The medium of instruction at Sabancı University is English. All undergraduates are required to take the Sabancı University English Language Assessment Exam (ELAE). Students who pass this exam begin their undergraduate programs while those who do not meet the standards of English language proficiency enroll in the School of Languages (SL).
The courses offered by the SL are an integral part of the education offered at Sabancı University and aim to contribute to the university's mission of developing competent, confident and socially responsible individuals who are able to think independently and critically.
As Sabancı University, School of Languages, we provide students with the necessary foundation skills and knowledge to excel in their interdisciplinary academic studies; help students develop their language awareness, knowledge and skills in English, Turkish and in second foreign languages; help students develop critical and creative thinking through the provision of high quality instruction and the promotion of independent study; provide instructors with a challenging and stimulating work environment; and contribute to the further development of language teaching and teacher education in Turkey.
In the SL we believe that students' personal intellectual growth is as important as their language and skills development. Therefore, in addition to helping students develop their language proficiency and academic skills, we aim to help students develop their knowledge of the world, both past and present, and to identify various relationships between events through the use of a content-based and thematic approach.
The SL views language as communication and believes in an integrated approach to the teaching of language and academic skills, rather than teaching them separately and in isolation. The learner is at the heart of instruction with methods and techniques built around student-centered teaching and more importantly on principles which view learners as individuals with vast potential and a rich repertoire of learning styles and strategies, which learners may or may not be aware of. Therefore, along with language and academic skills work, the SL strives to raise students' awareness of their own learning and of themselves as learners, helping them to realize their full potential. While doing so, it also encourages self-evaluation skills in a supportive learning environment with constructive, informational feedback on student learning and progress. It is believed that these main principles highlight the dynamic nature of the interplay between teachers, learners and tasks and help promote student motivation and continued interest in learning.
If you would like to get more information about School of Languages, please visit our website: http://sl.sabanciuniv.edu/