Online Turkish lessons for kids and teens

These online Turkish lessons are for children and teens. Some are complete beginners. Some grew up hearing Turkish at home but rarely speak it. Others are moving to Türkiye and will soon sit in a classroom where everything happens in Turkish. Their teacher is Ceylan Meriç, a native Turkish speaker with an MA in Teaching Turkish and 8 years of experience, and children and teens are one of her specialties.

Why parents choose Turkly

• A teacher who works with children and teens. Teaching a child is a different job from teaching an adult, and lessons for young learners are a regular part of Ceylan's work.
• Qualified in teaching Turkish. Her MA is in teaching Turkish, and she teaches every level from A1 to C2, so a child who starts at zero can keep going for years with the same teacher.
• One-to-one lessons, so your child gets all of the teacher's attention, and the lessons move at their pace.
• Explanations in English or Turkish. A beginner can have things explained in English, and a child who already understands Turkish can learn in Turkish only.
• A plan you agree on. After the free trial you know your child's level and what the lessons will work toward.

A former student summed it up: "Ceylan's classes are really really good!" Ceylan also posts short lessons on her verified Instagram, @turkishlessonstr, which has over 13,000 followers.

How it works

1. A free trial lesson of 20 to 30 minutes. Ceylan meets your child, checks their level and talks with you about the goal.
2. A plan for your child's goal. It starts from what your family needs, whether that's talking with grandparents, reading and writing, or keeping up at a Turkish school.
3. Regular online lessons of 50 to 60 minutes. Each lesson comes with materials, plus a little practice between lessons to keep the Turkish going.

How lessons for children are different

Topics come from the child's own life: school, friends, hobbies, family. Activities change more often than in an adult lesson, because attention runs out sooner. Grammar is mostly learned through use, with rules explained once the child is ready for them. With teens, lessons can be closer to adult lessons, with more reading, writing and explicit grammar.

Heritage children

Many children of Turkish-speaking families understand Turkish but answer in another language. Others speak at home but can't read or write Turkish. Lessons give them more confidence speaking, the vocabulary that home life doesn't cover, and reading and writing. Our guide to Turkish for bilingual children has ideas you can use at home as well.

Kids starting Turkish school

A child moving to Türkiye has to follow a teacher, read schoolbooks and make friends, all in Turkish. Lessons before and during the move focus on classroom language, reading and writing, and the words for school subjects. If the whole family is moving, our guide to Turkish for living in Turkey covers the everyday side for parents.

What parents get

You get a clear picture of your child's level after the free trial and a plan you've agreed on, so you know what the lessons are working toward. Requests get a reply within 24 hours.

Price

Prices aren't listed on the site. The trial lesson is free. When you send a request, Ceylan replies within 24 hours with prices and the lesson options that suit your child.

Frequently asked questions

Can a child really learn online?

Yes, as long as the lesson is planned for a screen and for the child's age. One-to-one lessons help here, because the teacher can see straight away when attention drops and change the activity. Your child also learns from home, with no travel.

What age can my child start?

Ceylan teaches children and teens. Put your child's age and current Turkish in your request, and she'll tell you whether lessons are a good fit and how she would start.

My child understands Turkish but won't speak it. Can lessons help?

It's very common in bilingual families. In a one-to-one lesson with a teacher who speaks Turkish to them, the child has a real reason to answer in Turkish, and nobody else in the room answers for them.

Does my child need to speak English?

No. Ceylan explains in English or Turkish. If your child understands one of them, lessons can work. Children who already know some Turkish can have lessons fully in Turkish.

Do parents need to join the lessons?

You'll want to be there for the trial, so you can talk about the goal. After that, it depends on the child's age. For a younger child, it helps if an adult is nearby to set up the device.

How do we start?

Fill in the lesson request form on this page with your child's age, their current Turkish and your time zone. Ceylan will reply within 24 hours to arrange the free trial.

Book your child's free trial

A free trial lesson of 20 to 30 minutes is the easiest way to see whether your child enjoys learning with Ceylan, and you'll find out their level at the same time. Older children and teens can also take the free Turkish level test. For a head start on reading, look at our guide to the Turkish alphabet and pronunciation.