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This study analyzes the alignment between the educational policy of Turkey and high-stakes tests administered for students transitioning from secondary to high school. Research questions focus on the opinions of secondary school teachers about the alignment between transit exam questions and curricula, course books and materials, and their views on high-stakes testing. The research used a survey study model utilizing the triangulation design. A total of 109 teachers from six different majors working in Ankara participated in the study. An online survey consisting of eight questions was used to get teachers' opinions. The research question was analyzed using quantitative (percentages) and qualitative (content analysis) methods. Results showed that education serves dominantly for tests emphasizing a testing-oriented education system in the current Turkish learning and teaching process, which contrasts with education policy documents targeting 2023.

This study evaluates the 2017 updated secondary school English curriculum of Turkey with the frame of Stake's (1967) congruence-contingency model. The study employed a mixed-methods research design. In this regard, triangulation was employed to provide data diversity. Four different data gathering tools were used: document analysis, interviews, structured questionnaires and in-class observations. The questionnaire data were gathered from 96 English language teachers, working in various cities of Turkey, and the interviews were conducted with seven English language teachers working at a public school in Ankara. In addition, classroom observations were conducted at four different classes in the same school. The findings of the study indicated that teachers considered the updated curriculum suitable and effective. However, in-class observations displayed that there are important gaps in bridging theory and practice. Thus, if there is a huge gap between what was intended and what was carried out, then first, an English as a foreign language education policy document should be prepared, and a unique foreign language-teaching ecosystem to include all stakeholders should be targeted.

In search of ways to better the foreign language proficiency levels of their citizens, governments frequently announce macro foreign language policies. In Turkey, the latest education reform in 2013 lowered the onset of foreign language learning to the second grade. The piloting of the latest foreign language policy is in progress to transform the fifth grade to an English Language Preparation Program (ELPP). In line with the current changes, this study collects the secondary school English language teachers' opinions at the initial stage of the implementation. This qualitative case study questions the advantages, disadvantages, success and possible challenges of the implementation, and the necessary support mechanisms. The secondary school English language teachers reflect on their past experiences of intensive language programs and hold an overall positive approach to the new ELLP implementation. All in all, to achieve success, the findings highlight the need for teacher training on teaching English to young learners, for a sound integration of communicative language teaching with authentic materials.

This study analyzes the alignment between the educational policy of Turkey and high-stakes tests administered for students transitioning from secondary to high school. Research questions focus on the opinions of secondary school teachers about the alignment between transit exam questions and curricula, course books and materials, and their views on high-stakes testing. The research used a survey study model utilizing the triangulation design. A total of 109 teachers from six different majors working in Ankara participated in the study. An online survey consisting of eight questions was used to get teachers' opinions. The research question was analyzed using quantitative (percentages) and qualitative (content analysis) methods. Results showed that education serves dominantly for tests emphasizing a testing-oriented education system in the current Turkish learning and teaching process, which contrasts with education policy documents targeting 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]