In recent years, Turkish dramas have captivated global audiences, with Brunei being no exception.
These series have sparked lively discussions across family gatherings, social events, and workplace chats, riding the wave of enthusiasm similar to the Korean drama craze.
Despite their lengthy episodes, fans in Brunei stay eagerly glued to their screens, anticipating the next twist in their favourite narratives.
Adding to their charm is the exquisite portrayal of Turkey’s breathtaking landscapes, which not only enriches the visual experience but also highlights the country’s stunning beauty.
As interest in this media genre increases, it has sparked a desire among local viewers to learn the language, a desire fully supported by the spouse of the Turkish Ambassador to Brunei, Lale Ersoy.
This enthusiasm led to the establishment of a Turkish language class for Bruneian residents keen to explore the language further, a move Ersoy shared was driven by a multitude of personal inquiries about the feasibility of such a project.
Encouraged by the keen interest, she conducted the inaugural class in the Turkish Embassy’s meeting room, which attracted 18 students.
Ersoy also leveraged social media to promote the class, attracting significant attention from local higher education institutions eager to have her teach at their venues. “We now have approximately more than 200 students in different institutions and we also teach at the Ministry of Defence, Prime Minister’s Office and many more,” she said.
“We are grateful that our Yunus Emre Institute in Kuala Lumpur has extended their assistance to us, providing us with books and teaching materials from the centre.”
The Yunus Emre Institute teaches Turkish language worldwide and currently operates centres in 69 countries, including Brunei, with some countries hosting more than one centre. According to Ersoy, this is the first time the Turkish Embassy in Brunei has opened classes to teach Turkish. Initially, she taught alone, but with a busy schedule, she needed assistance. Her request was answered by a new instructor from the Yunus Emre centre in Pakistan. – Lyna Mohammad
PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
