Intense interest in Turkish from Egyptians

Yunus Emre Institute (YEI), while contributing to the promotion of Turkish culture with various projects implemented in many parts of the world, Egyptians show great interest in learning Turkish at the Yunus Emre Cairo Cultural Center. Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) continues to contribute to the promotion of Turkish culture and the development of country relations with various projects implemented in many parts of the world. YEI, which started its activities abroad to introduce the Turkish language, culture, history, and art by opening its first representation in Sarajevo in 2009, continues to promote Turkish culture with 90 representations in over 60 countries in line with its mission to increase Turkey’s international visibility, reliability, and prestige. Interest in YEE cultural centers in different parts of the world is increasing day by day. The Yunus Emre Cultural Center in Cairo, one of the first centers established by the institute, has been introducing Turkish culture to Egyptians through various activities for 14 years. Since its establishment in 2010, the Yunus Emre Cairo Cultural Center, with a usage area of ​​1200 square meters, with 7 classrooms, 1 conference hall, 1 director’s office, 1 education coordinator’s office, 2 instructor rooms, 1 secretariat, 1 administrative staff room, library, 1 mosque, and 3 warehouses, continues its activities in the building. ‘I Speak Turkish with My Daughter at Home’ At the Yunus Emre Cairo Cultural Center, where 44,260 people have learned Turkish since its establishment, at least 550 students are receiving education in a 3-month period. Among the Egyptian students, including a doctor, university student, and business owner, are learning Turkish and getting to know Turkish culture closely. The students, who express that they watch series in Turkish, want to study in Turkey. Hiba, an Egyptian who finds Turkish fun, said, ‘I graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts. I have been learning Turkish here for seven years. It is a very fun language for me. At the same time, it is very close to Arabic.’ Hiba, who decided to learn Turkish when she realized that she couldn’t speak during her visit to Turkey and noticed common words between Arabic and Turkish, said, ‘As soon as I came to Egypt, I joined the Yunus Emre Cairo Cultural Center and started learning Turkish. I now watch series in Turkish, speak Turkish with my daughter at home. I really want to go to Turkey. But I don’t have such a plan at the moment. I love Turkish food and started to learn. I cook Turkish dishes like mantı once a week.’ Doctor Marwa, who said, ‘I am interpreting for a Turkish patient’ ‘I started learning Turkish a little late, but I am very happy because I have been learning Turkish for 1.5 years now. I will continue until the end. I am very happy to learn Turkish. They say ‘One language, one person, two languages, two people,’ and I am experiencing this now. I am getting to know a new culture. I enjoy reading Turkish books. I get to know Turkish culture through Turkish. I also teach Turkish to my nieces.’ Saying ‘I met Turkish patients. Two weeks ago, I interpreted for a Turkish patient I met and I was very happy,’ Marwa said that she closely follows Turkish authors and stated, ‘Activities were held at Yunus Emre Institute. Ahmet Ümit and İskender Pala came. I bought their books at the Book Fair and I read them.’ Feyza, 26, who graduated from the Turkish Language Department at the Faculty of Arts at Cairo University, stated that she has received education in 6 languages ​​but currently speaks 3 languages, including Turkish. Feyza, who said she got to know Turkish through songs she listened to when she was young, said, ‘Things I didn’t understand drew my attention, and I realized that Turkish is close to our language. When I finished high school, I decided to learn Turkish.’ Feyza, who said she did not have difficulty learning Turkish, said, ‘My grandmother is Turkish, so Turkish was always spoken at home. I didn’t understand anything, but she spoke so lovingly that I wanted to learn. I wanted to watch series in high school and I wanted to learn Turkish. My dream is to come to Turkey anyway. I worked so hard that I want to know if I am good and if I can speak when I go to Turkey.’ Expressing her admiration for Turkey and Turkish, Feyza said, ‘In addition to Turkish language education at the Yunus Emre Cairo Cultural Center, activities such as Turkish Cinema Workshop, Turkish Works Conference in Egypt, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Conference, Turkish Cinema Evenings, Ebru Exhibition, World Turkish Coffee Day, Traditional Quiz, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Commemoration Day, Yıldız Palace Photo Collection Egypt Albums Conference and Painting Exhibition, Turkish Introduction Program were organized.