Looking for books to help you learn Turkish on your own? Look no further because, as a native Turkish speaker and language teacher, I’ve listed the best Turkish books for beginners and intermediate learners.
Table of Contents
Turkish Books For Beginners And Intermediate Learners
Here are the best 10 Turkish books for beginners and intermediate learners:
1. Turkish Short Stories For Beginners By Lingo Mastery
Turkish Short Stories For Beginners By Lingo Mastery is a short story compilation that immerses you in your target language without boring and long texts. The book has 20 easy-to-read short stories featuring realistic dialogues, summaries in Turkish and English, and comprehension questions to evaluate how much of the story you understood.
Features
- Engaging short stories, ensuring that you are not overwhelmed by lengthy texts.
- Realistic dialogues to help you familiarize yourself with common Turkish expressions and language patterns.
- Comprehension questions to help you evaluate your understanding of the stories.
2. Short Stories in Turkish for Beginners by Olly Richards
Since short stories are a fun way to read in Turkish as a beginner, here is another short story compilation: Short Stories in Turkish for Beginners by Olly Richards. There’s a little bit of something for every kind of reader, from crime to history.
In this book, each short story includes a glossary and a vocabulary list of new Turkish words you may encounter in the story, a summary of the story, and comprehension questions to assess your understanding.
Features
- Key vocabulary words and phrases are provided alongside the stories.
- It is tailored for beginners so that you can read it without feeling overwhelmed.
- Includes exercises like comprehension questions and vocabulary exercises.
3. Turkish Short Stories for Beginners by Foxton Books
Here is another short story book for beginners, Turkish Short Stories for Beginners by Foxton Books. The book comes with useful images that help you guess the meaning of new words from the context rather than looking each word up in the dictionary.
The book also includes exercises about reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary at the end of each story. This way, you can put into practice the new words and structures you’ve learned.
Features
- The visuals alongside each story help you understand the meaning of new words through context.
- Each story is followed by exercises that cover reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary.
- The exercises at the end of each story encourage active engagement with the material, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned.
4. Nasreddin Hoca Hikayeleri (Stories of Nasreddin Hoca)
Nasreddin Hoca (hoca means “teacher”) is a famous historical figure in Turkish literature and culture, known for his funny and tragicomic short stories. He was a scholar who lived in Turkey in the 13th century.
The book Nasreddin Hoca Hikayeleri is a series of stories telling Nasreddin Hoca’s interesting adventures with children, neighbors, teachers, etc. Each story is around a few paragraphs and plots around a Turkish joke, which makes it a great Turkish book for beginners. Originally, it was written for kids, which is why the stories are easy to understand for beginners, and you can even pick up new basic vocabulary and Turkish grammar structures.
Features
- The book introduces you to the historical Turkish figure Nasreddin Hoca through funny short stories.
- Nasreddin Hoca’s stories are packaged with humor, wit, and wisdom, so each story is a blend of entertainment and life lessons.
- The stories are relatively short, typically consisting of only a few paragraphs, which is ideal for beginner learners.
5. Küçük Prens (The Little Prince)
I know this one is not originally a Turkish book, but I recommend every language learner to read “The Little Prince” in their target language! Küçük Prens (The Little Prince) is a popular book read and loved by all ages in modern Turkey.
If you have read The Little Prince before (seriously, read it), you will already be familiar with the story. When you read it in Turkish, you will easily pick up new words and understand them from the context without a dictionary.
Features
- The familiarity with the storyline and characters can help you comprehend better. As you read it in Turkish, you can focus more on language nuances and vocabulary acquisition.
- As you encounter new Turkish words and phrases, you can often infer their meanings from the context, reducing the need to constantly refer to a dictionary.
6. The Delights Of Learning Turkish
You can level up from beginner to intermediate level thanks to this book: The Delights of Learning Turkish! The book has more than 15 units, each has example dialogues, Turkish grammar explanations, vocabulary lists, exercises, and more. It also gives insights into Turkish culture and traditions and includes TR-EN and EN-TR glossaries. In fact, it is a great book for those Turkish by themselves.
Features
- The book offers a structured approach to learning Turkish with 17 units.
- Each unit includes example Turkish dialogues which are examples of spoken Turkish language in real life.
- The book offers clear and concise explanations of Turkish grammar rules and structures.
7. Complete Turkish
Complete Turkish lives up to its name by focusing on all four language skills, explaining grammar instruction and vocabulary concepts and introducing readers to different topics in Turkish culture. It follows the Discovery Learning Method, encouraging students to detect patterns and discover linguistic principles for themselves. This means that this book will teach you how to learn Turkish. It is a perfect material if you are a self-study learner.
Features
- The book covers all language skills, ensuring a solid foundation in the Turkish language.
- In addition to teaching you Turkish, it also introduces you to Turkish culture by providing valuable insights into customs, traditions, and Turkish society.
- The book follows the Discovery Learning Method, which encourages you to detect patterns and discover linguistic principles on your own. This learning approach encourages independent learning and critical thinking skills.
8. Turkish Grammar In Practice
Turkish grammar differs from the grammar of most European languages. But don’t be scared— learners frequently find Turkish grammar to be regular and ordered. Once you’ve learned the rules, you’ll be done with the difficult portion. Turkish Grammar in Practice ensures that you have a solid foundation in grammar. This allows you to finish reading and writing exercises more comfortably. The book teaches the fundamentals of the Turkish language and is simple to use. The left page has topic explanations, while the right page contains exercises.
Features
- The book provides clear and concise explanations of Turkish grammar rules, making them easy to understand for beginners.
- It focuses on the fundamentals of the Turkish language, ensuring that you build a solid foundation in grammar.
9. 101 Deyim 101 Öykü (101 Idioms 101 Tales)
There’s nothing that will introduce you to Turkish idioms like this book! The book 101 Deyim 101 Öykü recounts the events that gave rise to the 101 common Turkish idioms that native speakers use every day! The book was initially written as a children’s book, which is why it has short, straightforward stories that are simple to read and help a beginner learn new words and phrases.
Features
- The book is about the 101 common Turkish idioms, providing context-rich insights into Turkish culture and history.
- It illustrates how Turkish idioms are used in everyday conversations by native Turkish speakers.
10. My First Turkish Book
This book is specifically written for bilingual kids who live overseas. If you are raising your kids bilingually in Turkish and English, this book is for you! The book contains around 200 common Turkish words that will catch their attention which range from fruits to animals. Its vibrant visuals also add to the fun and intrigue of studying. This is an excellent place to start if you live in an English-speaking country and want to expose your kids to more Turkish.
It would be a good idea to supplement the book with online language tutors, language learning apps, and Turkish cartoons.
Features
- The book caters to children who are bilingual in Turkish and English, providing a bridge between both languages.
- With approximately 200 Turkish words covering a range of topics, the book introduces children to essential vocabulary in an engaging manner.
- The colorful visuals enhance the learning experience, capturing children’s attention and making the study process more enjoyable and stimulating.
Why Learn Turkish Through Books?
Learning New Words: You’re more likely to be exposed to new vocabulary that you otherwise wouldn’t have heard if you were only practicing listening or speaking. Written language is ultimately different from spoken language, so you’ll likely learn new idioms, Turkish phrases, and versions of different words.
Using Words In Context: Reading allows you to learn new words in the context it would typically be used, which is a more effective way to learn and remember new vocabulary words. Forget the flashcards – reading will help ingrain the new words in your brain!
Fluency In Grammar And Spelling: By reading, you also give yourself time to apply and better understand the Turkish grammar rules that you learn in your Turkish language class or from textbooks.
Having Fun While Learning: Most importantly, reading books can re-energize you to learn Turkish and provide you with a break from monotonous exercise drills and boring dialogues in textbooks.
How To Choose The Right Turkish Books For Yourself?
After reading this article, you may also ask how you can choose the right Turkish book for yourself. Here are some tips to consider:
1. Choose A Topic That You’re Interested In
The most crucial factor to consider while selecting the correct book is whether or not it will interest you! It’s pointless to try to concentrate on reading a book you’re not interested in.
Given this, before you start reading, consider what themes you want to become more fluent in when studying Turkish. Do you want to talk about Turkish history? Or are you interested in using Turkish for business?
2. Consider Your Language Level
When choosing a book, it’s also critical to consider your language proficiency. It is useless to attempt to read a book that is too complex for you to understand at this time.
Alternatively, try to select a book that presents just enough of a challenge to help you acquire new vocabulary and language structures without being overly difficult to read.
3. Read Books Originally Written In Turkish (for intermediate and advanced learners)
Turkish grammar and sentence structure is very different from English. This means that when books are translated from languages such as English into Turkish, certain aspects of Turkish grammar that are commonly used in translations of Turkish-language novels may be lost.
So, you should choose to look for novels that were initially published in Turkish, as they will introduce you to Turkish in its most natural form.
4. Take It Easy
In the end, reading can require a lot of concentration and effort. At first, it might be better to refrain from reading anything that is extremely lengthy as a result. Consider beginning with short stories and gradually increasing your reading proficiency to read Turkish fiction or classics written by Turkish authors!
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Closing Words
So, when it comes to picking Turkish books for beginners, it’s all about finding the right fit for you. Whether you’re into short stories, folk tales, or textbooks, each one brings something unique to the table. Reading not only helps you pick up new words but also gets you familiar with how Turkish grammar works.
Plus, let’s not forget that getting to know Turkish literature can actually be fun! Just remember to choose books that match your interests and skill level! Happy reading!
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