Language Planning and Implementation in Turkish Primary Schools

This paper explores a major curriculum innovation in English language teaching in Turkish primary education from macro and micro perspectives. After an overview of the role of English in Turkey, macro-level planning underlying the introduction of English language teaching policy in state-owned primary education is presented. Then the diffusion of innovation through the government's provision of teacher opportunities is laid out. This is followed by micro-level implementation of language policy, focusing on a case study conducted in a local context. Based on survey findings, suggestions are proposed for the future direction of Turkish primary-level English language teaching.