Turkish Olympiads’ closing ceremony

Turkish Olympiads which lasted for two weeks closed with spectacular ceremony at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Dome on 30th June. More than 1000 students from the world’s 130 countries gathered in Turkey to show off their knowledge of Turkish language and culture through performance of songs and dances. Those who won the competitions performed once again in the farewell ceremony. The ceremony was attended by highest officials and politicians of Turkey including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan made a speech congratulating Turkish schools that have spread around the world for educating such talented individuals. He added that he ‘kisses the foreheads of teachers who carried the Turkish flag to the most distant places in north, south, east and west’. The closing ceremony of Turkish Olympiads was over with bittersweet memories for those who participated and watched them. Read rest of the story

Tajik Student becomes the first in the song contest at Turkish Olympiads

A student from Tajikistan Shohrukh Yunusov has become the winner in the song contest at Turkish Olympiads. His performance of the song ‘Ikinci Bahar’ was selected as the best by the jury consisting of Turkish politicians, intellectuals and people of culture and art. The event was attended by Turkey’s State Minister Egemen Bagis who announced the winner and praised the organization of Turkish Olympiads. Bagis appreciated the fact that the event served to promote dialogue among different cultures. To remind, this year more than 1000 students from 130 different countries – and that makes more than half of the world – gathered at Turkey to demonstrate their knowledge of Turkish language and promote their cultures. Read rest of the story

3rd International Turkish Olympiad Washington DC Finals

“My daughter speaks Turkish better than our native language”

3rd International Turkish Olympiad Washington DC finals brought thousands together in Washington DC. Middle and high schools students from seven neighboring states competed to win the chance to represent United States in the International Turkish Olympiad in Turkey in June. International Finals will host around 500 students from more than 120 countries.

Students attending Washington DC Finals competed in 3 categories: Singing, Poem Recitation and Folk Dance. Around two thousand spectators enjoyed the event and witnessed the tough contests in all three categories. Read rest of the story

An insider view to success of Fethullah Gulen inspired schools: ‘The teacher factor’

Fethullah Gulen inspired schools that have been opened in various corners of the world have proven themselves as very efficient and successful educational establishments. Students of the schools are often becoming the first in different domestic and international intellectual competitions and Olympiads; and many graduates of Fethullah Gulen inspired schools continue their studies in the most prestigious universities of the world. What are the reasons and factors explaining why Gulen inspired schools have become such efficient and successful educational establishments? As a graduate of one of the Gulen inspired schools in Central Asia, I can say that one of the most important reasons of such success is hidden in the so-called ‘teacher factor’ – more precisely, in the unique approach of teachers to educating and interacting with students. In the following paragraphs I will provide facts and concrete examples from my own experiences in order to explain why the teachers can be regarded as keys to success of Fethullah Gulen inspired schools. Although I will be mainly referring to the school which I attended, my observations are applicable to all Fethullah Gulen inspired schools since they all follow common systematic approach to education. Read rest of the story

A year of Anticipation Ahead

This is what each and every one in Turkey exactly feels about the Turkish Olympiads:  a whole year of anticipation ahead before the new contest takes place in May, 2011. Improving itself every year, Turkish Olympiads have reached to 120 countries in 2010. 750 winners have been selected among thousands of contestants in their own countries in 16 different categories. Thus, all the students competing in Turkey were already champions. But the final contests, which helped the jury to choose the champions of the champions were beyond perfection.

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