Directorate of School of Foreign Languages

Frequently Asked Questions

ERZURUM TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES (YDYO)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

GENERAL INFORMATION AND PROGRAM SCOPE

1.     Is the Foreign Language Preparatory Program compulsory?

Students enrolled in 100% English-medium programs—namely Computer Engineering and English Language and Literature—at Erzurum Technical University are required to attend the Preparatory Program unless they score at least 65 points on the Foreign Language Preparatory Program Proficiency Exam administered by the School of Foreign Languages (YDYO) or document their language proficiency through the exams specified in question 14.

2.     Is it possible to take preparatory education optionally if there is no compulsory preparatory program in the enrolled department?

No. The Foreign Language Preparatory Program is compulsory only in the English-medium Computer Engineering and English Language and Literature departments, and students are not admitted to the preparatory class optionally outside of these programs.

3.     How many years does the preparatory program last?

Preparatory education lasts for 1 (one) year. At the end of this period, students who fail the Erzurum Technical University Foreign Language Proficiency Exam take the Preparatory Program Proficiency Exam held at the beginning of the next academic year.

4.     Is there a summer school for the preparatory class?

No. No summer school is offered for preparatory education. Summer school courses taken at other universities are not considered equivalent for this program.

REGISTRATION AND COMMUNICATION PROCESSES

5.     Do students starting the preparatory program need to register for courses?

Course registration procedures for students subject to the compulsory preparatory program are carried out centrally by the relevant units. Students do not need to make course selections or course registrations themselves. Following the announcement of course schedules and class lists on the YDYO website, students begin their classes in the classrooms announced for them on the course commencement date specified in the academic calendar.

6.     Does a newly registered student at the university need to register separately for the proficiency exam?

No. Students subject to the compulsory foreign language preparatory program do not need to register separately for the exam. It is sufficient for students who will take the exam to be present on the date announced on the YDYO website and in the specified exam hall.

7.     Is there an official communication or announcement platform other than the website of ETU School of Foreign Languages?

Yes. The School has an official Instagram account under the handle @ydyoetu. Students who do not want to miss current developments and announcements are advised to follow the relevant Instagram page.

8.     How can one contact the management and faculty members of the ETU School of Foreign Languages?

The email addresses and office hours of YDYO faculty members can be accessed on the ETU YDYO website.

Additionally, communication can be established via the official email address (ydyo@erzurum.edu.tr).

9.     Is it possible to obtain a document certifying the completion of the preparatory program?

Yes. A document certifying the completion of the preparatory program can be obtained by applying to YDYO Student Affairs. Students wishing to obtain this document can submit a request via the ydyo@erzurum.edu.tr email address.

EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION

10.  What are the weekly lesson hours in the preparatory program? Which courses are taught?

A total of 24 lesson hours per week are conducted in the preparatory program:

• 8 hours of Main Course
• 4 hours of Reading
• 4 hours of Writing
• 4 hours of Listening
• 4 hours of Speaking

11.  Is there an attendance obligation for classes in the preparatory program?

Yes. Preparatory students are required to attend classes at an rate of at least 80%. In cases of excuses such as illness, students must submit the report they received from healthcare institutions together with their petition to YDYO Student Affairs. The decision regarding the deduction of excused periods from absenteeism or the student's status is made by the YDYO Board of Directors.

EXAMS, ASSESSMENT, AND EXEMPTION CONDITIONS

12.  Is a second chance granted to students who do not take the proficiency exam?

No. A second chance is not granted to students who fail to attend the exam on the specified date and time.

13.  Is it possible to be exempt from the preparatory program without taking the proficiency exam? Which exams are valid?

Yes. Students who score at least 65 out of 100 (or an equivalent score) on any of the national or international foreign language exams accepted as equivalent by ÖSYM and measuring four skills are exempt from the preparatory program. Current and detailed equivalencies are specified in the "Equivalencies of International Foreign Language Exams" table published by ÖSYM.

14.  Are students who have studied abroad or completed preparatory education previously exempt from the preparatory program?

• Abroad: Students who have completed their high school education uninterruptedly for the last three years in institutions in countries where the language of instruction is the relevant foreign language are considered exempt from the preparatory class.
• Previous University: Students who have successfully completed preparatory education at another university are accepted as exempt.

15.  Do students in Turkish-medium departments take the proficiency exam?

No. Students of Turkish-medium departments take the Compulsory Foreign Language Proficiency Exam administered by YDYO only if they wish to be exempt from the compulsory foreign language course included in their own curriculum.

16.  What is the content of the English proficiency exam?

The exam consists of two stages:

• Stage 1: Listening (Part A), Reading (Part B), Use of English (Part C)
• Stage 2: Writing

Preparatory Sample Proficiency Exam

17.  How does the process proceed for students who fail the proficiency exam?

A placement exam is administered in order to accurately determine the language levels of students who fail to achieve a sufficient score on the proficiency exam and will continue their preparatory education, and to place them in classes.

18.  What is the placement exam, under what conditions is it administered, and what are the consequences of not taking the exam?

The exam in question is conducted digitally in computer laboratories. Since there is a listening section within the scope of the exam, it is compulsory for students to bring their own headphones to use during the exam.

It is mandatory for students to take this placement exam; students who do not take the exam are directly started in education at the lowest level group.

19.  In what format and how are mid-term exams administered?

Mid-term exams, which are held twice within an academic year, are administered in two stages:

• Stage 1: Test measuring grammar, reading, and listening skills along with written/spoken applications
• Stage 2: Written exam measuring writing skills

Each of the exams is evaluated out of 100 full points.

20.  What are the conditions required to be considered successful in the preparatory program?

To be considered successful in the preparatory program, the attendance obligation must first be fulfilled. In addition, the General Success Grade, calculated based on the average of mid-term exams, in-term assessments, and end-of-term exam results, must be at least 65 out of 100 full points.

21.  What is the General Success Grade and how is it calculated?

The General Success Grade is determined by calculating the points obtained by preparatory class students from exams and assessments taken throughout the academic year according to certain weights. The calculation principles are as follows:

• 1st Term Assessments: %20
• 2nd Term Assessments: %20
• 1st Mid-term Exam: %30
• 2nd Mid-term Exam: %30

40% of the score obtained as a result of these assessments is taken. The final exam constitutes 60% of the general success grade. Accordingly, the General Success Grade is obtained by combining 40% of the in-term grade average with 60% of the final exam. To be considered successful, this total must be at least 65.

22.  What are the conditions required to take the final exam?

To be able to take the final exam, students must meet the following conditions:

• Having fulfilled the attendance obligation at an rate of at least 80%,
• Having an in-term success score of at least 50 out of 100 full points.

FAILURE, EXCUSES, AND SANCTIONS

23.  Does the preparatory program success grade affect the undergraduate grade point average (GPA)?

No. The preparatory program success grade does not affect the grade point average (GPA) when transitioning to the undergraduate program.

24.  What sanctions are applied in case of failing the preparatory program due to absenteeism?

If the absenteeism limit is exceeded in preparatory classes, students are deemed unsuccessful, cannot continue classes, and cannot participate in in-term, mid-term, final, and make-up exams.

25.  What is the process following students who fail the final exam or cannot attend these exams?

Students who fail the final exam can primarily take the make-up exam.

In case of failing the make-up exam as well, students may take the Proficiency Exam held at the beginning of the next academic year or be exempt from the preparatory program if they obtain a sufficient score from international foreign language exams whose equivalency is accepted by ÖSYM.

26.  What sanction is applied if the preparatory program cannot be completed within the maximum period?

The relations with the university are severed for students who fail to successfully complete the preparatory program within the prescribed period (two years). However, Computer Engineering students are redirected to the Turkish Computer Engineering department if they fail to complete the preparatory program.