text:
Yunus Emre Institute Students' Views on the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
Page created by Sandra Ruiz
Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, V16, N1, 2021
© 2021 INASED
Umut BAŞAR1
Ankara Sosyal Bilimler University
Önder ÇANGAL2
Gaziantep University
Only a few applications to teach Turkish as a foreign language through remote or distance learning
platforms have been developed in recent years in Turkey. Distance Turkish Learning Portal (DTLP),
developed by Yunus Emre Institute to teach Turkish remotely, is one of these applications. An
unexpected interest in this practice was observed after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the portal is still in the trial phase. For this reason, although user feedback is vital in order
to improve the portal, no academic research on this issue has been conducted yet. In this context, the
researcher aims to evaluate the Distance Turkish Learning Portal as regards students' opinions. For
this purpose, a qualitative research model, which is frequently used in educational sciences, was used
to collect data, and a subsequent case study was carried out for an in-depth evaluation of their beliefs.
The methods were employed to effectively and reliably collect data on learners' beliefs on the issue in
question. Data was collected through a Google form that was shared with the participants. As a result
of the research, it is understood that the participants enjoyed using the portal in that, firstly, it is free;
secondly, it provides the opportunity to get to know Turkish culture, and finally, it also supports
autonomous and self-learning. On the other hand, the technical infrastructure of the portal is
insufficient, and there is no instructional or tutorial support, lack of interactive speaking features,
besides the number of videos have been found to be inadequate by the users. At the end of the study,
based on the findings, some suggestions were offered by the researchers to improve the Distance
Turkish Learning Portal.
Keywords: Distance Learning Turkish, Learner Views, Language Teaching, Yunus Emre Institute
DOI: 10.29329/epasr.2020.334.12
Assit. Prof. Dr., Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Social Sciences University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey,
ORCID: 0000-0001-5571-7103, Correspondence: umut.basar@asbu.edu.tr.
Inst. Dr., Department of Turkısh Languages, Gaziantep Unıversıty, Turkey, ORCID: 0000-0002-8560-3526, Email:
ondercangal@hotmail.com.
People have been trying to learn a foreign language to communicate with other cultures and
civilizations since the dawn of history. They have wanted to learn languages for several purposes such
as interacting with people of different nationalities. Language teaching activities have been carried out
in various institutions and organizations to meet the need of people. Language teaching activities are
divided into two categories as in-class (classroom) and out-of-class (extracurricular) activities.
The classroom environment is one of the most basic elements of the learning process.
Learners both participate in learning activities in the classroom and find the opportunity to socialize
with their peers who have similar goals. In-class practices at all levels of education, from kindergarten
to higher education, lie at the core of all teaching processes.
In addition, developments in internet technologies around the world have enabled a new
learning-teaching environment to find itself a place in the relevant literature. Platforms, also called
virtual language learning environments, help learners learn languages regardless of time and space. In
addition, thanks to such platforms, individual learning environments are offered to learners, and it is
now possible to customize one's learning depending on personal traits and learning habits.
Educational materials used in the process provide permanent learning, make the learner understand
concrete and difficult issues more easily, save time, and interesting contents are being used and
learned more easily (Gücükoğlu ve Türker, 2015, s. 448).
According to the research carried out by Hazer et al. (2011, p. 11-12), the increase in
computer use at home causes an increase in the activities of people about their work-life in their
homes, and people have started to 'convert' their homes into their offices. Based on this result, the
researchers predict that more time will be devoted to computer-oriented activities in the future and
that individuals will have to develop their computer literacy skills.
Since then, the use of computers and the Internet has increased gradually. However, the
Corona Virus (COVID-19) epidemic, which broke out on December 1, 2019, in Wuhan, China, and
spread all over the world, forced people to spend time in lockdown in their homes, and countries have
started to take different measures to prevent the outbreak from getting worse. One of these measures
is to make people stay at home and prevent them from getting out on the streets. This practice is
carried out in different ways in different countries. While some countries have prohibited their
citizens from leaving their homes at certain times, some countries have declared short or long-term
lockdowns or curfews and imposed some sanctions on their citizens.
The fact that people stay in their homes also affect habits related to their computer and
internet use. Many people prefer to use different websites, social media platforms or other
applications in order to spend time in their homes without getting bored. On the other hand, those who
have to go to work and those who can work from home continue their work on the Internet.
One of the sectors affected by the epidemic is the education sector. Countries in different
parts of the world have had to make changes in their education systems. Schools have had to give a
break in most countries with insufficient technical infrastructure for long and unresolved periods until
schools are reopened in the unforeseeable future. In technologically developed countries, educational
institutions have switched to online/distance education systems.
Distance Education in Foreign Language Teaching
"When distance learning is considered in its most general sense, it can be described that
learning takes place without the need for learners to be [physically present] in traditional classroom
settings" (Mutlu & Mutlu, 2014, p. 25). For this reason, distance education applications provide a
significant advantage, especially for individuals who want to learn foreign languages. It is not usually
possible for many people to learn the target language in the native country where the language is
spoken. It is often costly to study at a language school abroad; therefore, most learners prefer to study
in language courses in their own country. In these courses, individuals meet the target language only
in the classroom environment and cannot find out-of-class learning environments where they can
practice what they have learned. However, the important thing here is to practice the target language
with the native speakers so that learning could be functional and the retention period might last
longer. To meet this need, many language schools bring their learners together with native speakers,
and learners have the opportunity to speak and practise with them via distance/online education
platforms.
On the other hand, Behjat (2013, p. 1759) states that vocabulary knowledge of language
learners from different fields of study can improve to different degrees when they use the Internet to
improve their language skills. Nowadays, internet access has become easier worldwide, which also
has an impact on language teaching. Indeed, the Internet is at the core of distance education tools.
With distance education applications, learners can develop both their vocabulary and other language
skills.
There are also some difficulties in employing distance/online education systems in distance
language teaching. The biggest problem is the lack of face-to-face communication with learners' peers
and teachers. It is possible to develop, change, and increase the number of course contents, but this
requires much additional work. Upon merging pedagogical approaches and modern technologies, it is
possible to carry out a successful foreign language course (Trajanovic et al. 2007, p. 451).
Distance Learning Applications and Practises as to Teaching Turkish
Distance education studies can be carried out either synchronously or asynchronously. In
synchronous learning environments, both the teacher and the learner could actively participate in
teaching simultaneously. In asynchronous applications, however, a learner can usually start using the
educational content pre-prepared for them. Although it is planned that the "Turkish Teaching Portal"
examined in the article will have synchronous features in the long term, the portal is still an
asynchronous one. For this reason, some applications that allow learning Turkish asynchronously are
included in this section.
When looked at the applications and platforms of distance/online Turkish learning, it is seen
that some websites are established to support Turkish learners, as well as direct language teaching
websites. Examples of these sites are "turkishexplained.com" and "dilbilimi.net". The first two
websites are offered in both Turkish and English. On the "dilbilimi.net" website, English is partially
used. A paid membership is not required for all three websites, and they offer supplementary
resources for Turkish learners.
"Turkish Explained" (https://turkishexplained.com) website consists of seven sections. These
sections are named as the basics of Turkish language, adjectives, verbs, modal verbs, speaking, signs
and links, respectively. The section called the basics of the language includes the alphabet, sound
harmony, sounds and phonemes and grammar sections, and it is also possible to download electronic
books from the site for a certain fee. On the site, grammar rules are explained in English, and then it is
aimed to reinforce the subject with sample sentences about that specific grammar rule.
There is a section called "I Learn Turkish Step by Step" within the website of "dilbilimi.net"
(https://dilbilimi.net). There are some grammar rules, reading and listening texts in six units to assist
users in learning Turkish. Grammar rules are explained in Turkish, and then examples of the rules,
multiple-choice tests and gap-filling exercises are offered to users. The website also includes grammar
reference resources, dictionaries and visual materials sections.
When we look at the websites of distance learning Turkish, Yaşar University's "I am learning
Turkish", "My Mother Tongue Turkish" of Anadolu University and "Distance Turkish Learning
Portal" of Yunus Emre Institute come to the fore.
Yaşar University's "I Learn Turkish" site was designed as an adaptive massive open online
course (Adaptive MOOC) developed within the scope of the "Differentiated Distance Education of
Turkish as a Foreign Language" project within the scope of TÜBİTAK 3501 Program. The project,
which takes the individual differences into account in teaching Turkish throughout the world and aims
to create an education system that differs according to the readiness levels of the learners, is limited to
the A1 level only. While preparing the site, the designers combined the contents of Yunus Emre
Institute and TÖMER. The site has 53 sections, including dictionary for rules, a vocabulary section,
forum and virtual meeting room to teach Turkish to foreigners. The system has English, Arabic,
Russian and French language support (Yaşar University, 2016).
Anadolu University launched the Distance Turkish Teaching Program (TSP) in 2007. The
program was prepared for both foreigners who are over 17 years of age and for Turkish people whose
native language has not improved just because they live abroad (Pilancı et al., 2015, p. 1281). "In the
program, each language level consists of 12 units; 11 different learning portals including study, video,
book, workbook, assignments, simultaneous counselling services (synchronous), asynchronous
counselling services (asynchronous), sample test and oral and written exam" (Şen, 2016, p. 419) were
being offered, but later on, Anadolu University ended the TSP program and launched the "My Mother
Tongue Turkish" project. The main language Turkish site could be entered via typing the address
"turkce.anadolu.edu.tr" using Google, Facebook and Microsoft accounts or by just creating a new
profile. It is possible to learn Turkish at A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 levels on the site. While A1 level is
presented to the learners as 7 units, the other levels consist of 8 units. Topics prepared using animated
characters are presented to users via a video player applet. When users complete the task, they go to
the next stage via using the video player, and when the activities for skills are completed, the unit
ends. In practice, the students are allowed to write comments and discuss the lessons in the section
called "canteen", through which they can also communicate with each other.
Yunus Emre Institute has prepared the Distance Turkish Learning Portal to provide a
language learning environment for those who want to learn Turkish, independent of time and location.
The portal's home page can be accessed through the addresses of "learnturkish.com" and
"turkce.yee.org.tr". The portal offers Turkish, English, Russian and Arabic language support. The site,
which aims to teach Turkish from A1 level to C2, does not have any applications for C2 level yet. The
portal, the purpose of which is to improve the reading, listening, speaking and writing skills of the
users, aims to teach Turkish to users through fun. The more the users progress in the system, the more
they gain points, and a ranking [the league of fame] is made among these users. In the "Words"
section, users are given the word and image, and the pronunciation of the word is read aloud
simultaneously. Learners can add the words they have difficulty in learning to their personal
glossaries/dictionaries and repeat these words whenever they want, which makes it easier for learners
to learn the words that they do not know. There is a dictionary section on the portal, too. The portal,
which aims to increase the competitive edge among the learners with the option of adding friends via
the portal, is planned to offer "learning coach" support and private lessons to the users in the future.
Purpose of the Study
In the discipline of teaching Turkish to foreigners, applications related to distance education
are very few. Some of the programs mentioned above have been developed in recent years, yet the
number is limited, and also the number of total active users is still quite small. The reason for these
low numbers could be that these applications are still in their trial versions. For this reason, although
the user feedback is very important in terms of improving the applications, academic research is not
seen to have been made in this field yet. Considering the importance of developing technology and
distance education each day experienced in today's world, it is, therefore, crucial to prepare "content-
wise quality" distance education applications for teaching Turkish to foreigners as soon as possible. In
this context, the aim of the research is to evaluate the Distance Turkish Learning Portal developed by
Yunus Emre Institute to teach Turkish online, in line with the students' opinions. For this purpose, the
research questions have been formulated as follows:
"What are the opinions of the students using the Yunus Emre Institute Distance Turkish
Teaching Portal about the website in question?" Within the framework of this main problem
statement, the answers to the following sub-problems are sought in the study:
1. In what ways do the learners find the Yunus Emre Institute Distance Turkish Learning Portal
weak?
3. According to the learners, are the assessment and evaluation practices in the Yunus Emre Institute
Distance Turkish Learning Portal useful?
4. According to the learners, are the videos in the Yunus Emre Institute Distance Turkish Learning
Portal useful in improving their Turkish?
A qualitative research model, which is frequently used in educational sciences, was used in
this study. The open-ended questionnaire was administered to learn about participants' beliefs about
Yunus Emre Institute's Turkish Teaching Portal for learning Turkish. Accordingly, the case study,
which is one of the techniques used in the qualitative research model, was taken as the basis in the
study.
According to Köse (2017, p. 109), the purpose of this type of research is to examine a
particular situation in depth and reveal detailed results as this model is widely used especially in the
field of educational sciences. In this context, the thoughts of the learners using the portal in question
will be studied in depth. User feedback is very important for the correction and improvement of the
portal. After determining the learners' expectations of the portal and the problems in the system, the
upcoming improvements will make the portal functional leading to a more useful system.
In addition, correspondence technique was used to collect data in the research.
Correspondence is the technique of collecting data through written communication. Letters,
questionnaires, written tests, etc. are commonly used tools to collect such data" (Karasar, 2019, p.
Universe and Sample
Students who benefit from Yunus Emre Institute Turkish Teaching Portal constitute the
universe of the study. In this universe, 132 learners who responded adequately to the correspondence
tool constitute the sample of the research. Each individual responding to the questionnaire was coded
as "Participant 1 (P1), Participant 2 (P2) …" and numbered accordingly. These codes, which are
included in the quotations in the findings section of the research, show to which participant the
statement belongs. The data on the gender of the participants are as follows:
Table 1. Data on the gender of the participants
Gender                                                                                f       %
Female                                                                                76      57,6
Male                                                                                56      42,4
Total                                                                                132      100
Seventy six of the participants are female (57.6%) and 56 (42.4%) are male. The data on the
age groups of the participants are as follows:
Table 2. Data on the age groups of the participants
Age Group                                                                          f          %
18-20                                                                             9           6,8
21-25                                                                             54         40,9
50+                                                                               4            3
Total                                                                            132         100
Nine (6.8%) of the participants are 18-20 years old; 54 (40.9%) of them are 21-25 years old;
25 (18.9%) of age 26-30; 18 (13.6%) were 31-35 years old; 15 (11.4%) of 36-40 years old; 7 (5.3%)
are between the ages of 41-50 and 4 (3%) are over the age of 51. The data on participants' level of
education are as follows:
Table 3. Data on participants' level of education
Level of Education                                                          f              %
High School                                                                27             20,5
Bachelor's                                                                 71             53,8
Master's                                                                   30             22,7
PhD                                                                        4               3
Total                                                                     132             100
Twenty seven of the participants (20.5%) are high school students; 71 (53.8%) Bachelor of
Arts or Science, 30 (22.7%) Master's and 4 (3%) hold PhD degrees. The data on the Turkish levels of
the participants are as follows:
Table 4. Data on Turkish levels of the participants
Level of Turkish                                                          f                %
A1                                                                       49               37,1
B1                                                                       31               23,5
C1                                                                       11                8,3
Total                                                                    132              100
Forty nine of the participants (37.1%) are at A1 level; 26 (19.7%) are at A2 level; 31 (23.5%)
are at B1 level; 15 (11.4%) stated that they knew Turkish at B2 level and 11 (8.3%) at C1 level. The
Data on the duration of participants' use of the Turkish Teaching Portal is as follows:
Table 5. Data on the duration of participants' use of the Turkish Teaching Portal
Duration of usage                                                                     f            %
0-6 months                                                                           66            50
6-12 months                                                                          19           14,4
1-2 years                                                                            38           28,8
2-3 years                                                                             6            4,5
3 years or more                                                                       3            2,3
Total                                                                                132          100
Sixty six of the participants (50%) have spent time on the website between 0-6 months; 19
(14.4%) for 6-12 months; 38 (28.8%) for 1-2 years; 6 (4.5%) stated that they have been using the
Turkish Teaching Portal for 2-3 years and finally 3 (2.3%) for 3 years and more. . The data on the
usage frequency of the Turkish Teaching Portal by the participants are as follows:
Table 6. Data on the usage frequency of the Turkish Teaching Portal by the participants
Frequency of usage                                                                   f            %
Always                                                                              28           21,2
Usually                                                                             32           24,2
Occasionally                                                                        52           39,4
Rarely                                                                              14           10,6
Never                                                                               6             4,5
Total                                                                              132           100
Twenty-eight of the participants (21.2%) said they use the portal: Always; 32 (24.2%)
usually; 52 (39.4%) occasionally; 14 (10.6% ) reported that they rarely use the Turkish Teaching
Portal, and lastly, 6 participants (4.5%) reported that they no longer use the portal.
The research is limited to 132 learners who learn Turkish via Yunus Emre Institute Turkish
Teaching Portal. Learners who could not be reached during the data collection process or who gave
incomplete answers to the questionnaires were not included in the study sample in order to obtain
reliable data. Again, the research was limited to the problem statement and finding answers to the sub-
Firstly, a questionnaire development study was carried out by the researchers for the research.
As stated by Daşdemir (2019, p. 93), the survey is a data collection technique applied by asking
written questions and receiving written answers. It is generally used in educational sciences in order
to obtain written information about a situation or a condition, attitude, behaviour, existing knowledge
and ideas or thoughts of the subjects/participants. Opinions were received from two field experts to
check whether the questionnaire prepared by the researchers served the purpose of the research or not.
The questionnaire was finalised with the feedback from the field experts. Since the questionnaire will
appeal to users of all levels, it has been translated into English and Arabic by official translators to
make it trilingual. Subsequently, an expert opinion was retaken on whether the questions were
consistent and the translations were correct in all three languages. After the positive feedback, the
questionnaire was transferred to the electronic media through the application of "Google Form".
There are two sections in the questionnaire: Part One, the demographic data and Part Two for
the belief section. Finally, the link of the questionnaire was sent to Yunus Emre Institute, and the form
was re-examined by the experts at the Institute and sent to the system users via e-mail. The form,
which was kept in the electronic form for one week to be answered, was toggled off at the end of one
week.
Descriptive analysis technique was used in the analysis of research data. "The data obtained in
this type of analysis are summarised and interpreted according to the previously determined themes.
In the descriptive analysis, direct quotations are often included to reflect the striking views of
individuals interviewed or observed. The purpose of this type of analysis presents the findings to the
reader in an organised and interpreted way" (Şahin, 2017, p. 190). Accordingly, the findings obtained
from the learners are mainly dealt with in seven sections. Subsequently, the beliefs of the learners in
each section were analysed by the researchers. Some of the learners' beliefs are reported verbatim for
authenticity.
Findings and Comments
In this part of the study, the opinions of the participants regarding the Yunus Emre Institute
Distance Turkish Learning Portal are listed under subtitles.
Positive Aspects of Distance Turkish Learning Portal
Participants were asked "Positive Aspects of the Distance Turkish Learning Portal". The
frequency and percentages table regarding the positive aspects of the Distance Turkish Learning
Portal prepared based on the participants' responses are as follows:
Table 7. Frequencies and Percentages Regarding the Positive Aspects of the Turkish Learning Portal
Theme                        Codes                                                  f          %
Being independent of time and place                   30         22,7
Being free of charge                                   2         16,6
Improving speaking and listening skills               16         12,1
Positive Aspects of          Individualized / Customized Learning                  15         11,3
the Distance Turkish         Effective Vocabulary Teaching                         13          9,8
Learning Portal              Gradual/Levelled Learning                             11          8,3
No comments                                           10          7,5
Being familiar with the Turkish Culture                9          6,8
Improving reading and writing skills                   6          4,5
TOTAL                                                132         100
According to Table 7, it is seen that user opinions are gathered in nine themes. 22.7 percent of
the users see the Distance Turkish Learning portal as a positive feature to be used independent of time
and place constraints. Some of the opinions from the users according to the first theme are as follows:
(P47) "I can study Turkish without having to leave home." (P118) "Easily reachable at any
time, free and connected to Turkish culture." (P33) "Learning Turkish easily from any place
online." (P2) "Adjusting according to one's levels, finding voice recordings, creating a
competitive environment (points), being full of pictures and taking lessons in 24 hours when
requested."
It is noteworthy that Yunus Emre Institute, which has started to focus on technology-based
Turkish teaching in recent years, has opened the portal prepared by a large team of teachers for free,
and also provided quality Turkish education without any cost to the users. On the other hand, Yunus
Emre Institute's portal is one of the first websites in this field since there are few distance education
applications prepared in accordance with foreign language teaching principles and methods for
learning Turkish. It responds to a serious need with this aspect. Some of the opinions of the
participants, who see the website is offered free of charge see this as an advantage:
(P42) "The opportunity to choose the time is perfect for me, and free education is also a good
thing." (P57) "I will overcome my fear of learning a foreign language. This system is very
good for me. I can learn by myself. I saved money for three years to learn English, but I don't
have such a problem for Turkish." (P16) "Having a lecture in this organised way for free
charging." (P21) "Learning is step by step and with each lesson there is its grammar.
Another advantage of the website for the users was its provision of personalised language
learning opportunities. This has been stated as a positive feature of the portal by 12.1% of users.
Likewise, 11.3% of users and 9.8% of users believed the website was effective in improving their
speaking and listening skills respectively. Listening comprehension and oral production skills are
among the most important elements of communication. In this context, it is noteworthy that the
listening and speaking activities in the portal are found useful by the learners. Contrary to the courses
held in the physical environment, the portal provides asynchronous and personalised learning
opportunities and the vocabulary teaching activities repeatedly bring target words to the learners,
which contributes to the retention of learning.
Levelled learning or learning in line with levels is one of the most important features brought
by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Accordingly, when a language is
taught to the learner, it is necessary to act in a certain system and follow a sequence in the teaching of
skills and grammatical structures. Language teaching is planned as six levels from A1 to C2 in the
Turkish Teaching Portal. Of these, A1 and A2 are called basic level, B1 and B2 are intermediate
level, C1 and C2 are high level. When one logs into the system, they can see that teaching can be
carried out up to C1 level, but the level of C2 has not been activated yet.
When Yunus Emre Institute, Yedi İklim Türkçe [literally translated as: Seven Climate
Turkish] sets are examined, it is seen that only focus is not the Turkish language teaching, but also the
elements of Turkish culture are often offered to those who want to learn the language. A similar
situation exists in the Distance Turkish Learning Portal. As a matter of fact, 6.8 per cent of users see
the portal to promote Turkish culture as a positive feature.
In terms of improving their reading and writing skills, 4.5 per cent of users think that the
portal is effective. When the portal is examined, it is seen that reading many texts are included. There
are also writing activities through which users can practice their Turkish from the basic level.
When the comments of the users participating in the research are examined, it is seen that 122
participants mentioned the positive aspects of the portal, while 10 participants did not express their
opinions in the question item. Based on this result, it can be said that 92.4 per cent of the users who
used the portal and participated in the research found a positive feature in the portal, and thus were
satisfied with the portal.
Negative Aspects of the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
Participants were asked about the "Negative Aspects of Turkish Learning Portal". The
frequency and percentages table regarding the negative aspects of the Distance Turkish Learning
Portal based on the answers of the participants are as follows:
Table 8. Frequencies and Percentages Regarding the Negative Aspects of Distance Turkish Learning
Theme                             Codes                                                      f        %
No negative aspect                                         3        5
Technical Deficiencies                                     7       0,4
Negative Aspects of               Problems as to the recording of speaking skills            7       2,8
the Distance Turkish              No interactive speaking option                             3       9,8
Learning Portal                   No tutor support                                          12        9
Some too high-level exercises                             11       8,3
No comments                                               10       7,5
Insufficient grammar teaching                              9       6,8
TOTAL                                                     132      100
The percentage of participants who do not think that the portal has a negative aspect is 25%
while 20.4% of them complain about technical deficiencies. Some of the opinions of the participants
regarding these complaints are as follows:
(P9) "It is slow, maybe due to the internet connection." (P40) [With broken Turkish:] "The
website is very slow, usually gives an error when I reply to the last exercise or any other
exercise, and I need to answer the whole lesson again, sometimes when I answer a course
exercise or an exam-oriented exercise, maybe there is one more question, but I made 5
mistakes; I tried to answer this exercise it gives the same wrong score. Speech practice is
usually not said here when the headset is well placed on the computer, and I am responding
to other speech exercises. There is no response to my e-mails." (P123) "Sometimes, the
website doesn't work." (P76) "Technical errors such as voice detention problems, bugs and
glitches throughout the activities." (P80) "It is too slow to load, and sometimes it just hangs."
(P85) "It took a lot of time to do each task there since it is a lot and the progress is so slow."
Participants' common complaint; the application sometimes works slowly, and sometimes it
does not open; sometimes it suddenly gives an error message. Indeed, this type of systematic
problems is often encountered. This situation is considered to have been caused by too many users
simultaneously trying to log into the system. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, face-to-face education
was interrupted in many countries around the world, and similarly, face-to-face education was also
interrupted at the language centres of Yunus Emre Institute, and distance education was initiated.
Thousands of users have been moved to the portal in a very short time, and due to this unprecedented
surge of users, problems have begun to surface because the technical infrastructure is not strong
enough. Therefore, the portal needs to be updated or strengthened accordingly.
The portal is built on the development of four basic language skills. However, the tool used in
teaching speaking skill is not functional enough. This tool may not work properly, based on the
principle by which a user speaks Turkish through the microphone and the program analyses the
speech, and the user is expected to utter the listed words and sentences with the correct pronunciation.
The percentage of users complaining about this situation is 12.8%. Lack of interactive speech option
and live tutorial support is also seen as deficiencies in the portal. Some of the user opinions on these
themes are as follows:
(P37) "It would be better if there was a conversation section among the learners, I think.
Learning alone is good. But learning with others is more useful. Maybe I can add a book,
group chat and presentation feature." (P43) "An important deficiency of the program is that it
is not a real speaking practice." (P80) "Some questions that require us to speak does not
register what we say correctly. I also don't like the questions that require us to spell the
answer letter by letter."
Eleven of the participants state that some exercises are above their current level, and nine of
them say that their language teaching is insufficient. Participant number thirty-six (P36) states that
when he reaches A2 level, he suddenly faced some subjects with which he could not cope, so his
progress is slower when he levels up from A1 to A2.
The participant numbered thirty-three (P33) states that there is no reply to his e-mails, for
example, he has not been informed whether he will be given a certificate when he completes the
system. The same participant also says that he feels worried if the system or the site is to be closed
and his efforts wasted.
When the responses are examined, it is seen that 122 participants have given negative
opinions, and ten participants did not give a negative opinion regarding the use of Turkish Teaching
Portal.
Weaker Points to be Improved in the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
Participants were asked if Yunus Emre Institute's Distance Turkish Language Learning Portal
has any aspects that need improvement. Frequencies and percentages related to the themes based on
the opinions of the participants are as follows:
Table 9. Frequencies and Percentages Regarding the Weaker Points to be Improved in the Distance
Turkish Learning Portal
Theme                                Codes                                                  f       %
No need for improvement                               21      15,9
Need for better technical infrastructure              16      12,1
Need to add [speaking] club activities                15      11,3
Need for online tutorial support                      13       9,8
Weaker Points to be Improved in      Need for extra exams and activities                   13       9,8
the Distance Turkish Learning        Need for mobile application                           11       8,3
Portal                               Need for enriching grammar exercise                   10       7,5
No comments                                           10       7,5
Need for speaking skill recording                     9        6,8
Need for increasing the videos in the system          8         6
Need for offline feature                              6        4,5
TOTAL                                                 132     100
When we look at Table 9, we can see that 15.9 percent of the participants said "There is no
need to develop the Distance Turkish Learning Portal." 12.1 percent of the participants expressed
their opinion that the technical infrastructure should be improved. Demand for distance education has
increased, especially during the coronavirus outbreak. The Distance Turkish Learning Portal users
complain that they have problems in using the portal and that they experience freezes and hangs on
the site from time to time, and as a solution to this, they suggest that the site should be technically
improved and upgraded.
While 11.3% of the participants expressed their opinion as follows; "[Speaking] Club
activities should be added." 9.8% of them stated that "online tutorial support" should be provided.
Users need to interact with each other on the portal. Also, there was a demand from the users for the
online tutorial support section, which is not available on the portal but yet given a section. In order for
the users to practice in the language they learn, it is important for the function of the portal to provide
the users with messaging or chat/speaking rooms similar to those on social media platforms, and to
serve the users online, which will provide instant answers to the possible questions of the learners.
Although there are end-of-section tests on the portal, the need to prepare extra exams and activities is
expressed by users.
Smartphones have become indispensable for human life today. People can easily perform all
their needs on the Internet thanks to smartphones, and even many people learn language through
language applications. Among the Distance Turkish Learning Portal, 8.3% of users state that the
portal's mobile phone application should be improved. Some of the participants' views are as follows:
(P22) "You should make a more useful application for the mobile phone." (P56) "When I use
it on the phone, I do not get the sound recording correctly, and I have problems with the
writing sections, so it is necessary to develop the phone application." (P73) "First of all, the
speaking questions don't work, when I talk nothing happens. Second, it does not work
properly with iPad and phones. Third, most of the learners don't have a Turkish keyboard, so
please add a Turkish keyboard to all the writing questions." (P103) "You should develop it to
be a mobile application. you need to provide a tutor to answer our questions, and you need to
work more on the speaking questions."
Keeping the grammar explanations short and making the explanations only in Turkish were
found insufficient by the participants. When the application is examined, it will be seen that the
sections related to grammar learning area are kept short. In this approach, the principle of offering
Yunus Emre Institute's grammar teaching more intuitively in four basic language skills seems to be
more productive. However, in this portal where the teacher is not active, it is understood that the
participants have difficulty in understanding grammar topics. It would be advisable to review the
grammar sections on the portal in this respect. Some of the opinions of the participants who expressed
their views on the "enrichment" of grammar teaching section are as follows:
(P28) "I am saying clearly that I could not learn grammar from your website because I could
not understand so I watched some other videos." (P47) You can support the site with the idea that
there is a teacher explaining grammar in every level in detail." (P100) "Explanations and sections
about teaching grammar should be developed. It is not enough." (P129) "The grammar part should be
explained with more examples."
Ten of the users did not comment in this section. Nine of them said that it requires
improvement in speaking skills, eight participants asked for an increase in the number of videos in the
system, and the other six suggested making the internet use possible.
The Benefit of Videos on the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
The opinions of the participants on whether they find the videos in the Distance Turkish
Learning Portal useful or not are as follows:
Table 10. Frequencies and Percentages Regarding the Benefits of Videos on the Portal
Theme                                                  Codes                       f             %
Beneficial                 127           96,2
Benefit of Videos on the Distance Turkish Learning
Portal                                                 Not Beneficial              1             0,7
Cannot decide               4              3
TOTAL                      132           100
The percentage of participants finding videos on the portal useful is 96.2%. Only one
participant stated that the videos were not useful, while four participants stated that they could not
decide. Some of the participants who think that the videos in the portal are useful are as follows:
(P41) "Yes, but they need to speak more slowly for me to understand the speech in the
videos." (P46) "Yes, but with special [attention to] the pronunciation for learners." (P59)
"Yes, but it does not seem to be at advanced levels. I remember it only available in A1 and
A2."
Some participants (P43, P46) find the rate of delivery in the videos high. Besides, there are
participants (P41, P59) who state that the number of videos in the application is insufficient. As the
participants point out, the number of videos decreases as the application goes from basic to advanced.
These videos not only help the target audience improve their speaking skills, but also help them gain
cultural awareness.
Benefits of End-of-the-Unit Tests in the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
There are end-of-the-unit tests on the Distance Turkish Learning Portal. The participants were
asked whether they found the end of the unit tests useful or not. The table of frequencies and
percentages created based on the responses from the participants are as follows:
Table 11. Frequency and Percentages Regarding the Benefits of End of the Unit Tests
Theme                                                   Codes                               f       %
Beneficial                        118      89,3
Benefits of End-of-the-Unit Tests                       Not beneficial                     3        2,2
Cannot decide                      11       8,3
TOTAL                             132      100
When the opinions of the participants are examined, it is seen that 89.3 per cent of the
participants find the end of the unit tests beneficial. Three of the participants find the end of the unit
tests not beneficial, and 11 participants state that they are undecided on this matter.
Some of the opinions of the participants who found the end of the department tests useful are
(P39) "Yes, it is useful and shows if you are working well. However, it has a flaw, which is
that the questions are taken as they are from the lessons, and I think this is not good." (P45)
"Yes, but some speech tests are not good." (P103) "Yes, but the speaking parts need to be
developed."
Speaking parts at the end of unit tests generally do not measure the users in speaking sub-
skills such as fluency, vocabulary and accuracy. It is mostly based on pronunciation. One participant
(P39), on the other hand, criticized the questions in the end-of-unit tests in the sense that the questions
are directly taken from the content in the section.
Language Supports for the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
The Distance Turkish Learning Portal supports Turkish, English, Russian and Arabic
languages. In the questionnaire, users were asked which languages they would like to add to the portal
other than these languages. The table of frequencies and percentages created based on the answers
given is as follows:
Table 12. Frequencies and Percentages Regarding the Languages Wished to be Added to the Distance
Theme                                       Codes                                       f        %
Not necessary                               96       72,7
French                                      9        6,8
Malay                                       7        5,3
Which languages would you like to be        Kazakh                                      4        3
added to the Distance Turkish Learning      Persian                                     3        2,2
Portal?                                     German                                      3        2,2
Italian                                     2        1,5
Urdu                                        2        1,5
Other                                       6        4,5
TOTAL                                       132      100
The percentage of users who are satisfied with the language options available on the Turkish
teaching portal is 72.7%. These people do not find it necessary to add a new support language. As
6.8% of users demand that French be added to the portal, 5.3% of them prefer Malaysian and 3%
Kazakh language. Three people ask for Persian and German, and two for Italian and Urdu, while 4.5%
of the users marked other languages.
Other Opinions about the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
Finally, the participants were asked if they had different opinions about the "Distance Turkish
Learning Portal". In this section, 86 of the participants stated their opinions, while 46 participants did
not fill in the questionnaire.
When the participants' comments in this topic are examined, it is seen that they requested that
the users who are successful in the application (P33 and P112) should be given certificates by the
Institute. It is known that Yunus Emre Institute is not considering giving certificates to the online
users at this stage. Besides, there are no course materials or books in PDF format. Some participants
(P70, P121) who have addressed this issue have recommended uploading PDF files to the portal.
Thus, in cases where there is no internet, learners can study Turkish through these files. In addition,
there are also participants who recommend adding Turkish movies or cartoons (P43) and allowing
users to upload videos to the system (P101). As in previous titles, the participants stated that the
system is working slowly (P33) and they want to communicate with teachers for the topics they do
not understand (P112). Finally, one participant (P35) wrote that the course contents at C1 level could
be divided into social sciences and science.
Some of the opinions that the participants would like to add are as follows:
(P33) "There are no replies for my e-mails. For example, I would like to know if I will have a
certificate. Is there an end date and the site will close if I didn't finish I will not take a
certificate. So, I should retry to take a certificate. The site is so slow and it isn't well updated.
It usually closes suddenly, and I am required to start the whole lesson again. Sometimes I get
well marks like 94% it seems like 20% or 28% even if I repeat it. It sometimes seems I didn't
complete the lesson even if I retried the whole lesson many times. There isn't coach support or
anyone to ask when you are in a trouble." (P35) "After the B2 level, C1 levels should be
different according to the learner. A separate program for science and social sciences will be
given and enriched with appropriate content according to the department." (P43) "It would
be great if Turkish movies and cartoons are added as full videos or short videos." (P70)
"PDF course materials and books can be added to the system. (P101) "Videos and
competitions can be organised with the videos that learners can shoot and upload to the
system." (P112) "After each level is over, a certificate must be given. There is no information
in the system. It would be nice if we could get a certificate." (P131) "Please add features that
will allow you to communicate with a teacher for a reasonable fee and ask an expert teacher
for unclear issues."
When the studies in the world are examined, it is seen that the developments in technology
are reflected in the language teaching processes. With the latest innovations, it is seen that the coined
concepts of "(Integrative) Computer Assisted Language Learning" and "Mobile Assisted Language
Learning" have begun to be used in the relevant literature. Web-based language learning/teaching,
which emerged as an interdisciplinary study, has become more and more profitable, and various
applications and websites have been developed for teaching Turkish to foreigners (Pilancı, 2015,
pp.262-265). Jarvis & Krashen (2014, p. 5) also state that computer-assisted language teaching
entered our lives in the 1960s, and today, technology-assisted language learning or mobile-assisted
language learning has replaced computer-assisted learning.
With the inclusion of the internet and multimedia technologies in educational programs,
learning has become possible for everyone at any time and from anywhere they like to access.
Learners can access information through chat groups, e-mails, blogs and wiki and communicate with
any other learners and their educators and teachers in these [virtual] environments. In this way,
learners have the chance to continue the process not only in formal but also in informal environments
(Yayla, 2014, p. 128). The "Turkish Teaching Portal" developed by Yunus Emre Institute is important
in terms of providing the opportunity to learn Turkish in informal environments with web support.
The portal has tens of thousands of users in different countries of the world. According to the survey
given to users, female users (57.6%) are more likely to use the portal than male users (42.4%). When
we look at the age groups, it is seen that a significant portion (66.6%) of users using Yunus Emre
Institute Distance Turkish Learning Portal are users who are aged 30 and under. However, it has been
determined that the portal is not only used by people in a certain age range, but also accessed by
learners from different age.
It is thought that high school graduate users are mostly university students. The number of
undergraduate graduates among users has an important weight (53.8%). It is followed by graduate and
high school graduates respectively, with only four graduates with a PhD degree using the portal. The
use of the portal by educated people is an important piece of information that will work especially in
B2 and for higher level content design. As a matter of fact, in groups where the audience of students
in physical/face-to-face courses consists of uneducated (or less educated) people, textbooks can
sometimes be too loaded for them because might not be familiar with these concepts and definitions
even in their native language, and much less so in another. In particular, such cases are encountered
with the immigrants who came to Turkey to lead their lives and the immigrants who want to learn
Turkish over the age of 40. In this context, the fact that educated people have an important place in
the audience using the portal facilitates the selection of the text. However, it reveals the need for
"Academic Turkish" especially for the students who will study at the levels of C1 and above.
The lives of the learners from different international backgrounds who came to Turkey for
academic purposes can be classified into two periods: education in TÖMERs (Turkish Teaching
Centres) and the time spent in the departments or in the faculties. In the first period, the entire group
of learners has the purpose of learning only the language, while in the second period, the learner now
becomes a language user and is educated with the medium of Turkish language, which is the language
of the majority of native speakers. In TÖMERs, a student who speaks Turkish in general finds himself
in an environment where Academic Turkish is used (Demir, 2017, p. 4). In this context, there is a
need to determine "Academic Turkish" areas for C2 and later on to prepare the contents for the
Distance Turkish Learning Portal.
More than half of the users (56.8%) are at the basic level. 34.9 per cent of the users are at a
medium level, and 8.3 per cent are at a high level. When the language levels of the users are analysed,
it is seen that the number of users decreases as their level gets higher. There is a similar situation in
normal face-to-face courses. In order for learners to use the portal at advanced levels, activities should
be designed in a way to motivate the learners and increase the use of the portal. A large number of
people spend most of their time in their daily lives by having fun and sharing their status or pictures in
virtual environments. Therefore, the portal should become an environment where learners can interact
and share with each other.
Half of the participants (50%) state that they have used the portal for the last 0-6 months.
Since these participants are among the 1000 people who use the portal the most, it can be claimed that
the promotion and usage of the portal have increased in recent months. It was determined that the
profile of the participants was in line with the predictions, especially considering that people were
constantly at home and turned to distance education platforms due to the pandemic.
Technology-based education has such features as providing lifelong virtual learning
environments, being independent of time and space/location, and giving the opportunity to learn
whenever you want to have access (Oran & Karadeniz, 2007, p.169). The computer and the internet
are very useful in developing listening and reading comprehension, verbal expression, conversation
skills and writing skills in language teaching. Thanks to the web-based distance/remote language
teaching and learning technologies, it is now possible to effectively teach Turkish to foreigners having
defined a good layout, design and preparation process (Pilancı, 2015, p. 266). According to Türker
(2014, p.360-361), the portals for teaching Turkish for foreigners, which are prepared according to the
e-learning model, provide equal opportunity to those who cannot participate in formal education,
besides users learn Turkish according to their own learning speed without feeling time limitation and
save costs such as transportation.
It has become easier to reach more people through Turkish teaching portals; to include
pictures, graphics, videos, etc. in addition to the students' book, in the course; to prepare individual
education programs and to introduce cultural elements (Türk Toğrul & Toğrul, 2016, p.151). Such
factors increase learner satisfaction. All of the participants using the Distance Turkish Learning Portal
state that they are generally satisfied. The strengths of the Turkish Teaching Portal, which are
determined based on the opinions of the participants, are as follows:
1.      There is no time and space restriction.
2.      The system can be used free of charge.
3.      Users can equally improve their reading, listening, speaking and writing skills.
4.      The learning process supports individual/customised learning.
5.      Effective and memorable vocabulary teaching is realised.
6.      There is a planned and levelled language teaching process, thanks to the levelled
learning system.
7.      Users have the opportunity to get to know Turkish culture better.
Self-learning is an important feature of the portal. People from different countries and nations
of the world can attend the Turkish course quickly and at no cost. According to Pilancı (2015, p. 266),
the importance given to distance/remote learning and education has increased, and it offers diverse
and rich learning environments, the opportunity to use different tools for language learning and
teaching, bringing people from different countries together by removing the geographical and spatial
barriers, and providing flexible lesson and teaching times. Thanks to its advantages, the interest in
web-based Turkish teaching programs is increasing.
Social networks attract attention as tools that should be used in language learning processes
with their features such as instant access to information and mutual interaction with learner
participation at an international level. In these environments, it is possible for learners to develop four
basic language skills, namely reading, listening, speaking and writing in the target language (Yayla,
2014, p. 129).
Although distance/remote learning and teaching applications have certain positive aspects,
there are also some weaknesses. Pilancı et al. (2015, pp. 1291-1294) states that the weaknesses of
distance education programs can be raised due to certain organizational problems, issues in creating
course content, technical problems, problems regarding learning and teaching habits, accreditation
problems and some regulatory administrative problems.
1.       The infrastructure of the site is insufficient.
2.       The tool used in speaking skill activities needs to be improved.
3.       There is no possibility for interactive speaking.
4.       Tutorial or coach support does not work.
5.       Some exercises are above the level of learners.
6.       Grammar teaching needs to be improved.
When the weaknesses of the Turkish Teaching Portal, according to the participants, are
examined, it is seen that organizational problems, technical problems and problems related to creating
content come to the fore.
There are ninety-four mobile applications in the App Store and Google Play that are designed
to teach Turkish to foreigners. When the applications were examined, it was seen that most of the
applications belonged to foreign developers and were prepared with commercial concerns, but the
applications should be developed in terms of quality (Becel, 2015, p. 269). "Good examples and
electronic resources should increase in order to establish standards for distance education of Turkish"
(Ozan & Göçmenler, 2018, p. 147). For this reason, Turkish Teaching Portal alone would be
insufficient to meet the needs in the field. The number of similar sites and applications should be
increased. The increase in the quantity will be reflected in the quality over time, and quality
applications for distance Turkish learning and teaching will emerge.
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One of the persistent knocks against Mount Sunapee is that this delightful mid-sized hill in central New Hampshire doesn't have any slopeside accommodations. Interestingly enough, you rarely hear the same complaints about a place like Waterville Valley. Maybe that's because the village at Waterville Valley has plenty of beds and restaurants, and a dedicated shuttle system to ferry skiers and boarders to and from the ski slopes.
In reality, the sprawling Mountain Edge Resort & Spa at Sunapee is literally minutes away from the ski hill and runs a convenient shuttle that gets you to the slopes before your morning coffee can cool off. Much like Mount Sunapee itself, the Mountain Edge is a family-friendly resort, featuring 47 suites, ranging from 650 to 1,500 square feet, that can sleep anywhere from six to 10 people (seven suites are timeshare units, part of the RCI Resorts Worldwide system).
Combine the Mountain Edge's easy access to the slopes with cozy accommodations, a fitness center, a pool center with lap pool and hot tub, a lighted sledding hill, an in-house restaurant (open Wednesday to Sunday, 4 p.m. to close), a full-service spa and a general store for incidentals, plus a nearby ski shop (Bob Skinner's Ski & Sports), and you've got a ski family's dream escape.
The Mountain View is Behrens's second property in Newbury. Across the street (Route 103) is his Sunapee Lake Lodge, first opened as a Best Western in the mid-1990s. Somewhat ironically, Behrens, a local builder and developer, was stymied by local banks that employed upside-down logic to deny funding for the project. It was like the inverse of Hollywood's "Field of Dreams," when gentleman farmer Kevin Costner heeds a mystery voice — "If you build it, they will come." — to erect a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield to lure the ghosts of baseball past. In Behrens's case, bank officials were effectively saying just the opposite.
To secure financing, Behrens had to franchise with the national Best Western chain, but be brought the lodge — with 55 rooms and 90 beds — into private ownership by 1998. About the same time, the Mueller family was negotiating with the state to buy out the lease for Mount Sunapee. With the blessings of then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, the Muellers took control of ski area, and Behrens's lodge didn't have enough rooms to meet the demand.
The first portion of the Adirondack-style Mountain Edge Resort opened its doors on Christmas Day, 2004, while the finishing touches were put on the spa and the remaining suites the following year. The place, built into a hillside, is rock solid, featuring a post-and-beam construction with 200-year-old fir timbers brought from a salt warehouse on Chesapeake Bay.
Walking into the cavernous main lobby, visitors are greeted by a marvelous vaulted ceiling and a taxidermy collection of local wildlife including black bear, red fox and fowl. To the left is a small "general store," with essential items ranging from cereals, energy drinks and soups (plus Alka-Seltzer and headache remedies) to earbuds, phone chargers, hand-warmers and hot coffee. At the back of the lobby is the Mountain Spirits Tavern, a terrific spot to unwind with an adult beverage after a day skiing or snowboarding.
"For me, the Mountain Edge Resort was a throwback to the condos or lodging my family would stay in when vacationing in Colorado during the mid-1970s, a combo of hunting lodge with a '70s aprèsski fondue vibe," said my wife, Lauri.
The Mountain Edge suites are smartly designed, with comfortable, body-hugging mattresses, crisp linens and fluffy pillows, and most of the amenities you expect from a ski condo. Our two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite on the third floor featured high ceilings to create a sense of spaciousness, sturdy rosewood furnishings, free WiFi for all our personal electronic devices, a gas fireplace that provided a warm ambiance, a large flat-screen television (perfect for the playoff football games being aired during our visit) and two smaller flat-screen TVs in each bedroom.
Given that Brynne is an early riser, that's high praise. However, there are some caveats, to be honest. For us, the main issue was the noise at night. Our third-floor unit was located directly above a loud generator, which was barely noticeable as we settled in for dinner, or to catch a game on TV. But at night, once the lights went out, the generator's erratic buzzing felt intrusive in our bedroom (though not in the loft where Brynne was sleeping). Fortunately, Lauri and I have stayed in enough thin-walled inns (not the issue here) that we always pack earplugs on our ski outings. Those came in handy during our stay.
Also, the kitchenettes are small and offer limited cooking area. For example, the stoves have only two burners, and no oven (though there was a toaster oven and small microwave). The second night, we opted to stroll down the long driveway to the Salt hill Pub (sic) for dinner. Like the ski area, the pub has great history. Originally called the Shanty Pub, owned by Tom and Judy Tuohy, the tavern was purchased by Behrens when he acquired the land for his Lake Sunapee Lodge. The pub came full circle when Behrens sold the restaurant to brothers Joe and Josh Tuohy, the sons of Tom and Judy Tuohy.
The Salt hill Pub is the quintessential Irish tavern, with comfort-food staples like beers, burgers, whiskey steak tips, fish and chips, pot roast, mac and cheese, and the intriguing Irish poutine (hand-cut fries topped with shaved corned beef, Guinness gravy and cheddar cheese curds). A sole guitarist at the bar added a fun touch.
Back at the Mountain View, Lauri and Brynne took full advantage of the hot tub and sauna to help loosen any tightness that lingered after a full day of skiing. The resort also offers a nicely equipped fitness center, with two treadmills, two elliptical trainers, three stationary bikes, a universal weight machine and squat machine, plus two televisions.
The spa, also located in the basement, is open Wednesday through Sunday, has eight treatment suites and a full menu of "wellness therapies," including massages, facials, nail care, waxing and body treatments. The spa, said Behrens, is a big hit due to the many weddings that the area hosts. And it's that wedding business, in addition to being a yearround destination, that made Sunapee so attractive to Vail Resorts, which recently acquired Sunapee (along with Okemo and Stowe in Vermont).


Teenagers in Bridgeport teamed up with the local police department today to help raise awareness of gang violence.Jonathan Simmons says two years ago, he saw a dead body on his way to school. That experience prompted him to form an organization called the Young Adult Police Commissioners, which includes teens who act as liaisons between the community and the police. This morning, Simmons' group and the Bridgeport PD hosted the first ever community gang seminar at the Golden Hill United Methodist Church.Members of the Young Adult Police Commissioners say preventing teens from joining a gang begins at home. Detective Harold Dimbo heads the Young Adult Police Commissioners group. He says the group recruits every October. Those interested in joining can contact the Bridgeport Police Department.