Class Education Program
Students enrolled in departments and programs where the medium of instruction is Turkish may receive foreign language preparatory class education upon request. The optional foreign language preparatory education program lasts for one year. Students who fail at the end of one year may not repeat the preparatory class for a second year.
Students who successfully complete the optional foreign language preparatory class may apply for exemption from the compulsory Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II courses. The achievement grade of exempted students is recorded in the student information system as AA.
English Preparatory Program Levels
A1-A2, B1, B1+, B2
Duration of the English Preparatory Program
The English preparatory class lasts for one academic year, and the maximum period of study is two years. The academic year consists of the fall and spring semesters. The normal duration of each of the fall and spring semesters is seventy working days. Examination weeks or examination days are not included in this period.
Weekly Course Hours
Depending on the number of students attending the preparatory class and the levels determined according to the Foreign Language Placement Examination results, the weekly course hours, groupings, and assessment and evaluation methods are determined by the relevant unit of the School of Foreign Languages and announced to students at the beginning of the academic year.
The weekly course hours for each level are determined by the School of Foreign Languages, provided that they are not less than 20 hours.
Achievement and Evaluation
The criteria and percentages of in-year activities (midterm examinations, quizzes, assignments, participation, etc.) are determined by the School of Foreign Languages and announced to students at the beginning of the academic year.
Students are entitled to take the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination held at the end of the academic year, provided that the average of the total in-year assessment criteria is 60.
The achievement status of students in the foreign language preparatory class is determined by the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination administered at the end of the academic year.
Students who receive at least 60 points in the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination are deemed to have successfully completed the English Preparatory Program.
Class Attendance
Attendance of at least 85% of the courses is compulsory in both the compulsory and optional foreign language preparatory class education programs. Students who fail to meet the attendance requirement are considered unsuccessful due to absenteeism. Students who fail because of absenteeism may not take the final midterm examination or the Year-End English Proficiency Examination.
The number of course hours corresponding to the absenteeism limit is announced to students at the beginning of the academic year. Except for compulsory circumstances accepted as valid excuses, students are advised not to be absent. The circumstances accepted as valid excuses are explained in detail during orientation.
Students may check their grades and attendance records by accessing the following website:
Successful Completion of the Preparatory Program in One Semester
Students who begin the English Preparatory Program at the B1+ level in the fall semester may take the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination administered at the end of the fall semester, provided that their semester grade average is 60 or above and that they do not exceed the absenteeism limit. The passing score for the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination is 60 out of 100.
According to the results of this examination:
Students who receive 60 points out of 100 may take the courses offered in their departments/programs.
Students who receive below 60 points continue their education during the spring semester together with the other students at the B1+ level. They are required to comply with the semester assessment and evaluation criteria applicable to the B1+ level. Provided that their spring semester grade average is 60 or above, these students may take the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination administered at the end of the spring semester.
Students who begin their language education at the A1-A2 levels in the fall semester may only take the optional Early English Proficiency Examination at the end of the fall semester. If they are successful, they may begin studying in their departments/programs.
Students who fail the English Preparatory Program after two semesters shall take the English Proficiency Examination to be administered at the beginning of the following academic year, regardless of their grade averages or attendance status during the year. Students who pass this examination may begin studying in their departments/programs.
Other Rules and Practices
When you begin the English Preparatory Program, each student is assigned an academic advisor. You may receive assistance from your advisor regarding both course-related matters and any issues for which you need guidance.
At the beginning of the academic year, you will be informed about the assignments, presentations, and projects that you are expected to complete. Since you will receive a Student Activity Grade based on these activities, you are expected to complete your work in accordance with the instructions of your instructors and submit it on time.
Students may participate in conferences, meetings, speeches, and other activities of their own choice. However, participation in such activities does not constitute an excuse for the classes they miss. Therefore, they are considered absent for those classes.
Students are responsible for obtaining their textbooks and other course materials. Students are expected to come to class with their textbooks and other required course materials. An instructor may refuse to admit a student to class if the student does not have the required textbook or other course materials.
Foreign Language I (ING101) and Foreign Language II (ING102) Exemption Examination
Common Compulsory Foreign Language I (ING101) and Foreign Language II (ING102) Courses for Turkish-Medium Programs
At the beginning of the fall semester of each academic year, the School of Foreign Languages at Istanbul Gedik University administers the Foreign Language I (ING101) Exemption Examination to all newly enrolled students whose medium of instruction is Turkish.
Students who receive 55 points out of 100 in this examination are exempt from the compulsory YÖK Foreign Language I (ING101) course included in the curriculum of their departments/programs.
Following the exemption examination, students who take the examination are assigned a letter grade based on the grading scale specified in Article 38 of the Istanbul Gedik University Associate Degree, Undergraduate Education and Examination Regulations.
At the beginning of the spring semester, the Foreign Language II (ING102) Exemption Examination is administered to all newly enrolled students whose medium of instruction is Turkish.
Students who receive 55 points out of 100 in this examination are exempt from the compulsory YÖK Foreign Language II (ING102) course included in the curriculum of their departments/programs.
Following the exemption examination, students who take the examination are assigned a letter grade based on the grading scale specified in Article 38 of the Istanbul Gedik University Associate Degree, Undergraduate Education and Examination Regulations.
If there are additional English courses included in their curriculum (such as English III, IV, V, etc.), students are required to take those courses.
No make-up examination is administered for students who are unable to take the English Exemption Examination held at the beginning of the academic year.
All students enrolled in departments/programs where the medium of instruction is Turkish are advised to take the English Exemption Examination. However, if your English language knowledge and skills are at a very basic level, you may choose not to take the examination. Students who do not take or are unable to take the examination will begin their English courses at the beginner level.
Students who have successfully completed Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II courses at another higher education institution or who have successfully completed a foreign language preparatory class may apply for exemption from Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II, provided that they meet the conditions specified in subparagraph (f) of paragraph (1) of Article 6 and paragraph (1) of Article 7 of the Istanbul Gedik University Exemption and Adjustment Directive.