The Yesterday And Today Of The European Language PortfolioIn Turkey

Concern for research in this area stems from the point that Turkey since 2001 has takenpart in the piloting phase of the European Language Portfolio. After the piloting phase,the Ministry of Turkish National Education has decided to officially launch the EuropeanLanguage Portfolio in the academic year of 2009-2010. In Turkey, Ankara University andBilfen Schools have also developed European Language Portfolio models and have hadthese models validated by the Council of Europe. The purpose of the present study is toinvestigate the development of European Language Portfolio models in Turkey. Firstly,the background of the situation on the formation of the European Language Portfolio bythe Council of Europe is addressed. Secondly, the origin of the European LanguagePortfolio within the Turkish national education system is described. The next sectiondwells upon the issues relating to the present stage of European Language Portfolioimplementation in Turkey. Positive outcomes of European Language Portfolioimplementation in other Member States are shortly addressed. Finally, while the studyillustrates that the European Language Portfolio has proved to be an important innovationin foreign language learning, the implementation change in Turkey necessitates sustainedeffort to promote the concepts of the European Language Portfolio so as to reach longlasting effects.