Turkish is not among the world’s most popular foreign languages to learn: only around 380,000 people speak it as their second language. However, there are still quite a few reasons why you should consider learning Turkish.
1. Widespread language
Although seemingly not popular as a foreign language, Turkish is a relatively widespread language. It is the official language of Turkey as well as the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It is also spoken by small groups of ethnic Turks in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and some other regions of Eastern Europe. Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and France have large Turkish immigrant communities, the most populous Turkish community being in Germany. In Azerbaijan and some ex-Soviet republics Turkish is spoken too.
2. The Turkish language itself
It is a beautiful language that is relatively easy to learn. The Turkish alphabet is phonetic, with words spelled the way they are pronounced, and you will be able to start reading and writing in no time. Its grammatical structure is different from most western languages, but it is quite logical and relatively easy to master when you get the hang of it.
3. Other Turkic languages
Because they are closely related, studying Turkish also lays a solid foundation for learning other modern Turkic languages, like Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tatar, Uzbek, and Uighur. While these languages may sound exotic, they are languages that are spoken in regions of strategic importance, like the Caucasus, the Balkans, China, and the former Soviet Union. For this, they can be very advantageous languages to know.
4. Career opportunities
There are numerous career opportunities in sectors as diverse as technology, cybersecurity, energy, hospitality, finance, law, business, and government. For example, the U.S. government has even designated Turkish a critical language and actively recruits for roles in the areas of diplomacy, intelligence, and the military, as well as offers an array of scholarships and fellowships for students pursuing the language. You will also be rather unique if you have Turkish language skills as very few are currently interested in the language. This means more career opportunities for you as there is less competition and the jobs available are very exciting.
5. Turkish history
Turkey is a country with a rich history and culture, going back thousands of years. Knowledge of Turkish will allow you to explore both the ancient and the modern Turkish culture as well as meet new interesting people.
6. Travel to Turkey
Knowledge of English is not enough in Turkey. If you want to travel this beautiful country even some basic knowledge of Turkish will go a long way. And it is well worth visiting. Turkey is one of the most desirable travel destinations on the planet. Turkish people are among the most welcoming and hospitable in the world. And if you are going to work, study or live in Turkey, knowledge of Turkish will be absolutely necessary.
7. Power-up your brain
Learning any foreign language is good for your brain. It boosts your memory and cognitive skills and helps your brain stay healthy and sharp when you get older. Why not learn Turkish then? This language is unique and beautiful, and you will be able to combine doing something fun with something useful.
Final thoughts
As you can see, the seeming lack of popularity does not mean that there are no reasons for learning Turkish. On the contrary, there are plenty! Hurry up and master this language to get unique career and travel opportunities, before everyone else does it.